Random Cartoon Comic Book Movies That Are Better Than Live-Action Superhero Movies (15 items)

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  (#13) Doctor Strange: The Sorcerer Supreme

  • Kevin Michael Richardson, Tara Strong, Phil LaMarr, Fred Tatasciore, Josh Keaton, Bryce Johnson, Jonathan Adams, Michael Yama, Masasa Moyo, Paul Nakauchi, Susan Spano

  2016’s Doctor Strange was a hit for Marvel Studios. The film did an admirable job of portraying Stephen Strange’s origin story, but the animated version that preceded it by almost a decade was arguably better. Doctor Strange: The Sorcerer Supreme tells the same basic story as the live-action version, with Strange seeking out the Ancient One, learning the mystic arts, and battling Baron Mordo and Dormammu. However, the animated medium allows for a more inventive and true-to-the-comics depiction of all that magical mumbo jumbo. 
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  (#4) Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker

  • Angie Harmon, Mark Hamill, Melissa Joan Hart, Rachael Leigh Cook, Teri Garr, Dean Stockwell, Michael Rosenbaum, Tara Strong, Lauren Tom, Kevin Conroy, Will Friedle, Mary Scheer, Arleen Sorkin, Mathew Valencia

  Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker takes place in the far-flung future of Gotham City, where Bruce Wayne has long since retired, replaced by young Terry McGinnis. McGinnis uses a tech-heavy Batsuit to become Batman Beyond. This feature film adventure is easily the highlight of the entire Batman Beyond concept, crafting a dark tale that examines the legacies of both the Batman and the Joker. Throw in an important role for Tim Drake, the most unheralded Robin, and you’ve got the makings of a futuristic classic.
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  (#2) Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox

  • Dana Delany, Nathan Fillion, Ron Perlman, Kevin McKidd, Michael B. Jordan, Justin Chambers, C. Thomas Howell, Cary Elwes, Kevin Conroy, Vanessa Marshall

  Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox is really more of a Flash movie than a Justice League movie, but it's no less awesome for it. The Flashpoint event in the comics helped reset DC continuity, and the film version also helped kick off a new animated continuity. Flashpoint Paradox does what very few superhero films have successfully done, by making time travel work as a concept. Flash’s time-meddling results in a wildly different and deliciously dark DC universe, where Thomas Wayne is Batman and Aquaman is at war with Wonder Woman. The world of Flashpoint is just plain cool, and there’s an excellent plot to boot. 
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  (#8) Batman: Assault on Arkham

  • Matthew Gray Gubler, Neal McDonough, Kevin Conroy, Hynden Walch

  Batman: Assault on Arkham offers a glimpse at what a good R-rated DC movie could look like. In fact, Assault on Arkham is less a Batman movie and more of a Suicide Squad film with a Batman cameo. Assault on Arkham features Squad favorites like Deadshot, Harley Quinn, and Captain Boomerang, but doesn’t shy away from having them actually commit awful and violent acts, unlike the live action version. The plot features a small and tight location, which makes a lot more sense for a black ops team than the live-action film's citywide romp. 
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  (#10) Planet Hulk

  Planet Hulk is an adaptation of one of the most popular Hulk stories ever, in which Hulk finds himself marooned on an alien planet and forced into gladiatorial combat. It’s basically Gladiator starring the Hulk, and that might be the greatest pitch ever made for a movie. Despite featuring more than its fair share of action, Planet Hulk also succeeds at humanizing the jade giant in a way that's rarely achieved. In addition, Planet Hulk features a great battle between Hulk and the Silver Surfer that isn’t possible in the Marvel Cinematic Universe due to rights issues. 
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  (#11) Batman Vs. Robin

  Batman vs. Robin doesn’t exactly deliver on its title’s promise, but it does deliver an excellent, action-packed film. Batman vs. Robin features the Damian Wayne version of Robin, making this a sequel to Batman and Son (an excellent animated film in its own right). Batman vs. Robin is the animated debut of the Court of Owls, a highly impactful group of Batman antagonists that tries to recruit his son to their team of assassins. In the end, it’s more of a Batman and Robin team-up than a true battle between them, but it’s probably better that way. 

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