Shorts Review: Vixen Episode 1

Spoilers Below

Whereas Marvel Animation is garbage in terms of full-length films, DC Comics Animation is usually king. The reverse cannot be true when it comes to television animation. In terms of numbers, Marvel just has more options, even if none of them are very good (Guardians of the Galaxy shows promise). DC Comics used to be the king of TV animation. Batman Beyond, Batman: The Animated Series which was so good it created a character in Harley Quinn that is as iconic a sidekick for the Joker as any one else, and a host of others, made the comics brand king of the hill.

Since then, DC Comics has, for the most part, sent its animated TV prowess straight to the depths of hell…but Vixen could be the one that turns that tide. Starring Megalyn Echikunwokein the titular role of an orphaned child from Africa, we see Vixen show off her superpowers right from the get-go as she’s being chased down by The Flash and Green Arrow. She uses her powers with great effectiveness, but Arrow catches her and we rewind to three days earlier when she’s bailed out of jail by her foster death. Those expecting to hear the voices of Stephen Amell and Grant Gustin as Arrow and Flash respectively, are going to be disappointed, because neither say a word. However, Detroit looks every bit as dark and scary as the old-school Gotham City in Batman: The Animated Series. The end of the short accentuates how scary the city looks, as Mari (Vixen) and her adoptive father get robbed at gunpoint just as the end credits begin to roll.

The dialogue is brief overall. The setting sets a mood that lets you know this one’s for the big kids. And right off the bat, Vixen is off to a good start.

Score