'Teen Titans: The Judas Contract' Review- A Key Point In DC

This film was released in 2017.

Teen Titans: The Judas Contract is an animated film set in the DC Animated Movie Universe. It is directed by Sam Liu with the screenplay being written by Ernie Altbacker. It was released by Warner Bros. Animation.

Nightwing (Sean Maher) and Starfire (Kari Wahlgren) continue to train the next generation of Teen Titans. This includes Damian Wayne aka Robin (Stuart Allan), Raven (Taissa Farmiga), Beast Boy (Brandon Soo Hoo), Blue Beetle (Jake T. Austin), and new member Terra (Christina Ricci). Little do they know that their famous foe Deathstroke (Miguel Ferrer) has recruited Terra into betraying the Titans so that a secret cult of villains can use them to create an army capable of taking over the world.

“The Judas Contract” is a 1984 story arc that was written by legendary Marv Wolfman and drawn by iconic illustrator George Perez. If you are familiar with the Titans at all, you have seen their work embedded. The two of them are the co-creators of Slade Wilson, introducing him into the DC Comics rogues gallery. While I will not declare that the movie is better, it is a faithful adaptation of the comic book plot.

Being a part of the DCAMU, the movie had to meld in some aspects of the New 52, despite the comic originally being published in the pre-Crisis era of the canon.

I appreciated the growing bond between Nightwing and Starfire. In my humble opinion, that romance always made more sense in the grand scheme of things (if Dick isn’t going to dare Barbara Gordon of course). I thought that the film was an excellent adaptation of the story. It did a good job of honoring the past while also bringing the famous storyline into the modern era.

Once again, I have to give DC Animation props for their talented voice cast and stunning animation. It truly makes the movie feel more like an actual film than just another cartoon adaption of a comic book.

My one complaint is the “homage” it plays to fake nerd Kevin Smith. He wrote a failure of a Batman series and his attitude toward comic books is just whatever the mainstream tells him. Yet, here he is again making a cameo when real fans get kicked to the curb. I am tired of this guy grifting his way into the nerd community.

I also want to give props to Miguel Ferrer as Slade Wilson. I am not a huge Deathstroke fan. Personally, I think that he is way overused, but his performance won me over even more than the previous portrayal in this series of films.

Bottom line, Teen Titans: The Judas Contract is a smart adaptation of an iconic DC story arc.

FAVORITE QUOTE: Robin, stop complimenting the bad guys.

PARENTAL CONCERNS: Violence, foul language

Check out the teaser below:

What do you think? Let me know in the comments below. Tell me if there is a comic book, movie, or anime you would like me to review.