Secret Origin: The Story of DC Comics

This documentary presents a straightforward history of the DC Comics company—home of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, the Flash, and many more characters—from its origins in the 1930s to the present. Given the sheer volume of material to cover, writer-director Mac Carter offers only a cursory look at the individual figures, observing the way creative sensibilities shifted through the decades in light of cultural and economic changes. But the film also celebrates key moments and turning points, from the movie and TV incarnations of DC's greatest heroes to the pioneering works of Neal Adams and Denny O'Neil (Green Lantern and Batman in the late '60s), Alan Moore (Swamp Thing and Watchmen), Frank Miller (The Dark Knight Returns) and Alex Ross and Mark Waid (Kingdom Come), to name a few. Secret Origin is, in effect, the ultimate comic book movie supplement, although veteran aficionados won't find much new here (and may quibble with some of the claims about industry leadership in given decades). Still, Carter provides a fine introduction to comic book culture within this ambitious overview of one of the most influential comic book producers of all time. Narrated by Ryan Reynolds (star of the upcoming Green Lantern film), Secret Origin mixes interviews of artists, writers, and publishers with plenty of artwork, as well as film and TV clips. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (S. Axmaker)