Justice League

Front Row at the Movies by Shirrel Rhoades

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As moviegoers, you’ve been following Marvel’s “Avengers,” that teaming of an array of superheroes (Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, etc.). But truth is, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby stole the idea from DC Comics.

DC writer Gardner Fox came up with the idea of the Justice Society of America back in 1940, a group of heroes with no special superpowers. Twenty years later Fox was asked to recreate the concept as the Justice League of America, this time teaming DC’s biggest superheroes (Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, etc.).

As Stan Lee told the story: Marvel publisher Martin Goodman “mentioned that he had noticed one of the titles published by National Comics (which became DC) seemed to be selling better than most. It was a book called The Justice League of America and it was composed of a team of superheroes … ‘If the Justice League is selling,’ spoke he, ‘why don’t we put out a comic book that features a team of superheroes?’”

Thus, the Avengers assembled for the first time.

Now, in turnabout fashion, DC’s Justice League follows Marvel’s Avengers onto the silver screen. “Justice League” will be the fifth installment in the DC Extended Universe — which competes with the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Directed by Zack Snyder (“Man of Steel,” “Batman vs., Superman”), the new $300-million “Justice League” blockbuster has a script by Chris Terrio and Joss Whedon.

As it happened, Joss Whedon (“The Avengers,” “Avenger: Age of Ultron”) actually finished directing “Justice League” when Snyder dropped out following the death of his daughter.

According to the movie’s storyline, the Justice League is formed by Batman and Wonder Woman following Superman’s death. Their mission is to thwart a supervillain known as Steppenwolf and his army of parademons.

For the team, they recruit The Flash, Aquaman, and Cyborg.

Ben Affleck and Gal Gadot reprise their roles as the Caped Crusader and the Amazon Princess. Ezra Miller, Jason Momoa, and Ray Fisher are their three teammates.

Henry Cavill returns as Superman, along with Amy Adams as Lois Lane, Diane Lane as Martha Kent, Jeremy Irons as Bruce Wayne’s butler, and J.K. Simmons as Commissioner Gordon. Ciarán Hinds plays the bad god Steppenwolf.

“Justice League” is righting wrongs at Tropic Cinema.

The Warner Bros. film was supposed to be the first of a two-parter, but the second outing got postponed so the studio could do another Batman movie with Ben Affleck.

“The Avengers” was the highest grossing superhero film ever made ($1.519 billion worldwide). And “Avengers: Age of Ultron” did pretty good itself ($1.405 billion worldwide).

DC fanboys are waiting to see how their team does against the Marvel team.

Email Shirrel: srhoades@aol.com