Superman-Batman 'Apocalypse' Due in September

DC Entertainment has announced the release of Superman/Batman: Apocalypse, a direct-to-video animated film due September 28, 2010.

The story will be drawn from the Superman-Batman comics "Supergirl" story arc and graphic novel, written by Jeph Loeb and illustrated by the late Michael Turner (Witchblade, Fathom).  This will make it a sequel to 2009’s Superman/Batman: Public Enemies.

Fan favorites Tim Daly and Kevin Conroy will again voice Superman and Batman respectively while Summer Glau (Sarah Connor Chronicles, Firefly, Serenity) will be the voice of Supergirl. The release will also include a short featuring Green Arrow, voiced by Neil McDonough.

The plot follows the comics story, as we see the arrival of Supergirl on earth, then in steps the lord of the planet Apokolips (note they've changed the spelling for the film title), Jack Kirby creation, Darkseid. This will mark the DC big bad's first appearance in one of the PG-13 releases, though he turned up several times in Superman the Animated Series and in Justice League and also appeared in a version of the Super-Friends in the '80s.

Just as the Public Enemies DVD/Blu-Ray's style was based on the art of Ed McGuinness,  from the looks of the cover (from MTV) it appears Apocalypse will draw from the illustrations of the late Turner.

DC's next animated release is Batman: Under the Red Hood DC’s next animated film, will be released on July 27 and features the voices of Bruce Greenwood, Jensen Ackles, Neil Patrick Harris and John DiMaggio.  In development is Green Lantern: Emerald Allies a sequel to Green Lantern: First Flight, possibly for next spring while said to be in the works, but not confirmed is a variation on Frank Miller’s Batman: Year One. The last DC Animated release was Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths.