Midway Games announced today that it has secured the license from DC Comics and Warner Bros. Consumer Products to publish videogames based on the Justice League comic book franchise and animated television series featuring the world’s greatest super heroes and some of the most well-known villains. Midway plans to feature the popular characters in videogames slated for development on next-generation systems and the Nintendo Game Boy(R) Advance.
The agreements grant Midway the rights to publish Justice League videogames, with at least one based on the DC Comics’ comic book series JLA and another based on the current Cartoon Network hit animated series, Justice League, produced by Warner Bros. Animation.
The Justice League features the greatest super hero team of all time. In both the comic book and animated series, the core members of the team include Batman, Superman, The Flash, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern and Martian Manhunter. Hawkgirl and Aquaman round out the team in both the animated series and comic book. Fighting for truth, justice, and freedom, the Justice League’s mission is to protect the world from evildoers such as The Joker, Lex Luthor, Mongul, Cheetah, Solomon Grundy, The Shade, Star Sapphire, Copperhead, Gorilla Grodd, Felix Faust and The Manhunter Robots.
“DC Comics’ compelling characters and storylines create unique properties that are ideal for the videogame experience,” said Helene Sheeler, Vice President of Marketing, Midway. “We look forward to bringing these iconic characters to gamers everywhere.”
“The videogame platforms are a perfect fit for the ever-popular Justice League super heroes as their interactive adventures will reach new and existing fans,” said Philippe Erwin, Vice President of Interactive Entertainment for Warner Bros. Consumer Products. “We look forward to working with Midway’s experienced developers to create engaging and entertaining games.”
The Justice League has existed in some form since 1940 when DC Comics’ All-Star Comics introduced the first-ever group of super heroes in a comic book series, entitled Justice Society of America, which ran until 1951. DC Comics revived the concept in March 1960, renaming it Justice League of America. The League became the longest-running television cartoon based on a comic book when Hanna-Barbera Studios produced it as Super Friends (1973), The All-New Super Friends (1977), Challenge of the Super Friends (1978), The World’s Greatest Super Friends (1979) and The Super Friends Hour (1980) for Saturday mornings, each with new characters added and each produced for ABC Television. Justice League of America, a monthly comic book, continues to be one of DC Comics’ best-selling titles, consistently ranking among the top ten in industry sales. The Warner Bros. Animation- produced series, Justice League, premiered on Cartoon Network on November 17, 2001, and quickly became an audience favorite with children and adults alike, ranking consistently in the network’s top ten performers. Issue #1 of the series tie-in comic book, entitled Justice League Adventures, debuted in November 2001 and is one of the industry’s top sellers.
“Midway is the perfect choice for developing the Justice League into a gaming franchise that will bring our super heroes to life like never before,” said John Nee, Vice President of Business Development, DC Comics. “The creativity, experience and knowledge between both companies are of super-heroic proportions. Stellar videogames for next-generation video consoles are a guarantee.”
