DC Showcase: The Losers

They are DC’s original Losers. While the Losers depicted in their Vertigo imprint (and the not particularly successful 2010 movie) waged war on the CIA, the real Losers fought America’s enemies during WWII. It was never fun or glamorous—hence their nickname. Their latest mission gets even tougher when they take a detour to the island from DC’s The War that Time Forgot comic in Milo Neuman’s DC Showcase: The Losers, featuring burly Sarge, whose in-world birthday is reportedly on this day (11/26).

Of course, the Losers would have bad weather and unexpected incoming fire for their mission accompanying Chinese Special Agent Fan Long to an undisclosed location in the South Pacific. Captain Johnny Cloud instinctively distrusts her, despite his attraction to her. After enemy forces sink their ship, she assures them there will be a plane for them to commandeer on Dinosaur Island.

Obviously, the natives are more dangerous than the Losers could possibly expect. Yet, Agent Fan is not so surprised. In fact, she is downright merciless dealing with both the humans and dinosaurs they find there—even the big herbivores, which does not sit well with Cloud’s Navajo values. Ming-Na Wen nicely expresses that deadly femme fatale ruthlessness in her voice-over performance.

DC Showcase’s Losers short was a bit of an outlier when it came out (considering how desperately DC and Marvel courted Chinese censors), because it shows the Chinese character as the one with a reckless disregard for life. She also fanatically adheres to her orders, while the American Losers are the ones considering the ethical implications of their actions.

Indeed, there is a lot of explosive action. This is not a great vehicle for character development, but the look of each Loser tells newcomers plenty. Sarge would be the big guy with the dog, inventively named “Pooch.” Regardless, merging the Losers with the world of The War that Time Forgot is geek catnip that deserves a feature-length treatment. However, it would require another fresh reboot, because Tim Sheridan’s screenplay does not lend itself to a continuation.

Regardless, The Losers is a lot of fun, while staying appropriately dark. This is not an animated film for young kids, but fans of DC’s grittier 1970s war comics will appreciate its faithful attitude and aesthetic. Recommended for the dinosaur-fighting action, DC Showcase: The Losers was included on the BluRay releases of both Constantine: The House of Mystery and Batman: The Long Halloween Pt. 1.