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Virginia Madsen in Justice League Unlimited

Justice League Unlimited

Justice League Unlimited (JLU) is Virginia Madsen’s third dip of the toe into the DC Animated Universe, and her second in the realm of the Justice League specifically having previously played Dr Sarah Corwin in the Justice Leagues The Brave and The Bold episode a few years previously.

JLU is of course a part of the same animated universe, it’s a continuation of it – And it’s one that over its run managed to keep the high standards as the rest of the shows that came before it. Blending a good mix of action, character development and damn good storytelling JLU widens the scope and the mix of the heroes and brings even the most secondary character into the limelight.
Virginia Madsen in Justice League UnlimitedVirginia Madsen would this time lend her voice to Roulette AKA Veronica Sinclair, a cunning and manipulative villain who runs an underground fighting ring called Meta-Brawl. She pits super-powered villains and heroes against each other for entertainment, capitalising on their abilities to attract Gotham’s elite. Roulette’s lack of actual superpowers is offset by her ability to manipulate others and organise elaborate and more often than not, dangerous events.

Roulette appears twice in the Justice League Unlimited, the first time is in the second or fourth season episode, depending on which version you have – Either way, the episode is called “The Cat and The Canary”.

Roulette has managed to snag Wildcat to fight in her Meta-Brawl event, he’s feeling a bit redundant these days as he doesn’t actually have any superpowers to speak of and feels he can’t keep up with the other “Supers”.
Virginia Madsen in Justice League UnlimitedHis former protege, Black Canary, finds out about all of this and gets naturally concerned. She drags Green Arrow with her to convince Wildcat that he doesn’t need to do this, or anything, to prove himself. But, before anyone can get a grasp on it all Roulette has set up a fight between Wildcat and Green Arrow.

Obviously, this was never going to end well for Roulette. But, it’s fun to see it play out anyway.

The next time we see Roulette is in the third season (or fifth season) episode, “Grudge Match”.

In Virginia Madsen’s second episode Roulette is back (obviously) with a new, and what she thinks is an improved version of her Meta-Brawl. This time she’s calling it Glamour Slam and just has women doing the fighting. She takes her idea to Lex Luthor and he agrees to let her use some of his mind control technology he’s acquired from Grodd to get some of the Justice League heroines into the ring against their will. Black Canary, Vixen and even Wonder Woman herself all get thrown into the brutal battles for others’ entertainment.Virginia Madsen in Justice League UnlimitedIt eventually comes down to Huntress to notice something isn’t right with Black Canary and sets about rescuing her from the clutches of Roulette’s mind control.

And, well – Yeah – This goes about as well for Roulette as the first time we saw her.

These pesky villains, do they never learn?Virginia Madsen in Justice League UnlimitedVirginia Madsen plays Roulette with an obvious relish. You can tell how much she enjoys these kinds of roles and just has fun with them. For some reason I always imagine her sat in her recording booth with a huge grin on her face as she hams it up.

Availabilty:

Good, no probelm at all finding it on DVD or Blu-Ray. The Blu-Ray I bought from America was Reigon Free as well, so – Bonus.

Trailer:

Not an official one, but…

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virginia madsen in teen titans

Teen Titans (The Prophecy)

Having wandered over to the dark side in her last comic book inspired voice over (Spider-Man), Virginia Madsen returned to the DC Universe to voice the character of Arella in the Teen Titans fourth season episode “The Prophecy”. The episode was aired in 2005 and is the 7th episode.

The episode is pretty deep onto a multi episode event so it’s pretty hard to try and give a brief summary without getting myself lost in details you won’t care about.

Virginia Madsens Arella is the mother of the one of the regular line ups of the cartoons Teen Titans, Raven.
virginia madsen in the teen titansRaven is suffering a crisis of conscience in the episode and seeks out her Mother for guidance.

Although I am a fan of the DC Universe, The Titans cartoon show isn’t something I’m overly familiar with, it’s a bit too much for the kids for me – I’ve seen the odd episode here and there and I believe it’s very good, but the art style and the tone puts me off just sitting down and watching it. Which , is a bit odd considering I’m a huge fan of the other animated series. Perhaps it’s all the bright colours or something, I don’t know.

Virginia’s role is short and sweet in this one, Arella has very little actual screen time and it’s the only episode to feature the character at all. As such, it kind of makes it hard to give any real commentary on it other than she brings her best to the role. Once again you probably wouldn’t know it has her just from watching, she brings the right amount of gravitas to it the situation and all in all fits right in.
virginia madsen in the teen titansAvailability:

Not bad, you can find copies easy enough on DVD. I believe it’s a region free DVD, but you might want to check you can play it before you order.

Trailer:

Not for this one.

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virginia madsen in swamp thing

Swamp Thing

The Swamp Thing TV show is, at the time of writing, Virginia Madsen’s latest foray into the DC Universe, only this time it’s of the live action flavour. Albeit a short lived one.

Originally commissioned for the short lived DC Universe VOD channel the show made it’s debut in 2019 for ten episodes. The show’s cancellation was announced before it had completed its run. So, pretty much dead on arrival. Great.

And, it’s a shame as it was actually pretty good. I’ve mentioned, several times now, how I’m a fan of DC over Marvel, in the comic book world at least, and a lot of the DC Universe shows were actually right up my street, Titans more than any of the others, but, yeah. What could have been.
Virginia Madsen as Maria Sunderland in Swamp Thing, gazing solemnly out of a lace-curtained window. The dimly lit room, featuring an antique dresser and a warm lamp in the background, enhances the melancholic and introspective mood. Her wavy blonde hair frames her face, which carries an expression of deep contemplation and sorrowThe comic book Swamp Thing is a character that has been around since 1971, a creation of Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson. Len Wein would probably be more famous as the co-creator of Wolverine than Swamp Thing in case you’re thinking you know the name.

The TV version of the show follows Abby Arcane (Crystal Reed) as she returns home to Louisiana to investigate a virus that seems to be originating in a swamp. A scientist who is also on the case, Alec Holland (Andy Bean), dies tragically but Abby suspects things aren’t what they first appear to be. And she’d be right, funnily enough. Alec, as it turns out has become the titular Swamp Thing, kind of. His memories have at least.

Ohhhhhhhhhh. It’s a comic thing – You have to watch it so I don’t have to go all explain and get myself in a twist trying to do it justice and not spoil anything at the same time.

Virginia Madsen plays Maria Sunderland, a renamed for the TV show character, she’s better known as Bubbles Sunderland in the comic world. Thankfully, she also gets to show off her talents in this one, even if you aren’t a fan of the show itself and just want a taste of what Virginia offered then the fifth episode, “Drive All Night” is the one to watch.
Virginia Madsen as Maria Sunderland in Swamp Thing, standing in a warmly lit kitchen wearing a green dress and a yellow apron. Her expression is a mix of contemplation and quiet determination, framed by soft curls pulled back. Behind her, a brick wall and a dark wooden mantel adorned with silver fish decorations add to the rustic yet elegant atmosphere of the sceneWe already know the show is dead in the water, well, swamp – But is it worth a watch?

Well. Yeah. I’d say so – Most of the events are wrapped up nicely, just remember to switch it off when the end credits roll…

Plus, there is always the chance with these things that the characters / actors will move on even if the show doesn’t, look at Constantine and The Legends of Tomorrow, and more recently the Dead Boy Detectives from the equally cancelled DC Universe project Doom Patrol who have found their way into the Netflix show of the same name as sort of spin off of their Sandman universe.

Availability:

Good, good – Not hard to find on DVD or Blu-Ray.

Gallery:

Trailer:

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virginia madsen in wonder woman

Wonder Woman

Sticking within the DC Universe Virginia Madsen would lend her voice to Hippolyta in the 2009 animated version of Wonder Woman.

The film is loosely based upon the 1987 reinvention of the character in the comics universe by George Perez in the arc known as Gods and Mortals.

As I’ve stated before, I’m a fan of DC Comics, but Wonder Woman isn’t a character I’ve particularly read up on. Not for any particular reason and I’ve always enjoyed her as a character when she’s made guest appearances in other comics I do read.

The film serves as an Origin Story for Wonder Woman really, and in this version it’s not a million miles away from what we’ve seen on the big screen with Zack Snyder’s attempt at a DC Universe and the films starring Gal Gadot.

In short the film deals with Hippolyta and the eternal battles of the Gods. The film begins in times long gone with a battle between Hippolyta fighting alongside the rest of the Amazons against Ares and his army.
virginia madsen in wonder womanHippolyta is about to deal a devastating final blow to Ares when Zeus stops her. Zeus promises Hippolyta and the Amazons an island they can call their own where they can live in peace and serenity if Ares life is spared.
virginia madsen in wonder womanThey agree and begin to their lives on an island paradise away from all the troubles in the world. As part of the deal Hippolyta is granted a daughter from which she crafts from the sands of the island and names Diana (Keri Russell).

Diana eventually grows bored with the island and seeks out new adventures, when Steve Trevor (Nathan Fillion) is shot down in a plane over their island she takes the chance to return with him to the world of Man.

In the background Ares has been plotting his own return and it just happens to be all kicking off for him at the same time Diana makes her way to the same place.

Ares attacks Washington…. And, yeah. You know the rest. Fisticuffs, ancient battles reignited, yadda yadda.
virginia madsen in wonder womanI’ve got to say, I was impressed with Virginia Madsen again here. Each voice she does in her voice over work is significantly different from the other which shows some real talent. The voice she gives Hippolyta is perfect, it’s commanding when it needs to be and gentle as a Mother.

Speaking of her role with comicbookmovie.com she commented on this herself;

“Hippolyta has a really wide range – I use a lot of notes when I play her. She has a larger, more regal voice. I liked the range we use to create her vocally, and the way that she was written. It’s not that she’s over the top, but she’s just a very, very big character. And I don’t usually get to do that on onscreen. ”

If you’re a fan of Wonder Woman, or even just the whole DC Universe thing then you’re not going to want to miss this one. I persoanlly think it’s one of the better and more grown up versions of the story.

Availability:

Good. Not hard to get hold of on DVD or Blu Ray. Or, both at the same time if you pick up the combo pack..

Trailer: