I've seen the root of the Injustice storyline before: The Joker kills Lois Lane. The infamous deed famously triggered the events in the classic graphic novel, Kingdom Come. In Injustice, an animated film based on a comic book storyline (and video game) set in an alternate DC universe, the Joker also wreaks havoc on Metropolis, killing 11 million people -- including the staff of the Daily Planet -- with a nuclear warhead.

That one very bad day turns Superman into a bitter, wrathful force of pain and sorrow, and he finds himself willing to kill in order to impose his will on the world.

The Man of Steel's new style of unyielding tyranny sets heroes against each other as they dispute the path of justice over revenge. Some, like Wonder Woman, Cyborg and Robin, side with Superman in imposing their law on the world, while others join with Batman, Green Arrow and Nightwing -- along with a couple of villains, Catwoman and Harley Quinn -- to oppose what they see as a fascist dictatorship.

The Justice League fractures. World governments are deposed at Superman's whim, peace is brokered under threat of violence, and the United Nations and U.S. government soon realize Superman has taken control of the planet, creating a global police state.

Along the way, some heroes will fall.

Superman soon crosses a line that even Wonder Woman, his most ardent and warlike supporter, finds appalling. Then Ra's al Ghul allies with Superman, and even the bucolic town of Smallville becomes a scene of bloody mayhem when they introduce the Amazo robot to impose deadly sanctions on even the smallest offense.

It's a powerful storyline, and the movie adaptation could have been amazing ... but instead, it falls short. It feels rushed -- the impact of Superman's actions on the world at large is never explored, and the deaths of major characters are mostly over in a blip, then ignored. The ultimate resolution feels weak.

Voice work on the movie was adequate but not exceptional. I was especially unhappy with the voices of Batman (Anson Mount) and the Joker (Kevin Pollak). Other vocal talents in Injustice include Justin Hartley (Superman), Brandon Micheal Hall (Cyborg), Oliver Hudson (Plastic Man), Gillian Jacobs (Harley Quinn), Derek Phillips (Nightwing), Anika Noni Rose (Catwoman), Reid Scott (Green Arrow), Faran Tahir (Ra's al Ghul) and Janet Varney (Wonder Woman).

Bottom line: I don't feel like watching Injustice was a horrible experience or a complete waste of my time, but I think I and other viewers were cheated of a better, more powerful tale.