From the Beginning: Justice League & Justice League Unlimited Animated Series

Television, Movies Games and Books Other Science Fiction
#1

Well, now that I concluded my Smallville watch from the beginning, I decided to start another one, and I decided to stay with DC characters with the Justice League animated series. The first two seasons are just called Justice League and focus on 7 heroes, while the other two seasons were called Justice League Unlimited and were more of an anthology show, trying to bring in as many heroes and villains as possible.

Here’s a list of the main heroes and voice actors in the first two seasons:

Superman - George Newbern
Batman - Kevin Conroy
Wonder Woman - Susan Eisenberg
Martian Manhunter - Carl Lumbly
The Flash - Michael Rosenbaum
Green Lantern (John Stewart) - Phil LaMarr
Hawkgirl - Maria Canals

As I watch episodes, I’ll check the voice actor list in the credits to mention other characters these actors voice and any other actors I recognize.

The first couple seasons seem to be all multi-part episodes. I’ll probably post my commentary on each one.

#2

Episode 101 - Secret Origins Part 1
Starting with a human landing on Mars?
And the astronauts found something big.
Guessing it’s Manhunter’s bunker?
Yeah, don’t try to break open the alien door, Junior.

2 years later?
Wayne Enterprises has a facility in Metropolis?
Who are those aliens working there? Maybe what the astronaut found was a Martian prison.
Wow, they’re giving Batman some trouble.
And here comes Superman with the save.
Or not.
Senator Carter? Oh, the astrnaut who found the Martian bunker.
The UN is in Metropolis in this world?
And the astronaut senator suggested disarming and letting Superman protect everything? Can’t see this working well.
Batman’s been tracking the aliens for 6 months?
Super strong rabid alien dog?
The signal watch Superman gave Batman just beeps on a frequency only he can hear?
Uh oh, big meteor.
Clark, won’t a medic try to take Batman’s mask off?
“Don’t even think about it.” :smiley: Guess so. Good thing he was concious.
Big alien monster in the meteor

Yeah, Superman bounced off that thing. I don’t think handguns are going to do much good.
Bat-Jet? Nice.
OK, now Superman could knock it down. It must have blasted him right before he hit it the first time.
Another two? Very War of the Worlds.
Missiles and Tanks clearly aren’t going to work either.
More meteors with these aliens landing all over? It really is War of the Worlds.
The government captured Manhunter when he tried warning them?
Oh, the smaller aliens took the forms of the senator and some high ranking military people to clear the way for their invasion.

Well, we had cameos from Flash and Wonder Woman here, but no Hawkgirl or Green Lantern. Guessing they didn’t want to overwhelm viewers in the first episode. Like I said, the aliens are very War of the Worlds, down to their 3 legged walkers. Guessing this arc is really about bringing the characters together to form the League.

#3

Episode 102 - Secret Origins, Part 2
I don’t understand why the animation style is so different in the opening credits and the actual episode.
So, we’re starting somewhere completely different from the cliffhanger.
Oh, Diana is taking the Wonder Woman gear from inside some kind of temple.
Baterang grenade?
So now Batman instantly went from being suspicious of Manhunter to trusting him?
And Superman threw a tank at the aliens to cover Batman and Manhunter’s escape to the Bat Jet.
And here come alien fighters.
Green Lantern with the save.
And Hawkgirl?
LOL at Superman discus throwing an alien fighter into a mountain.
And one almost fell on Batman.
Wonder Woman’s bracelets can deflect energy weapons?
“Who’s the rookie in the tiara?”
And now that the fight’s done, Flash shows up with the wing that got shot off the Bat Jet and starts hitting on Wonder Woman? :smiley:
Yeah, can definitely recognize Rosenbaum’s voice.
Manhunter telepathically called everyone together?

Guess Superman has always used his heat vision for welding.
These aliens destroyed the Martian civilization?
They’re psychic parisites?
So, what the astronaut opened sort of was a prison for them. The Martians managed to trap them in their own fortress, but Manhunter was the only one to survive the battle.
Manhunter just happened to be in hibernation when the astronauts landed? Convenient.
An even bigger alien construct? Crap.
And it’s drilling for something.

They’re trying to blot out the sun?
Green Lantern has a bit of an attitude.
Wow, Lantern’s ring is more powerful than Superman’s heat vision.
Wonder Woman’s tow-cabling the alien walker? Nice.
Didn’t expect Wonder Woman to be quite this cocky.
Hawkgirl just impressed Superman.
Flash is moving his arms fast as a fan? :smiley:
Wow, these aliens had good intel. They managed to take down Hawkgirl and Superman.
Wait, of course they do, they’re telepaths.
Uh, oh, Batman got trapped inside the central chamber.

You know, I’m having trouble getting used to half hour shows. Just get into it, then “To be continued.”

Nice to see the whole team together,then breaking into subteams to take on individual targets.

#4

Episode 103 - Secret Origins, Part 3
Crap, the meteors were just the vanguard of the invasion.
“In the face of this new development, we are calling on the public to remain calm.” SMASH
Nice random rescue from Green Lantern while taking a breather from the fight.
They think Batman’s dead?
I love the comic relief from Flash.
Naturally, the command ship came in over Metropolis.
They impersonated Superman and Hawkgirl, then gassed everyone else? Nice trap.
Why did they imprison everyone right near the factory’s power core?
The alien overmind thing is trying to absorb Martian Manhunter?
Martian Manhunter shielded Batman and faked his death to get everyone in? Nice.
Carter was one of the aliens the whole time? Kind of figured, but nice.
“Eww, that’s one nasty sunburn.” :smiley:
So now they’re pulling off the roof of the base to expose all the bad guys to the sun?
But that overmind thing is getting away.
Nope, that lasso’s pretty strong.
And they still managed to rescue all the alien prisoners before the factory blew up.
Watchtower is a Wayne Enterprises satellite?
And now Superman’s making the pitch for the Justice League? That’s a change from Smallville. :stuck_out_tongue:
“What, like a bunch of Super Friends?” :smiley:
“What about you, Batman?”
“I’m not really a people person.” :smiley:
So Batman isn’t a full member of the League yet? Is he going to formally join or just be there if they need him?
Touching Manhunter/Superman scene. They do have a lot in common.

This was mainly just a way to set up the formation of the League. Like I said, very War of the Worlds, but it did its job.

#5

I’ve forgotten most of the series. But, everything you touched on reminds me of it. I liked the series, but not enough to rewatch it unfortunately. I did like where they took some of the characters arc wise even if it never happened in “cannon.”

For the opening, this what they do in anime sometime. They give a higher production for the opening and/or closing to draw people in with a “cool” look. They can’t make the whole series look that way because they would go way above budget. Does that make any sense? I’m not saying that’s what they did here, it’a just my guess.

#6

It’s in every episode, so you get a lot of bang for your buck. A lot of anime productions also have one or two scenes that are of higher quality (a battle or something.)

#7

Episode 104 - In Blackest Night, Part 1
These aliens in the courtroom look weird just to look weird.
Manhunters? Robot bounty hunters?
Green Lantern’s the criminal?

Lantern in civilian clothes looks badass.
Why did he wait until the robber started driving away instead of grabbing him on the way out the store?
LOL at Lantern missing the 3 point shot.
He’s meeting with his old history teacher?
Thanagar? I thought Hawkman and Hawkgirl were cursed Egyptians (who Lex clearly isn’t working with :wink: )
And now Flash is hitting on Hawkgirl.
So, no Superman, Batman, or Wonder Woman in this one?
Yeah, these Manhunters are real subtle.
Staves with tasers on the end?
LOL at one of the Manhunters just holding out his staff and clotheslining Flash with it.
OK, guess Superman is in this episode. They said he was dealing with an earthquake somewhere.
It seems like every alien has some kind of energy weapon that knocks Superman for a loop.
“Awesome. Could he do that in high school?” :smiley:
Green Lantern actually surrendered to them?

Other Green Lanterns are just standing by and letting it happen?
“Not yet”? Are these Manhunters up to something?
So whatever it is, GL thinks he’s guilty of it.
The League has a FTL ship?
Hawkgirl saying something about “you humans” to Superman, Martian Manhunter, and Flash? :eyebrow:
Martian Manhunter using phasing to board the alien fighter? Sweet.
“‘Flash, take the controls.’ Does anyone ask if I know how?” :smiley:
I don’t trust this Kanjar-Ro guy.
A blast from his ring bounced off something and just happened to hit a fault line on an inhabited planet?
Hawkgirl’s a bit … agressive.

Kanjar-Ro - Rene Auberjonois

#8

“Hawkgirl’s a bit … agressive.”

Hawk trait. (: I liked her though.

#9

Well, I didn’t say I didn’t like her, it’s just that she goes straight for the fighting option.

Advantage of half hour shows is that you can really burn through them quick.

Episode 105 - In Blackest Night, Part 2
Yeah, Kanjar-Odo is up to something.
“We solved our lawyer problem a long time ago.” :smiley:
Flash is going to be Green Lantern’s lawyer? This ought to be fun.
Advocate shares the fate of the defendant is how they solved their “lawyer problem”?
Flash is just spouting off random legal terms.
The other Lanterns left the trial?
They just gave up on him?
LOL at Hawkgirl taking out 4 Lanterns hand to hand until the pink pig looking one stopped the fight and said he’d help her.
“If the ring wasn’t lit, you must acquit.” :smiley:
Why are Superman and Martian Manhunter in space suits?
The moon’s orbiting a planet that was destroyed?
Is this all just a setup to discredit the Green Lantern Corps?
Yeah, by the Manhunters.

I fully expected the planet to show up just before the judges handed down the sentence.
Wow, quick implementation of their death penalty.
There we go.
The guys who are in charge of the Green Lantern Corps made the Manhunters first?
Wow, that’s a lot of them.
Manhunters seem a lot less effective now than back on Earth. Inverse Ninja Law?
And here come the reinforcements.
The Manhunter leader took over the Lanterns’ power source?
OK, that was anti-climactic.

You know, I love the relationship between Green Lantern and Flash. Lantern’s pretty much the perfect straightman there. The end was a bit anti-climactic, but I did like the plot.

#10

“Why are Superman and Martian Manhunter in space suits?”

Manhunter I dunno. But, I’m sure they weren’t near a yellow sun, which means Superman is depowered, which means he’s more mortal. Kryptonians couldn’t survive in space around Krypton for example.

#11

Episode 106 - The Enemy Below, Part 1
Starting with a submarine?
Defiant? That’s not a submarine name.
“Surface dwellers”? Getting Aquaman already?
The Justice League starship is a submarine too?

Superman and Wonder Woman rammed the subs together? Nice.
Wait, the ships were from Atlantis?
At least the fish boys are letting them save the crew.
Yeah, how can they not intrude if they don’t know your territory.
The general wants to wipe out the surfacers?
Wonder Woman already knows him as Aquaman?
Spying is a bad idea, Lantern.
He’s stealing the sub’s reactor?

“Hey, where’d that dude come from?”
Aquaman’s not being very diplomatic.
The French ambassador is an ass.
Sounds like Aquaman doesn’t quite get negotiating.
Someone’s trying to assassinate him with a RPG?

Was this whole thing a power grab?
Yeah, needles don’t usually work well on superheroes.
Batman with the save?
Why wouldn’t they have tried water first? Seems logical to me.
Don’t be an ass, Lantern.
Why does electricity hurt Superman here?
Oh, the Aquaman they were moving was actually Martian Manhunter? Nice
Wow, this assassin’s good.
Aquaman decked Green Lantern?
Nice trap, Batman.
Heat vision to flatten a tire? Nice.
“Okay, okay, I give up.”
Professional ethics from an assassin?
Aquaman’s brother is staging a coup? Damn.

Seems a bit weird to bring in a guest superhero so early in the series. I think I prefer the Aquaman from Smallville

#12

Episode 107 - The Enemy Below, Part 2
Aquaman’s brother is a lying bastard.
And he’s “protecting” his son?
“Destroy them.” Yeah, that’ll work. :rolleyes:
Good job sinking the sub, Superman.
How could mines knock Superman out?

Yay, Mera.
Aquaman’s brother is going to kill his son too? Ass.
He cut off his own arm? That’s hardcore.
Yeah, Aquaman’s pissed.

North pole? Is the brother at the Fortress?
Doomsday device to melt the ice cap?
A hook? How stereotypical.
2 Lantean subs?
I love all the different tricks Green Lantern is able to do with his ring.
Shamu with the assist. “I saw it, but I still don’t believe it.” :smiley:
He shorted out the console?
Will Superman toss the reactor into space?
Nice fight between Aquaman and his brother.
“I believe this is mine.”

This storyline was a bit weaker than the past two, but still not bad. I still think it’s weird that they went to Aquaman before doing stories for all of the main League members, but whatever.

#13

Aquaman was an A list Superfriend back in the day… So, it’s prolly a tip of the hat to that.

#14

Trying something different for this disc. Posting both parts of a story at once. Let me know which way you prefer.

108-109 - Injustice For All
LexCorp? Nice.
Starting with Lex having the upper hand on Superman?
It was really Manhunter? Nice trick.
Nice escape ship.
What just happened to Lex?
You know, Clark seems pretty causal with Lex. Were they friends in the lead up to this too?

Kryptonite poisoning?
How the hell is it Superman’s fault?
Who is that guy? Looks like he’s from Planet of the Apes.
Nice trap.
Lex is working with the Damn Dirty Ape after all?
That’s a small diversion?
Batman comforting a kid?
Nice save, Hawkgirl.
“I’m used to being thanked when I save someone.”
“I’m not used to being saved.” :smiley:
Flash saying Lex won’t give them much trouble? Nice irony.
That’s a very different interpretation of Catwoman.
Who are all these people?
Oh, Cheetah, not Catwoman.
Destroying the League is a simple job? This Lex likes understatement.

The “hostages” are actually other supervillains? Nice.
Zombie guy is as strong as Superman?
Yay, Wonder Woman. I was wondering where she was.
Superman with a full nelson?
Where’s Manhunter?
Awesome fight scene.
Way to make Batman stay there, Manhunter.
Joker? And Lex wants nothing to do with him?
Batman got a tracker on Lex during the fight? Nice
And Batman just got caught.

You know, I really don’t recognize Mark Hamill’s voice as Joker.
Security system on the utility belt? Should have figured.
Great mindgames from Batman here.
Nice team spirit, huh?
Still calling Superman Boy Scout? :slight_smile:
And now Batman’s seducing Cheetah?
Joker is very entertaining.
Complaining about heights in space?
Shouldn’t Superman’s super hearing have detected the bomb beeping?
Cheetah turned?
And the explosion just happened to be between Watchtower and the camera?
Batman got the razor, didn’t he?
Oh, he spit the water to short out the jammer. Nice.
They’re giving Lex battle armor?
Going in one at a time is a bad idea.
LOL at Shade knocking Hawkgirl through a Wonder Twins statue.
“Duck… Tried to warn her.” :smiley:
And I thought Metallo was an Iron Man knockoff. :stuck_out_tongue:
Was Humanate the traitor the whole time?
Batman bribed him? :smiley:

Great team episode. I’m sure we’ll see more of Lex and Joker, but I wouldn’t mind seeing more of most of the other supervillains too.

#15

I like the combined post, but it’s up to you.

This two parter was clearly tip of the hat to the Legion of Doom.

I remember enjoying the tip, but maybe they should have held off a bit.

#16

Episode 110-111 - Paradise Lost
The weather here looks slightly worse than it did here on Wednesday.
Time for the stereotypical superhero save with a vehicle edged out over a bridge.
Superman and Wonder Woman both?
Wonder Woman’s homesick?

She’s borrowing the ship? Why not just fly there unaugmented?
Ooh, looks like something big happened while she was gone.
The all got turned into statues?
He’s blackmailing Wonder Woman to get an artifact for him?
I have a feeling this relic is bad news.
Who is his boss?
If it’s protected so well, how’d it end up in a museum?

The golem can overpower Wonder Woman’s lasso?
Shouldn’t security be there by now?
Flash is freaking awesome.
Giant firebreathing snake guardian?
A mall?
“It’s like some kind of temple.”
“Yes, for those who worship their credit cards.” :smiley:
Oh, under the mall.
Superman and Wonder Woman are seeing each other as monsters?
Flash got the snake to tie itself up in a knot?
The reflection in the water showed Superman who he was really fighting? Nice.
And fitting room mirror to reveal it to Wonder Woman?
Now the League has all the parts of the relic.

“Where’d he get this stuff, Warlocks-R-Us?” :smiley:
Wonder Woman’s mom was in love with Hades?
And why are you just putting the pieces together now, Diana?
Those men just saved your ass, Lady. Show some gratitude.
And where’s Hawkgirl? She would have been a nice way to edge around that rule.
Why didn’t Flash just grab the key when he got the Medusa token?
“Anybody got some weed killer?” :smiley:
Why didn’t they just dummy up a fake key?

Yeah, Batman is a bit of a weak link in these move fast situations.
Hades killed his minion? Crap.
Is Hades Wonder Woman’s dad?
“Woah, get this guy a breath mint.” :smiley:
A skeleton army?
LOL at Manhunter phasing and having his attackers kill each other.
Glad Faust realized his mistake at the end.
Nice save, Wonder Woman.
Naturally sunlight on the Medusa token was enough to break the spell.
Those outsiders saved you from another outsider, lady.
Exiled? Damn.

Lord Hades - John Rhys Davies

Nice to get a backstory for Wonder Woman. Not as fun as Injustice For All, but probably at least as good all around.

#17

I wonder if this is the start of the non-cannon hookup. d:

Keep me posted!

#18

Episode 112-113 - War World
Another space episode?
Why are Superman and Martian Manhunter surveying an asteroid?
Oh, it’s on course to hit Earth?
Wait, if it’s going to hit Earth, that means they’re in our system, but Superman is still in a space suit.
Uh oh, big boom.

Aliens abducting Superman and Manhunter?
Oh, is this like that Voyager episode when Seven had to fight The Rock?
OK, that dropping the ceiling trick didn’t work.
Guess it worked well enough.
Superman faked being powerless for Draaga?
They use a giant space alligator to dispose of losers?
The atmosphere on the planet saps Manhunter’s strength? Not good.
Forcefield? Ouch.
At least Superman got Manhunter out.

The planet’s leader is using the fights to distract people from the fact that he’s ignoring all their needs?
You know, Green Lantern and Hawkgirl are the least subtle members of the team and they’re the ones that are searching for Superman and Manhunter.
“You can talk to me or you can talk to her.” :smiley:
This guy can hurt Superman?
The old sand in the eyes trick.
Wow, he’s strong.
“Draaga claims victory.” Crunch
OK, now Superman is pissed.
Superman isn’t going to kill him, Mongul.

Manhunter got the crowd behind Superman? Nice.
Mongul’s pissed.
The other slaves are cheering for Superman too?
They just don’t get selflessness.
Green Lantern and Hawkgirl are like an old married couple here.
“Do you two want some privacy?” :smiley:
The guy they coerced into helping them gassed them? Never saw that coming. :rolleyes:
Draaga’s holding a bit of a grudge.
Regardless of the planet, Superman is great at inspiring hope.
He stranded Hawkgirl and Green Lantern on a moon? Thought he’d take them to War World as “contestants”
Same moon Draaga got dropped on?
Well, no Draaga yet, but it looks the same.
Yeah, there he is.

They’re taking him back to War World? Bad ideal
“That wasn’t your name they were chanting out there, it was mine.” :smiley:
Mongul is threatening to Death Star a planet if Superman doesn’t thow a fight to him?
How did Manhunter find the superlaser?
Crap, Manhunter’s shapeshifting broke down.
How’d Draaga get to the arena moon?
Nice timing from Green Lantern.
Hawkgirl’s mace reflected a laser blast back into the superlaser cannon? I’m willing to suspend disbelief for a lot, but that’s too much.
Love how the League is staying out of it now and letting Draaga kick Mongul’s ass.
Draaga’s going to take Mongul’s place and fix the planet? Nice.

I want to like this story, but there were too many conveniences and suspension of disbelief problems for me to really get into it. Weakest one so far.

#19

Wait till you get further on. It just gets better with them. [SPOILER] And in how they combine.[/SPOILER]

Oh I said too much already.

#20

Episode 114-115 - The Brave and the Bold
Someone found an alien skull?
Cloaked city.
More Damn Dirty Apes?

Flash is eating at a diner in costume?
“And you didn’t want to give him our phone number.” :smiley:
Why’s it taking Flash so long to catch up with the truck?
Tornadoing debris into a trash can? Slick.
Flash dodged your ray gun’s entire battery. I don’t think throwing it at him would do much good.
Stolen radioactive isotopes?
Someone brainwashed scientists to steal them from their work?
“Can I help it if I have a hyperaccellerated metabolism?” Bart ate a lot too, didn’t he?
Another super ape?
Ape carjacking? Not something you see every day.
Flash used a rake to flatten the car’s tire? Slick.
“Get your stinking paws off me, you filthy human.” Yeah, not inspired by Planet of the Apes at all, was that?
Why’d the scientist girl blast Flash?
Fat Flash looks like Peter from Family Guy.
OK, what the frak did that blaster do to Flash?
Flash got arrested? Guess he got mind-zapped too.

“Cream and 37 sugars. … No, really.” :smiley:
Flash is just frakking awesome.
Gorilla Lex Luthor with mind control? Ouch.
“That’s for the banana. I hate bananas.” :smiley:
Flash ran into Lantern’s fist at full speed? Ouch.
Good, Lantern’s ring isn’t all powerful.
What did that energy bubble do?
Wait, was it just Green Lantern and Flash this whole first part?

Starting this episode off with Manhunter, Hawkgirl, and Wonder Woman?
Is the city out of phase or something?
How would Solovar’s anti-mind control headband fit just as well on Flash?
Wow, the League’s starship gets beat up a lot.
“Perhaps we should try a different approach.” Ya think?
Guessing Grod mind controlled the city to make a nanny?
“Flash, don’t heckle the supervillain.” :smiley:
“Hey, Monkey Boy, why don’t you go climb a skyscraper?” Flash has the best smart ass comments.

Grod’s going to nuke Gorilla City?
Batman picked the gorilla handcuffs?
They went bug on a windshield on the Gorilla City shield too? Ouch.
5 minutes to take out 3 more missiles? No sweat.
Well, no boom at least.
Wonder Woman kissed Batman? :eek:
What did Flash do to Grod’s helmet? Crosswired? Smooth.
Scientist girl was in love with Grod? WTF?
It lobotomized Grod? Oops, maybe not.

Another weaker episode. It was a bit odd to only have 2 League members in the first part, but the villain was the real problem. Just couldn’t take him seriously.

David Ogden Stiers - Solovar
Phil Morris - General. Wait, if this was the character I think it was, we had Martian Manhunter (JL) being interrogated by Martian Manhunter (Smallville). Cool.