Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot.

At the end of the second season of Justice League, the Thanagarian invasion left the team in shambles as their headquarters was destroyed and Hawkgirl left the group. What it did was teach the Justice League a huge lesson in preparedness.

Justice League Unlimited: Season One, a four-disc boxed DVD set, sees the membership grow in leaps and bounds as the League is retooled to combat greater menaces. The original members—Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, Flash Green Lantern, and Martian Manhunter (sans Hawkgirl)—realize they can’t do it all alone anymore and have recruited any hero into the group. And it’s a good thing, too, because the dial just got turned up to eleven.


Are There Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen?

With the threats increasing and after the huge Thanagarian fiasco, it was only a matter of time that the League expanded its roster. But even though there is strength in numbers, there are those who prefer to work alone as shown in “Initiation”, the debut episode. Green Arrow is invited to join the ranks only to turn down the League many times over. The big Watchtower hovering above the Earth isn’t his style as he rather help the little people in need. Still, Green Arrow realizes that the League can do a lot of good and serves as their “conscience” in case they lose their focus. Plus, it also helps when the lovely but deadly Black Canary is a member.

A lot of second and third string characters really get to shine in this format, some even wondering if they are useful in a group like the Justice League. Wildcat, in particular, feels old and useless in a group filled with powerful members. So it’s not surprising that he joins a metahuman version of Ultimate Fighting in “The Cat and the Canary” to prove his own worth.

A beautifully done episode brings Shayera Hol (Hawkgirl) back into the fold in “Wake the Dead”. Solomon Grundy is back from the dead and is creating havoc. He is an unstoppable, mindless brute, reminiscent of the Incredible Hulk. But not all are pleased with Shayera’s return, two in particular being Wonder Woman and Vixen. “The Balance” forces the Amazon Princess to team-up with Shayera in order to stop Felix Faust, but they need to put aside their differences in order to finish the task. “Hunter’s Moon” has Shayera (Green Lantern’s ex-girlfriend) and Vixen (Green Lantern’s current girlfriend) work together as they discover what happened to the Thanagarians after their humiliating defeat.

Other stories bring many characters from all over the DC universe into this animated world to the delight of many fans. They are presented in ways that make sense for this format with the hindrance of continuity Green Lantern Kyle Rayner, first introduced in Superman: The Animated Series, is back with the Green Lantern Corps in “The Return”. Captain Marvel and Superman have a difference of ideologies in “Clash”. And in “Ultimatium”, the Ultimen make an appearance based on the old and forgotten Superfriends characters—Apache Chief, Black Vulcan, Samurai and the Wonder Twins.

But the biggest story line involves a super-secret government faction called Project Cadmus, a secret government bent on protecting humanity against these super powered beings. It all began with a brainwashed Superman leading the forces of Apokolips in Superman: The Animated Series. It further escalated when the Justice Lords (from Justice League: Season Two) made its presence known. It all proved how helpless humankind is against beings such as these. This is why Project Cadmus exists but they have taken things to a dangerous level starting with the cloning of Supergirl (“Fearful Symmetry”) and the creation of Doomsday (“The Doomsday Sanction”).

The Justice League may be more proactive since the Thanagarian invasion but the government on Earth has done the same as well. When these two finally collide, the saying “all hell has broken loose” will have a new meaning.


Tying Up Loose Ends

Justice League Unlimited was a response to the successful previous two seasons of Justice League. The fate of the Justice League was up in the air and the producers didn’t know which way the pendulum was going to swing. Thirteen episodes were ordered under this new format for the Cartoon Network. Two-part episodes were done away in favour for highly-condensed, self-contained, action-packed 30-minute episodes, and Bruce Timm and company delivered with all cylinders running. Because this proved to be so successful, Cartoon Network ordered another thirteen episodes. Even though all 26 episodes are presented in this boxed DVD set under Justice League Unlimited: Season One, technically, it is Seasons One and Two of the series (or really three and four if you want to get anal about it and include the previous two seasons… I know, it’s a headache just thinking about it).

What Timm and company present is a lesson in continuity and solid story telling. Plots that started back in the days of Batman: The Animated Series and Superman: The Animated Series are finally resolved as all things come together. The latter half of the episodes is really Superman’s story presented on a bigger scale, and what better way to conclude such an epic tale than having the League face the combined powers of his greatest enemies—Luthor and Brainiac.

And let’s not forget the Dark Knight, both of them. In a surprising move, the world of Batman Beyond finally integrates itself with the Justice League, but I guess it shouldn’t be so surprising since it was in Batman Beyond that the Justice League was first presented. In “The Once and Future Thing, Parts One & Two”, Terry McGinnis, Batman, and an old Bruce Wayne have a tête-à-tête-à-tête. But in an even more brilliant move, one that came out of nowhere, the producers found a way to present the one true Green Lantern to the show—Hal Jordan. But it all comes together in “Epilogue” as the connection between Terry McGinnis and Bruce Wayne is finally revealed. Everything comes full circle.

Not all the shows have a serious tone to it. Some are light-hearted. In “Kid Stuff”, Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman and Green Lantern are turned into kids as they have to battle Mordred, the son of Morgaine Le Fay, who used his magic to get rid of all the adults of the planet. Batman and Zatanna have to rescue Wonder Woman who was turned into a pig by the sorceress Circe in “This Little Piggy”. The most shocking revelation is discovering another talent that Batman possesses which no one will ever guess.

The voice acting is again superb. The list of actors involved reads as a who’s who gallery. Kevin Conroy proves time and time again why he is Batman. George Newbern really shines in his role as Superman and Michael Rosenbaum (Lex Luthor on Smallville) always entertains as the Flash.

A lot of guest actors also have some great roles on this show. The Wonder Years duo of Fred Savage and Jason Hervey play brothers Hawk and Dove, respectively. Star Trek connection is alive with Robert Picardo (Amazo), Armin Shimmerman (Dr. Milo) and Michael Dorn (Kalibak) as well as the Firefly crew with Gina Torres (Vixen) and Morena Baccarin (Black Canary). So many others such as Robert Englund (Felix Faust), Eric Roberts (Mongul), Ioan Gruffudd (Mr. Miracle), Jerry O’Connell (Captain Marvel), Will Friedle (Batman Terry McGinnis and Green Lantern Kyle Rayner) and, of course, Clancey Brown (Lex Luthor).

The animation is very fluid and impressive for a show that includes at least over 10 characters in every episode. Some may never have a speaking role but they are definitely there to help play “Where’s Waldo”. The computer generated graphics fit seamlessly with the traditional method giving this show a very state-of-the-art look. Of course the entire format is influenced by Japanese anime and it works very well considering the amount of action.

I was put off with the extras in this set as I expected a lot more. Strangely, the commentaries included were not for shows I would have expected. If anything, adding the remaining thirteen episodes for this set almost seemed like an afterthought because I would have expected the producers to talk about that a lot more in detail. But considering how good the episodes are, I can almost forgive the lack of extras. Almost.

Justice League Unlimited: Season One is an ambitious project put together by people who love the genre and the characters. If there was ever such a thing as a fanboy’s wet dream come to fruition, this would be it. Just make sure that protection is available.


Disc One:
Initiation
For The Man Who Has Everything
Hawk and Dove
Fearful Symmetry
Kids' Stuff
This Little Piggy
The Return

Disc Two:
The Greatest Story Never Told
Ultimatum
Dark Heart
Wake the Dead
The Once and Future Thing Part 1
The Once and Future Thing Part 2

Disc Three:
The Cat and the Canary
The Ties That Bind (aka Miracles Happen)
The Doomsday Sanction
Task Force X
The Balance
Double Date
Clash

Disc Four:
Question Authority
Hunter's Moon (aka Mystery in Space)
Flashpoint
Panic in the Sky
Divided We Fall
Epilogue


Also Included:
• Commentary on "This Little Piggy" and "The Return"
• “Special Feature and Justice For All”: the process of revamping the series with new characters and a new creative direction
• “Themes of Justice”: choose for favourite JLU musical theme audio tracks


Related Reviews
from the Timmverse
The Batman Superman Movie
Superman: The Animated Series, Volume 1
Superman: The Animated Series, Volume 2
Superman: The Animated Series, Volume 3
Superman: Brainiac Attacks
Batman: The Animated Series, Volume 1
Batman: The Animated Series, Volume 2
Batman: The Animated Series, Volume 3
Batman: The Animated Series, Volume 4
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
Batman Beyond
Batman Beyond: Season One
Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker
The Adventures of Batman and Robin: Robin's Reckoning
Batman Animated: The Book
Justice League: Season One
Justice League: Season Two
Justice League: Secret Origins
Justice League: Justice On Trial
Justice League: Starcrossed The Movie

Pre-Timmverse days
Challenge of the Super Friends: The First Season
Challenge of the Super Friends: Attack of the Legion of Doom


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Morgan Le Fay and Mordred are characters from the King Arthur lore. Hmmm, then there is Aquaman who just happens to be the king of Atlantis. His name happens to be Arthur Curry. King... Arthur. Wait, I don't get it. Just another "Connecting the Dots" review.


Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good for a Rainy Day
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children up Ages 8