Some jobs are just too big for a single person. Some are even too big for seven! At least that's what the Justice League discovered. Following the aftermath of the Thanagarian invasion, the destruction of the Watchtower, and the resignation of Hawkgirl, the League has rebuilt itself. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, a new team has come forward with more then a handful of new members, a brand new Watchtower, and more supervillans then you can shake a fist at. The Justice League is now unlimited, ready to tackle any challenge that comes its way, as well as learn the meaning of the phrase 'Strength in Numbers'.
Taking place after the events of the Justice League series finale, "Starcrossed," Justice League Unlimited is an original series created by Warner Brothers Animation and Cartoon Network. Premiering Saturday, July 31, 2004 at 8.5 pm, the much anticipated Justice League Unlimited quickly became one of a growing number of shows to make it's world debut on Toonami. While some fans were wary of the increased size of the cast at first the show quickly developed a fan following, enough for the network to green light an additional 13 episodes beyond the preliminary 26 episode order.
.:Episode Guide
Season One
1: Initiation
2: For the Man Who Has Everything
3: Hawk and Dove
4: Fearful Symmetry
5: Kid's Stuff
6: This Little Piggy
7: The Return
8: The Greatest Story Never Told
9: Ultimatum
10: Dark Heart
11: Wake the Dead
12: The Once and Future Thing (Part 1): Wierd Western Tales
13: The Once and Future Thing (Part 2): Time, Warped
Season Two
14: The Cat and the Canary
15: The Ties that Bind
16: The Doomsday Sanction
17: Task Force X
18: The Balance
19: Double Date
20: Clash
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21: Hunter's Moon
22: Question Authorty
23: Flashpoint
24: Panic in the Sky
25: Divided We Fall
26: Epilogue
Season Three
27: I Am Legion
28: Shadow of the Hawk
29: Chaos at the Earth's Core
30: To Another Shore
31: Flash and Substance
32: Dead Reckoning
33: Patriot Act
34: The Great Brain Robbery
35: Grudge Match
36: Far From Home
37: Ancient History
38: Alive
39: Destroyer
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.:Characters
Batman - Despite his "part-time" status, Batman still retains a commanding presence in the League. Respected for his legendary detective and martial arts skills, the solitary Dark Knight remains an imposing figure, striking fear in his enemies, and intimidating many of the newer Justice League members. Having grown closer to the other founding member of the League over the last few years, Batman has secretly begun to be concerned over some of their changing attitudes.
Superman - While not the first superhero to wear a costume, Superman is arguably one of the most well known and respected. Having rebuilt his reputation following his manipulation at the hands of Darkseid, the Man of Steel has worked tirelessly to protect the world along side the Justice League. But the years have not been kind to Superman. Facing so many super powered enemies have left him a bit jaded. Not quite the boyscout he used to be known as previously, Superman now hits harder and faster, trying to end fights faster rather than trying to talk villains out of fighting all together. Despite working with the other founding members to make decisions for the League, most of the public view Superman as the Justice League’s leader.
Wonder Woman - Ever since her banishment from isle of her birth, the former Princess of Themesycra has tried to make the best of her life in "Man’s World," but it was perhaps the Thanagarian Invasion that changed her the most. Following the betrayal of Hawkgirl, her fellow "sister in arms," Diana no longer views woman as the innately superior gender and now viewing both sexes with skepticism. Though she has great respect for the other founding members of the Justice League, particularly J’onn and Superman with whom she feels a certain kinship, and Batman, in who she now sees as a potential romantic interest, everyone else must first live up to her own standards before they’re worthy of her trust.
Flash - With the increased size of the Justice League the Flash has found more time to work on his own hero career. As the self-proclaimed guardian of the bridge linked Central and Keystone cities, the Flash has endured himself to people. Respected by the new members of the Justice League as a "Founding Member," the Flash still worries about being taken seriously.
Green Lantern - When Hawkgirl left the Justice League she took John’s heart with her. Since then the Green Lantern has become a changed man. Sporting a new look and a new power ring, John Stewart has mellowed over time and become more creative with the constructs he can create with his ring. Not quite the uptight drill master he was when the Justice League first banded together, John has become more considerate of the newer members opinions and feelings. He’s even managed to find a new love interest, the beautiful Vixen.
J'onn J'onzz - Despite surrounding himself with more people than ever before, the last Martian continues to grow colder and more distant. A constant figure in the Watchtower, J’onn has taken the responsibility of assigning missions to League members and serving to monitor those missions as they’re carried out. While he remains a reliable ally for the League members who need him, J’onn rarely leaves the Watchtower anymore, causing concern among the other founding members.
Shayera Hol - A traitor to both her own people of Thanagar, and to her adapted home of Earth, the woman formerly known as Hawkgirl has gone into self-imposed exile. Hiding much closer than any of her former teammates suspect, when Shayera is finally ready to return to the Justice League she’ll have to deal with both a world that’s convinced she betrayed them and the mistrust from the new members of a much larger Justice League.
Aquaman - No longer content to sit back while the surface world has faced multiple invasions, Aquaman has come to realize that the safety of his home Atlantis depends on the safety of the rest of the planet. Armed with superhuman strength, the ability to breath underwater, and telepathic communication with undersea life, Aquaman brings more to the table than just superpowers. As king of Atlantis, Aquaman’s official membership in the Justice League has made his entire kingdom the League’s stalwart allies.
Black Canary - Considered one of the few people who can give Batman a run for his money, Dinah Lance is considered to be one of the best Formidable marital artist in the world. Combined with her superhuman ability to produce the "Canary’s Cry," an ultrasonic blast from her vocal cords that can shatter walls, she is considered one of the League’s most deadly, and beautiful, members.
Captain Atom - A nuclear accident transformed Captain Nathanial Adams into a being of pure radioactive energy. Forced to live in a special containment suit, Captain Atom can now channel that energy into super-strength, flight, energy blasts, and manipulate other energy sources. Known for his by-the-book attitude, he now uses his military training and radioactive might to help the Justice League.
Green Arrow - After selling off his company for a few billion dollars, Oliver Queen took up the bow and arrow to fight crime. In a world where super powered heroes battle monsters, Green Arrow makes it his mission to protect the "little guy."
The Question - Paranoid and obsessive on a good day, this enigmatic conspiracy theorist baffles even his own teammates. While he knows how to fight, his true assets to the Justice League are his amazing detective abilities, which even Batman puts to use from time to time. Utilizing a faceless mask to intimidate his opponents, The Question will constantly probe, attack, and analyze any problem or puzzle until he gets the answers he was looking for.
Supergirl - The only survivor from Krypton’s sister planet, Argos, Kara’s unique biology gives her powers similar to that of Superman. Having been adopted into Superman’s family she has assumed the role of his cousin, though he’s more apt to treat her like a little sister. While proud to wear Superman’s symbol, Supergirl wouldn’t mind being recognized and respected for her own accomplishments.
Vixen - To the world, the beautiful Mari McCabe is a fashion model. But to the Justice League she’s Vixen, a superhero possessing a magic talisman that grants her the abilities of any animal she wants. Following the departure of Hawkgirl, Mari and Green Lantern John Stewart have become a romantic couple, but Mari still deals with insecurity, believing herself to be John’s "rebound girl."
.:Misc.
- When Cartoon Network renewed Justice League for an additional 26 episodes, the only stipulations where to "rebrand" the show, and change the episodes format to a 30 minute standalone episodes, rather than the previous hour-long, two-part stories. Bruce Timm instead decided to acquire as many DC comic book characters as her could for the series, and renamed the show "Justice League Unlimited." The changes were enough that Cartoon Network considered the new episodes a completely different television series.
- Prior to writing the episode "Fearful Symmetry" there were no real plans for a long term story arc, later dubbed "The Cadmus Arc."
- The episode title "Fearful Symmetry" comes from a proposed Justice League Direct to Video movie that would have explained the changes that took place in the between the end of Justice League and the beginning of Justice League Unlimited. The DTV movie was renamed "World’s Collide" and has since been placed on hiatus.
- Justice League Unlimited makes more references to the previous DC related animated shows then the creative team has ever done before.
- The creative team, particularly Bruce Timm, are huge fans of Joss Whedon, and like to put subtle references to his works in the show, while putting their own spin on those references.
- When creating the episode "Epilogue" it was unknown that Cartoon Network would renew the series for an additional 13 episodes. "Epilogue" was intended a bookend for all the animated DC shows, beginning with Batman: The Animated Series.
- The episode "Epilogue" was adapted from a second, unproduced Batman Beyond Direct to Video movie. For the curious, replace the role of Amanda Waller with Catwoman and you would know the planned movie’s plot.
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