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Info:

• Title: Justice League The Complete Series
• Rated: unrated
• Cast: Kevin Conroy, Geroge Newbern, Michael Rosenbaum, Phil LaMarr
• Writer: Various
• Director: Various
• Distributor: Warner Bros. Home Entertainment
• Original Year of Release: 2009
• Extras: See Below
• Series: Justice League

JUSTICE LEAGUE The Complete Series DVD Review

JUSTICE LEAGUE The Complete Series DVD Review
© Mania

Running from 2001 – 2006, The Justice League and Justice League Unlimited did what didn’t seem possible…it eclipsed The X-Men Animated series as the best super team animated series ever. In fact, it not only eclipsed it, but blew its doors off with darker storylines, characters which closely matched their comic book versions, superior voice-acting, and a cast which included just about every hero in the DC universe, whether they were actually a member of the League or not.

Attempting to appeal to an older and more sophisticated audience, the storylines in Justice League were all comprised of two or three-part episodes. In short, this was NOT Superfriends but a show where many of the characters were often at odds with each other, had their own agendas, and even espoused their political beliefs.

The show originally featured the adventures of a core group consisting of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Martian Manhunter, Hawkgirl, The Flash (Wally West), and Green Lantern (John Stewart), meaning that this lineup was almost identical to the original lineup in the comics with Hawkgirl taking the place of Aquaman who would later appear as a guest star in several episodes.

The series kicked off with the three-part “Secret Origins” as alien invaders who had destroyed the Martian Manhunters race attack earth, uniting the heroes for the first time. Wayne Industries builds the enormous space satellite known as the Watchtower, and the Justice League is formed.

“Injustice for All” finds Lex Luthor forming the “Injustice Gang” to battle the League. His group consists of Cheeta, The Shade, Solomon Grundy, Star Sapphire, Copperhead and Ultra-Humanite.

One of the best Episodes of season one is the two-part “Legends”. Here the league is transported to a parallel world where a team known as “The Justice Guild of America” exists. The Guild is based on the Justice Society and the story captures that nostalgic feel of early JLA and JSA team-ups from the Silver Age.

The First season concludes with the three-part “Savage Time”, one of the very best story arcs of the series’ run. Vandal Savage has used time travel to change history where the Nazis won World War II. The League has to travel back in time to set things right. This is a very dark storyline which uses Nazi symbolism such as the SS logo and colors.

In season two, the League would battle some of their greatest villains including Despero, Amazo, Darkseid, and The Secret Society. “Comfort and Joy” was one of the few single episodes of the series and is a heart-warming Christmas tale with the league enjoying the holiday season.

With the third season the show changed to Justice League Unlimited and expanded the cast tremendously. Scores of heroes could be found in the Watchtower, often just standing about in the background and it was fun to play spot the hero and animating that many characters at once is no small feat! The expanded roster numbered over 60 heroes in all. Some played active roles in episodes while others appeared in non-speaking roles such as The Creeper, Starman, Thunderbolt, Vibe, Hourman, and Gypsy.

The new members that appeared in significant roles included Green Arrow, Captain Atom, Supergirl, Mister Terrific, Shining Knight, Zatanna, The Question, The Atom, and The Red Tornado.

Unlimited featured an adaptation of the Alan Moore story “For the Man who Has Everything” as Superman falls prey to Monguls deadly Black Mercy plant that leaves him immobilized and dreaming of his perfect life on Krypton. While most of the episodes of Unlimited are single stories, many featuring an ongoing plot with the League being investigated by the Government and Amanda Waller’s Cadmus Project.

“Dark Heart” is a story written by Warren Ellis and features just about the entire League roster battling an alien nanotech threat which multiplies and devours everything in its path. And in “Far From Home” the Legion of Superheroes plucks several League members from time to help them battle The Fatal Five.

What’s amazing about this series is the incredible acting talent that was used. Kevin Conroy was back as Batman and Clancy Brown reprised his role as Lex Luthor but even relatively minor characters featured well known actors: Jerry O’ Connell as Captain Marvel; Obed Fehr as Doctor Fate, Jeremy Piven as The Elongated Man; James Remar as Hawkman; Tom Sizemore as Metamorpho; Ron Perlman as Orion; Michael Ironside as Darkseid; Ed Asner as Granny Goodness; Michael Rosenbaum as The Flash: Michael Dorn as Kalibak; Juliet Landau as Plastique; John Rhys-Davies as Hades. Now they could have used anyone for these voices and the fact that the producers used such well-known talent tells you just how much effort was put into the show.

Extras

The set is loaded with bonus features, most of which have appeared on previous season releases however there is a bonus disc which includes a new featurette. Here is a rundown of the extras:

• Eight Creator Commentaries
• Eight Bonus Featurettes including:
• Inside JUSTICE LEAGUE - Creator’s Panel Discussion
• Storyboards: The Blueprint for Justice
• The Look of the League: Character Design
• JUSTICE LEAGUE - The First Mission Never-Before-Seen Promo
• JUSTICE LEAGUE Declassified - Phil Lamarr (The Voice of GREEN LANTERN) Takes You Behind the Scenes with the Show’s Creative Team
• And Justice For All- The Process of Revamping the Series with New Characters and a New Creative Direction
• Cadmus: Exposed – Mark Hamill and Series Creative Personnel Discuss This Popular Series Story Arc
• JUSTICE LEAGUE Chronicles: Series Writers, Producers, and Directors Discuss Their Favorite Moments Among Final Season
• Unlimted Reserve – This all-new 16:45 featurette takes a look back at earlier DC cartoons like Superfriends and discusses how this series was designed to be more true to the comics