In 2001, seven of DC’s greatest heroes, including Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, The Flash, Hawkgirl, and Martian Manhunter, joined forces for the epic team-up series, Justice League. The cartoon show served as a continuation of Batman: The Animated Series and Superman: The Animated Series, as well as a prequel to Batman Beyond, and focused on world-threatening problems that only an expert super hero team could tackle.
Justice League ran for two seasons between 2001 and 2004, clocking up 52 episodes in the process. However, rather than come to an end, the show morphed into continuation series Justice League Unlimited (JLU), which added a further three seasons and 39 episodes on to the total.
JLU expanded the roster of heroes beyond the initial seven members, to effectively include anyone from the DC Universe. Superman, Batman, and the rest of the original team were still a key part of the show, but now they were joined by the likes of Supergirl, Aquaman, Atom, and Mister Terrific, amongst others.
If you didn’t catch Justice League or JLU during its initial run, you certainly missed out on a treat. However, now you can play catch-up by seeking out the best episodes.
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Secret Origins: Part One, Part Two, and Part Three
First up, is the three-part story Secret Origins, which not only opens Justice League, but also sets the wheels in motion for all the characters to join forces. In this story, Superman and Batman become aware of a sinister plot when alien invaders begin to emerge on Earth.
After rescuing Martian Manhunter, the Man of Steel and the Caped Crusader are joined by Wonder Woman, Hawkgirl, the Flash, and Green Lantern. But with the aliens proving extremely powerful, can this newly created ‘League’ stop the invasion before it is too late?
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The Savage Time: Part One, Part Two, and Part Three
In the three-part story, The Savage Time, the Justice League return from a mission in space only to discover the world isn’t how they left it. The immortal Vandal Savage has altered Earth history, which has allowed him and the Nazis to win World War II.
In order to put things right, the League travel back in time to turn the tide during the war. But with the fate of history up for grabs, they will need some additional help to win the day.
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A Better World: Part One and Part Two
Onto the brilliant two-part story, A Better World now, where in an alternate reality the Justice League launch an attack on the White House. President Lex Luthor is responsible for the death of the Flash, so Superman retaliates and kills Luthor.
Two years on, and the League now call themselves the Justice Lords. The Lords rule over the world and are keeping everything and everyone in check, but when they become aware of the ‘good’ Justice League in another dimension, they plan to travel to this other Earth and replace the heroes.
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Hereafter: Part One and Part Two
In Hereafter, Metallo, Kalibak, Livewire, Toyman, and Weather Wizard team up with one goal in mind: To get revenge on Superman. And surprisingly, they appear to achieve that goal, killing the Man of Steel in process.
But in reality, Superman isn’t dead. Instead he has been transported 30,000 years into the future, where he meets Vandal Savage and attempts to find a way home.
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Comfort and Joy
In a rarity for Justice League, this next story is not a two-or-three-part story, but instead a single episode. Set around the Christmas holidays, the story focuses on the League’s festive plans, which includes Superman and Martian Manhunter traveling to Smallville to spend Christmas with the Kents.
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Starcrossed: Part One, Part Two, and Part Three
Onto the final three episodes of Justice League now, which is a truly epic story, which sees the League faced with yet another alien invasion. This time it is at the hands of the Thanagarians, who have plans to destroy the Earth, because quite frankly, why not?
The League do their best to fight back, but appear to be outmatched. There is also the problem of Hawkgirl being Thanagarian, and therefore a potential traitor to the team.
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For the Man Who Has Everything
Sliding into Justice League Unlimited now with the moving sci-fi tale, For the Man Who Has Everything. Based on the story of the same name by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons (originally published in 1985’s Superman Annual #11) the story focuses on a parasitic plant known as the Black Mercy.
In the episode, it’s Superman’s birthday and as Batman and Wonder Woman arrive at the Fortress of Solitude to wish him well, they discover the Man of Steel in a catatonic state. The Black Mercy is attached to his body, and he appears to be stuck in a trance.
Unbeknown to them, while he is under the influence of the Black Mercy, Superman is having visions of a wonderful life on Krypton. But with the plant sapping Superman of his energy, he faces the prospect of giving up this picture perfect paradise or face certain death.
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The Doomsday Sanction
In The Doomsday Sanction, while Batman is investigating the mysterious organisation known as Cadmus, which is keeping tabs on the Justice League, Superman is attacked by the monstrous creature known as Doomsday. But as Superman defeats his enemy, it appears that maybe the League is becoming too powerful.
Could Cadmus be right in thinking the Justice League are a danger to the world? It’s uncertain, but even Batman is beginning to worry.
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Task Force X
In Task Force X, a collection of villains are sent on a secret mission. This ‘suicide squad’ must infiltrate the Justice League’s base of operations, known as the Watchtower, and steal a powerful armour.
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Clash
As Lex Luthor pushes ahead with his plans to become US President, he recruits Justice League member, Captain Marvel (aka Shazam) to help him. This causes a conflict of interests, and severely puts Superman’s nose out of joint, as he has no faith in Luthor.
But things get much worse when Luthor manipulates Superman into fighting Captain Marvel in a public display of his power. Luthor’s plan is to discredit the League and it seems to be paying off.
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Flashpoint
As Luthor continues to turn up the heat on the League, he manages to hack into the Watchtower’s computer system, seizing control of its main defence weapon in the process. Firing the gun, he destroys Cadmus, making it appear as if the all-powerful Justice League are out of control and a threat to the world.
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Panic in the Sky
Under pressure from the President, the League surrender to the government hoping to clear their name. However, as they slowly begin to expose Luthor’s plan, they uncover an even more worrying revelation involving another old foe.
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Divided We Fall
The League face their darkest hour against an extremely powerful Luthor and his new partner. But as they fight to defeat their enemies, the Flash puts his life on the line.
Could the events that led to the formation of the Justice Lords be about to play out once more? And could Luthor win?!
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The Great Brain Robbery
A significant change of pace for this next story, The Great Brain Robbery – a comical caper which sees Lex Luthor and the Flash switch identities. This is a fun episode, which is played for laughs, as hero becomes villain… whether he wants to or not.
Oh, and as an added in-joke, the Flash voice actor, Michael Rosenbaum gets to voice Lex Luthor in this episode. Fans of Smallville will know that Rosenbaum played the role of Luthor across the course of the ten-season show.
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Alive!
As Justice League Unlimited heads towards its epic conclusion, the world is in peril yet again. This time around, Darkseid has plans to wipe out the Earth, and it looks like he might achieve his goal.
With everything at stake, Luthor and his fellow foes in the Secret Society have only one choice. They must put aside their villainy to join the League in the ultimate team up!
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Destroyer
And finally, in Destroyer, Superman, Batman, and Lex Luthor take the fight to Darkseid, while the Justice League and the Secret Society combine their powers to repel an invasion.
The entire Justice League/Justice League Unlimited journey ends here in a monumental showdown! And it does so with Superman demonstrating just how powerful he really is.
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Recap
OK, so those are the best episodes of Justice League and Justice League Unlimited, now to save you having to scroll back up, here is a recap list in full:
Justice League
- Secret Origins: Part One, Part Two, and Part Three
- The Savage Time: Part One, Part Two, and Part Three
- A Better World: Part One and Part Two
- Hereafter: Part One and Part Two
- Comfort and Joy
- Starcrossed: Part One, Part Two, and Part Three
Justice League Unlimited
- For the Man Who Has Everything
- The Doomsday Sanction
- Task Force X
- Clash
- Flashpoint
- Panic in the Sky
- Divided We Fall
- The Great Brain Robbery
- Alive!
- Destroyer
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