Bruce Timm's contribution
to the larger canon of DC Comics' superheroes has grown from the surprise
hit Batman: The Animated Series into a fully-fledged universe
that has taken these characters on some fascinating adventures.
After Batman: The Animated Series, Timm's most significant
creation has been Justice League and Justice League: Unlimited--which
are gathered here in this handsome set under the title Justice League
- The Complete Series. Other "Timmverse" series and
features are well worth watching, re-watching, and remembering (including
Superman: The Animated Series, which I will be reviewing here shortly).
But Justice League is one of the best superhero television series
of all time. It has a very special charm, a sense of fun and adventure
that borrows heavily from the established worlds of each of the "big
seven" who make up the Justice League during its first two seasons
- a set of characters that expands in unusual directions when the
show morphed into Justice League: Unlimited
in its third season. The original seven are: Superman, Wonder
Woman, the Flash, the Green Lantern (Jon Stewart), the Martian Manhunter,
Hawkgirl, and Batman. The first six are the focus of the series,
with Batman joining in occasionally, or appearing at key moments to
provide important information and support. (In the series' own
"origin story" of the League, Batman funds the Watchtower, their
base that orbits the Earth.)
Drawing from both well-known
and obscure DC story arcs, Justice League combines the earnest
tone of the comics with the pizzazz of earlier animated incarnations
of our heroes, especially the Fleischer brothers' theatrical Superman
shorts from the 1940s. The result is a fast-paced, plot-driven
series that makes room for nice character moments - and pulls out
all the stops in its long, spectacular action sequences. The overall
tone is lighter and less moody than Batman: The Animated Series;
the feel blends tones and elements from both the Golden and Silver Ages
of comics, utilizing brighter colors, a focus on adventure, and stories
laced with science fiction.
Justice League
ran for two seasons, from November 2001 to May 2004. Almost without
exception, each episode comprised a part of a two- or three-episode
story arc. This format allowed for some robust storytelling, obviating
the kinds of hard-to-swallow narrative shortcuts endemic to this particular
genre. Drawing stories out over multiple episodes also affords
character development - such as it is - that is so often abandoned
in favor of action.
Season One starts off with
the three-part "Secret Origins," which sets up the background of
the Justice League for the purposes of this particular series.
Brought together by an invasion of Earth by Martian colonists - which
has special significance for J'onn J'onzz, the last of the Martian
race - the seven heroes join forces and defeat the invaders.
They vow to remain bound by the common purpose of the Earth's defense
against harm.
Subsequent episodes tend to
focus on some subset of the "big seven;" rarely are they all featured
at the same time, save for the more ambitious arcs that deal with some
galactic or interdimensional threat that requires all the resources
the Justice League can bring to bear.
Other memorable first season
arcs include the two-part "Legends," in which the League is transported
to an alternate reality where humanity's safety is guaranteed by the
so-called Justice Guild of America - a sort of Bizarro version of
our heroes. "The Savage Time," the three-part conclusion of
the first season, finds the whole League traveling through time to aide
the Allies in fighting a "what if?" version of World War II.
"The Savage Time" features the best action, design, and animation
of the entire season. It's a Golden Age-flavored masterpiece.
Season Two maintains the style
set in the prior season, while incorporating more refined (and some
computer-enhanced) visuals. Particularly strong or interesting
arcs include the Superman-centric "Hereafter," which takes us a
back to Metropolis and the world of Superman: The Animated Series.
It also takes Superman into the future for a bizarre encounter with
ambivalent supervillain Vandal Savage. Also outstanding is the
three-part season closer, "Starcrossed," which has Hawkgirl at the
center of a battle between the League and the Gordanians.
The two seasons (well, one
and a half, really) of Justice League: Unlimited (which was originally
broadcast from July 2004 to May 2006) open up the League, and the show,
while maintaining the visual style and overall tone of the first series.
The addition of other DC characters - including the Green Arrow, Captain
Atom, Supergirl, Hawk and Dove, The Question, and others - broadens
the show's narrative and thematic range while challenging the heroes
to work together in ways that are simultaneously global, targeted, and
efficient. Episodes are written as one-offs, abandoning the multi-episode
arcs of the prior series. However, the show's creators have
strung ongoing story arcs across the entire series, in the same way
a mainstream television drama would do. It's a smart move, and
it's too bad the show did not survive long enough for all of these
to be fully developed and resolved.
Justice League: Unlimited
is characterized by rip-roaring adventure combined with an almost martial
camaraderie. Visually, the animation incorporates more 3D modeling
into the 2D style, and the blend is mostly successful. Fast-paced
episodes embrace a litany of DC characters, events, and themes, effectively
addressing a major swath of the DC canon in a more inclusive way than
Justice League did. The first season was, I believe, intended
to be the only season, as the final episode "Epilogue" seems to
wrap up not only Justice League: Unlimited, but simultaneously
Batman Beyond - while serving as a moving coda to Batman: The
Animated Series.
Season Two of Justice League:
Unlimited seems almost like an afterthought. While entirely
enjoyable, it's not as carefully paced as the first; I haven't been
able to confirm this, but based on the storytelling, it would appear
that the producers had not intended there to be another season. "Epilogue"
is such a strong episode and appropriate ending to the series that Season
Two seems forced by its very nature, even though the individual episodes
are as well-produced as those that went before them.
The DVD
The Package and Content
The contents here comprise a direct port of the four previously
released Justice League sets (Justice League: Seasons One
and Two, and Justice League: Unlimited: Seasons One and
Two), along with a new bonus disc. For those who already own
the prior DVD releases, the bonus disc is not going to be a selling
point. The only content on this new disc is a single 16-minute
featurette entitled Unlimited Reserve: A League for the Ages.
Other than that, be forewarned: there is no new content here.
However, the new packaging is very handsome. The fifteen discs
are split between two clear, double-wide keepcases, with all Justice
League episodes in "Volume One" and all the Justice League:
Unlimited episodes in "Volume Two." These two cases are
housed in a sturdy, well-designed tin slipcover.
The Video
As with their prior releases, Justice League: Season One
is presented fullscreen; Season Two is presented in letterboxed
widescreen; and Justice League: Unlimited is presented in an
enhanced transfer. I am not going to be alone in expressing disappointment
that this program - the subject of much aspect ratio controversy -
wasn't fully remastered and presented in consistent enhanced widescreen
transfers. Since the creators' intentions appear to have been
for the entire series be broadcast in widescreen, why not take the opportunity
to rectify the show's visual presentation? Although these transfers
are all relatively strong - with sharp, bold colors and appropriate
levels of contrast - it would have been gratifying to fans to have
this special package bear some sign of Warner Bros' goodwill.
All they've done is wrapped existing releases in good packaging and
added a forgettable featurette. Fans expect more - and their willingness
to spend on franchises they love merits better treatment by Warner Bros.
The Audio
The stereo soundtracks are all solid, clear, but lack spectacle.
They are engaging tracks, but not reference-quality.
The Extras
As I've indicated, the extras are a direct port from the previous
releases.
Disc One: Commentary
on "The Enemy Below - Part Two"
Disc Two: Three featurettes
Disc Three: Commentary on "Legends - Part Two"
Disc Four: Commentary on "The Savage Time - Part Two"
and a featurette
Disc Five: Commentary on "Twilight - Part Two" and
two featurettes
Disc Six: Commentary on "A Better World - Part Two"
Disc Seven: One featurette
Disc Eight: Commentary on "Starcrossed - Part Three"
Disc Nine: Commentary on "This Little Piggy" and "The
Return," plus a featurette
Disc Twelve: A featurette on the series' music
Disc Thirteen: One featurette
Disc Fourteen: Music-only track on "Destroyer," plus
a featurette
Disc Fifteen: This new bonus disc contains a featurette
and trailers
Final
Thoughts
Justice League: The Complete
Series contains every episode of one of the greatest animated superhero
programs of all time. Immensely immersive and entertaining, there
are hours of memorable fun here, packaged as an attractive set.
It's regrettable that there are no new transfers here, or significant
new bonus content. Those who own the previously-released season
sets can safely skip this. For everyone else, it's highly
recommended.
Casey Burchby is a writer and editor who lives in San Jose, CA.
Buy: