Certainly that's not the most open-minded way to approach something new, but over the years, the continuity-laden fans have become jaded at what film and television producers deem unnecessary to the story.

Suddenly Dr. Doom is with the Fantastic Four during their accident. Spider-Man doesn't build web shooters, he grows them. Etc. Etc. Ad infinitum.

Continuity scares away new fans, we're told. And so it's rare to see something transferred whole to the screen.

While changes must be made (as they are in the comic books) to serve the plot, they don't have to throw the baby and the bathtub out with the bathwater. Take Justice League Unlimited, Season 2, which invites in new viewers and takes liberally from the world of DC Comics to make a thoroughly enjoyable cartoon suitable for die-hard dorks and newbies.

The Show

Producer Bruce Timm (who was on the job with the seminal "Batman: The Animated Series" way back in 1992) works with others to create a vibrant, connected parallel DC Universe that is miles ahead of the "Super Friends" many remember.

This Justice League is an all-inclusive group built around the "Big 3" of Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman. Their core group includes the most recognizable DC heroes, including Flash, Green Lantern, Hawkgirl and the Martian Manhunter.

On top of that, the creators pulled in tons of names less well-known to the general public, like Green Arrow, Vixen, Orion and others. It gives the show a chance to highlight new characters and lets the core group breathe a little.

No hero would be worth a damn without a villain, and JLU comes through on that score with some of the most entertaining bad guys around. Lex Luthor is an obvious choice, but the show takes advantage of a wide range, including Gorilla Grodd, Roulette and "the Rogues" who chase Flash around.

This two-disc set has all 13 of the series final episodes, most of which stand alone, though many build toward the grand finale two-parter "Alive!" and "Destroyer."

While the Hawkman/Hawkgirl episodes drag on a bit (much like in the comics), there are some really funny and really touching stories. Not surprisingly, the most humorous of them involve the Flash. In "Flash and Substance," the Scarlet Speedster must take down his clownish villains on Flash Appreciation Day and in "The Great Brain Robbery" we see how the least-serious Justice Leaguer handles switching minds with Lex Luthor.

There's really not a bad one in the bunch and even "Ancient History" has some of the great love triangle between Vixen, Hawkgirl and Green Lantern.

The Picture

This is one pretty cartoon, presented here in widescreen. The colors are bright, the lines crisp and the action never overwhelms the technology, so don't worry about lags or jags on the screen.

The Sound

The Dolby Digital Stereo won't blow you away, but it gets the job done. No fuzzing out, no drop aways and whatever they say (or blow up), you can hear.

In addition to subtitles, you can also listen to the show in Portuguese, in case you're heading to Brazil.

The Extras

Two featurettes give a closer look not only at the second season, but also the last half of "JLU, Season 1."

"Justice League Chronicles" features writers, producers and directors talking about the themes and behind-the-scenes work in select episodes.

"Cadmus: Exposed" is moderated by Mark Hamill and talks about the 8-episode arc that ended Season 1. What it's doing here, I don't know, but all 23 minutes of it is plenty interesting.

Sadly, there are no individual commentaries on the episodes and no scene selection. You watch the whole thing or fast forward, there's no jumping around.

Parting Thoughts...

Justice League Unlimited, Season 2 is an oddity, as the creators didn't even think they'd get to do a second season. Maybe it was that surprise that inspired them to make an incredibly faithful cartoon that is still easily accessible to young viewers or newcomers.

If the extras were a little stronger, I'd have no problem putting this in the Hall of Fame for cartoons, but as is, this two-disc set is Highly Recommended.