EPISODES #27, 28 - TWILIGHT
Real Name: The Rockeater Monster
Voiced by ---
A creature native to New Genesis, this monster attacked Batman and Wonder Woman shortly after their arrival on the planet's surface.
In an odd continuity error, the Rockeater apparently snapped Diana's unbreakable lasso during the fight (seen here). However, this must have been an oversight, as in the next scene it's back to normal.
EPISODES #29, 30 - TABULA RASA
Real Name: Michael Rosenbaum
Voiced by Himself
In an in-joke making light of Rosenbaum's double duty as the Flash on Justice League and Lex Luthor on Smallville, AMAZO mistook the bald actor for Luthor in a scene from this episode.
Although long dead before Luthor arrived at his home, the late Professor Ivo—creator of AMAZO and a Silver Age supervillain in his own right—makes an appearance as well, after a fashion.
EPISODES #31, 32 - ONLY A DREAM
Real Name: Penny Dee
Voiced by Fairuza Balk
Wife of John Dee, she was murdered by her husband for her infidelity.
Some may recognize Penny Dee's voice as belonging to Fairuza Balk, an actress probably better known as FBI Agent Deborah Ciccerone on The Sopranos and Goth witch Nancy Downs from The Craft.
Real Name: Lois Lane
Voiced by Dana Delany
As a top reporter for Metropolis' Daily Planet newspaper, it was Lois Lane's articles and interviews that revealed Superman's presence to the world. Over time—and countless shared adventures—she has become one of the champion's closest friends, even though she has never learned that he and Clark Kent (her co-worker and friendly rival at the Planet) are one and the same.
Dana Delany on voicing Lois Lane: “This is just fun—I'd do this for free. We can do it anywhere—when I was shooting in Vancouver last year, I did it from there. I was a Lois Lane freak when I was a kid, [so] it was like a dream come true. And there's something so liberating about not being seen. You take more risks, I think, with your voice. You don't worry about making a fool of yourself (courtesy of the Los Angeles Times).”
Considering that the majority of Justice League episodes take place in Metropolis, it's surprising that this episode marks Lois Lane's first appearance on the series. It's also interesting to note that, in all three of her Season Two appearances, not once did she share actual, physical screen time with our Superman (in Only a Dream it was in a dream sequence, in A Better World it was with the Justice Lords' Superman, and in Hereafter she appeared after the Man of Steel already was considered to be dead).
The image above is from A Better World, as—for reasons that may be due to an animation error—Lois was animated without her trademark violet eyes and with her hair parted the other way; resulting in a sort of "Bizarro" Lois.
Real Name: Jimmy Olsen
Voiced by David Kaufman
After several encounters with Superman through his work at the Daily Planet, freelance photographer Jimmy Olsen became one of his closest friends and stalwart supporters.
Real Name: Perry White
Voiced historically by George Dzundza
The Managing Editor of the Daily Planet, he has no idea that staff reporter Clark Kent is actually Superman.
Although treated as a throwaway sequence at the beginning of Part Two, the Flash's dream of his own cartoon series (and the giant frog in his refrigerator) are, no doubt, a sly jab at the Kids' WB, whose meddling with the Batman, Superman, and Batman Beyond series—as well as debates over what a Justice League series should be—led Bruce Timm and company to Cartoon Network, which provided additional creative freedom and allowed them to do Justice League their way.
The tune hummed by Batman in the warehouse (and used in the commercial heard while driving there) was "Are You Sleeping, Brother John?" (which may be better known by its French name, "Frère Jacques"), a song about a man waking another man from sleep (lyrics can be found here).
EPISODES #33, 34 - MAID OF HONOR
Real Name: Audrey, Princess of Kasnia
Voiced by Dorie Barton
Heir to the throne of Kasnia, Princess Audrey was best known for her hard-partying ways and her status as a rich socialite. However, following the poisoning of her father and the betrayal of her husband, Vandal Savage, Audrey is now ready to assume the responsibility of rebuilding her nation and assuming her father’s role in the world community.
Loosely based on Princess Ann, Audrey Hepburn’s character in the 1953 film Roman Holiday, and Paris Hilton, professional celebrity and heiress to the Hilton Hotel fortune; Princess Audrey is portrayed as naïve and spoiled early in the episode, but evolved into a stronger woman thanks to her relationship with Wonder Woman. It is unknown if she will appear again, but it would be interesting to see her in a later episode and how she has turned Kasnia around.
Real Name: Gustev, King of Kasnia
Voiced by Alfred Molina
Apparently deposed during a coup, King Gustev was returned to power thanks to the aid of Vandal Savage. However, his reign was not to last, as he was poisoned by Savage's henchmen as part of his plot to conquer the world.
The circumstances behind
Vandal Savage’s alliance with the Kasnian royal family are unknown, but we can
make some speculations with what little we know about the fictional Balkan
nation. In The Last Son of
Krypton (the three-part pilot of the Superman series), Kasnia was
ruled by a Regent—an individual who assumes the ruling power of a nation in
the absence of the sovereign ruler. This
was a period of poor diplomatic relations between the
However, given the existence of a Kasnian royal family, it is possible that a General in the Kasnian military organized and staged a coup that ousted the royal family from the throne, who fled the country and went into exile. Against this backdrop, it’s plausible that Vandal Savage, as part of one of his plans, allied himself with Gustav and aided him in reclaiming his throne in exchange for becoming part of the royal family. Finally, Savage tapped Colonel Vox (who, considering his rank, would have been part of the conspiracy) as an ally in his plot to conquer the country himself and, thus, was spared execution for his role in the original coup.
Real
Name: Bruce Wayne
Voiced by Kevin Conroy
Appearing for the first time out of costume on Justice League, Bruce Wayne took the opportunity to dance with Diana, as well as watch her thwart an attempted kidnapping without the help of the Dark Knight.
For more information, see the Batman entry.
Real Name: Diana, Princess of Themyscira
Voiced by Susan Eisenberg
Making a rare public appearance without her Wonder Woman uniform, Diana was shocked to discover that, since joining the Justice League, she has become an international celebrity. In addition, her rescue of Princess Audrey led to the two women becoming fast friends, leading to a wild night in on the streets of Paris.
For more information, see the Wonder Woman entry.
EPISODES #35, 36 - HEARTS AND MINDS
Real
Name: Unknown
Voiced by Kim Mai Guest
The landlord of John Stewart’s apartment building, her unflappable nature impressed the Flash, as she was quick with a broom and did not back down from costumed intruders snooping around her building.
EPISODES #37, 38 - A BETTER WORLD
Real
Name: Lex
Luthor, President of the United States
Voiced by Clancy Brown
Elected President in the Justice Lords' reality, Lex Luthor dragged the United States—along with the rest of the world—into a conflict with the potential to erupt into a world war. Confronted by the Justice Lords' Superman in the Oval Office, it was his words that caused an already vulnerable and doubtful Man of Steel to snap, resulting in his incineration by Superman's heat vision.
Real
Name: George W. Bush, "President" of the United States
Voiced by Brian George
Put into power following Luthor's death by the Justice Lords, Bush has become a begrudging hand puppet of the superhero team, as his nation is under the Lords' martial law and repeated inquiries regarding the reinstatement of national elections fall on deaf ears.
Designed to resemble the current President of the United States, Bush's appearance in A Better World could be interpreted as a joke, as the man whose victory in the 2000 elections is still questioned by a significant portion of the population is seen here pleading with Superman to restore regular democratic elections.
Real Name: Lois Lane
Voiced by Dana Delany
Considered a threat by the Justice Lords due to her political ideology, the Lois Lane of this reality is kept under house arrest. Unable to leave her apartment and watched by armed guards, she also prohibited from receiving visitors, except for Superman.
Easily overlooked by the action sequences in A Better World, her scene with the Justice Lords' Superman tells quite a bit about his ego. Concerned about the crackdown on free speech and the state of martial law, Lois desperately tries to get Superman to see her point of view during his visits, but the Man of Steel merely writes it off as a lover's spat.
Real
Name: Joker / Unknown / Jack Napier
Voiced by Mark Hamill
Deemed a risk by the Justice Lords, Superman used his heat vision to lobotomize the Joker, and later put him to work as a secretary at Arkham Asylum. However, even in a pacified state, the former Clown Prince of Crime is still as quick-witted as ever, as the Justice League discovered during their visit.
Real
Name:
Voiced historically by Richard Moll
Deemed a risk by the Justice Lords, Superman used his heat vision to lobotomize Two-Face. Now pushing a broom in Arkham Asylum, Harvey Dent is no longer considered a threat to himself or to others, as the warring sides of his personality have been forced into an accord.
Real
Name:
Voiced by Diane Pershing
Deemed a risk by the Justice Lords, Superman used his heat vision to lobotomize Poison Ivy. Put to work tending the gardens of Arkham Asylum, Pamela Isley just can't seem to muster the same passions she once felt for plant life...or anything else, for that matter.
Real
Name:
Voiced historically by Dorian Harewood
Formerly a reporter for the Daily Planet, it would appear that his career path has taken him away from print journalism, as he provided on-the-scene coverage of Doomsday's rampage for a television network.
Although utilized as a background character for Justice League, it is fitting that Ron Troupe—a supporting character on Superman—would make an appearance in an episode featuring Doomsday, as the character was brought in to replace Clark Kent during the Funeral for a Friend series, the story arc immediately following The Death of Superman.
Utilized as a news reporter in A Better World—possibly for Planet News Broadcasting, which shares building space with the Daily Planet—Ron Troupe shows up again in Secret Society as part of a crowd of reporters.
Although resembling a genuine hospital rather than the gothic castle of the regular Batman series, the Arkham Asylum of the Justice Lords' universe is, in its own way, even more disturbing than the original. Possessing a creepy, just-under-the-surface element of horror, this Arkham Asylum definitely borrows from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and A Clockwork Orange in tone. Hardly a facility for healing, Batman's famed Rogues Gallery have all been lobotomized using Superman's heat vision; taking a short cut to wellness but removing them as a threat to society. In addition to the above appearances, J'onn J'onzz's scan of the television room reveals appearances by the Riddler (1), the Ventriloquist and Scarface (3 and 4, respectively), and even Deadshot (2), who sports the mustache that he wore in the comics.
In a nice bit of continuity, the Ventriloquist himself has been spared the lobotomy, while his ventriloquist dummy (the outlet for Arnold Wesker's Scarface personality) hasn't been. While the criminal persona is still present, it is harmless as long as Wesker believes that Scarface has been lobotomized and rendered docile.
In addition to the altered Arkham Asylum, A Better World also features an altered Batcave, albeit a Batcave resembling the one from Batman Beyond with its glass case of retired uniforms (perhaps Dick Grayson, Barbara Gordon, and Tim Drake were considered a threat just as Lois Lane was?). Also, in speaking of Batman Beyond elements, it should be mentioned that the costume of the Justice Lords' Batman shares design elements with the futuristic Batman suit, mainly in terms of coloring (black and gray) and symbol shape.
EPISODES #39, 40 - THE TERROR BEYOND
Real
Name: Unknown / The
Voiced by William Hootkins
A veteran soldier who has fought Solomon Grundy in the past, this military commander leads a unit designed to apprehend the undead powerhouse.
It is interesting to note that, while The Terror Beyond was in production, Marvel Comics' Hulk movie was in production as well. In light of this—and in light of the decidedly Hulk-like influences that the creative team have infused Grundy with—the commander is obviously a homage to General "Thunderbolt" Ross, one of the Hulk's oldest foes and sometime-leader of the Hulkbusters, a military unit designed to apprehend the Green Goliath.
In a continuing line of homages to Marvel Comics' characters and teams, the assembly of heroes in The Terror Beyond is meant to resemble the Defenders, the Marvel Comics "non-team" of part-time heroes who band together only when necessary (seen here in a Timm-drawn picture). Making infrequent appearances since the 1970s, the team is famous for its reluctant heroes (the core roster consisting of Dr. Strange, the Hulk, Silver Surfer, and the Sub-Mariner) and constant bickering (which was already present on Justice League, but Beyond contained more of it than usual). In addition, the heroes featured in Beyond were chosen specifically to pay tribute to the following Defenders: Dr. Fate = Dr. Strange, Aquaman = the Sub-Mariner, Solomon Grundy = Hulk, Superman = Silver Surfer, Wonder Woman = Valkyrie, and Hawkgirl = Nighthawk.
In addition to this episode's H.P. Lovecraft elements (detailed in the Ichthultu entry), this episode also pays tribute to Steve Ditko's artwork, as Ichthultu's home dimension resembles many of the psychedelic landscapes found in his Dr. Strange work.
EPISODES #41, 42 - ECLIPSED
Real Name: Glorious Gordon Godfrey
Voiced by Enrico Colantoni
A sensationalist, ultra-conservative media personality, G. Gordon Godfrey uses his talk show as a means to perpetuate his celebrity, utilizing misdirection and catchphrases to sway his audience to his way of thinking. Recently, the "Glorious One" turned his sights onto the "Just-Us League," hooking onto the Flash's recent commercial work as a means to attack the superhero organization. However, following the League's successful mission to save the solar system, Godfrey found himself devoid of sponsors and rescheduled by the network to 4:15am, after the farm report.
Cut from the same cloth as political pundits Rush Limbaugh and G. Gordon Liddy (as well as superhero slanderer J. Jonah Jameson, from Marvel Comics Spider-Man titles), Godfrey is utilized as a different sort of opponent for the Justice League, one that they cannot simply punch out, arrest, and be done with. As a media figure, Godfrey has the stage with which to say whatever he wants about the League and, as long as his actions remain legal, they can do nothing to stop him from voicing that opinion. Surprisingly, the only other character to utilize this medium to slander superheroes was radio shock jock Leslie Willis in the Superman episode Livewire.
It is worth noting that the Godfrey character originated in DC Comics as Glorious Godfrey, an agent of Darkseid who specializes in mental manipulation. Utilized as a sower of discord, Godfrey is dispatched to Earth in the comics as a sort of "public relations" figurehead for the lord of Apokolips, using mind control and his own smooth tongue to prepare the Earth for Darkseid's arrival. His appearance in Eclipsed is reminiscent of his role in the Legends storyline, where he became a media figure who used his position to start an anti-superhero campaign designed to alienate Earth's heroes from the general population (in fact, he also used the "G. Gordon Godfrey" alias in this storyline). Finally, while a connection to Darkseid is conjecture at this point, it is possible that this link may be exploited in a future storyline, which may be bad news for Godfrey since his show has taken a tumble in popularity.
Real Name: Mophir
Voiced by Tracy Walter
The last surviving member of a clan of ancient warriors, Mophir swore to guard the Heart of Darkness crystal and, through this, prevent the Ophidians from taking their revenge against humanity. His mission led him to encounter the Justice League when the stone was stolen by military forces trespassing in his temple, as he provided vital information to the Flash that helped him rescue his teammates from its’ powers.
Now, with his mission complete and the Heart of Darkness in the League’s custody, Mophir now works in the advertising industry selling Gluxitol.
DarkLantern on Mophir's comic book origins: “Just so you know: in the comics, Mophir was the tribal sorcerer / high-priest who scratched Bruce Gordon (who was photographing an eclipse at the time) with the black diamond that eventually changed Gordon into Eclipso […] If I remember correctly, Mophir was trying to stop Gordon from photographing the eclipse. His people believed he was trying to steal their sun god, [but] Gordon wasn't after the gem, he was defending himself from Mophir's attack.
"Mophir—dressed in tribal uniform, which looked like the Eclipso costume—was holding the gem and accidentally scratched Gordon during the scuffle. Mophir dropped the gem as he was unintentionally thrown off the cliff [and fell to his death]…Gordon noticed the gem, picked it up just as the eclipse started, and BUMM-BUMM-BUUUUUMMMMMM (courtesy of Toon Zone)!”
Real Name: Artie Bauman
Voiced by Brian Doyle Murray
A less-than-reputable manager, Artie Bauman served as the Flash’s agent during his stint as a commercial pitchman.
Eclipsed premiered on
In the episode's opening, peacekeeping soldiers search for a "petty dictator" in a Middle Eastern-like environment, which could be seen as mirroring the United States' occupation of Iraq, which involved U.S. troops searching for Saddam Hussein.
Captain Boomerang, Heatwave, and Mirror Master—or, at least, actors playing them—can be seen during the Flash’s commercial for Lightspeed Energy Bars. While a nice nod to the classic adversaries of the Flash, this may be an indication that none of these Rogues will make a “real” appearance on Justice League, as it is unlikely that the corporations involved would want to risk angering real supervillains by using their likenesses without authorization—Cameron Kaiser’s near murder at the hands of the Joker over the Joker’s Wild casino (in the Batman episode Joker’s Wild) would be precedent enough.
G. Gordon Godfrey’s The Innocent Seduced is a homage to Fredric Wertham’s Seduction of the Innocent—the book that nearly led to the destruction of the comics industry and was largely responsible for the establishment of the Comics Code Authority. Also, the flashback sequences featuring the humans war with the Ophidians appear to be reminiscent of Conan the Barbarian (in fact, a character resembling Conan can be seen here).
EPISODES #43, 44 - HEREAFTER
Real Name: Inspector Maggie Sawyer
Voiced historically by Joanna Cassidy
The
head of the Special Crimes Unit—a branch of Metropolis’ police
force—Maggie Sawyer is top cop in terms of supervillain-related crimes that
occur within her city. While armed
with advanced weaponry and backed by Metropolis’ finest, she often finds
herself working with Superman and the Justice League to maintain the peace.
Real Name: Alfred Pennyworth
Voiced by Efrem Zimbalist Jr.
Again—and despite frequent appearances of the Batcave on Justice League—this episode marks Alfred’s first appearance on the series. He appears again, in two significant scenes, in Starcrossed.
Real Name: Robin / Tim Drake
Voiced
historically by Matthew
Abandoned by his father—who fled Gotham after stealing money from Two-Face—young Tim Drake found himself in the difficult position of both raising himself on the streets of Gotham City while, at the same time, eluding Two-Face and his henchmen. The criminal’s activities led to the involvement of the Batman, who—after solving the case and seeing the child’s potential—decided to legally adopt the boy and train him as the second Robin.
Seen walking with Alfred during the funeral service, his presence there is largely due to their working relationship, having teamed up to save Bruce Wayne from Brainiac in the Superman episode Knight Time. Still, his presence there as Tim Drake is odd, considering that it has the potential to blow his (and Wayne’s) secret identity. It’s the first of two odd appearances in this sequence.
Real Name: Supergirl / Kara Kent
Voiced by Nicholle Tom
The sole surviving inhabitant of the planet Argos—a
world from Krypton’s star system—Kara was discovered preserved in a cryonic
tube by Superman during a
chance visit to the planet.
Taken back to Earth and adopted by the
Supergirl's presence at Superman's funeral is the second oddity in this scene, not for her appearance, but how she appeared. You see, it was established in her debut episode (the Superman episode Little Girl Lost, Part One) that, while in Metropolis, her Kara Kent disguise consists of a brown wig and glasses (seen here). Obviously, this conflicts with the image above, where she sits, as Supergirl, with the Kents without her costume on (she's even consoling Martha Kent, betraying her familiarity with them). Now, obviously everyone is busy mourning the Man of Steel, but this was a big media event (Vandal Savage later in the episode: "It was on all the networks; I used to have the DVD"), and one of the obvious guests that the media would single out would be Supergirl, considering the connection between the two heroes. And, even worse, Lex Luthor attended the funeral—someone who has met Supergirl, dated Lana Lang (in the Superman episode My Girl), and may have done some research on Clark Kent's history, thus recognizing his parents. Now that Superman has been revealed to be alive at the end of the episode, God help him if Luthor, the paparazzi, or anyone else put two and two together.
While her only physical appearance on Justice League (she was mentioned briefly in Comfort and Joy, more on that later), Supergirl returns in Justice League Unlimited, having been accepted as a full team member on the new series.
Real Name: Lana Lang
Voiced historically by Joely Fisher
Childhood friend of Clark Kent, Lana Lang left Smallville shortly after Clark did to pursue a career in the fashion industry. Still, she carried a torch for the young man she knew, which may explain how she was able to make the connection between Clark Kent and Superman so easily.
Real Name: Bibbo Bibbowski
Voiced historically by Brad Garrett
As a sea captain and jack-of-all-trades operating out of Hobb's Bay, Bibbo encounters both Clark Kent and Superman on a fairly regular basis; the former as a paid informant, the latter during the Man of Steel's many adventures. As for Superman, he'll always be his "fav'rit" champion.
Real Name: Clark Kent
Voiced by George Newburn
Thrust 30,000 years into the future by the Toyman's tachyon beam, this is how Superman appeared after spending several weeks in the far future.
For more information, see the Superman entry.
Real Name: Vandal Savage (Future Era)
Voiced by Phil Morris
A victim of his own scheme for world domination, Vandal Savage has spent 30,000 years living alone on a dead world. Initially excited simply to have someone to talk to, Savage helps Superman return to the present in order to undo the damage he caused. His mission accomplished, he ceased to exist.
For more information, see the Vandal Savage entry.
Like
the Hickman party in A Knight of Shadows and the scene in Arkham Asylum
in A Better World, the scene at Superman's funeral service is a veritable
who's who of the series. Among the guests (in no particular order, as the
cameos here are painfully obvious) are Green Lanterns Larvox,
Tomar-Re, Katma
Tui
Wonder Woman's ceremonial uniform (seen here, here, and here) appears to be an amalgam of Wonder Woman's Golden Age outfit (notice her breastplate, seen here), her battle dress from the War of the Gods storyline, and the uniform traditionally worn by the Valkyries of Norse Mythology, who served as "the choosers of the slain" and delivered the chosen fallen to Valhalla (the symbolism here is obvious, considering the subject matter). In addition, her sword may be the one welded by the Amazon in the comics, which was forged by Hephaestus and can cleave the electrons from an atom (most famously seen drawing Superman's blood in Kingdom Come), and her shield is also reminiscent of a weapon in her comic book armory.
The green coats worn by John Stewart (see here) and by the other Green Lanterns in attendance (save for Kyle Rayner, see here) may indicate membership in the Green Lantern Corps Honor Guard, an honor bestowed upon those who are considered to be the greatest Green Lanterns in the Corps (which may indicate why Kyle Rayner isn't wearing one; he's still a rookie).
Among Superman's provisions is a box of Lightspeed Energy Bars, which the Flash endorsed in Eclipsed. Finally, at the end of the episode, Vandal Savage revealed that he powered his gravity machine with a piece of dwarf star matter stolen from Ray Palmer, who is also known as the Atom, whose ability to shrink to microscopic size is thanks to that piece of star matter. The Atom will appear on Justice League Unlimited in at least two episodes.
EPISODES #45, 46 - SECRET SOCIETY
Real Name: Morgan Edge
Voiced by ???
A billionaire who lived on a private island, Morgan Edge was a collector of many unique and priceless items. It was the latter that got him into trouble, however, as the Secret Society invaded his island to liberate Clayface from his possession. Disguised as a chef, he failed to escape the Society's clutches and, later, he died at the hands of Killer Frost.
A classic Superman villain, Morgan Edge was founder of Intergang in the comic books, a merit that became moot when the "honor" was passed to Bruno Mannheim on the Superman series. Devoid of his original distinction, his name was recycled here as a billionaire collector.
Real Name: Inapplicable / Zeta
Voiced historically by Diedrich Bader
A series of robots used in the Justice League's training sessions, they bear a striking resemblance to the Zeta robot as it appeared in the Batman Beyond episode Zeta.
Apparently a homage to Zeta—a Batman Beyond character that was spun off into The Zeta Project—the character, again, appears as it did in its initial appearance and not as it did in the Batman Beyond episode Countdown or on its own series, where it had a head as opposed to the abstract U-shape sported initially.
As for how the Justice League's robot design mirrors that of a military robot thirty years in the future, one must remember that the technology was undoubtedly provided by WayneTech which, in turn, was probably sold off by Derek Powers in Batman Beyond's time to the military (Bruce Wayne would never accept a military contract—"I don't like guns"—but, as shown in Rebirth, Powers had no qualms with developing weapons with military applications).
Real Name: Mr. Mxyzptlk
Voiced historically by Gilbert Gottfried
An infinitely-powered creature from the fifth dimensional land of Zrfff, Mr. Mxyzptlk has always watched Earth with a sense of curiosity. Frequently downgrading himself to the third dimensional plane, he takes pleasure in using his interdimensional magic against Superman, the first being to inhabit Earth in a long time whom Mxyzptlk considers worthy to match wits with. Problem is, Superman is too good, which infuriates the imp to no end.
Paul Dini on Mr. Mxyzptlk (circa 1996): "We haven't gotten to him yet; I'm looking forward to him and kind of dreading him also. I just don't want to do him as a little elf who makes buildings come to life and does stupid things to Superman. As soon as I find something interesting and satisfying to do with the character, then I'll be happy to use him (courtesy of Wizard Magazine)."
Paul Dini on Mr. Mxyzptlk (circa 1997): “Mxy
was fun to write. We all sort of
dreaded using Mxy on the show, and we knew we'd have to do him eventually.
We didn't want him to be like the Mask, or a Robin Williams-type goofy
character so, basically, I just made him a little shit—a mean little creep who
just wants to screw around with Superman for the sake of screwing around with
him. […] What became interesting about that episode is for about half [of it],
Superman is on the ropes, but once he figures out how Mxy can be beaten, then it
becomes Superman's turn to turn it back on Mxy and just bug the crap out of him.
Every time he shows up, Superman
beats him, and he goes off swearing to the 5th Dimension and plots
for three months about how he's going to beat him again, and he goes back, and
Superman beats him again. All the frustration that Superman was going
through at the top of the episode is transferred onto Mxyzptlk, and I thought that was a
fun way of dealing with those characters (courtesy of Animation
Nerd’s
Paul Dini on Mr. Mxyzptlk (circa 1998): "Bruce [Timm] and I looked at all the versions of [Mr. Mxyzptlk] and, while the more current one was the one we had grown up with, there was something about that old, 'Elmer Fudd' version that just appealed to us as an animated cartoon character (courtesy of Harley’s Haven).”
Appearing as a practice target in Secret Society, Mxyzptlk may not be the same kind of threat as Darkseid, Lex Luthor, or Brainiac are; but, to Superman, he's certainly as annoying—if not more so.
Real Name: Shanna Scores
Voiced by ???
The entertainment for the 2003 Ultra Bowl, this singer had no idea that her set would be interrupted by the Secret Society, who were looking for an audience to kill the Justice League in front of.
A commentary on today's young, blond pop superstars—stars such as Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Shakira, and Jessica Simpson—Shanna Scores was as memorable as the song she performed before being blown off stage by the Secret Society's jet.
The creature that Green Lantern generated during the Justice League's practice session in the desert was an Ogyptuian, from the short story "Brief Lives" (in The Omega Men #26, seen here).
The scene where the Justice League and the Secret Society race towards each other on the football field mirrors the opening sequence of Challenge of the Superfriends, where the Superfriends and the Legion of Doom assume a similar running start (compare here).
EPISODE #47 - COMFORT AND JOY
Real Name: Clark Kent
Voiced by George Newburn
Visiting his parent's farm for the holiday season, Superman is able to kick back and relax as Clark Kent.
For more information, see the Superman entry.
Real Name: Jonathan Kent
Voiced by Mike Farrell
Kal-El's adoptive father, Jonathan Kent had no problem inviting a Martian into his household, having already raised a Kryptonian.
Excluding a cameo in Hereafter, this is Jonathan Kent's first appearance on Justice League.
Real Name: Martha Kent
Voiced by Shelley Fabares
Kal-El's adoptive mother, she was fortunate that J'onn J'onzz was able to use his shape-shifting to fit his new sweater.
Excluding a cameo in Hereafter, this is Martha Kent's first appearance on Justice League.
Real Name: Streaky
Voiced by ---
The Kent's pet cat, Streaky initially didn't trust J'onn J'onzz, but eventually warmed up to the Martian visitor.
A tribute to Streaky the Super-Cat—Supergirl's pet cat from the Pre-Crisis, who gained super-powers after being exposed to Kryptonite X—this version of Streaky has been a background character since the Superman series. On the prior series, Streaky's most notable appearance was in Mxyzpixilated, where Mr. Mxyzptlk used his magic to cause the cat to fly around the room.
Real Name: Zook
Voiced by ---
A plush doll on Supergirl's bed, this character is based on Zook, J'onn J'onzz's sidekick from his Silver Age comic book stories.
Real Name: D.J. Rubber Ducky
Voiced by George Newburn
The hottest toy of the 2003 Christmas season, the Flash literally had to go to Japan to find one to give to the children at a Central City orphanage. However, after an encounter with the Ultra-Humaite, the doll was redesigned to read "The Nutcracker and the King of Mice," by E.T.A. Hoffman, much to the delight of the children.
A commentary on the recent slew of "hot" Christmas toys that incite parents to riot over them (Tickle-Me Elmo comes to mind), D.J. Rubber Ducky could also be interpreted as a tribute to Marvel Comics' Howard the Duck.
Real Name: John Jones
Voiced by Carl Lumbly
Seeking to blend in with the population of Smallville, J'onn J'onzz adopted the guise of "John Jones" for the first time to walk among them unseen.
For more information, see the J'onn J'onzz—The Martian Manhunter entry.
Notably absent from the Kent's family Christmas is Supergirl, who Martha Kent reveals is spending the holiday skiing with Barbara Gordon (Batgirl). This friendship has its roots in the Batman episode Girls Nite Out, where the two young women had their first team-up. It is unknown, however, if their friendship means that the Kent's are privy to Batman's secret identity.
In the opening sequence on the third moon of Gaultos, viewers can see a billboard featuring a posed women that resembles one of Bruce Timm's illustrations of cult comic book character Vampirella (seen here, image is reversed to aid comparison). In addition, one of the background characters resembles DC Comics' Swamp Thing character (seen here).
During J'onn J'onzz's exploration of Smallville, he discovers a plate of Oreos, rekindling a twenty year-old love that stems from the comic books.
EPISODES #48, 49 - WILD CARDS
Real
Name: Unknown
Voiced by Maria Canals
A hard-core Las Vegas gamer, this woman didn't let the Joker's threats scare her away from playing the slot machines.
Real
Name: Shayera Hol
Voiced by Maria Canals
Following an intimate moment with John Stewart, Hawkgirl allowed Stewart to remove her mask, marking the first time on the series that she has been seen without her mask on.
For more information, see the Hawkgirl entry.
Gwynplaine Entertainment, the name of the Joker's production company, is a reference to Conrad Veidt's character from the 1928 film The Man Who Laughs, which is about the son of an English nobleman who is punished by having his face altered into a sickly, permanent grin (seen here). This character is generally considered to have been Bob Kane and Bill Finger's primary inspiration for the Joker. Also, while on the subject, it is worth noting that Wild Cards is the only episode in the extended series (Batman, Superman, etc.) where the Joker does not utilize his trademark maniacal laugh.
The second of two major homages to Marvel Comics' Fantastic Four characters (the first one being the Metamorpho, Chemo, and Sapphire Stagg appearances in Season One's Metamorphosis), Wild Cards provided a more blatant tribute to the classic characters (seen here in a Timm-drawn picture). But while Queen didn't exactly sync up with Invisible Woman (her powers of magnetism gave her more in common with Magneto than Sue Storm), the other analogues compared quite nicely: King = Human Torch, Jack = Mr. Fantastic, Ten = Thing, and Ace = Franklin Richards (sort of). In addition, in a nice bit of cross promotion, the Royal Flush Gang were voiced by the cast of Justice League's sister series Teen Titans; with Robin / Scott Menville voicing King, Raven / Tara Strong voicing Queen, Beast Boy / Greg Cipes voicing Jack, Cyborg / Khary Payton voicing Ten, and Starfire / Hynden Walch voicing Ace.
Amos Fortune's Casnio and Resort, the only casino to blow up using Joker's bombs, is a nod to Professor Amos Fortune, a classic Justice League villain who created a device called the stimoluck, which could be used to generate good luck or bad luck in people; among his other accomplishments was the founding of the original Royal Flush Gang.
EPISODES #50, 51, 52 - STARCROSSED
TBA
Images
Lois Lane Image | Jimmy Olsen Image | Perry White Image
Bruce Wayne Image | Two-Face Image | Poison Ivy Image | Riddler Image | The Ventriloquist and Scarface Image
Inspector Maggie Sawyer Image | Alfred Pennyworth Image | Robin Image
Tim Drake Image | Supergirl Image | Kara Kent Image
Lana Lang Image | Bibbo Bibbowski Image | Mr. Mxyzptlk Image | Clark Kent Image
Jonathan Kent Image | Martha Kent Image
Images courtesy of Bird Boy, The World's Finest, the New Batman/Superman Adventures Homepage, Albert Moy's Original Online Art Gallery, Van Eaton Galleries, The Bruce Timm Gallery, Challenge of the Superfriends, The Conrad Veidt Home Page, and Toon Zone.
Additional information courtesy of the following: King Gustev voice actor's name courtesy of screw on head and Ron Troupe correction courtesy of Toddman.
