Justice League Unlimited
Episode: “Initiation”
Air Date: 7/31/04
Cartoon Network
Warner Brothers Animation
Four Stars

Warner Brothers’ new “Justice League Unlimited” premiered on Cartoon Network this past Saturday, July 31. Replacing the well received “Justice League,” the new “Unlimited” version offers new characters and new possibilities. Where the previous series stuck to a static lineup of Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern (Jon Stewart with a newly bald pate), Martian Manhunter, and Hawkgirl, “Unlimited” taps the vast character resources of the DCU and features a plethora of heroes - some heretofore unseen in animation.

The first episode, appropriately titled “Initiation” opens with an introduction piece for Green Arrow. He’s foiling a fairly typically robbery - albeit in his own inimitable style. Once the situation is under control, he finds himself suddenly teleported aboard the newly constructed JLA satellite (I’m assuming it’s newly constructed. How it came to be isn’t elaborated on in the episode, but I’m assuming it was constructed to replace the Watchtower, which Batman dropped on the Thanagarians in the “Starcrossed” movie which served as the conclusion of the first “Justice League run.)

As GA hangs in the background, Superman is addressing a cadre of heroes - Obsidian, Dr. Fate, the female Dr. Light, Captain Atom, Supergirl, Hawk, Dove, Aztek, Johnny Thunder and Thunderbolt, The Ray, Wildcat, Vixen, Crimson Fox, Vigilante, Metamorpho, Red Tornado, The Question, The Huntress, Star Spangled Kid and S.T.R.I.P.E, Zatanna, Mr. Terrific, Sand, Atom Smasher, B’Wanna Beast(!) and others are visible as the camera pans the crowded room - and telling them that it is time for the League to be more proactive and that they need more heroes to make the kind of difference that they want to make.

Green Arrow tells Batman that he really doesn’t want to be part of this - that he watches out for the little guy. Batman asks him to think about it. dy to head home Martian Manhunter spots a large spike of Nuclear energy somewhere in Asia - and it’s moving. The Manhunter sends Green Lantern, Supergirl and Captain Atom to investigate. He tells them to take the Javelin (available at finer toy retailers) as the high levels of energy make teleportation risky. Upon hearing this Green Arrow decides to tag along for the ride back to Earth so he doesn’t have to have his molecules scrambled again - right in character for the Emerald Archer.

Upon arrival in the unnamed but apparently Communist nation somewhere in Asia, the League are told that everything is under control, but checking in with Martain Manhunter back at the satellite, Manhunter tells the Leaguers that the energy is still moving. In this case, it would appear that “under control” means “giant nuclear energy monster rampaging across the countryside.”

The monster, though never named, seems to be sort of similar in concept to, perhaps inspired by, the Atomic Skull. However, this critter is a robot large enough to shake hands with Godzilla. When the league finally catches up with him, they first attempt to have Captain Atom siphon off enough energy to shut him down, but the monster has too much energy - more than the Captain can hold and he falls. Supergirl tries to defeat him with brute force, but she too falls. Green Lantern’s attempts to stop the creature are also fruitless.

The army of this unnamed country arrives with carbon control rods which can deactivate the creature. Once again, each member of the team falls before the monster - Captain Atom’s containment suit is ruptured and he must fly into the atmosphere to explode rather spectacularly. Finally, only Green Arrow is left. He collects the rods and with his trusty bow shoots the makeshift “arrows” at the power cell on the monster’s chest. He misses. He misses again. He breaks one of the large, unwieldy rods in two and quickly binds the point from one of his arrows to it, takes aim and hits paydirt. The monster is shut down. Taking the opportunity, Supergirl promptly knocks the monster’s no longer flaming metal skull from its shoulders.

Back at the satellite, Batman tells Green Arrow it would appear that there is more than one way to watch out for the little guy. Green Lantern tells Supergirl that she was rash, undisciplined, and has much to learn, but she did good. Captain Atom has been collected and is being pumped back into a new containment suit and gives a squishy “thumb’s up.”

I enjoyed this episode immensely. It was a thrill to see so many DC heroes on my T.V. screen - even before the episode got rolling. After last season’s more tightly connected hour-long, two-part episodes, I was concerned that it would be hard to pull off more characters than ever before in a half hour format. If “Initiation” is any indication, I don’t think this will be a problem. With rotating field teams, I’m sure that everyone will get to see their favorite character featured eventually.

While I may be in the minority, I prefer the more traditional character designs and animation of “Justice League Unlimited” (and the previous “Justice League”) to the more Anime style of Teen Titans. I feel like I’m watching the characters that I’ve grown up with and have come to know and love.

If there’s one update with the new series that I have mixed feelings about, it’s the music. The more symphonic soundtrack of “Justice League” has been replaced with distorted guitar. While I’m supposing this has been done to add more edge and urgency to the action sequences, I feel it’s a little less epic and heroic sounding. The intro music for the title sequence has been updated in the same fashion. While the melodic theme of the previous “Justice League” has been maintained it’s played on the distorted guitar with a faster tempo and increased urgency. It just strikes me as less anthemic.

Otherwise, the new title sequence is excellent - it maintains elements of the previous one with a brief spotlight on the main heroes, but interspersed with clips of the new additions and where the previous sequence ended with the 7 Leaguers in sepia toned silhouette, the camera now pans back to reveal a lineup of heroes stretching as far as the eye can see. Pretty Ginchy - definitely spikes my Geek-O-Meter.

I can’t wait to see what other heroes are featured this season - especially if they are done as true to character as Green Arrow and Captain Atom (that poor guy is always blowing up, ain’t he?) It will also be interesting to see who they come up with to voice the characters as Captain Atom, though I couldn’t find a voice credit, is plainly CSI’s George Eads - and drawn to resemble him as well.

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