The Justice League is here for you!
Meet the world’s most formidable super-hero team. Drawn together to save the world, Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Hawkgirl, Green Lantern, and Martian Manhunter could be the only thing standing between the Earth and destruction. With threats from space, from Earth, and from within the team itself threaten the planet, the Justice League will be there!
Justice League—Season 1 aired from November 17, 2001 to November 9, 2002 on Cartoon Network. The series continues storylines set-up in Batman: The Animated Series (1992-1995), The New Batman Animated Series (1997-1999), and Superman: The Animated Series (1996-2000). The show was nominated for a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Main Title Theme Music.
I’m going to start singing that Genie song from Aladdin!
I grew up on the Super Friends, and even more so than Marvel Comics, DC ruled the TV and theater as a kid. Batman: The Animated Series was one of the best syndicated cartoons of all time, and Superman: The Animated Series also had merit. With a bigger roster and continuing storylines, Justice League was a must watch!
I have to say that I didn’t get to watch Justice League on its first run and waited for years to sit down and watch it. When I watched it, I didn’t watch it in order and instead saw Justice League Unlimited first…which was a mistake. While Justice League is a great show, I liked the expanded roster of Justice League Unlimited and felt Justice League allows itself to get bogged down with storylines that aren’t as fun as having tons of cool guest stars.
With all the cool heroes from alternate timelines and dimensions, this is the best you could do?
I can’t say that every episode of Justice League is a winner and the series is sometimes hit or miss. I like guest stars the most (like the Demon and Metamorpho), but the series sometimes struggles to find that balance between a team-up series and a team series…it doesn’t hurt the final product much, but it does leave Justice League a bit schizophrenic in its storytelling.
Justice League—Season 1 is a fun run through a universe brimming with possibilities. With the Marvel dominated entertainment in the theaters, Justice League shows the potential of DC’s franchise characters…I still look forward to seeing these characters get their own chance and the second season of a fun series.
Justice League—Season 1 Complete Episode Guide:
“Secret Origins—Part 1”
1.1 Secret Origins—Part 1 Airdate: 11/17/01
An astronaut accident on Mars unleashes something evil. Batman discovers strange alien creatures plotting something and with Superman’s help sets out to investigate. When horrible tripod aliens crash on Earth, Superman and Batman find they seem to be unstoppable. Superman and Batman uncover an alien named J’onn J’onzz being held prisoner…and J’onn could be the key to saving Earth.
“Secret Origins—Part 2”
1.2 Secret Origins—Part 2 Airdate: 11/17/01
Superman and Batman try to get J’onn J’onzz to safety while battling the alien invaders and are joined by Hawkgirl, Flash, Green Lantern, and a mysterious Amazon named Wonder Woman. J’onn relays how the alien invaders destroyed his civilization on Mars, and the heroes plot a desperate attempt to prevent it from happening to Earth.
“Secret Origins—Part 3”
1.3 Secret Origins—Part 3 Airdate: 11/17/01
Superman and Hawkgirl have been captured and Batman is dead. Now, the aliens are mounting a secondary invasion and J’onn, Flash, Wonder Woman, and Green Lantern are making a last stitch effort to free Hawkgirl and Superman…and to it, the Earth might need a Justice League!
“In Blackest Night—Part 1”
1.4 In Blackest Night—Part 1 Airdate: 11/19/01
The Manhunters are sent to bring in John Stewart…and the Justice League is unable to do anything about it. Travelling to Ajuris 5 to help him, the Justice League learns John’s ties to the destruction of Ajuris 4 and could change everything they thought they knew about him.
“In Blackest Night—Part 2”
1.5 In Blackest Night—Part 2 Airdate: 11/26/01
The Justice League refuses to believe that John Stewart could have caused the destruction of Ajuris 4 and sets out to find the truth. With the Flash as his defense, John Stewart could be in trouble…if Hawkgirl’s attempts to rally his allies fail. A trip to the location of Ajuris 4 by Superman and Martian Manhunter could reveal the true enemy and their motive.
“The Enemy Below—Part 1”
1.6 The Enemy Below—Part 1 Airdate: 12/03/01
The sinking of a nuclear sub by Aquaman leads to an international incident with Atlantis. As the Justice League convinces Aquaman to present his case, Green Lantern discovers that the submarine has been stripped of its nuclear capabilities. When Aquaman is targeted by Deadshot, the Justice League learns that someone doesn’t want Aquaman to return to Atlantis.
“The Enemy Below—Part 2”
1.7 The Enemy Below—Part 2 Airdate: 12/10/01
Aquaman has discovered that Orm is the traitor in his ranks. With threats to himself, Mera, and their child, Aquaman must fight back…even if it means sacrificing himself! Teamed with the Justice League, Aquaman discover that Orm has activated their plan to wipe humanity off the face of the Earth.
“Injustice for All—Part 1”
1.8 Injustice for All—Part 1 Airdate: 01/06/02
The Justice League has taken down Lex Luthor who discovers he’s dying due to years of exposure to Kryptonite. Escaping prison, Luthor has gathered a team of the Ultra-Humanite, Cheetah, the Shade, Copperhead, and Star Sapphire to take out the League…but when Joker demands to be a part of the action, Luthor’s team might make the biggest score of all!
“Injustice for All—Part 2”
1.9 Injustice for All—Part 2 Airdate: 01/13/02
Batman is a prisoner of Lex Luthor and his team of villains…and is finding that turning them against one another is easier than expected. As Luthor seeks revenge against the Justice League, a traitor in his midst could lead to his downfall.
“Paradise Lost—Part 1”
1.10 Paradise Lost—Part 1 Airdate: 01/21/02
Wonder Woman’s decision to return to Paradise Island and mend her difference with her mother leads her discover the island ravaged by Felix Faust. Now with the Amazon’s fates hanging in the balance, Wonder Woman finds she must work for Felix Faust to finds hidden artifacts from around the globe. With the Justice League, Wonder Woman sets out to save the Amazons as Faust’s mysterious benefactor remains hidden.
“Paradise Lost—Part 2”
1.11 Paradise Lost—Part 2 Airdate: 01/28/02
Faust’s benefactor is revealed to be Ares…who is seeking revenge against Hippolyta and her Amazons for his imprisonment. When Ares is unleashed on Earth, the Justice League finds they must stop a god, and the battle will have great ramifications on Wonder Woman’s future.
“War World—Part 1”
1.12 War World—Part 1 Airdate: 02/23/02
A mission to destroy an asteroid in space leaves Superman and Martian Manhunter lost when the asteroid explodes. Captured by slave traders, J’onn and Superman find themselves transported to War World where they are forced to battle for their lives.
“War World—Part 2”
1.13 War World—Part 2 Airdate: 03/03/02
Superman’s success in the arena has put him at odds with Mongul as his popularity grows among the inhabitants of War World. J’onn finds himself in hiding with his powers weakened and trying to find a way to free Superman. A rescue attempt by Hawkgirl and Green Lantern puts them in alliance with Draaga who seeks revenge on Superman.
“The Brave and the Bold—Part 1”
1.14 The Brave and the Bold—Part 1 Airdate: 03/10/02
When the Flash and Green Lantern stop a nuclear weapons theft in Central City, they uncover a bigger mystery involving talking gorillas. With help from Solovar, Green Lantern and Flash face off against Gorilla Grodd, and the fate of both Central City and Gorilla City could hang in the balance.
“The Brave and the Bold—Part 2”
1.15 The Brave and the Bold—Part 2 Airdate: 03/17/02
Flash, Green Lantern, and Solovar find themselves trapped in Central City by Gorilla Grodd’s force field. While Martian Manhunter, Wonder Woman, Batman, and Hawkgirl check out a similar energy signal coming from Gorilla City, Gorilla Grodd targets Gorilla City for destruction and only the Justice League can save it!
“Fury—Part 1”
1.16 Fury—Part 1 Airdate: 04/07/02
Batman stops a robbery involving Copperhead, Solomon Grundy, Star Sapphire, the Shade, Tsukuri, and a woman to reveal that another Amazon has left Paradise Island. While the Amazon Aresia spreads the plague across the city that is deadly to men, Hawkgirl travels to Paradise Island to uncover Aresia’s origin.
“Fury—Part 2”
1.17 Fury—Part 2 Airdate: 04/14/02
Aresia’s plague threatens to wipe out all the men on Earth including the male members of the Justice League. As Wonder Woman and Hawkgirl seek to track down Aresia, a cure must be found before it is too late!
“Legends—Part 1”
1.18 Legends—Part 1 Airdate: 04/21/02
Battling a robot in Metropolis leads the Flash to accidentally transport himself, Martian Manhunter, Hawkgirl, and Green Lantern to an alternate world where the comic book heroes the Justice Guild of America rule. Trapped and unable to get home, Martian Manhunter, Hawkgirl, Green Lantern, and Flash join with the Guild to battle their enemies.
“Legends—Part 2”
1.19 Legends—Part 2 Airdate: 04/28/02
With the discovery that the Justice Guild of America might have died years ago, Martian Manhunter, Hawkgirl, Green Lantern, and Flash must uncover the mystery behind the resurrected heroes and discover who is responsible.
“A Knight of Shadows—Part 1”
1.20 A Knight of Shadows—Part 1 Airdate: 09/20/02
Morgaine Le Faye is getting closer to her goal of finding the Philosopher’s Stone to regain her power and bring her son Mordred to power. Teaming with the Justice League, Etrigan the Demon seeks to stop Morgaine, but Morgaine’s gift of J’onn J’onzz’s family could pit him against the Justice League.
“A Knight of Shadows—Part 2”
1.21 A Knight of Shadows—Part 2 Airdate: 09/27/02
J’onn is working under the control of Morgaine Le Faye and has turned against the Justice League to get her the Philosopher’s Stone in the hopes of regaining his family…pitting him against the Justice League and their ally the Demon.
“Metamorphosis—Part 1”
1.22 Metamorphosis—Part 1 Airdate: 10/04/02
Rex Mason seems to have it all with his job working for Simon Stagg and secretly engaged to Simon’s daughter Sapphire. When Stagg learns of the engagement, he decides Rex will be the perfect test subject for his new Metamorpho project…whether Rex volunteers or not!
“Metamorphosis—Part 2”
1.23 Metamorphosis—Part 2 Airdate: 10/11/02
Metamorpho learns Stagg is pulling his strings and sets out to stop him, but inadvertently creates a monster that could be an even bigger threat.
“The Savage Time—Part 1”
1.24 The Savage Time—Part 1 Airdate: 11/09/02
When the Justice League Satellite disappears with Batman on it, Green Lantern, Flash, Superman, Hawkgirl, and Martian Manhunter discover that they’ve enter a timeshift where Vandal Savage has altered the world’s history take control. Travelling back in time to World War II, the Justice League must find a way to stop Vandal Savage from destroying the world they know.
“The Savage Times—Part 2”
1.25 The Savage Time—Part 2 Airdate: 11/09/02
Trapped in World War II, Wonder Woman finds herself teamed with Steve Trevor in a mission to rescue a German scientist while the Blackhawks spar with the rest of the Justice League. John Stewart’s ring runs out of power and has him fighting with Sgt. Rock and the boys of Easy Co. as Vandal Savage’s plans for takeover begin to be revealed.
“The Savage Times—Part 3”
1.26 The Savage Time—Part 3 Airdate: 11/09/02
The final battle with Vandal Savage is on as he reveals his plans to invade the United States. With time running out, the Justice League must stop Savage to restore the world they left.
Related Links:
Justice League—Season 2 Review and Complete Episode Guide
Justice League Unlimited—Season 1 Review and Complete Episode Guide
Justice League Unlimited—Season 2 Review and Complete Episode Guide
Justice League Unlimited—Season 3 Review and Complete Episode Guide
Justice League: The New Frontier (2008)
Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths (2010)
