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"Justice League" Episode Guide

Season 4 - "Justice League Unlimited"

Many thanks to Barry Freiman and Felix Vasquez for writing up the episode summaries for this "Justice League Unlimited" Episode Guide.

Episode Guide

This guide does not list airdates for repeat showings.

Episodes

"The Cat and the Canary" - Summary
"The Ties That Bind" - Summary
"The Doomsday Sanction" - Summary
"Task Force X" - Summary
"The Balance" - Summary
"Double Date" - Summary
"Clash" - Summary
"Hunter's Moon" - Summary
"Question Authority" - Summary
"Flashpoint" - Summary
"Panic in the Sky" - Summary
"Divided We Fall" - Summary
"Epilogue" - Summary

Summaries

"The Cat and the Canary"

Written By: Robert Goodman
Directed By: Joaquim Dos Santos
Producers: Rich Fogel, Glen Murakami, Bruce Timm, James Tucker
Aired in the U.S.A.: 2.05.05

Roles & Actors this episode:
Black Canary: Morena Baccarin
Green Arrow: Kin Shriner
Wildcat: Dennis Farina
Roulette: Virginia Madsen

Our Story:
We open upon a gate where a group of men are backing up in a large cargo truck and begin loading in mysterious crates and shipments during the middle of the night in a warehouse. Above looming over them is the Black Canary watching them atop a building awaiting her entrance and calls in Wildcat notifying him of her location asking for his help, but he's currently tied up on the other end engaging in a fist fight with an unknown assailant, she offers her help but he refuses ordering to wait ten minutes, but she can't wait knowing how long he usually takes and gives him a hard time about it. She can't wait any longer, because below the thugs are beginning to unpack the crates of illegal fire arms as one of their assailants watches a boxing match online. Suddenly the gate on the truck goes down nearly taking out two of the thugs, one of which drops his laptop to the ground as the men look around for the mysterious cause of the near accident, looking up at Black Canary who drops down on the men and begins taking them down one after the other.
She takes out the leader knocking him back as she makes easy finish of two other men and looks around awaiting the rest of the gang to attack and begins fighting them off throwing them into the walls and hitting them one after another as the laptop incidentally gives a play by play of her actions. She runs up the side of the wall and flips knocking back one of the men as two other thugs approach her and begin making an escape. One attempts to shoot her, but she grabs him, breaks his arm, and knocks him into the crates as the remaining thugs make a break for it. She sees not other option and makes her sonic scream screeching aloud as the truck is caught in its destructive path finally crashing into a wall and flipping onto its side. Suddenly she draws her attention to the lap top and gazes down at the fight below in shock noticing the fight taking place is with her mentor, Wildcat who is the victor. Up In the watchtower, Green Arrow spars with a boxing bag as Black Canary watches at the doorstep commenting about his latest business transaction as Oliver Queen, but Arrow insists he made no money from it. They introduce themselves flirtatiously and walk over to the center ring where she challenges Oliver to a one on one.
They square off in the ring fist to fist and she throws the first punch missing him as he grabs her close giving her pointers about her technique, they square off again and she throws a kick which Oliver then grabs and throws her to the ground binding her arms behind her back and sits on top of her as she compliments his technique and asks for his help in a mission that the league can't know about, Arrow is suspicious about the mission but she insists it's for a good cause and wagers that if she can break free from his arm hold, he'll help her. He tightens the hold and awaits her move until suddenly he's thrown into the wall as she helps him up volunteering to drive. Down below, the two ride along a cycle together through traffic, and Arrow grabs a hold of her waist wanting to know the situation.
Canary explains that Wildcat has been engaging in illegal brawls which consists of opponents with chemical enhancements and superpowers, Arrow wonders why he's doing it, but Canary insists he's doing it because he used to be a fighter and that he may be going through some mid-life crisis to prove he's still a top-notch fighter which has been happening ever since he joined up with the league, and explains that she's worried about him and his safety, but Arrow is still unsure what they're supposed to do about it. Out at the stadium in the office, Roulette sits at the computer as Wildcat approaches her declaring he isn't going to fight any longer, she wonders what brought on his decision, he replies its interfering with his work and he's letting his friends down, but Roulette is worried since there's a new opponent wanting to battle him, however Wildcat isn't having her attempted influence on him. Roulette however refuses to stand in his way and wonders how he's going to get on with his life seeing as how he's basically the only normal hero in the league without any superpowers, or gadgets like Batman and declares that if he wants to leave she's fine with it, but if he wants to be respected, to stay aboard and remain a fighter where he's appreciated.
In the city, Canary and Queen dressed in civilian clothing, deal with a criminal trying to get into the stadium and attempt to come to an agreement to gain entrance to the fights, the fee: a thousand dollars. Queen is outraged but Canary insists that for a fight such as that you have to pay, you can't just walk in. She insists that if they give the guy the money he'll give them the tickets and the info, and Queen now knows why she brought him along in the first place. Canary argues angrily that it wasn't the reason why, but Queen thinks otherwise saying that she didn't need Green Arrow, she just need green, but Canary says that basically he was the only person she thought she could trust in that situation. He steps forward giving the dealer the money, but he jips them saying that a thousand is the fee for *one* ticket, if they want *two* it's an extra thousand to which Queen looks over at Canary angrily. Down at the stadium, two opponents go head to head in the caged ring battling one another as spectators look on roaring as they do damage to one another. Up in the balcony, Oliver and Canary look on watching the fight as wrestlers pass by.
They sneak past guards and fighters into the halls and make their way to Wildcat's locker room where he stands in front of his old boxing picture dressed in his costume shadow boxing preparing for his next bout. The door opens and Canary and Queen enter as Wildcat looks on confused. Canary explains they're there to help him, but Wildcat insists he doesn't need any help, but Canary gripes about how he's just entertainment now, a rooster at a cockfight, but Wildcat argues all he's doing is what he knows best: fighting, and it's still what he's good at, he's Wildcat, the guy who fights, but Canary insists he's so much more than that. Wildcat explains that he doesn't need any help and he can leave whenever he wants, but Canary offers he leave with them right now, however Wildcat isn't having it and says his next opponent is just asking for a beating.
He punches his fist into a locker thrashing the door, and insists he fought all sorts of enemies and that slowly the league is diminishing his workload because of his age, making him more of a baby sitter than a member and that he has no super powers, or gadgets or special abilities. So Canary deduces that that's why he's fighting, so he can take his anger out on people with superpowers since he has none, Wildcat shoves her aside, but Queen shoves him back urging him to settle down. Wildcat grabs him asking how any of this is his business, but Canary gets in between them urging Oliver to stay out of it. Oliver gets fed up and walks off wondering why she put him in the middle of the situation deducing that they have their own problems to work out, but Canary insists they're not in a romantic relationship, that it's more a teacher-student relationship because he trained and watched a lot of the league members including her. Oliver asks that the reason why she wants him out of the fighting is because she doesn't want him thrown out of the league, but she insists she doesn't want something worse to happen.
Queen agrees to continue and warns that he saw the look in his eyes and he will not budge, but Canary replies that she hopes she can count on him for plan B then. Queen looks around for a place to change into their costumes but Canary is fine with where they are and begins undressing as Queen looks on with raised brows beginning to undress. Roulette begins announcing the match as the crowds look on roaring aloud. In the ring enters the two fighters, Atomic Skull and Wildcat, the reigning champion who awaits his opponent as Roulette looks on from the control room. Skull throws the first punch landing it into Wildcat's jaw knocking him into the gates as the crowds roar. Wildcat stands up, rubbing his jaw, and begins throwing punches at Skull rapidly, skull yanks him by the arm throwing him against the gate landing a few heavy punches, and suplexes him onto the canvas then runs at him tackling him into the gate.
Wildcat regains his balance and pushes skull back landing hard punches to the face and body, yanks him by the arm and clotheslines him with a heavy punch to the face causing him to flip and slam onto the ground. Skull attempts to stand up but before he can, Wildcat launches from the air elbow-dropping him and finishing him off as the crowd looks on in surprise. Wildcat continues his attack pummeling his opponent's face with his fist punching him repeatedly as his fist is lit on fire from the repeated thrashings and suddenly his hand is bound as a wrist brace arrow launches from the air binding his hand into the gate. Wildcat and Roulette look on surprise and wildcat looks back angrily at the fully costumed Green Arrow and Black Canary who stand across from him.
Green Arrow announces that the fight is over-forever, and launches a grappling arrow into the air grabbing Black Canary, and the two dive down onto the platform as guards approach the duo. Black Canary begins fighting the guards kicking and punching them skillfully, as more approach them. Arrow launches an arrow that forms into a rope binding two guards together knocking them off the platform as Atomic Skull runs to them. Wildcat struggles with the binding in the background finally breaking free from the arrow's grip as the wrestlers and guards begin attacking the duo. Canary and Green Arrow begin backing up awaiting the attacks of the super-powered fighters who slowly begin to make their way to them in packs. Arrow launches an arrow into the air which forms into a net dropping down onto the fighters taking them out of commission, and then launches an arrow into a guard electrocuting him.
Within minutes the fighters have broken free from the net and continue their advancement on the two as Arrow draws his bow. Arrow wonders if they could take them on, but Canary is very doubtful. Wildcat gets in between them wondering what the heck they're doing, Canary argues that if the only way to get him out of there is to take the entire place down, then so be it, and urges that he better decide whose side he wants to be on. Wildcat looks at them, then up at Roulette who awaits his answer and slowly steps out of the way clearing a path for the fighters as Arrow and Canary look on in surprise. The fighters make their way to the duo as Canary apologizes to Arrow for getting him into the situation, but Arrow urges to forget the apology and use her sonic scream, but she warns that if she uses it at that range she'd kill them and suggests a better alternative.
She looks up at the camera and makes Roulette a proposition offering that they see an even better fight, two league members fighting to the death, she and wildcat right then right now. Roulette loves the suggestion, and Canary continues her deal that if she wins Roulette bans Wildcat from fighting forever, but if Wildcat wins she'll never bother him again, but Cat doesn't want it. Roulette insists it's a great idea and announces to the audience that after the brief intermission they'll fight to the death: Wildcat versus Black Canary. The audience looks on getting riled up, some of the male audience even gazes wide-eyed at Canary as Roulette beckons for members to place their bets. Wildcat walks off as Roulette orders her men to give Canary a dressing room and to keep them away from each other until show time.
In his dressing room, enraged, Wildcat bashes his fist against his punching back knocking it off its hinges into his mirror insisting that he only fights people that have it coming to him, but Roulette insists that he loves to fight and doesn't really care as much as he says, but Cat argues that he doesn't want to fight his own student, however Roulette deduces that if Cat trained Canary, she can handle herself in the ring; she insists Canary knows what she's getting herself into and that he better fight or else she'll have him blacklisted from fighting. She warns he'd better take her on with all his strength, she warns for him not to get easy on her, or take a dive, and that he's still her star attraction and she needs him undefeated, and if he loses she'll put him out to pastor quicker than the league did. Enraged by her demands, Wildcat thrashes his fist into the wall smashing it to bits as the bodyguards look on in front of Canary's dressing room in shock. Arrow looks out from Canary's room strategizing that they can get past the guards but they may have to fight their way out of the stadium and asks if she's changed her mind about using her scream, but Canary is not having it, and argues that if she leaves without him or uses her scream to force him out, he'll just go back to fighting again, it's the only way he'll understand.
Arrow wonders if he'll really fight her, but she insists she has to fight him, and beat him; it's the only way he'll stop. Arrow wonders if this is her pretending again, she wonders what he means, and he explains that she's pretending like she did up at the watchtower, the way she flirted with him and influenced him, but she argues she wasn't pretending. Arrow won't give in and tells her he knows her game now, but she says it's not a game. Arrow challenges her to look him in the eye and say that, and as she approaches he douses her with knock out gas from his arrow. The guards enter her room looking on as Arrow holds her in his arms unconscious and assures them they'll have their fight as planned.
Down at the ring, Roulette begins announcing the worlds biggest cage fight between the world's two best heroes as the crowds of spectators roar. She warns there's been a change in plans and instead of Black Canary fighting Wild cat, Green Arrow will take him on. The crowds roar in anticipation as Cat looks on in outrage warning that Canary could have held her own but not Arrow. Roulette demands that Cat fights when she tells him to fight, end of story, and leaves the ring as the two squares off. Arrow drops his arrows onto the floor and begins taunting Cat calling him scared, but Cat insists Arrow is not a fighter. Arrow taunts him further suggesting he'd rather fight a woman, to which Cat punches him knocking him to the ground, Arrow regains his balance as Canary comes to and begins to make her way to the stadium. In the ring, the two opponents square off as Arrow swings at Cat missing him and takes a punch from Cat who awaits Arrow to fight back. Arrow lands against the gate and throws another punch which is held by the Cat who picks him up and hurls him into the gate.
Canary makes her way to the gate attempting to break her way in but is held back by two guards. Arrow stands up in pain as Canary calls out to him asking what he's doing, to which Arrow replies in pain "Teaching the teacher a lesson." He runs at Cat again who lands a punch to Arrow's face and punches him again harder, kneeing him in the stomach and throws him into the gate head first knocking him to the ground. Arrow lands onto the canvas with a hard thump as Cat looks on. Canary urges him to stop it, but Cat insists Arrow asked for it. Arrow regains his balance again and slowly begins rising from the ground taunting, "So when you gonna start, has-been?" Angered, Cat throws him across the ring, elbow drops him and sits on him punching him in the face repeatedly. He continues his thrashes, punching him in the face again and again as Roulette looks on. The crowd goes wild as he continues the hard punches to the face, and finally he stops, catching his breath as Arrow taunts with his face torn up, "I don't have any powers...and you're still too old to knock me out."
Wild Cat growls in anger, picking Arrow up by the collar with one hand, reels back for a punch as Oliver gives a taunting wink, and with all his might pummels his fist into his face knocking him back with a final blow. Arrow lands on the canvas with a thunderous thump as the crowd looks on roaring as Cat stands over him asking if he's had enough already. Arrow doesn't respond but Cat continues his taunts urging him to get up because he's not done and turns him over on his back. He gasps and kneels down feeling for a pulse on his neck and wrist but feels nothing. Cat stands up and staggers back in horror as the crowd looks on breathless at what they've just seen, and then begin roaring in excitement.
Canary breaks free from the guards knocking them back with her kicks, and breaks into the gate standing over Oliver and punches Cat asking what has he done. Cat is speechless, but Roulette explains that he's just elevated the competition to a whole new level, and once word spreads people will know anything is possible there, and that they'll make millions. Cat argues that he's finished, and he's not coming back and this time he means it, and walks off as the crowds continue roaring. Later, Canary kneels over Oliver who lays lifeless. She explains that what he did was incredibly stupid, pig-headed, macho, arrogant... and also very sweet. She kisses him on the cheek apologizing, but Oliver disagrees with her comments. She gasps as he explains that he used a stunner arrow which put him in a metabolic state, which Canary deduces he used to make Cat see what it was like to actually kill someone, Cat appears over him declaring that his experiment worked. The two help Arrow up from the floor as Roulette approaches declaring that Cat will be on the ship for a month, get bored from the lack of work and he'll be back, to mark her words that he'll be back to her fighting for her again.
Canary agrees he will, but not there. She walks over to the center of the caged ring and uses her sonic scream which blasts across the arena into the bleachers as the three look on and blows the building up bringing it down, reducing it to shambles. Up in the watchtower, Canary and Cat walk the bridge as Cat apologizes explaining that looking down at Arrow's lifeless body knocked him to his senses. Canary replies that she believes him but wants assurance that his word will stick, and opens the door as J'onn awaits him for their meeting. Canary explains she wants some re-assurance and that the league will help him, but Cat declares that fighting is nowhere near as tough as the meeting with J'onn is going to be.
Arrow approaches her with an arm cast, and crutch in hand asking how she is, she explains she's doing good now and worries about his condition, but Arrow assures her he's had much worse. She however warns that it's nothing to brag about. He invites her for coffee and she agrees, to which he replies, "Good. You're buying" as she looks on with an amused smirk.

Read our review of this episode in the "Justice League: Episode Reviews".

"The Ties That Bind"

Story By: Steranko
Teleplay By: J.M. DeMatteis
Directed By: Dan Riba
Aired in the U.S.A.: 02.12.05

Roles & Actors this episode:
J'onn J'onzz: Carl Lumbly
Flash: Michael Rosenbaum
Mister Miracle: Ioan Gruffudd
Vermin Vundabar: Arte Johnson
Big Barda: Farrah Forke
Oberon: Dick Miller
Elongated Man: Jeremy Piven
Young Scott: Zack Shada
Granny Goodness: Edward Asner
Kalibak: Michael Dorn

Our Story:
Mr. Miracle, Big Barda, and Oberon are rehearsing an escape artist trick on the railroad tracks. Miracle, a.k.a. Scott Free, has a train dropped on his bound, frozen body. Though Barda and Oberon are scared, Scott survived and escaped. But Oberon is suddenly missing - taken by Granny Goodness of Apokolips.
It turns out that, since Darkseid vanished back in season two's "Twilight", Darkseid's cronies are jockeying for power on Apokolips. Vermin Vundebar has kidnapped Darkseid's son, Kalibak. Granny wants Miracle to free Kalibak (though doing so would enable Granny to brainwash Kalibak and effectively put her in charge). Unfortunately, where Scott needs to break into is the X-Pit, a place where he was tortured as a child on Apokolips.
Miracle and Barda go to seek the JLU's assistance. Though J'onn refuses to help, the Flash, playing Rock Em-Sock Em Robots with Elongated Man, offers to assist them.
On Apokolips, Vundebar works on trying to break Kalibak's mind. Granny torments Oberon.
Miracle, Barda, and the Flash boom-tube onto Apokolips and fight their way toward the X-Pit. While fighting their way in, Flash talks to them and finds out that Barda was once one of Granny Goodness's slaves - a female Fury.
The heroes free Kalibak but are separated from Mr. Miracle who's trapped in a room flooding with water. Miracle escapes and pairs back up with the others.
Vundebar decides to blow up the entire complex to stop them. However, the heroes and Kalibak boom-tube to Granny's side.
Kalibak suddenly morphs into J'onn and telepathically determines where Granny's keeping Oberon. Flash runs to his rescue. Barda is about to beat up Granny but J'onn insists that the power struggle on Apokolips must go on.
Happy heroes return to Earth - but not before Barda decks Granny.
Back at the Watchtower, Manhunter signals his acceptance of the Flash's insisting on helping the New Gods by offering to play Wally's boxing game.

Read our review of this episode in the "Justice League: Episode Reviews".

"The Doomsday Sanction"

Story By: Dwayne McDuffie
Teleplay By: Robert Goodman
Directed By: Dan Riba
Produced By: Butch Lukic
Aired in the U.S.A.: 02.19.05

Roles & Actors this episode:
Batman: Kevin Conroy
Doomsday: Michael Jai White
Flash: Michael Rosenbaum
Hawkgirl: Maria Canals
J'onn J'onnz: Carl Lumbly
Superman: George Newbern
Wonder Woman: Susan Eisenberg

Our Story:
A volcano in the Caribbean has erupted causing thousands to flee for their lives. And the TV also tells of news that Lex Luthor has announced his candidacy for President of the country and polls show he actually has a chance. Amanda Waller, the head of a secret government agency, is surprised while in the shower by none other then Batman who demands information on what she's been working on. She explains that a division that uses cloning called Cadmus exists which intends to create living weapons in case the Justice League goes rogue as it did in another dimension when the Flash was killed and then Superman killed President Lex Luthor and then took over the globe for what they felt was its own good.
Batman updates the League on what he's learned while Amanda Waller consults with her group to discuss their status with super-weapons. One mentioned is the creature Doomsday who was lobotomized by the rogue Justice Lord's Superman while they were on our Earth. Doomsday is healing and is kept under heavy security as he is too dangerous to take chances with. The League is convinced that it's Luthor backing Cadmus and Batman tells them he'll look into Waller while The Question trails the money from Cadmus to Luthor. Waller is displeased with a Dr. Milo whose research has created dangerous but useless super-animals who can't be used for anything worthwhile. She tells Milo that he's fired and that he must leave Cadmus at once.
Milo goes to see Doomsday and tells him he was grown from a sample of Superman's DNA to be more powerful then Superman to be more powerful then the Man of Steel so he could battle Superman if he ever went rogue. Doomsday was brainwashed into hating Superman by Cadmus as Waller ordered, but when he proved too powerful he was rocketed into space. But Doomsday broke loose and caused the rocket to crash to Earth, releasing him until the rogue Superman stopped him so brutally. Milo wants Doomsday to go after Waller before he destroys Superman as Milo wants revenge for being thrown out of Cadmus. Doomsday agrees and Milo releases the huge creature who immediately kills Milo and breaks out of Cadmus looking for Superman!
Justice League members are evacuating the people endangered in the Caribbean by a volcano that's about to erupt. While some help the people, Superman flies through the volcano venting lava hoping to forestall the eruption. Doomsday suddenly shows up telling Superman it will now be his honor to kill him! The two powerful beings fight inside the molten atmosphere with neither of them gaining the upper hand. Waller commands General Eiling to stop Doomsday, so he fires a nuclear kryptonite missile at the volcano to stop Doomsday in case Superman can't as Doomsday will destroy them all if he kills Superman. Batman discovers the missile and calls Waller and finds that General Eiling fired the missile without her permission, so he takes a shuttle to intercept and destroy the missile.
While the Justice League evacuates the islanders, Superman continues to fight on against the monstrous Doomsday. The combatants knock themselves outside the volcano and fight at its base like demons. J'onn J'onnz informs Wonder Woman what's going on and she goes to help Superman. As the missile nears the island Batman's efforts to stop it succeed and the missile explodes offshore, but Batman is injured in the effort. But the battle between Superman and Doomsday is still raging with no clear end in sight. Just as the islanders are finally evacuated, Superman summons all his strength and throws Doomsday into the volcano just as it erupts, knocking him senseless. Later aboard the Watchtower, the League decides that the now imprisoned Doomsday is too dangerous to stay on Earth, and Superman uses his Phantom Zone projector to send the creature to the Phantom Zone where he'll be helpless to hurt anyone.
Batman tells Superman that Cadmus exists as the League could always become the other-dimensional Justice Lords if Luthor becomes President and poses a threat to them. While he recuperates from his wounds, Batman lies in the Watchtower seeing Luthor get more powerful every day, and he ponders the possibility that someday, the League could become a greater threat then anything Cadmus could ever come up with!

Read our review of this episode in the "Justice League: Episode Reviews".

"Task Force X"

Story By: Dwayne McDuffie
Teleplay By: Darwyn Cooke
Directed By: Joaquim Dos Santos
Aired in the U.S.A.: 05.21.05

Roles & Actors this episode:
Deadshot/Floyd Lawton: Michael Rosenbaum
Colonel Rick Flagg: Adam Baldwin
Plastique/Bette Sans Souci: Juliet Landau
Captain Boomerang/George Harkness: Donal Gibson
Clock King/Temple Fugate: Alan Rachins
Amanda Waller: CCH Pounder
Captain Atom: Chris Cox
Vance: Jamie Alcroft

Our Story:
Floyd Lawton, a.k.a. Deadshot, is headed to the electric chair. Arriving at his final destination, the electric chair is occupied by Colonel Flagg of Task Force X who hands the warden Lawton's release papers.
Flagg takes Lawton and explains the situation. Lawton's last meal was laced with explosive nanites to ensure his cooperation. Flagg tells Lawton the mission is to break into the JLU Watchtower. Lawton's in.
Lawton is introduced to the rest of Task Force X - Captain Boomerang, the Clock King, and Plastique. Their mission is to steal the Annihilator armor (from last season's "Hawk & Dove"). Clock King is the chief strategist for the group and he scheduled the mission for when the three most powerful heroes on duty include Captain Atom, Green Lantern, and Martian Manhunter.
Boomerang, Deadshot, Flagg, and Plastique overpower and impersonate four JLU employees (workers not heroes) scheduled for teleportation up to the Watchtower and they make it into the JLU's space fortress. The disguised infiltrators uncover their hidden weapons. Then they split up.
Deadshot and Plastique head to the nuclear reactor where Plastique intends to blow up the reactor as a distraction. On their way, they run into Green Lantern who simply assumes they are workers.
Meanwhile, Flagg and Boomerang work on getting into the room where the League stores the Annihilator armor. Plastique's bomb distraction goes off as planned which permits Flagg and Boomerang to gain access to the Annihilator.
Due to the radiation leak from Plastique's bomb, J'onn orders the Watchtower's evacuation.
Flagg activates the armor by inciting Boomerang's rage - he hits him.
Plastique and Deadshot almost don't make it through a closing door but Captain Atom holds the door open for them assuming they are part of the JLU staff. Captain Atom works on containing the radiation, while Green Lantern is busy with evacuating the staff. Captain Atom informs J'onn that the explosion was intentional.
As Task Force X attempts to flee with the armor, they are met up by Shining Knight, Vigilante, and Atom Smasher. Flagg orders the Annihilator armor to engage the heroes in battle. The heroes are quickly overpowered by the combined might of the armor and Task Force X.
J'onn J'onnz confronts Task Force X and quickly overpowers them - until the armor grabs J'onn and rips him in half. J'onn eventually recovers and fights the Annihilator armor until he's told to stand down by Plastique who is threatening to feed an explosive to the unconscious Atom Smasher.
Boomerang, Deadshot, Flagg, and the Annihilator armor make it to the JLU teleportation pad and are waiting on Plastique. However, Captain Atom attacks her. As the explosive device Plastique was holding flies from her hands, Deadshot shoots it, causing an explosion. Task Force X (minus Plastique) teleport out of the Watchtower with the armor.
Back on Earth, Amanda Waller and Tala come for the armor. Deadshot thinks he can leave but he's quickly reminded that he's made a five-year commitment to Task Force X.
On the Watchtower, J'onn and GL discuss how to treat the JLU staff member who betrayed them. J'onn suggests erasing his mind but GL isn't comfortable with that step. Nonetheless, they both realize that there is no one that the League can trust anymore.

Read our review of this episode in the "Justice League: Episode Reviews".

"The Balance"

Story By: Dwayne McDuffie
Teleplay By: Stan Berkowitz
Directed By: Dan Riba
Produced By: Butch Lukic
Aired in the U.S.A.: 05.28.05

Roles & Actors this episode:
Flash: Michael Rosenbaum
Hawkgirl: Maria Canals
Wonder Woman: Susan Eisenberg
Felix Faust: Robert Englund
Hades: Bob Joles
Tala: Juliet Landau
Hermes: Jason Bateman
Abnegazar: Wayne Knight
Hippolyta: Susan Sullivan

Our Story:
Tala is studying the Annihilator armor that "Task Force X" stole from the JLA Watchtower last week. She is trying to create a counter-potion to remove its weakness (the weakness being that the armor is defensive and thus useless if a foe refuses to attack). Felix Faust, not seen since JL Season One episode "Paradise Lost", is harassing Tala and it turns out Faust was Tala's magic mentor (and lover). After Faust perished at the end of "Paradise Lost", Tala collected his remains and used her magic to trap his spirit in a magic mirror. Faust tricks Tala with an incantation that frees him from the mirror and puts Tala inside instead. Then Faust possesses the Annihilator armor.
The Flash arranges to have dinner in the JLU Watchtower with Wonder Woman and Hawkgirl at the same time in an attempt to get the women to reconcile. After an uncomfortable meal, Wonder Woman happens upon J'onn who is treating all the magic-based heroes for a mysterious malady. Etrigan exclaims that "The Gates of Tartarus swing both ways. The balance tips towards chaos." Even Dr. Fate and Zatanna succumb to the condition.
Diana returns to her quarters and a winged speedster is waiting for her - not the Flash, but the Greek God Hermes. Hermes brings her a message from Zeus. Zeus wants her to go to Tartarus (i.e., the lowest region of the netherworld) to bring down Faust, who has returned to Tartarus to oust Hades from power. Zeus wants Diana to return Hades to power. Diana is reticent to interfere as she has ill-will toward both Hades and Faust - however, Hermes reminds her that, while the "balance" is leaning toward chaos, rather than order, the magic-based heroes' lives were in jeopardy.
The Gates to Tartarus are directly underneath Themiscyra. The Amazons, including Diana's mother, failed to stop Faust.
Diana sneaks into Hawkgirl's headquarters to "borrow" her mace because the Thanagarian mace can affect magic. However, Hawkgirl returns and tells Diana that Hawkgirl herself comes with the mace. Diana reluctantly agrees and the pair head off in the invisible jet to Themiscyra.
Before Diana and Hawkgirl enter the Gates of Tartarus, Diana's mother, Hippolyta, touches the jewel in Diana's tiara which causes the lasso, tiara, and armor to glow. According to Diana's mother, because Diana stole the costume (way back in the JL pilot, "Secret Origins"), she wasn't aware of all of its powers. At the appropriate time, Hippolyta says, Diana will know what she needs to know about the additional powers in the armor and lasso.
Wonder Woman and Hawkgirl enter Tartarus and are attacked by demons who mistake Hawkgirl for an angel from Heaven. Hawkgirl hopes all the demons are that stupid.
Diana wants to find Faust but Hawkgirl thinks they should free Hades first. Diana has no intention of freeing Hades but Hawkgirl wants to go ahead with the mission as stated by the Gods. Diana refuses to believe she needs any help to succeed in her mission -- from either Hades or Hawkgirl. Hawkgirl tells Diana she will back her up however Diana chooses to proceed. Diana chooses to go after Faust first.
To find Faust, Hawkgirl tracks down a trio of demons and kidnaps one of them. The demon refuses to cooperate under threat of violence. Diana ensnares the demon in her now enchanted magic lasso and the demon is compelled to obey her. Diana now has a Magic Lasso!
The demon, Abnigazar, leads the heroines to Hades' library, where Faust is busy reading up on the mystical ways of the (under)world. Faust explains to them that he duped Hades into telling him about the library and then betrayed him. Suddenly, Faust attacks Wonder Woman and Hawkgirl and teleports them someplace cold - Hell has frozen over.
As Diana and Shayera bicker, they hear the chained-up Hades being attacked by vultures from Hell, and Hawkgirl flies to his rescue. Diana unchains Hades.
Diana, Shayera, and Hades teleport back to the library and attack Faust. Hades burns the library to get Faust's attention. Faust animates flaming skeletons to fight the trio. Hawkgirl uses her enchanted mace to destroy the skeletons and then attack Faust in the Annihilator armor. Faust overpowers Hawkgirl, but Diana uses her mace to destroy the armor. Hades is returned to power and decides to keep Faust's spirit to torment.
Hades then tells Diana that he is her father - that Hippolyta and Hades had sculpted her out of clay together. Hawkgirl suggests that Diana use the magic lasso to find out if Hades is lying. Diana refuses, insisting that it doesn't matter because her mother raised her and that is what constitutes a true parent.
Back on Themiscyra, the Amazons rejoice at the victorious return of Wonder Woman and Hawkgirl. Diana is welcomed back to Themiscyra by her mother. Finally, Diana and Shayera make peace.

Read our review of this episode in the "Justice League: Episode Reviews".

"Double Date"

Story By: Gail Simone
Directed By: Joaquim Dos Santos
Aired in the U.S.A.: 06.04.05

Roles & Actors this episode:
Green Arrow: Kin Shriner
The Question: Jeffrey Combs
Black Canary: Morena Baccarin
Huntress: Amy Acker
Steven Mandragora: Glenn Shadix
Faraday: Scott Patterson

Our Story:
Two mobsters, Tony and Cecil, debate culinary skills outside a mansion. Suddenly, they're under attack by the Huntress. Huntress breaks into the mansion and evades the laser sensor alarm. Huntress breaks into a bedroom and presumably shoots the person sleeping in the bed - Mandragora, a gangster - when she is instantly teleported to the Watchtower. J'onn admonishes her for crossing the line and kicks her out of the League.
She comes upon the Question in his quarters contemplating Cadmus and makes him an offer - she will tell him everything she knows about Cadmus if he tells her, using his skills as the League's data expert, where Steven Mandragora is being hidden.
Meanwhile, Green Arrow and Black Canary are watching Mandragora as he's working with - or more aptly, annoying - Agent Faraday, whose job it is to prepare him for trial. The big white whale of a gangster harasses GA and Black Canary, getting the pair to get themselves expelled from the safe house by Faraday.
Two police officers show up at the house but it turns out they are a distraction. Mandragora tosses Faraday across the room. Huntress and Question arrive and meet resistance from GA and Black Canary who refuse to let them pass. The Question attacks. GA and the Question fight. Huntress and Black Canary also fight. Quickly, GA and Black Canary prevail but Mandragora is gone by the time they get back into the safe house.
The Question finds a key for a locker at the train station. GA notices, takes the key, and he and Black Canary go to investigate. GA orders Question and Huntress to stay behind.
It turns out the key wasn't the clue - the Question palmed the real clue: a shipping schedule. But GA realizes the Question set him up. He and Black Canary lie in wait outside the safe house for Question and Huntress who are off to the docks.
On the way to the docks, Question tells Huntress he knows she doesn't know anything about Cadmus and asks her to tell him everything she knows about Mandragora. It turns out Mandragora worked for Huntress's father, Franco Bertinelli. When Huntress - Helena Bertinelli - was a child, Mandragora rebelled against crime boss Franco Bertinelli, killing Helena's father and mother to take over the gang. Huntress watched as Mandragora killed her parents (presumably what caused her to become the Huntress).
Question and Huntress realize they are being followed by GA and Black Canary on Canary's motorcycle. Question evades them in the Midtown Tunnel.
Finally, on the waterfront, Question realizes Mandragora is not trying to flee by ship, but he's meeting a ship that's coming in from his home country. Just as the Question and Huntress prepare to attack, Black Canary takes out Mandragora's guards. GA faces off against Mandragora with an assist from the Question. Black Canary lets loose her Canary Cry, which Mandragora is able to stand up to.
Huntress is ready to execute him, when Mandragora's son, Edgar, runs off the boat calling "Pappa". Question convinces her not to shoot him, so instead she shoots the cargo hanging over his head and it falls on him - hard.
It turns out Mandragora never intended to go State's evidence - he was stalling till his son arrived and then they would both disappear with new identities. The Question knew the truth all along and helped Helena because he likes her. She kisses him. Black Canary says "Ewww."

Read our review of this episode in the "Justice League: Episode Reviews".

"Clash"

Story By: J.M. DeMatteis & Dwayne McDuffie
Directed By: Dan Riba
Aired in the U.S.A.: 06.11.05

Roles & Actors this episode:
J'onn J'onzz: Carl Lumbly
Batman: Kevin Conroy
Superman: George Newbern
Professor Emil Hamilton: Robert Foxworth
Lois Lane: Dana Delany
Elongated Man: Jeremy Piven
Mercy Graves: Lisa Edelstein
Captain Marvel: Jerry O'Connell
Billy Batson: Shane Haboucha

Our Story:
Elongated Man is down. The Parasite is decimating the city and drawing power from Metamorpho. Batman, who never calls for help, asks J'onn to send help asap. However, Superman is busy landing an airplane. By the time Superman arrives, the Parasite's been subdued by the JLU's newest member, Captain Marvel.
Marvel is interviewed by a bunch of reporters including Lois Lane. When asked about why he's joined the League, Marvel explains that the JLU has done a lot of good, offering Lex Luthor's reform as an example.
Marvel returns to Fawcett City and, with one magic word, changes back to Billy Batson who's late for school.
Later, at the Watchtower, Superman orders Marvel into a meeting with the Big Seven and shows him the daily newspaper with its front page headline - "Captain Marvel Endorses Luthor for President!" Superman explains to Marvel that he's a member of the JLU and that Marvel's being idealistic in believing someone can change from bad to good - he is prohibited from making any more public statements without the League's OK.
Luthor appears on TV and announces Lexor City, an urban community for low-income Americans. Superman watches dubiously as Lex compares himself to Hawkgirl who betrayed Earth and the League but has been re-embraced by the JLU. Lex says that Marvel's statements to the press indicate that, like Hawkgirl, he too is being given a second chance by the League. Lex also makes a point of inviting Superman to the charitable open house event at Lexor City the next evening.
Superman and Batman are busy fighting a group of four super-villains while discussing Captain Marvel. Summoned by Emil Hamilton, the World's Finest pair are told that four pounds of weapons-grade Kryptonite has been stolen.
Batman finds evidence that the technology used to break into the vault with the Kryptonite was made by Lexcorp. But anyone could have gained access to that technology - or did Lex leave proof because he wanted the JLU to know. Batman goes to consult with the Atom and suggests Superman attend the charity event and keep an eye on Lex.
That evening, in Lexor City, Lex addresses the masses. As the low-income children play and eat, they're joined by Billy Batson. Lex gets misty-eyed over his being able to help and raises a glass to toast Superman.
Superman overhears a woman talking to Lex about a device being in place. He uses his X-ray vision and spots a device underneath the children's park. Superman believes it is a bomb because it has a timer.
With one magic word - Shazam - Superman's interrupted by Captain Marvel.
Lex explains that the device is an experimental engine designed to supply free energy to everyone in Lexor City. Marvel believes him. Superman doesn't. Supes asks why it's shielded with lead and Lex explains that it's for Superman's own protection because the engine uses Kryptonite.
Marvel suggests they call in Atom or Steel to check Luthor's claim but Superman believes there's no time to do anything but destroy the device. Cap tries to stop him and Superman tosses him away. Marvel gets angry.
Superman and Captain Marvel fight, smashing head-long into one another. Cap tosses a bus at Superman. Supes goes on the offensive and the two engage in a super-fist fight. At the same time, they're inadvertently destroying Lexor City with their battle.
Superman gains the upper hand for a moment and Marvel's subdued. Superman goes underground to get to Lex's device and he's attacked one more time by Captain Marvel. Superman knocks him to the ground.
Captain Marvel grabs Superman from behind and, holding him aloft, screams "Shazam!" over and over causing Supes, who's vulnerable to magic, to be pelted over and over with magic lightning. On the third "Shazam!", Superman is able to move Cap into the path of the lightning, causing him to be transformed back to Billy Batson. Before Billy can change back into Captain Marvel, Superman puts his hand over Billy's mouth.
Superman, carrying a gagged Billy Batson, approaches Lex's device and melts it with his heat vision.
Later, the Atom confirms that the device appears to be what Lex said it was. In front of the press, Superman apologizes to Lex. Lex says, if anyone should apologize, it's him because he should have anticipated Superman's reaction to the surprise device. Superman offers to have the League pay for all the damage but Lex refuses.
Back at the Watchtower, Captain Marvel calls a meeting of the Big Seven. He says that the League were his heroes but that he thinks they're not being heroic anymore. Captain Marvel resigns from the Justice League and walks out.
Superman tells the other six that Marvel is right but Batman realizes that "they" set Superman up. Superman is surprised by Batman's use of the word "they" as he thought it was all a set-up by Lex alone.
Finally, Lex and Amanda Waller drink a toast to their secret plans.

Read our review of this episode in the "Justice League: Episode Reviews".

"Hunter's Moon"

Story By: Dwayne McDuffie
Directed By: Joaquim Dos Santos
Teleplay By: Stan Berkowitz
Aired in the U.S.A.: 06.18.05

Roles & Actors this episode:
J'onn J'onzz: Carl Lumbly
Hawkgirl: Maria Canals
Green Lantern: Phil LaMarr
Kragger: Hector Elizondo
Hawk #2: David Barrera
Paran Dul: Elizabeth Peña
Vigilante: Nathan Fillion
Vixen: Gina Torres

Our Story:
Vixen wants to spend time with boyfriend John Stewart. Stewart seems reticent about showing her affection.
J'onn, meanwhile, receives a distress call from an alien mining ship stranded on a rock in the furthest reaches of space - and the rock is made of unrefined Nth Metal, the refined form of which is, of course, what Hawkgirl's mace is made from.
Hawkgirl is going to go off alone but J'onn feels she needs to behave as a team leader and not a loner. GL offers to accompany her, but J'onn rejects that suggestion because, with two founding members on the same mission, there could be questions about who's leading - and this is a test of Shayera's leadership skills. She is paired up with the Vixen and the cowboy Vigilante. GL protests sending his ex and current squeezes together, but is rebuffed by J'onn who tells him: "I don't take your love life into consideration when I make command decisions."
When the alien in distress signs off, she removes her mask and is revealed as Thanagarian Paran Dul from "Starcrossed".
The trio arrive on the planet and don't find a mining ship or any Nth Metal. They go in search of clues and enter a mine. Hawkgirl detects that the entire mine is a hologram. Suddenly, the heroes are fired upon. Vigilante fires back and the heroes retreat toward the Javelin-7 which is destroyed before they can get to it.
The heroes seek cover. Suddenly, Hawkgirl is called by her Thanagarian name and she's beak-to-beak with a Thanagarian force led by Paran Dul who are there to get revenge for Shayera's betrayal of Thanagar back in "Starcrossed". Vigilante is confused as he thought Shayera betrayed Earth during that crisis. Vixen says that it sounds as if she betrayed everyone.
Paran tells Shayera that, because the League stopped the construction of the bypass on Earth, Thanagar lost the war against the Gordanians. Paran explains that, after retreating Earth at the end of "Starcrossed", they returned to Thanagar and found it beaten by the Gordanians. Hro Talek, Shay's Thangarian ex-fiancé, refused to accept defeat and went into action against the Gordanians. Placing everyone into a scout ship, Hro then charged and destroyed the Gordanian flagship, killing himself in the process.
Paran wants Shayera and offers to release Vixen and Vigilante if they hand Hawkgirl over. Vixen and Vig refuse to give up a fellow JLU member even as they continue to resent Hawkgirl for her previous betrayal of the League.
Kragger, who was Talek's assistant, is now in some kind of exoskeleton due to the injuries he sustained in "Starcrossed". He also appears to be mentally ill and obsessed with getting revenge on Shayera. Paran appeases Kragger who becomes upset when other Thanagarians speak of wanting to return to Thanagar and join the rebellion against the Gordanians.
Meanwhile, the trio of heroes is hiding out. Vig sees a Thanagarian flying around and aims to fire at him but Shayera stops him - she believes that it's a set-up to get the heroes to reveal their position.
Shayera decides that they will all split up and try to find Paran's ship so they can radio the Watchtower for assistance. Vigilante fights her idea and feels she is still loyal to the Thanagarians - he resents that, during the invasion, he was captured by the Thanagarians. Shayera notices Vigilante has a leg injury.
Shayera decides she is going to give up. Vixen uses reverse psychology, that, with everything she's heard about Shayera being tough and intelligent, she was beginning to feel jealous - but here she is quitting. The three heroes decide to remain together.
They're ambushed by the Thanagarians and Kragger expresses his resentment to Shayera. He fires on her with blasts from his exoskeleton, which she fights off with her mace. Vixen uses elephant strength and holds the Thanagarians down, giving Shayera and Vigilante an opportunity to escape.
The Thanagarians are about to shoot Vixen when she offers to betray Shayera for them. She offers to use her animal senses to find her for them. The Thanagarians doubt why she would betray her JLU teammate. Vixen explains about Stewart and Kragger believes her.
Vixen needs medical attention before she can track Shayera and asks to be taken to their ship. Kragger agrees. However, once on the ship, she overcomes the medic and radios J'onn in the Watchtower. But she's interrupted by Paran.
Meanwhile, Shayera decides the only way to save Vixen is to give herself up to the Thanagarians. She flies off notwithstanding Vigilante's reservations. Vigilante allows a Thanagarian to sneak up on him and captures him to find out where the Thanagarian ship is located.
Shayera gives up to the Thanagarians and drops her mace in exchange for Paran's promise to release Vixen. Kragger drops Vixen - from at least hundreds of feet in the air.
Suddenly, Paran's ship speeds toward Vixen - it's being piloted by Vigilante, who rescues Vixen. Shayera overpowers the Thanagarians.
Paran jumps Vixen and they fight in her ship as Vigilante flies the ship. Vixen overpowers Paran and kicks her out of the speeding ship.
Meanwhile, Shayera faces off against Kragger - pulling the wiring from his exoskeleton, Kragger plummets to the ground.
Later, back at the Watchtower, GL runs to greet the returning heroes and is shocked when Shayera and Vixen walk off together, ignoring John. In the JLU commissary, they tell stories about Stewart and laugh. They also acknowledge that they both realize Stewart has continuing feelings for Shayera.

Read our review of this episode in the "Justice League: Episode Reviews".

"Question Authority"

Story By: Dwayne McDuffie
Directed By: Dan Riba
Aired in the U.S.A.: 06.25.05

Roles & Actors this episode:
J'onn J'onzz: Carl Lumbly
Superman: George Newbern
Lex Luthor: Clancy Brown
General Eiling: J.K. Simmons
Professor Hamilton: Robert Foxworth
Lois Lane: Dana Delany
Captain Atom: Chris Cox
The Huntress: Amy Acker
Amanda Waller: CCH Pounder
The Question: Jeffrey Combs

Our Story:
It's just another day in Metropolis and the super villain d'jour, Mantis, stands atop a skyscraper making his bid for absolute power - among the crowd of police and bystanders below are Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen.
Superman and Captain Atom attack Mantis. Mantis freezes Capt. Atom. Superman and Mantis go one-on-one till Atom frees himself from the ice. It turns out Mantis is from Apokolips and, with the Civil War there that has continued since Darkseid disappeared, he erroneously thought it would be easier to come here to rule.
Supes and Capt. Atom follow Mantis into the subway. Superman activates Mantis's mother box and sets his return boom tube to Apokolips. Capt. Atom blasts Mantis into the boom tube and then Superman destroys the mother box he took from Mantis.
Lois Lane wants a one-on-one with Superman. Captain Atom leaves them alone. Lois says she filed the story so Superman and Lois go off on their planned date.
As Capt. Atom leaves, he's stopped by General Wade Eiling and told he's being recruited back into military service. Eiling says Atom must choose between the JLU and the Air Force.
Superman and Lois, while on their picnic date atop a skyscraper, discuss the League's recent actions. Lois expresses her concern with the trust issues that the League has with the public, and Superman's brainwashing by Darkseid back in STAS's "Legacy". She calls him to task on his destroying Lexor City on national TV in his battle with Captain Marvel back in "Clash" and other recent League action. Superman replies that, while they come on strong at times, it's for the people's own good. Lois says "That sounds like something Lex would say." Superman is not amused with the comparison. Lois says that what it comes down to is that, to serve the public, the League has to have the public's trust. She kisses him and they dig into dessert.
Meanwhile, the Question is downloading computer files while his "girlfriend" the Huntress fights off the security of the building they've broken into. Question hopes the files he's acquired will contain information linking Lex Luthor to Cadmus. Huntress insists on a date before he digs into the files he now has.
At Cadmus, Emil Hamilton tells Lex to take off the medical device that was keeping him alive. Hamilton is amazed but Lex's cancer is completely gone. They're not sure what took the cancer away but it's as if he never had it in the first place.
Waller interrupts to tell Lex that Question and Huntress stole files that may contain everything on Cadmus. Lex says that the encryption had better hold for all their sakes - but it doesn't.
Question reviews the files and discovers the file of the alternate world Superman frying President Luthor. The Question sounds crazy as he reviews the path toward the end of the world - including Flash's death, President Luthor - but it appears someone is trying to replicate what happened on the alternate Earth of the Justice Lords.
Huntress shows up and Question is too freaked out to notice. Huntress views the tape of alternate Superman frying alternate Lex.
In the Watchtower, Superman's holding up something super-heavy while Steel and Aztek work on the underside. Question walks up to Superman and tells him that he assumes he doesn't want to discuss his "White House weenie roast in front of a crowd" of other Leaguers. Superman is annoyed and he excuses himself so he and Question can speak alone.
Question is taken to the Big Seven Boardroom and he accuses Superman of having not told anyone outside of the other Big Seven members that, on a world like their own, a Superman like him killed the President. Superman is angry and tells Question no one can know about it. Question goads Superman. Question asks if he's seen Amanda Waller's simulations that, in any battle between the Government and the League, most of the world would be destroyed.
Superman thinks Question is mixed up, that Superman is totally in control and wouldn't let the things that happened on the alternate Earth take place here. Question walks out.
At Lexcorp, Lex walks into his office and the Question is sitting in his chair. Question tells Lex that he's going to kill him so that Superman can't. But Lex has super-strength! He beats the Question to near death telling him that the campaign for the Presidency is a farce - that Lex Luthor would have to give up too much power to be President. The fake campaign's purpose? To tick Superman off.
Lex wants the files back from the Question and hooks him up to a machine causing him to live out the end of the world. Question won't answer the torturer's questions so the torture continues.
Superman is flying around Metropolis and hears Jimmy's signal watch - but Jimmy is tied up and the Huntress is calling Superman. She tells him about what she thinks is a "fake tape" of Superman killing Luthor, that it freaked Question out when he saw it, and ran off and disappeared. Superman calls for the Question on the JLU signal device. No reply. J'onn locates the com-link. Superman and Huntress agree that Cadmus has Question and decide to go into Cadmus "off the books", i.e., not as an official League mission, to rescue Question.
Superman breaks into Cadmus. He and Huntress battle past security officers. Superman uses his X-ray vision to look for Question but he sees Emil Hamilton. As Huntress fights on, Superman goes to see Professor Hamilton confronting him on his betrayal of Superman and Supergirl. Hamilton says that he feels the world needs protection from super people - that Superman threatened him when he brought Supergirl in for medical treatment during "Legacy". Superman walks out.
Superman rejoins Huntress just as she's finished off the security guards. They break into the room where Question is being held. They free him from the torture device and, as they are about to leave Cadmus with the near-death Question in tow, Captain Atom confronts them and says that Superman is not leaving Cadmus with the Question.
To Be Continued...

Read our review of this episode in the "Justice League: Episode Reviews".

"Flashpoint"

Story By: Dwayne McDuffie
Directed By: Joaquim Dos Santos
Aired in the U.S.A.: 07.02.05

Roles & Actors this episode:
Superman: George Newbern
Green Arrow: Kin Shriner
Amanda Waller: CCH Pounder
Huntress: Amy Acker
The Question: Jeffrey Combs
Captain Atom: Chris Cox
The President: Robert Forster
Kara/Tea: Nicholle Tom

Our Story:
Captain Atom and Superman fight. Superman gives Huntress his JLU signal device so she can contact J'onn and tells her to get the ailing Question out of Cadmus. The entire facility shakes as Superman and Captain Atom exchange blows.
Huntress fights Cadmus security guards as she maneuvers Question toward the exit. She can't get through a door and while she works on opening the door, Supes and Captain Atom blast a hole in the wall which allows Huntress and Question to get through. As the fight rages on, Huntress gets Question to the roof and calls for the League. They're teleported up to the Watchtower.
Reluctantly, Superman overpowers Captain Atom and knocks him out. Though Cadmus operatives attempt to remove Captain Atom, Superman insists that the Captain is Justice League and therefore Superman is responsible for him and taking him to the Watchtower for medical help.
Back at the Watchtower, Captain Atom and Question receive medical attention. The Question reveals his true - and battered - face to the Huntress.
Superman tells Supergirl about Hamilton and how he betrayed them, taking Kara's DNA to create Galatea. Supergirl is angry.
Superman confronts the Question who tells him his plan was to kill Lex before Superman could. Superman insists he is more than capable of shutting down Cadmus without killing anyone.
Superman wants to storm Cadmus and shut them down. J'onn disagrees. Green Arrow is nearby talking to Flash. He interrupts and Superman says he didn't ask for GA's input. GA reminds him that he was coerced into joining the JLU to serve as their conscience (Batman needled him about this in JLU series premiere "Initiation"). The debate rages on.
Luthor is at Lexcorp working on something when he receives a call from Amanda Waller telling him that Superman broke in and took Question and Captain Atom. Waller insists that, if Lex is caught, she would disavow any knowledge of his activities and reminds him that his pardon doesn't cover new crimes. Lex uses his computer to activate the nuclear powered weapon on the JLU satellite. J'onn unsuccessfully attempts to stop the weapon from firing. It discharges an energy blast. Superman blasts out of the Watchtower to try to absorb the energy blast but he fails to stop it and is knocked unconscious. The weapon's blast fires at Cadmus. Lex has made it look like the JLU has attacked Cadmus.
Where Cadmus once stood, there is only a giant smoking crater.
In space, Dr. Light rescues an unconscious Superman and returns him to the Watchtower. All power is out for one hour on the Watchtower. J'onn sends Steel and Atom to the reactor room to try to shave some time off the reboot of power to the Watchtower. Flash insists on going to Earth to help any people at Cadmus who need help.
The President telephones the Watchtower demanding answers that J'onn can't provide. J'onn insists the JLU didn't fire the weapon. He and the President disagree over whether the League should have had such a powerful cannon in the first place.
Because there's no power, the heroes manually open the bay doors and send rescue ships to Earth.
The President receives a phone call from Amanda Waller. She explains that, due to the security breach, Cadmus abandoned its original facility. Therefore, the League fired on an empty and abandoned location and there were no casualties.
Waller insists to the President that the League fired on Cadmus as retaliation for their holding the Question. The President tells Waller he will weigh his options - Waller insists Cadmus is his only option.
Inside the Javelin is the rescue team of Flash, GA, Dove, Booster Gold, Rocket Red, Vibe, and Vixen. (Elongated Man and Gypsy are in a later scene, a montage of rescues - either they were in another ship or they were already on Earth).
GA can't believe that the JLU caused so much devastation. Flash tells him that they were both there and saw that the JLU didn't fire the weapon. Nonetheless, GA believes it is too much power for the League to have; because it was the JLU's weapon, it was their fault no matter who fired it.
At first, the injured are happy and thankful to see the JLU who spring into rescue action. But then a rescue worker asks Flash why they fired the weapon in the first place. Public opinion shifts. Some refuse to get into the JLU ships insisting they'd rather stay behind and fend for themselves than trust the League. The heroes continue to help because, as Flash says, "People need us, we help them."
At Cadmus, Waller tires of waiting for word from the President. She tells Galatea (the Supergirl clone) to come with her. She tells Galatea her mission is to "take down the Justice League." Waller then reveals who'll be helping Galatea: an army of Ultimen clones!
To be continued.

Read our review of this episode in the "Justice League: Episode Reviews".

"Panic in the Sky"

Story By: Dwayne McDuffie
Directed By: Dan Riba
Aired in the U.S.A.: 07.09.05

Roles & Actors this episode:
Superman: George Newbern
J'onn J'onzz: Carl Lumbly
Flash: Michael Rosenbaum
Wonder Woman: Susan Eisenberg
Batman: Kevin Conroy
Green Lantern: Phil LaMarr
Lex Luthor: Clancy Brown
Kara/Tea: Nicholle Tom
Amanda Waller: CCH Pounder
Female Reporter (uncredited): Susan Eisenberg
Brainiac: Corey Burton
Professor Emil Hamilton: Robert Foxworth
Steel: Phil LaMarr

Our Story:
Hamilton works on Galatea in his laboratory. Professor Hamilton has outfitted Galatea with a device that gives her total mental control over the Ultimen. Waller interrupts and tells them it's time to begin. Before Galatea leaves, she hugs Hamilton and says goodbye, calling him "Daddy".
Meanwhile, on the Watchtower, Steel and J'onn work on rebooting the communication systems. A message comes in from Flash who reports that the evacuation of Cadmus and the surrounding area is going well and that there are no casualties. J'onn offers to send additional help, but Flash thinks that the public would perceive that as an invading force as they all believe the destruction is the JLU's fault. J'onn agrees.
Superman calls the Big Five (the original JL'ers minus Batman and Flash who are on Earth) to the main Watchtower conference room. The team decides the only way to regain public trust is for the original Leaguers to give themselves up to the Government. Superman announces this to the rest of the JLU on the Watchtower. Supergirl is visibly shaken by their decision, but her cousin urges her to stay strong.
When they contact Batman and tell him he must meet up with them to submit to the Government's custody, Batman refuses telling the League "This is the single dumbest plan I've ever heard. If you're feeling guilty, clear your own name. Don't stand on the sidelines waiting for somebody else to do it." To the contrary, Flash agrees with their decision.
The Javelin sets down and the Leaguers, joined by Flash, surrender to federal authorities.
Back on the Watchtower, Supergirl and Steel discuss the League's decision. Steel believes the original Leaguers did the right thing and explains to Kara that the Big Seven are the Big Seven because they always make the tough calls and not because they were the original Leaguers or because they're most powerful (and Steel adds that they're not the most powerful of the entire mega-team).
Suddenly, Pat Dugan (a.k.a. S.T.R.I.P.E.) sees something coming from Earth toward the Watchtower. It's a barrage of rockets! The rockets sport high-tech saws that bore into the Watchtower, drilling the rocket cones into the Watchtower. Out of the rocket cones all over the Watchtower come the attacking Ultimen clones and Galatea. Galatea orders the Ultimen to keep the JLU away from her and to "sanitize" the Watchtower.
Batman surprises Waller and company (easily decking Wade Eiling) at Cadmus and points Waller toward her ally, Lex Luthor, as the culprit responsible for taking control of the JLU's cannon and firing it at Cadmus. Waller explains she doesn't trust Lex but that he provides off-the-books financing for Project Cadmus. Waller believes Luthor's agenda is simply that he wants to be President. Batman suggests there must be more to it than that for Lex Luthor. Waller turns away briefly and Batman disappears.
On the Watchtower, the JLU fight the Ultimen all over the ship including Crimson Fox, Hourman, B'wana Beast, Star, S.T.R.I.P.E., Vigilante, Steel, Fire, Ice, Supergirl, Shining Knight (and winged Victory), Ray, Atom Smasher, the Atom, Black Canary, Metamorpho, Starman, Dr. Light, Red Tornado, the other Steel, Wildcat, Hawk, Creeper, Sand, Aztek, Dr. Mid-Nite, Obsidian, Huntress, Question, and Captain Atom. Steel tells Supergirl that an alarm has gone off and something is wrong in the reactor room so he sets off to investigate.
The JLU quickly overpower the Ultimen. Supergirl heads to the reactor room to check on Steel - on the way, she finds the beaten Atom. Then she locates Steel - he's beaten up, his armor torn off him by Galatea.
Galatea tells Kara she plans to overload the reactor and cause the Watchtower to explode. The original Supergirl and her clone battle. Supergirl angers Galatea by goading her about not being a real person, but only a manufactured weapon.
Back on Earth, Waller examines computer files and finds that much of Cadmus's new technology has been shipped to LexCorp. Waller asks Hamilton if it is possible that, with what Luthor stole, he could have taken control of the JLU Watchtower's cannon. Hamilton says that it is possible but that's the least of their problems if what Hamilton believes is true.
Now that they know the truth, Waller attempts to call off Galatea and the Ultimen but Galatea refuses to stop battling Supergirl. Galatea destroys the communications device that keeps her in touch with Waller and continues to beat on Supergirl. Galatea uses her heat vision on Kara. Steel fires a rivet that momentarily stuns Galatea. Steel tells Supergirl that the Watchtower power reboot is 18 seconds away. Supergirl fries Galatea with a reactor wire.
The rest of the team, unaware of what's happening between Supergirl, Steel, and Galatea, cheer when the power comes on - and are quickly disappointed when the power turns off again. But it's an outage caused by Supergirl's defeat of Galatea.
At LexCorp, Luthor works on an advanced robotic body in which to transfer his consciousness and live forever with super abilities. He's suddenly confronted by Batman who tells him that he finally pieced Lex's plan together - that the robot body was based on Professor Ivo's Amazo technology since Lex saw the blueprints to Amazo when he helped the Atom defeat him back in last season's "The Return." Batman hypothesizes that Lex has a photographic memory and memorized the blueprints then.
Batman tosses a batarang and, surprisingly, Lex catches it. Lex tosses heavy machinery easily - he somehow has super powers. He tosses Batman out of the window and Batman falls - suddenly, a hand reaches out to grab him.
Back in Lex's lair, Waller confronts Lex. She's joined by the Big Seven.
Unexpectedly, Lex's body begins to mutate and wires begin to pop out of his back and appendages - his stomach itself gives way to morphing metal. He's "possessed" by Brainiac!
To be continued.

Read our review of this episode in the "Justice League: Episode Reviews".

"Divided We Fall"

Story By: Dwayne McDuffie
Directed By: Joaquim Dos Santos
Aired in the U.S.A.: 07.16.05

Roles & Actors this episode:
Superman: George Newbern
J'onn J'onzz: Carl Lumbly
Flash: Michael Rosenbaum
Wonder Woman: Susan Eisenberg
Batman: Kevin Conroy
Green Lantern: Phil LaMarr
Hawkgirl/Shayera Hol: Maria Canals
The President: Robert Forster
Lois Lane: Dana Delany
Steel: Phil LaMarr
Amanda Waller: CCH Pounder
Green Arrow: Kin Shriner
Brainiac: Corey Burton

Our Story:
The Big Seven - and Amanda Waller - take on Brainiac who recounts how he got to be inside Lex Luthor's body. It seems that, when he blasted Luthor in "STAS" episode "Ghost in the Machine", he implanted his consciousness in Lex's body. Brainiac subtly influenced Luthor's actions as he gained more control. Brainiac gave Lex super strength and cured him of his cancer.
Waller fires at Brainiac whose head is staring out of Luthor's stomach. Brainiac instantly repairs himself and blows up Lex's penthouse lair. The heroes fall - GL uses his ring to help Waller and the others. Superman fights Luthor/Brainiac.
Brainiac's computer appendages draw power from the Lexcorp building itself. The heroes regroup and battle Brainiac in the skies above Metropolis. They battle valiantly but are quickly overpowered by Brainiac's snaking arms. Brainiac plans to digitize the Leaguers and Waller and then destroy the originals. J'onn breaks free and stops Brainiac from digitizing the team. Brainiac (still with Luthor in tow) retreats and his (CGI created) robot skull-head ship emerges out of the top of the Lexcorp building. Ultimately the heroes bring it down but Batman and Superman both realize it was too easy, that Brainiac wasn't in the ship.
Brainiac and Luthor are in the sewers several miles from where the League is looking for them. Brainiac tells Lex he must repair himself and that he plans to digitize Lex's unique information and then destroy him. Lex manipulates Brainiac leading him to conclude that Lex may have something to offer to Brainiac beyond just the fulfillment of Brainiac's mission.
Superman deduces that Brainiac and Luthor will seek out the highest technology available and Waller offers that they'll head to Cadmus for the "Dark Heart" technology - the most advanced nanotech on Earth.
Brainiac/Luthor incorporates the technology as the League arrives - the pair evolves truly into one being and decides to build a machine that will absorb all the Earth's information in a single stroke. Then they will do that to the universe and use the information and the nanotech to recreate the universe.
As the Big Seven head off to Cadmus, they touch base with the other JLU'ers. No other heroes are able to get to Cadmus in time - it's up to the Big Seven.
Arriving at Cadmus, Superman senses intense heat with his super vision just before the building is rocked by an explosion. The League are face to face with the combined Brainiac/Luthor creature - Superman at first thinks Lex is an unwilling participant in the combined machine but Lex admits that he's willing to destroy the planet to achieve his goals of power and ultimate knowledge. The League engages Brainiac/Luthor in battle - the Brainiac side creates seven Brainiacs to take on the Leaguers and the Luthor side changes the Brainiacs into the Justice Lords (plus a yellow suited reverse Flash). The robotic Justice Lords each battle their JL counterpart both physically and mentally by exploiting their insecurities and doubts.
The Flash defeats the robotic reverse Flash first. Meanwhile, the other heroes fight on. Superman is taunted by the robotic Justice Lord Superman who then morphs his face to look like (and sound like) Lex almost daring Superman to kill him. Superman backs away allowing the Justice Lord Superman to attack. Wonder Woman suggests they switch adversaries and, without the mental advantage, the heroes make quick work of the robot Lords.
Quickly, the others follow suit. GL bashes the robot Hawkgirl and Hawkgirl rips the robot GL's head off.
With the robots vanquished, the League charge Luthiac and he/it fires energy blasts at them. Wonder Woman grabs the Javelin and hurls it into the Cadmus building, bringing it down around Luthiac.
The Flash steps out of the rubble and faces down Luthiac who gloats that the League is defeated and, as in the Justice Lords universe, Luthor will kill the Flash and set into motion the end of the world. The Question was right.
The Flash vibrates free of Luthiac's robotic sentries. He appears to run away - but he's run so fast in the other direction that he has gone all the way around the Earth striking Luthiac at ultra speed from the other direction! Doing this over and over, he defeats Luthiac, separating Luthor from the combined creature.
Suddenly the Flash disappears. J'onn telepathically feels Flash's mind and they connect with it. Wally tells them about the Speed Force and that he must go into it - but the League pulls him out all together. Wally realizes he can never go that fast again or he could enter the Speed Force and not be able to get out.
A new day in Metropolis. Superman addresses the JLU and the world admitting to the League's arrogance in separating themselves from and setting themselves above humanity. Superman announces the dissolution of the JLU.
But from the audience, Green Arrow speaks out. He tells Superman that the world needs the JLU and the JLU needs Superman. Everyone - hero and human - cheers. Superman relents and agrees to keep the JLU together but with some changes. He suggests that the League have embassies on Earth instead of a Watchtower in space so that they could be with the people.
Batman heads back to Gotham.
Back at the Daily Planet, Lois writes up the story. She tells Clark Kent that her angle on the story is that Superman is "only human" and therefore entitled to make mistakes. Clark is encouraged.
The End.

Read our review of this episode in the "Justice League: Episode Reviews".

"Epilogue"

Story By: Dwayne McDuffie
Directed By: Dan Riba
Aired in the U.S.A.: 07.23.05

Roles & Actors this episode:
Batman: Kevin Conroy
Parasite: Marc Worden
Ace: Hynden Walch
Amanda Waller: CCH Pounder
Terry McGinnis: Will Friedle
Dana/Tibetan Green Lantern/Dr. Light: Lauren Tom

Our Story:
It's 65 years into the future.
A shadowy figure scales the gate onto a guarded estate. Overcoming security forces, the figure makes his way into the mansion using some kind of key card. This invader breaks into a surveillance room, knocking out the guard on watch.
Finally he makes his way into a room and stands face to face with an elderly Amanda Waller. He pulls out a batarang. Waller tells the intruder that she was wondering when he'd show up and calls him by each of his names - Terry McGuiness and Batman (Beyond)!
Flashback: an adult Batman Beyond ("BB") smashes the grandfather clock that serves as the hidden entrance to the Batcave. Entering the cave, he confronts elderly Bruce Wayne.
Cut to another flashback - this time, Terry's apologizing for failing to keep a date with his girlfriend Dana. They've been dating for 15 years (!) and she knows that Terry is BB. Terry wants to end their relationship so that his enemies can't find out his secret and exact revenge on him by hurting Dana.
Back to the present, Terry demands answers from Waller.
Cut to another flashback - this time, the future JLU (Aquagirl, Warhawk, Green Lantern, and BB) are fighting the Iniquity Collective, a super-villain team consisting in part of a futuristic Parasite, BB villainess Inque, and two other BB bad guys. BB brings down the last villain and announces to the team that "Batman is dead" - he's quitting the JLU.
Cut back to the present, in Waller's home, where Terry tells Waller that he figured "it" out a few months ago when Bruce needed a kidney transplant and Terry's kidneys were an exact match.
Another flashback - Terry confronts Bruce Wayne. Wayne is his "father". Terry is essentially almost a clone of Bruce Wayne.
Cut back to the present. Waller tells Terry a story about the first Batman. The JLU (Red Tornado, Stargirl, Hawkgirl, Dr. Light, and Batman) are facing the second Royal Flush Gang who've been put together by Ace from the first RFG. Waller arrives and tells the JLU that Ace's powers have changed, that what she creates with her mind is real and permanent, that Ace is telekinetically warping reality.
Waller gives the JLU a device that can take Ace out - but the only way to stop her is to kill her. Batman takes the device. He enters the forest that Ace has created and the other Leaguers are unable to follow. He reasons with her and tells her the truth that she's going to die. He stays with her until it happens. When she dies, everything reverts to normal including the other members of the RFG. Batman is never willing to take a life and always finds another way, Waller explains.
Back in the present, Waller explains that Terry is the result of "Project Batman Beyond". Waller realized that, eventually, Bruce Wayne would die and that the world needed Batman. She extracted his DNA from blood that Batman left all over Gotham City in his battles.
She found Terry's parents and injected nanites into Terry's father that made his DNA an exact match for Bruce Wayne's DNA. Thus, when Terry was born, he was, in essence, Bruce Wayne's biological son.
Waller hired Phantasm to kill Terry's parents as they left a movie theater with Terry when he was eight. But Phantasm refused to kill Terry's parents. Waller eventually realized Phantasm was right - that Bruce Wayne/Batman would never resort to murder to achieve his goals and thus she couldn't either.
Terry believes that his father ended up murdered anyway because Waller set into motion events that couldn't be undone.
Waller disagrees and tells Terry that he is ultimately in control of his own destiny and his own life - irrespective of his genetics. Terry isn't Bruce's clone, but is his son. There are similarities but, ultimately, what Terry chooses to do with his life is up to him.
Back at Wayne Manor, Terry calls his girlfriend and makes a date to discuss something with her. Dana is half asleep and doesn't realize that Terry is making a date to propose as he looks at the engagement ring.
Crotchety old Bruce Wayne made Terry some soup, but it's cold. Bruce tells Terry that "Clark" called - he wants Terry to meet him in Metropolis to discuss a case. Bruce wants Terry to eat first but Terry says he'll eat later. Bruce says Terry is stubborn and Terry replies that he's like his old man.
A police cruiser flies over Gotham and the officers catch a glimpse of Batman Beyond flying toward Metropolis. The End.

Read our review of this episode in the "Justice League: Episode Reviews".

Superman on Television

"Justice League" Episode Guide

Season 4 - "Justice League Unlimited"

Episode Guide

Episodes

Summaries

"The Cat and the Canary"

"The Ties That Bind"

"The Doomsday Sanction"

"Task Force X"

"The Balance"

"Double Date"

"Clash"

"Hunter's Moon"

"Question Authority"

"Flashpoint"

"Panic in the Sky"

"Divided We Fall"

"Epilogue"

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