JLU is what the DCEU should have been, a universe full of likable, charismatic super heroes, well written complex stories and love letter to what makes the Justice League and the DC universe so special
When the films were starting, this is what I dreamed of. Sadly it wasn’t that. But it is what is should have been. A great group of super heroes with great character arcs.
Yes exactly!!! 100% The template was there!!! WB missed a huge opportunity and now they're scrambling with a plan. It's a shame. If they modeled DCEU after JLU, then they would be more successful.
Honestly this series is a classic. Nothing has managed to surpass this within superhero animated media. While it’s not my favourite series of all time, it’s absolutely fantastic. Really wish the DC superhero movies could have been half this good.
One of my favorite JLU episodes is "The Greatest Story Never Told". Before that episode, I barely knew anything about Booster Gold, and had no interest. After watching it, I immediately wanted to know more about his character. I always felt that one of JLU's biggest strengths was telling stories about superheroes you never heard of in a way that made you root for them in the end.
The short-lived Justice League Action, a much less serious but still retained most of the charm of the original JL and JLU series, also had a freaking amazing episode about Booster Gold. I can't remember which episode was it but it was brilliantly written and he basically earned Batman's respect by having him deliver a great line.
Indeed. another great exemple is the "Patriotic Act" which focus on the Seven Soldiers of Victory (Green Arrow, Stargirl, STRIPE, Vigilante, Shining Knight, Crismon Avenger and Speedy) fighting against General Eiling. The whole fight between him and Shining Knight is one my favorite moments in the whole series and really shows how the writter knew how to make inspiring stories with the DC heroes.
mcu dialogue feels like it's written for comedic purposes and always feels like it caters to the audience, JL dialogue feels like these guys are just normal people with a very interesting job
@@jacobhall4055 I mean both have debriefing, the fighting, the cradling their dead comrades, the small talk in free time, and of course, the spy in the base
This is what makes the DCAU so special. It shows we can still be idealistic and good while bringing in more realistic elements without having to go to "everyone's an asshole." Yeah, maybe life isn't as great as the most ideal stuff, but it's also not as bad as all the nihilistic stuff. If we inspire to be better, than we can be so. Also, never forget: the tip at the end of the shoelace is called an aglet. Their true purpose is sinister.
I miss cartoons like these, giving a sense of moral compass that provides lesson of leadership. I enjoy the comedic cartoons that have been produce in recent years, but I wish there was just a more emotional stories
if you haven seen it already, i can really recommend steven universe. it starts out very easily digestible to lull you into a false sense of security and then it starts hitting you ;)
All those old shows were also comedic. I've been rewatching all the dcau but also some other stuff like reboot and now beast wars. All that stuff already had comedy baked in. What happened isn't just comedy. It's that they stopped making action shows and turned up the ridiculous factor.
Justice League Unlimited talks about a lot of serious stuff, is surprisingly dark for a cartoon, and understands the characters better than many other versions. And with all that, there are people who don't take it seriously because it's a caricature. Their loss.
I agree wholeheartedly! Also, I love your profile picture! What a great show Avengers Earth's Mightiest Heroes was! It was truly the Justice League/JLU of Marvel :)
Nowadays you can't have that without some people complaining of politics, social commentary on cartoon. I can garantee that if Static Shock came today, it would be lambasted
Superman is amazing in this show and the previous one as well. He’s so human and innocent. Then when they hit you with his final fight with Darkseid where he reveals that he’s always just holding back, even when he beat Darkseid before.
@@shumishu6019 Santa does exist in DC though.. And hes OP as hell. Every year he pulls up on Darkseid to smack the shit out of him and give him coal in the comics. I absolutely love his stories.
@@solblackguy absolutely, that chapter should be a must to every superhero fan. It is amazing how this version of Superman has everything that makes him Superman and Clark Kent perfectly mixed, the level is so high that you can understand how a powerful being like him considers Earth his home and becomes his protector and an embodiment of hope.
"Do you know how much power I'd have to give up to be President?" - Lex Luthor What JLU does exceptionally well is dealing with the question of "how do we use power wisely?" And just as importantly, "when should we not use our power?" The whole Cadmus arc is about how superheroes should use their power in the face of conflict, paranoia, and existential threats. The League were trying to do what they thought was right but they hadn't considered the dangers created when they act unilaterally without transparency, oversight, or accountability. And Cadmus and Luthor were the perfect villains. Cadmus was created in response to a changing world where threats can come from anywhere. The League had failed to protect earth from the Thanagarians and even worse, Hawkgirl had betrayed the League. Cadmus was created for a world of paranoia and cynicism. They were created to take out potential threats pre-emptively whether or not if that threat would even come to pass. The mere potential of danger is enough excuse for them to act with overwhelming force. And much of the arc is about the danger of that kind of thinking. And Luthor is someone who can never have enough power and who cannot help but abuse his power. No matter what he has, he wants more. Whereas superheroes use their power to help people, Luthor always uses his power to gain more power and he can't even conceive of someone else who wouldn't do the same. That makes him a great foil for heroes who are genuinely trying to help people and who willing to take responsibility for their actions.
"Cadmus was created for a world of paranoia and cynicism. They were created to take out potential threats pre-emptively whether or not if that threat would even come to pass. The mere potential of danger is enough excuse for them to act with overwhelming force. And much of the arc is about the danger of that kind of thinking." The show definitely was not written during the passing of the Patriot Act. Nope. The show isn't an allegorical thesis on the War on Terror.
You said it perfectly it's what I hate about how people use/view Batman (and his rogue gallery) as some sort of men who beat gods for a living. I like how JL/JLU kept Batman grounded but still didn't make him seem like a lesser hero.
@@Akkatlah uhhh it kept him competitive. The universe as a whole had a soft spot because they all started with Batman. It's funny that this super Batman that he punch superhumans and dodge omega beams is considered grounded. It shows how ridiculous the batwank got. But this Batman isn't that ridiculous. He works within the show with the other characters.
when exactly has that been done? We've only had batman going against Superman once in live action, they've never shared a big screen other than that. Also even in JLU they butt heads. Batman still carries kryptonite with him should he ever need it and Superman is aware he has it. This series never shied away from Batman having a contingency and sharing Waller's fears of a rogue league. They embraced it because it was done in a way that makes sense. The Superman in this series isn't some perfect beacon that so many fans want him to be. He broke the rules a lot. Remember the time in JLU where he beat the crap out of Shazam because he thought Lex was up to no good. Yea...that happened and he destroyed an entire city in the process. That wasn't very "heroic" of him but it made the character more human, not some floating white Jesus savior who can do no wrong.
Just to get it out of the way, the DC Animated Universe (as overseen by Bruce Timm, Paul Dini, Alan Burnett, Glen Murakami, James Tucker, and the late great Dwayne McDuffie among others) is still the definitive adaptation of DC’s most iconic characters and yes, is still better than the SnyderVerse in almost every way.
As much as we love a cynical superhero series like The Boys or Invincible, the best super hero series will still remain as relevant as ever. We want to see a darker version or see what it's like if you turn it upside down, but we can't really do that without remembering what made the originals so beautiful in the first place.
This show indeed quintessentially demonstrates what superheroes were designed to be. Not to say that they can't be used any differently, but shows like this remind me of why I love these characters and stories. Other shows remind me of this, but the only ones that immediately come to mind are Spectacular Spider-Man. Maybe Earths Mightiest Heroe's?
@@guiaraujo3726 I can't view it that way. It's like the wrong way to do JL/JLU. It skips development to just introduce random new stuff. It tries to do what JLU did with a side character for 1/6th(or less) of an episode(or the end credits!). It uses too many characters, for too short a time. While it waste time with plots. When it tries to do arcs, it drags. And random plots in the middle of an arc just feels like out of place filler.
@meelf huntah exactly, if somehow DC can manage to do something like this in the coming DC movies, that is surely going to be great. And Marvel, well, their current situation is depressing, they are nowhere near this and they are in a point so far that they are already lost.
Seriously When I was a kid I never really watched much superhero stuff outside of the Raimi Spider-man trilogy but I caught a few episodes of JL/JLU with that being one of them and despite not knowing much about Flash or the context of the show, I actually remember getting emotional when Wally nearly died and it always stuck with me
As much as I love Bruce Timm's input in the DCEU, his recent works are just soo not good. Don't want another Killing Joke movie or Batman and Harley Quinn on our hands lmao
@@TimidIzzy You can’t judge him based on 2 projects. Gods and Monsters was great. He had hundreds of pieces of great work. Not to mention he’s even better working with a crew like James or Stan.
@@Volatik2006 is the same mentality that people have towards Geoff Johns and Snyder. Simply because of a couple of misses, some fanboys were ready to drag down Johns name, ignoring the great stories he actually wrote for DC.
JLU is peak superhero animation. As a child, I was introduced to so many new characters that I didn't know but now I care for them because they were written so well. To me they're my Justice League.
I've never once picked up a comic book with The Question in it. But his character stuck with me after all these years because of how STRANGE his character looked when I first saw him in JLU. Love the idea that he's just as good of a detective as Batman.
It's already been said but the DCEU had the blueprint right in from of them. We have to be edgy, dark, and be actual God like. Naw man just stick to who the characters are with minor tweaks but these characters should be something to be looked up to. You hit it on the head. These heroes just want to help. I'm loving the Tomorrow verse though.
they did act like gods in JLU, that's the point of the entire video and the arc of JLU. They realized that they were hovering over the planet as if they were Gods looking down on the people. It was a constant point of conflict between Batman and Superman
@@gemelwalters2942 Yes I understand that and he clearly points it out because that's what the show is saying. In the second part of his video we hear how he explains how the heroes go out of their way to help because it's the right thing to do. Snyder's versions of these characters aren't portrayed in that way. Yes they are looked up to as Gods but the perfect way to deconstruct that was Superman explaining his heroics and why he protects humanity. He doesn't look down at us. He looks up to us. Maybe Snyder was building up to that but it was too late. He's great as a visual director and maybe he could tell an alternate story of these characters but he wasn't the right fit.
@@malcolmroache3854 You say that but the way you keep describing them feels like you want them to be portrayed as these perfect beings that we should look up to...i.e. Gods. Supermans heroics in JLU led him astray to the point where he was passing out judgment and sentencing ppl to the phantom zone. JLU portrayed them correctly, yes I agree but I don't think we agree on what the overall message was. For me it wasn't about Superman, the league needed to be more than that. He was just another member who was just as flawed as everyone else when it came to his pursuit of justice. It underscored the importance of the human characters, that being dependent on Superman to be some perfect beacon to fix all of humanity's problems was not a good idea. It was that approach that led to the watchtower being built as a super weapon and no one on earth even being aware. He can inspire sure but humanity needed to be in the fight themselves. It's why Waller and Batman despite being on opposite sides, understood the need for balance.
JLU is the reason I love heroes. It's the reason I watched the MCU, the DCEU, and multiple other animated or live action superhero series and movies. I must have watched the whole series through Boomerang three or four times.
@@xx_isabel_the_wolf_xx3869 I don't think you know what "based" means. GL revealing himself as a closet communist basically ruined his character for me. He's not the good guy, he's the useful idiot who doesn't realize he's helping the bad guys. You know, like all leftists in the west.
The questions line "A is A" is actually one of the best Easter Eggs I have ever seen. The Question was a character based on "Mr. A." Who was himself based on philosophical principles that everything had it's own in-born nature, as exemplified by the expression "A is A" by giving Question that line, the writers were winking at the audience, indicating they knew the complex backstory of all these obscure comic book characters.
Oh my God my childhood!! Dad got me disc sets and even tho it wasn't the whole series I watched them on repeat bc it was so good. This is where I got my understanding of Batman, learned of John Stewart, and appreciated superman and wonder woman as people with flaws
I'd say the characters are very believable in JLU. They behave logically. That is, they behave as they should given their abilities, knowledge, personalities, past experiences and goals.
Wonder Woman saying "That's pretty thick" and Superman "What am i doing in Africa ?" are some lines that i really like, cause the show felt like watching a group of friends, more than Super Friends did, that universe was perfect, Static Shock, Batman Beyond, Superman and Batman TAS, JL and JLU, that universe is the most beautiful and perfect one DC ever made.
It helps to remember this was all in the context of a conversation basically saying "we never hang out when it's not for work, let's go get milkshakes" and maybe he could have resisted if it were just Superman or just Wonder Woman, but their combined efforts had Batman on the ROPES
Also she's super funny. Like she didn't have a sense of humour when first got off the proverbial boat, now she's throwing zingers around like a boomerang tiara
What i absolutely loved about this show was that it wasnt Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman. They spent so much time fleshing out B and C list characters that they became fan favorites (Question, Huntress, Wild Cat, Booster Gold, Vigilante, Shining Knight, I could go on)
To this day this is THE definitive version of these characters. To me this IS them. This is the show that made me love these characters. This show set the bar really high, so much so I can't help but feel something is missing every time I watch a live action DC show or movie. Ironically I think what the live action lacks that the animated version has, is soul.
Justice League is Greek Mythology with a superhero presentation. Jack Kirby New Gods is another mythology, two different sets of Gods, meeting, interacting, fighting.
This series means the world to me. So many good stories told, stories that make you look up. And indeed although it had godly characters, the small moments were the best: when Martian Manhunter goes to Smallville for Christmas, when Superman dies and MM gives the best speech ever and Batman cannot accept his friend's death, Batmand and Diana dynamic, Hawkgirl's betrayal and comeback. It was so much, it was not just for kids. It also managed to give these small moments to all kinds of characters. For me classics, be it movies, music, comedies or cartoons are the ones that can be watched multiple times and by all generations, sit down yourself with your kid and your grandma and you can watch them again and again. JL and JLU is one of the classics.
8:30 yeah that is one of the reasons I love this show so much, it's that no matter how unknown or small a hero is the show still treats them with respect and will let them have a moment to shine. they dont try to go "hey look how stupid this guy is" or say how lame a character's powers are, they genuinely respect every character, and it feels like they understand that there is someone who genuinely loves that character and try to right them to show why they're liked (like even character like captain atom, who I feel is too often written as the militaries lapdog is treated with respect and honor even when he did side with the army, or shazam/captain marvel who people often forget has the Wisdom of solomon is done clean in the show, they even did a him conflicting with superman story in a natural & justified way)
@@stevenscott2136 yeah, just sad they didn't also show off his chimera fusing ability because that is seriously an awesome power to me/would have doubled peoples interest in him
@@RaptorJesus Huntress: I didn't know the girl scouts were responsible for the crop circle phenomenon Question: Few people do, few even think to ask.. The Question That and "Everything that exists has a specific nature. Each entity exists as something imparticular and has characteristics that are part of what it is. A is A. And no matter what reality he calls home, Luthor is Luthor. If I'm to save the world, your existence must come to an end before you take office. I'm a well known crackpot, the justice league's reputation will survive my actions, and Superman's legacy will remain intact." Are my favorite moments from The Question
@@johnmcauliffe8824 That moment between him and Luthor are some those characters have ever been. Because Luthor's comeback is the most Lex Luthor thing I've ever watched.
@@RaptorJesus yeah, about how he is just doing it to piss off superman and how he'd never actually become president because it would require him to give up too much power. Damn magnificent writing and characters. A character like JLU question would be perfect to have a TV show around in the DCEU with all of the crazy conspiracies that have already been established like project starfish and project butterfly.
Exactly is what I'm sayng. He is a so good character, so simple to adapt. Kevin Smith wanted to make a series or a movie about him, and even if i don't like him so much anymore after Revelation He seem to understand the character. I hope maybe player by Chris Wood or Diego Luna
Agreed. Justice League Unlimited, particularly the cadmus arc, challenged Superman and his ideals, without compromising who he is. In the end, Superman remained Superman.
really? Because the Superman I see fans asking for isn't this Superman. I see people asking for the perfect boyscout who is "king of heroes". Someone actually said that. This superman was flawed, he smiled but he wasn't always smiling and winking. He got angry and makes a lot of mistakes. He and Superman were at odds challenging each others ideologies many times. This Superman I like despite not being a huge fan of the character overall. I have no interest in the flawless character ppl keep asking for and I don't think he would work for today's audience either.
Just to point something out, is how sophisticated the animation of the 90s and 2000s was/is. So many shows now have this simplified, overly colorful look to it, and everything kind of blends together.
Excellent analysis! This show and my parents really did show me what being a good person and having empathy were all about (particularly that scene is the Ace and Batman). Taking accountability, showing compassion, and standing up for what you believe in resonates throughout this show in ways that no other DC property has done for me.
I’m happy to have been part of this era of cartoons/animation growing up. I don’t think anything will ever amount to this. Cartoon Network and Toonami had such a huge impact on me as a child. JLU, Teen Titans, Batman Beyond, Gundam Wing, Sailor Moon, Saint Seiya, Outlaw Star, Ronin Warriors, literally so many good shows that aired in the early to mid 2000s back to back. I wish I could go back in time and experience this again.
I think the DCAU is one of the best couriers of the phrase "I don't want my media to be Realistic, I want it to be Convincing." It isn't dark, or brooding, or Pessimistic, or even Realistic. But I am convinced that every single one of these characters are heroes, are intelligent beings, and are capable of both doing good and making mistakes. That's why something like The Boys never captured me. Do I think someone like Homelander would happen if any random guy on the street was given god-like powers. Yeah. But Homelander is so comically evil and sadistic and out-there that nothing he says or does convinces me that he is real or that world is real. Superman in this show, on the other hand, despite being "unrealistic", is so Genuine in his beliefs and drives, so human in his emotions and state of mind, and so flawed in his mistakes and his hubris, that he does a better job convincing me that the JLU and the world they live in is real than the Realistic Live-Action The Boys. Something Realistic doesn't automatically make it convincing, or Entertaining for that matter. And if you can't Convince me to watch your show/movie or Read your book or play your game, I won't.
While I agree with your assessment, Homelander is at least entertaining in his own way. The way I see it, it's what happens if you have a superman without the emotional maturity nor the compass.
I'm with you. I don't want to watch a super hero show about bad guys with super powers. To me that is just like the real world and serves to pull me out of the suspension of disbelief. The whole point of a super hero is to give us a way to be regardless of how much or little we have and The Boys and Homelander just remind me that people suck and a chilling reminder of what people IRL with power will do to get what they want.
Dwayne McDuffie, best acquisition Warner Bros ever made. RIP man you re created this universe in a way that will be remembered for as long as these characters exist.
I really don't get why the superhero genre became so self aware. I mean, there are no Greek myths where Hercules looks around and is like "I mean come, a three headed dog? Really?"
This whole universe defined my childhood to when I was a young adult . Such an amazing universe and series that were in it . I would give anything to rewind back the hands of time and relive them all again as they first aired on fox kids , kidswb, and cartoon network’s toonami
I have watched a lot of superhero content, but nothing will ever come as close as to perfection as this show. This is the definite version of all the dc characters and I love it more than anyone will ever know.
I think the thing that made this Batman really memorable is that while he towed the line, he often did it stubbornly. When everyone else was busy during the fight with Doomsday, he hoped in the jet to save superman at great personal risk. Batman was still the only founding member who was only a part timer, but he did that to be free to act. There’s something really genuine instead of having 5 different contingency plans to stop the league.
man why'd this make me cry? i'm on season 3 of the show and im honestly afraid to finish it. the character dynamics are so sweet and charming, and the themes of the show still raise moral dilemmas. you really hit the nail on the head with the part about each character feeling real, most of the main characters make a bad decision or two at one point, it really humanises them and can make you feel attatched.
Honestly, the best comic project I've seen, whether live action or animated. Every character was written well and the storylines were immaculate. Watching it again soon
One little thing I love about this show is how they wrote the flash. It would have been so easy for them to write him off as just the comedic relief, and he is most of the time, but he is also the most fierce supporter of his teammates. He is the one who makes sure no one gets left behind, and he always gives his teammates the benefit of the doubt.
Yes. The Red Justice storyline was done so well, yet I rarely hear it mentioned. It just shows the Flash struggling as Wally West on a very human, "normal," perspective. It's the thoughts behind the wit and smile and I like that introspection.
Justice League and Unlimited, especially the Cadmus Arc, was hands-down some of the absolute best television there has been IMHO. And it does so with IDEALISM at its core.
JL and JLU was my very first introduction into super heroes which is why I hold both shows and several DC comics dear to my heart. It’s why I love DC but my heart has been broken by har far it’s fallen in today’s time. Every few months I binge both JL and JLU along with the first two seasons of Young Justice just to appreciate it all in its glory
Man, this brought back so many memories. This show was so extremely good, Lex Luthor's monologue with the question, and the whole Amanda Waller and justice league arc were so masterfully done. It was so mature and childishly whimsical at the same time. What a fantastic show.
Superman once says: „I feel like I live in a world made of cardboard. Always taking constant care not to break something, to break someone. Never allowing myself to lose control. Even for a moment, or someone could die. What we have here is a rare opportunity for me to cut loose… and show you just how powerful I really am.” The whole Batman VS Superman who???
In an era of skepticism regarding superheroes and power, JLU is so interesting because it sets up this kind of double take. As a child, of course you’re willing to believe in the heroes that you grew up with, but when you grow up, you’re more skeptical about what their actual motivations are. Yes, the existence of superheroes and power are inherently scary, but what I love about JLU is that even then, it manages to get us to like these characters who are trying to do the right thing. It’s quite a bit like the 2016 Japanese Godzilla film. We are the government make a lot of mistakes and we see them blunder with satirical irony, but even then, they are still endearing. It’s a crucial reminder that as powerful and rich people can be, they are still people. And the world is a lot more nuanced than just despising the people who have power.
I’m not trying to defend billionaires btw, I just find it very interesting how the show immerses us into these characters that as an adult you should dislike. They are, after all, an army of superhuman beings
Agreed. I am 62, and I have never seen a better superhero cartoon show or any show of superheroes that showed this quality. Smalliville was also great, and ahead of its time, and even showed a lot of DC heroes , although not Wonder Woman. But this cartoon show really gave me great memories growing up.
Patriot Arc and the Cadmis Arc were some of the best storytelling. Top tier show. Always thought I'd prefer JL but JLU was really topnotch. Loved how it balanced a large cast
This show is my first love. As a kid to now,I still LOVE it. Hell,this and the original JL animated series is the reason on why I can't enjoy any other comic book adaptation. Because it's MASTERFULLY crafted. Not to mention the voice cast. My goodness. Andrea Romano even got the hottest stars of the early 00s to play some characters here. Like Amy Acker,Nathan Fillion,Gina Torres and Morena Baccarin. It's crazy.
Justice League Unlimited is a masterpiece. This show is what made me know and love comics, cartoons, games and super-heroes to this day. In fact, the entirety of the DCAU is amazing. The DCEU/Snyderverse will never come close to this imo.
JLU was a fun show with many subtleties and acted as a culmination of the entire DCAU, but the original JL show was easily stronger. The hour long format just allowed for great depth of storytelling in the individual episodes. The smaller cast meant that each character got a deeper study as well. Overall, I'd say it was the more mature of the two, and one I come back to visit more often.
In a world straying further from hope and ethics, it is refreshing to see a show like this. The modern cynical storytelling will never hold up to the beauty of optimism and joy found in JLU.
Part of what made yhis show so great is that it had an appeal to adults as well as kids. It was never infantile. Granted, the concept of a "superhero" with powers that no human has had appeal to young boys in past decades, just as Zorro and the Lone Ranger once did, but the sctipts were done so well anyone can be entertained.
This series got me into the DC universe. And when I go back to revisit it today, it’s not dated in the slightest. In fact it’s better than a lot of the shows and other media we get about these characters today.
i love about JLU is whatever how mortal you can get and how least special you were, if you were aiding for help you're in the association and they send support back.
Nice catch! Would have been nice to have a cigarette hanging from his lips to confirm, but I can see why they skipped it... ^^ It's going to be weird in a couple months, when we'll get our first live action Constantine aside from Matt Ryan (who also voiced him in a lot of animated stuff, almost every recent one except for the awesome *Justice League Action* I believe) in 8 years, in the upcoming Netflix show *Sandman* ...
@@randallflagg3700 It will be interesting to see how Ms. Jenna Coleman handles Johanna Constantine. I would have liked Mr. Matt Ryan back, but… oh well.
When I recently bingewatched "Justice League" i joked about the fact only one scene made me cry : When Superman must release his pet wolves But... "Justice League Unlimited" Season 1 was the solution : The more I was watching what Cadmus and Lex did inflict to our heroes, the more I cried!
This is one of the best video essays I’ve ever scene; well organized, great music to match the subject matter, amazingly chosen clips, narration and content on point, this is impressive
This was one of my most favourite superhero childhood shows of all times. Wonderfully written, accurate world building and faithful to the comics characters, and the presentation of complicated and deep themes that made the show, narrative and events so relatable and engaging. Together with justice league and Avenger’s: EMH, these were the pinnacle of quality superhero cartoon shows.
Just wanted to say it's nice to hear your sincere, unbridled enjoyment of the JLU. The hope and optimism you talk about in your videos is infectious, and appreciated. Thank you for making these videos (even if it was a while ago 😅)
When I was a kid, I thought I would forget about these stuff when I grow up as everyone told me. I didn't want to so I manged to involve myself in making these things. I know I'm not the only one on planet earth but it's nice to see that others have that same simplistic inspiration taken from them and not ashamed yet proud of sharing it like you just did.
This show can't even be rebooted because it is so perfect from every character that showed up for even 1 ep was voice acted amazingly this is the only DC I know
I know it’s not in unlimited, but Batman comforting Ace in her death is still probably one of his best moments as a character. Shit made me cry as a kid and as an adult. Nvm it is in unlimited, cool beans.
Something I liked about it is that I've seen many stories where a kid has epic and dangerous powers, and everyone always CAUSES the resulting disaster by going paranoid and scaring the kid. This JLU episode was the first time I ever saw anyone try talking to the kid instead of panicking.
The thumbnail makes it look like the JL are being a bunch of messy kids with clark be in the single dad trying to deal with them all and is being extremely patient lol
I grew up with JLU. It was honestly the reason why I was so enamored by the superhero concept. But honestly, the reason I treasure those memories now is purely because it shows me how good superhero shows can be. And the worst part? The only reason I know this now is because of what DCEU has become now. I won't lie, none of the newer live action or animated shows can hold a candle to JLU, and that's really sad. It's so, so much worse. It's almost as if its soul that built the brand has been completely lost.
JLU is what the DCEU should have been, a universe full of likable, charismatic super heroes, well written complex stories and love letter to what makes the Justice League and the DC universe so special
Exactly
Exactly!!!!! Amen!
When the films were starting, this is what I dreamed of. Sadly it wasn’t that. But it is what is should have been. A great group of super heroes with great character arcs.
Yes exactly!!! 100% The template was there!!! WB missed a huge opportunity and now they're scrambling with a plan. It's a shame. If they modeled DCEU after JLU, then they would be more successful.
This, sadly we got a DCEU that dissapoints
It's kinda pathetic how WB had the perfect outline for a DC cinematic universe for over 10 years with this show and yet they still fucked that up.
And I don’t expect the WBD shake-up to make things better…
Marksman, truer words were never written !!!
It was certainly building up to this as indicated by Zack Snyder’s Justice League but unfortunately the execs over at Warner Bros got impulsive.
@@resikin Zack ver is still trash it was a little bit better but that's it it's not good either
@@johnstrife7 Dude just stop. You don’t have to like the director but it was a great film and most people agree.
Honestly this series is a classic. Nothing has managed to surpass this within superhero animated media. While it’s not my favourite series of all time, it’s absolutely fantastic.
Really wish the DC superhero movies could have been half this good.
What’s your favourite?
Teen titians?
Avengers: Earth's mightiest heroes was amazing
My top 5 would be
Justice league unlimited
Teen titans
Spectacular Spider-Man
Young justice
Static shock
In no order
@@greenmachine5600 not close at all tho
One of my favorite JLU episodes is "The Greatest Story Never Told". Before that episode, I barely knew anything about Booster Gold, and had no interest. After watching it, I immediately wanted to know more about his character. I always felt that one of JLU's biggest strengths was telling stories about superheroes you never heard of in a way that made you root for them in the end.
The short-lived Justice League Action, a much less serious but still retained most of the charm of the original JL and JLU series, also had a freaking amazing episode about Booster Gold. I can't remember which episode was it but it was brilliantly written and he basically earned Batman's respect by having him deliver a great line.
YES! I had no idea about Booster Gold until that episode! It was so good!
Agreed that episode struck me hard its so good… that side story.. i never had enough…
Indeed. another great exemple is the "Patriotic Act" which focus on the Seven Soldiers of Victory (Green Arrow, Stargirl, STRIPE, Vigilante, Shining Knight, Crismon Avenger and Speedy) fighting against General Eiling. The whole fight between him and Shining Knight is one my favorite moments in the whole series and really shows how the writter knew how to make inspiring stories with the DC heroes.
I thought that was green lantern?
mcu dialogue feels like it's written for comedic purposes and always feels like it caters to the audience, JL dialogue feels like these guys are just normal people with a very interesting job
And you know what? Yeah! I want my DC hero to be like JLA. A balance between co worker cracking jokes and gets serious when duty calls.
Super hero is just a cop show
@@jacobhall4055 Or a military show
@@KhanhNguyen-mh5ec eh military there is more structure then this. Less relationships. But you make a good point
@@jacobhall4055 I mean both have debriefing, the fighting, the cradling their dead comrades, the small talk in free time, and of course, the spy in the base
This is what makes the DCAU so special. It shows we can still be idealistic and good while bringing in more realistic elements without having to go to "everyone's an asshole." Yeah, maybe life isn't as great as the most ideal stuff, but it's also not as bad as all the nihilistic stuff. If we inspire to be better, than we can be so.
Also, never forget: the tip at the end of the shoelace is called an aglet. Their true purpose is sinister.
I still remember that episode about aglets 🤣
I always remember that aglet joke whenever I hear the aglet song from Phineas and Ferb 😆
Damn Aglets, that explains why everything went to hell 😂😂😂
Tha magic bullet was real, it was forged by Illuminati!
I miss cartoons like these, giving a sense of moral compass that provides lesson of leadership. I enjoy the comedic cartoons that have been produce in recent years, but I wish there was just a more emotional stories
if you haven seen it already, i can really recommend steven universe. it starts out very easily digestible to lull you into a false sense of security and then it starts hitting you ;)
Making me think of Mighty Max
@@nuxxism i been buying those again. such great colors and detailing! so cool
They’re out there, they are usually just marketed more toward kids! Do some digging and there are lots of great how’s with morals like this.
All those old shows were also comedic. I've been rewatching all the dcau but also some other stuff like reboot and now beast wars. All that stuff already had comedy baked in.
What happened isn't just comedy. It's that they stopped making action shows and turned up the ridiculous factor.
Justice League Unlimited talks about a lot of serious stuff, is surprisingly dark for a cartoon, and understands the characters better than many other versions. And with all that, there are people who don't take it seriously because it's a caricature. Their loss.
Old school cartoons were so good at that. I miss them.
I agree wholeheartedly! Also, I love your profile picture! What a great show Avengers Earth's Mightiest Heroes was! It was truly the Justice League/JLU of Marvel :)
Even their side characters were very interesting
Nowadays you can't have that without some people complaining of politics, social commentary on cartoon.
I can garantee that if Static Shock came today, it would be lambasted
Why do I see you everywhere, sir?
And why are you always right about EMH and JLU?
Superman is amazing in this show and the previous one as well. He’s so human and innocent. Then when they hit you with his final fight with Darkseid where he reveals that he’s always just holding back, even when he beat Darkseid before.
My favorite Superman episode was the one where he spent Christmas with Martian Manhunter and he believed in Santa
His "World of Cardboard" speech is iconic, and one of the best ways to understand what it's like to be Superman
@@shumishu6019 Santa does exist in DC though.. And hes OP as hell. Every year he pulls up on Darkseid to smack the shit out of him and give him coal in the comics. I absolutely love his stories.
@@shumishu6019 That was the best. It showed the Kents literally saved the universe by giving a godlike being a loving home.
@@solblackguy absolutely, that chapter should be a must to every superhero fan.
It is amazing how this version of Superman has everything that makes him Superman and Clark Kent perfectly mixed, the level is so high that you can understand how a powerful being like him considers Earth his home and becomes his protector and an embodiment of hope.
"Do you know how much power I'd have to give up to be President?" - Lex Luthor
What JLU does exceptionally well is dealing with the question of "how do we use power wisely?" And just as importantly, "when should we not use our power?" The whole Cadmus arc is about how superheroes should use their power in the face of conflict, paranoia, and existential threats. The League were trying to do what they thought was right but they hadn't considered the dangers created when they act unilaterally without transparency, oversight, or accountability.
And Cadmus and Luthor were the perfect villains. Cadmus was created in response to a changing world where threats can come from anywhere. The League had failed to protect earth from the Thanagarians and even worse, Hawkgirl had betrayed the League. Cadmus was created for a world of paranoia and cynicism. They were created to take out potential threats pre-emptively whether or not if that threat would even come to pass. The mere potential of danger is enough excuse for them to act with overwhelming force. And much of the arc is about the danger of that kind of thinking.
And Luthor is someone who can never have enough power and who cannot help but abuse his power. No matter what he has, he wants more. Whereas superheroes use their power to help people, Luthor always uses his power to gain more power and he can't even conceive of someone else who wouldn't do the same. That makes him a great foil for heroes who are genuinely trying to help people and who willing to take responsibility for their actions.
And yet, it's Luthor who ends up saving the world.
TWICE.
"Cadmus was created for a world of paranoia and cynicism. They were created to take out potential threats pre-emptively whether or not if that threat would even come to pass. The mere potential of danger is enough excuse for them to act with overwhelming force. And much of the arc is about the danger of that kind of thinking."
The show definitely was not written during the passing of the Patriot Act. Nope. The show isn't an allegorical thesis on the War on Terror.
Ironic how it was Luthor ended up saving the whole earth in the last episode. What a show.
@@Volatik2006 yet is also the one that kickstart it in the first place.
@@EmperorSteele Luthor was the one who almost caused the end of the world. He screwed with Amazo. He brought back Darkseid.
You said it perfectly it's what I hate about how people use/view Batman (and his rogue gallery) as some sort of men who beat gods for a living. I like how JL/JLU kept Batman grounded but still didn't make him seem like a lesser hero.
I don't think they actually grounded him. They toned down everyone but kept him at his top level all the time. It was ridiculous.
@@Akkatlah uhhh it kept him competitive. The universe as a whole had a soft spot because they all started with Batman.
It's funny that this super Batman that he punch superhumans and dodge omega beams is considered grounded. It shows how ridiculous the batwank got.
But this Batman isn't that ridiculous. He works within the show with the other characters.
@@DSan-kl2yc I think your right, but I think brave and the bold batman also dodged The omega beam.... And that was Silver Age!
when exactly has that been done? We've only had batman going against Superman once in live action, they've never shared a big screen other than that. Also even in JLU they butt heads. Batman still carries kryptonite with him should he ever need it and Superman is aware he has it. This series never shied away from Batman having a contingency and sharing Waller's fears of a rogue league. They embraced it because it was done in a way that makes sense. The Superman in this series isn't some perfect beacon that so many fans want him to be. He broke the rules a lot. Remember the time in JLU where he beat the crap out of Shazam because he thought Lex was up to no good. Yea...that happened and he destroyed an entire city in the process. That wasn't very "heroic" of him but it made the character more human, not some floating white Jesus savior who can do no wrong.
Have you seen the JL Infinity comic?
Just to get it out of the way, the DC Animated Universe (as overseen by Bruce Timm, Paul Dini, Alan Burnett, Glen Murakami, James Tucker, and the late great Dwayne McDuffie among others) is still the definitive adaptation of DC’s most iconic characters and yes, is still better than the SnyderVerse in almost every way.
You are very
Brave
Just hope
A Snyder fan won't read this
Reeeeeeeee
Your
Wrong.
Jk I agree.
why are you people incapable of appreciating one thing without shitting on another.
As a Snyder fan myself I agree. This was my childhood as well.
Anybody who says it isn’t every, true DC fan knows they’re a loonie
“Clark has big dreams; Bruce, despite being a realist, believes in it” took me OUT fr
All dreamer need a realist to make this dreams come true, even if just a little.
As much as we love a cynical superhero series like The Boys or Invincible, the best super hero series will still remain as relevant as ever. We want to see a darker version or see what it's like if you turn it upside down, but we can't really do that without remembering what made the originals so beautiful in the first place.
Invincible isn't really cyncial.
@@IkeOkerekeNews you can always count on youtube comments to find people who can't resist saying
"Well, ack-shual-lee, ummmm"
@@Cloperella
And you will always find people who can't seem to handle when someone who doesn't hold their opinion express their views.
@@IkeOkerekeNews I couldn't agree more.
@@Cloperella
Glad we can agree then.
This show indeed quintessentially demonstrates what superheroes were designed to be. Not to say that they can't be used any differently, but shows like this remind me of why I love these characters and stories. Other shows remind me of this, but the only ones that immediately come to mind are Spectacular Spider-Man. Maybe Earths Mightiest Heroe's?
Emh was so good
Young Justice is in the same path imo, the actual successor of jlu but with its singularities
@@guiaraujo3726 I can't view it that way. It's like the wrong way to do JL/JLU.
It skips development to just introduce random new stuff. It tries to do what JLU did with a side character for 1/6th(or less) of an episode(or the end credits!).
It uses too many characters, for too short a time.
While it waste time with plots. When it tries to do arcs, it drags. And random plots in the middle of an arc just feels like out of place filler.
EMH was definitely inspired from JLU.
@meelf huntah exactly, if somehow DC can manage to do something like this in the coming DC movies, that is surely going to be great.
And Marvel, well, their current situation is depressing, they are nowhere near this and they are in a point so far that they are already lost.
Flash going beast mode against brainiac-lex will always be one of my favorite superhero moments ever!
It's what made wally my favorite flash
@@firesnakex8What happened to Wally after JLU?
Seriously
When I was a kid I never really watched much superhero stuff outside of the Raimi Spider-man trilogy but I caught a few episodes of JL/JLU with that being one of them and despite not knowing much about Flash or the context of the show, I actually remember getting emotional when Wally nearly died and it always stuck with me
I still love Green Arrow vs Brimstone that arrowshot is badass
Dwayne McDuffie would have been the perfect "Kevin Feige" for the live action DCEU. Bruce Timm still could be. _JLU_ was a brilliantly written show.
Imagine the DCEU being produced by the JL crew. We would live in a society…
As much as I love Bruce Timm's input in the DCEU, his recent works are just soo not good. Don't want another Killing Joke movie or Batman and Harley Quinn on our hands lmao
@@TimidIzzy You can’t judge him based on 2 projects. Gods and Monsters was great. He had hundreds of pieces of great work. Not to mention he’s even better working with a crew like James or Stan.
I stay sayin this
@@Volatik2006 is the same mentality that people have towards Geoff Johns and Snyder.
Simply because of a couple of misses, some fanboys were ready to drag down Johns name, ignoring the great stories he actually wrote for DC.
JLU is peak superhero animation. As a child, I was introduced to so many new characters that I didn't know but now I care for them because they were written so well. To me they're my Justice League.
Agreed there my justice league
I've never once picked up a comic book with The Question in it. But his character stuck with me after all these years because of how STRANGE his character looked when I first saw him in JLU. Love the idea that he's just as good of a detective as Batman.
Yeah... But the best detective in DCU is Detective Chimp. This is a fact.
It's already been said but the DCEU had the blueprint right in from of them. We have to be edgy, dark, and be actual God like. Naw man just stick to who the characters are with minor tweaks but these characters should be something to be looked up to. You hit it on the head. These heroes just want to help. I'm loving the Tomorrow verse though.
Don’t think anything is ever gonna come close to this. Only one that did was Young Justicd Season 1.
they did act like gods in JLU, that's the point of the entire video and the arc of JLU. They realized that they were hovering over the planet as if they were Gods looking down on the people. It was a constant point of conflict between Batman and Superman
@@gemelwalters2942 Yes I understand that and he clearly points it out because that's what the show is saying. In the second part of his video we hear how he explains how the heroes go out of their way to help because it's the right thing to do. Snyder's versions of these characters aren't portrayed in that way. Yes they are looked up to as Gods but the perfect way to deconstruct that was Superman explaining his heroics and why he protects humanity. He doesn't look down at us. He looks up to us. Maybe Snyder was building up to that but it was too late. He's great as a visual director and maybe he could tell an alternate story of these characters but he wasn't the right fit.
@@malcolmroache3854 You say that but the way you keep describing them feels like you want them to be portrayed as these perfect beings that we should look up to...i.e. Gods. Supermans heroics in JLU led him astray to the point where he was passing out judgment and sentencing ppl to the phantom zone. JLU portrayed them correctly, yes I agree but I don't think we agree on what the overall message was. For me it wasn't about Superman, the league needed to be more than that. He was just another member who was just as flawed as everyone else when it came to his pursuit of justice. It underscored the importance of the human characters, that being dependent on Superman to be some perfect beacon to fix all of humanity's problems was not a good idea. It was that approach that led to the watchtower being built as a super weapon and no one on earth even being aware. He can inspire sure but humanity needed to be in the fight themselves. It's why Waller and Batman despite being on opposite sides, understood the need for balance.
JLU is the reason I love heroes. It's the reason I watched the MCU, the DCEU, and multiple other animated or live action superhero series and movies. I must have watched the whole series through Boomerang three or four times.
That Green Arrow speech to Superman will always have a place in my heart.
Same, its so ungodly based, it was very well written.
@@xx_isabel_the_wolf_xx3869 I don't think you know what "based" means. GL revealing himself as a closet communist basically ruined his character for me. He's not the good guy, he's the useful idiot who doesn't realize he's helping the bad guys. You know, like all leftists in the west.
Same it always will
This show’s depiction of Flash (this time Wally West thank goodness) is the greatest ever.
i loved him when i was ages younger and i love him today. he's just...perfect. my favorite superhero!
What's wrong with Barry?
@@alfalldoot6715barry doesnt exist in this iteration- as a hero that is.
Implying he either retired or went missing like the tv show.
@@alfalldoot6715or *INFINITY CRISIS* happened in a different context
Real
The questions line "A is A" is actually one of the best Easter Eggs I have ever seen. The Question was a character based on "Mr. A." Who was himself based on philosophical principles that everything had it's own in-born nature, as exemplified by the expression "A is A" by giving Question that line, the writers were winking at the audience, indicating they knew the complex backstory of all these obscure comic book characters.
Oh my God my childhood!! Dad got me disc sets and even tho it wasn't the whole series I watched them on repeat bc it was so good. This is where I got my understanding of Batman, learned of John Stewart, and appreciated superman and wonder woman as people with flaws
My dad got me those three disc sets also!
I got them for my son 10 years ago. I’ve been a fan of the JL/JLU since they were called the Superfriends of the late 70s.
I'd say the characters are very believable in JLU.
They behave logically. That is, they behave as they should given their abilities, knowledge, personalities, past experiences and goals.
Too many people don't realize how absolutely flawless this era of DC animation was.
So happy you're not only covering this show but labeling it as "Best Show Ever". I couldn't agree more.
Wish more people covered it in the age of social media, it truly is the best.
Wonder Woman saying "That's pretty thick" and Superman "What am i doing in Africa ?" are some lines that i really like, cause the show felt like watching a group of friends, more than Super Friends did, that universe was perfect, Static Shock, Batman Beyond, Superman and Batman TAS, JL and JLU, that universe is the most beautiful and perfect one DC ever made.
It helps to remember this was all in the context of a conversation basically saying "we never hang out when it's not for work, let's go get milkshakes" and maybe he could have resisted if it were just Superman or just Wonder Woman, but their combined efforts had Batman on the ROPES
Also she's super funny. Like she didn't have a sense of humour when first got off the proverbial boat, now she's throwing zingers around like a boomerang tiara
What i absolutely loved about this show was that it wasnt Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman. They spent so much time fleshing out B and C list characters that they became fan favorites (Question, Huntress, Wild Cat, Booster Gold, Vigilante, Shining Knight, I could go on)
To this day this is THE definitive version of these characters. To me this IS them. This is the show that made me love these characters. This show set the bar really high, so much so I can't help but feel something is missing every time I watch a live action DC show or movie. Ironically I think what the live action lacks that the animated version has, is soul.
Justice League is Greek Mythology with a superhero presentation. Jack Kirby New Gods is another mythology, two different sets of Gods, meeting, interacting, fighting.
This series means the world to me. So many good stories told, stories that make you look up. And indeed although it had godly characters, the small moments were the best: when Martian Manhunter goes to Smallville for Christmas, when Superman dies and MM gives the best speech ever and Batman cannot accept his friend's death, Batmand and Diana dynamic, Hawkgirl's betrayal and comeback. It was so much, it was not just for kids. It also managed to give these small moments to all kinds of characters.
For me classics, be it movies, music, comedies or cartoons are the ones that can be watched multiple times and by all generations, sit down yourself with your kid and your grandma and you can watch them again and again. JL and JLU is one of the classics.
Man i miss Dwayne McDuffie and his writing...
He was SO GOOD at making characters feel relatable! Rest in peace man.
8:30 yeah that is one of the reasons I love this show so much, it's that no matter how unknown or small a hero is the show still treats them with respect and will let them have a moment to shine. they dont try to go "hey look how stupid this guy is" or say how lame a character's powers are, they genuinely respect every character, and it feels like they understand that there is someone who genuinely loves that character and try to right them to show why they're liked (like even character like captain atom, who I feel is too often written as the militaries lapdog is treated with respect and honor even when he did side with the army, or shazam/captain marvel who people often forget has the Wisdom of solomon is done clean in the show, they even did a him conflicting with superman story in a natural & justified way)
They even managed to make B'wana Beast sort-of work, which was astounding.
@@stevenscott2136 yeah, just sad they didn't also show off his chimera fusing ability because that is seriously an awesome power to me/would have doubled peoples interest in him
We need a movie or TV show about The Question, specifically the JLU version. His character in this show was so good.
The little bits of plastic on the end of shoe laces are called aglets...their true purpose is *sinister.*
@@RaptorJesus Huntress: I didn't know the girl scouts were responsible for the crop circle phenomenon
Question: Few people do, few even think to ask.. The Question
That and "Everything that exists has a specific nature. Each entity exists as something imparticular and has characteristics that are part of what it is. A is A. And no matter what reality he calls home, Luthor is Luthor. If I'm to save the world, your existence must come to an end before you take office. I'm a well known crackpot, the justice league's reputation will survive my actions, and Superman's legacy will remain intact."
Are my favorite moments from The Question
@@johnmcauliffe8824 That moment between him and Luthor are some those characters have ever been. Because Luthor's comeback is the most Lex Luthor thing I've ever watched.
@@RaptorJesus yeah, about how he is just doing it to piss off superman and how he'd never actually become president because it would require him to give up too much power. Damn magnificent writing and characters. A character like JLU question would be perfect to have a TV show around in the DCEU with all of the crazy conspiracies that have already been established like project starfish and project butterfly.
Exactly is what I'm sayng.
He is a so good character, so simple to adapt.
Kevin Smith wanted to make a series or a movie about him, and even if i don't like him so much anymore after Revelation
He seem to understand the character.
I hope maybe player by Chris Wood or Diego Luna
The characters in this show were actually fun, so chill and yet so heroic at the same time.
Also this show just gets Superman, unlike most media.
Superman Man of Tomorrow did too
Agreed. Justice League Unlimited, particularly the cadmus arc, challenged Superman and his ideals, without compromising who he is. In the end, Superman remained Superman.
really? Because the Superman I see fans asking for isn't this Superman. I see people asking for the perfect boyscout who is "king of heroes". Someone actually said that. This superman was flawed, he smiled but he wasn't always smiling and winking. He got angry and makes a lot of mistakes. He and Superman were at odds challenging each others ideologies many times. This Superman I like despite not being a huge fan of the character overall. I have no interest in the flawless character ppl keep asking for and I don't think he would work for today's audience either.
Just to point something out, is how sophisticated the animation of the 90s and 2000s was/is. So many shows now have this simplified, overly colorful look to it, and everything kind of blends together.
Excellent analysis! This show and my parents really did show me what being a good person and having empathy were all about (particularly that scene is the Ace and Batman). Taking accountability, showing compassion, and standing up for what you believe in resonates throughout this show in ways that no other DC property has done for me.
The cadmus arc is one of the best superhero stories ever told
I’m happy to have been part of this era of cartoons/animation growing up. I don’t think anything will ever amount to this. Cartoon Network and Toonami had such a huge impact on me as a child. JLU, Teen Titans, Batman Beyond, Gundam Wing, Sailor Moon, Saint Seiya, Outlaw Star, Ronin Warriors, literally so many good shows that aired in the early to mid 2000s back to back. I wish I could go back in time and experience this again.
JLU's writing is so genuine, there's no nihilistic post-ironic sarcasm. Just real human writing.
I cannot BELIEVE. The amount of adult humor that was in this show Jesus Christ they did not care at all. This was a show for young adults. 😂😂😂😂😂
My reaction as an adult : Did Flash sleeps with Lex's girlfriend in his body?
No, it’s for kids. Also the adult jokes flew over our heads as kids.
I think the DCAU is one of the best couriers of the phrase "I don't want my media to be Realistic, I want it to be Convincing." It isn't dark, or brooding, or Pessimistic, or even Realistic. But I am convinced that every single one of these characters are heroes, are intelligent beings, and are capable of both doing good and making mistakes. That's why something like The Boys never captured me. Do I think someone like Homelander would happen if any random guy on the street was given god-like powers. Yeah. But Homelander is so comically evil and sadistic and out-there that nothing he says or does convinces me that he is real or that world is real. Superman in this show, on the other hand, despite being "unrealistic", is so Genuine in his beliefs and drives, so human in his emotions and state of mind, and so flawed in his mistakes and his hubris, that he does a better job convincing me that the JLU and the world they live in is real than the Realistic Live-Action The Boys. Something Realistic doesn't automatically make it convincing, or Entertaining for that matter. And if you can't Convince me to watch your show/movie or Read your book or play your game, I won't.
While I agree with your assessment, Homelander is at least entertaining in his own way. The way I see it, it's what happens if you have a superman without the emotional maturity nor the compass.
I'm with you. I don't want to watch a super hero show about bad guys with super powers. To me that is just like the real world and serves to pull me out of the suspension of disbelief. The whole point of a super hero is to give us a way to be regardless of how much or little we have and The Boys and Homelander just remind me that people suck and a chilling reminder of what people IRL with power will do to get what they want.
Dwayne McDuffie, best acquisition Warner Bros ever made. RIP man you re created this universe in a way that will be remembered for as long as these characters exist.
I really don't get why the superhero genre became so self aware. I mean, there are no Greek myths where Hercules looks around and is like "I mean come, a three headed dog? Really?"
Probably to appeal to least common denominator.
It’s also why we get a bunch of reboots that do not need to be made and Cop Drama #3492.
justice league unlimited is one the holy trinity of goodness that DC made back in the day
One of the best animated series, CADMUS arc is my top favorite episodes from this series and of course Wonderbat.
'92-'04 was a beautiful time. We may never see it's like again. Cherish these shows.
And to think they achieved all this in 20-25 mins episodes is just mind blowing
This whole universe defined my childhood to when I was a young adult . Such an amazing universe and series that were in it . I would give anything to rewind back the hands of time and relive them all again as they first aired on fox kids , kidswb, and cartoon network’s toonami
I have watched a lot of superhero content, but nothing will ever come as close as to perfection as this show. This is the definite version of all the dc characters and I love it more than anyone will ever know.
I think the thing that made this Batman really memorable is that while he towed the line, he often did it stubbornly. When everyone else was busy during the fight with Doomsday, he hoped in the jet to save superman at great personal risk. Batman was still the only founding member who was only a part timer, but he did that to be free to act. There’s something really genuine instead of having 5 different contingency plans to stop the league.
man why'd this make me cry? i'm on season 3 of the show and im honestly afraid to finish it. the character dynamics are so sweet and charming, and the themes of the show still raise moral dilemmas. you really hit the nail on the head with the part about each character feeling real, most of the main characters make a bad decision or two at one point, it really humanises them and can make you feel attatched.
These are my opinions exactly, the DCAU is still my favorite interpretation of the DCU, somehow becoming better than the comics it was based on
Excellent! Now, make one on Batman beyond and the psychology of "legacy".
What blew my mind away for Batman. The dude literally got out of situations by just talking from his mouth. 🗿
Honestly, the best comic project I've seen, whether live action or animated. Every character was written well and the storylines were immaculate. Watching it again soon
Justice League Unlimited, Young Justice and X-Men '97 are the holy trinity of best superhero animated shows
This season and the first season, JL, are both awesome and some of the best DC animated shows ever!! The DCAU is part of my childhood! ^^
DC could’ve had started a Justice league movie big screen by picking up where JLU ended like a continuation of JLU with new threats
One little thing I love about this show is how they wrote the flash. It would have been so easy for them to write him off as just the comedic relief, and he is most of the time, but he is also the most fierce supporter of his teammates. He is the one who makes sure no one gets left behind, and he always gives his teammates the benefit of the doubt.
Yes. The Red Justice storyline was done so well, yet I rarely hear it mentioned. It just shows the Flash struggling as Wally West on a very human, "normal," perspective.
It's the thoughts behind the wit and smile and I like that introspection.
Justice League and Unlimited, especially the Cadmus Arc, was hands-down some of the absolute best television there has been IMHO. And it does so with IDEALISM at its core.
Amazing how the blueprint for success was laid out so succinctly and how the films have failed to capture that magic in any way.
One was made with exitekent. The other was made by greed, trying to recapture the dark knight money
JL and JLU was my very first introduction into super heroes which is why I hold both shows and several DC comics dear to my heart. It’s why I love DC but my heart has been broken by har far it’s fallen in today’s time. Every few months I binge both JL and JLU along with the first two seasons of Young Justice just to appreciate it all in its glory
Young Justice (the first 2 seasons) was almost like the spiritual successor to the Justice League series and Teen Titans (2003) put together. 🤔😁🙂
Man, this brought back so many memories. This show was so extremely good, Lex Luthor's monologue with the question, and the whole Amanda Waller and justice league arc were so masterfully done. It was so mature and childishly whimsical at the same time. What a fantastic show.
Superman once says: „I feel like I live in a world made of cardboard. Always taking constant care not to break something, to break someone. Never allowing myself to lose control. Even for a moment, or someone could die. What we have here is a rare opportunity for me to cut loose… and show you just how powerful I really am.” The whole Batman VS Superman who???
In an era of skepticism regarding superheroes and power, JLU is so interesting because it sets up this kind of double take. As a child, of course you’re willing to believe in the heroes that you grew up with, but when you grow up, you’re more skeptical about what their actual motivations are. Yes, the existence of superheroes and power are inherently scary, but what I love about JLU is that even then, it manages to get us to like these characters who are trying to do the right thing.
It’s quite a bit like the 2016 Japanese Godzilla film. We are the government make a lot of mistakes and we see them blunder with satirical irony, but even then, they are still endearing.
It’s a crucial reminder that as powerful and rich people can be, they are still people. And the world is a lot more nuanced than just despising the people who have power.
I’m not trying to defend billionaires btw, I just find it very interesting how the show immerses us into these characters that as an adult you should dislike. They are, after all, an army of superhuman beings
I mean vigilante is just a guy with 2 guns
Agreed. I am 62, and I have never seen a better superhero cartoon show or any show of superheroes that showed this quality. Smalliville was also great, and ahead of its time, and even showed a lot of DC heroes , although not Wonder Woman. But this cartoon show really gave me great memories growing up.
Patriot Arc and the Cadmis Arc were some of the best storytelling. Top tier show. Always thought I'd prefer JL but JLU was really topnotch. Loved how it balanced a large cast
The set of “the question” episodes were so good.
I love the way green arrow is written in this show
This show is my first love. As a kid to now,I still LOVE it. Hell,this and the original JL animated series is the reason on why I can't enjoy any other comic book adaptation. Because it's MASTERFULLY crafted. Not to mention the voice cast. My goodness. Andrea Romano even got the hottest stars of the early 00s to play some characters here. Like Amy Acker,Nathan Fillion,Gina Torres and Morena Baccarin. It's crazy.
The show still absolutely holds up even today. Fantastic creation.
Justice League Unlimited is a masterpiece. This show is what made me know and love comics, cartoons, games and super-heroes to this day. In fact, the entirety of the DCAU is amazing. The DCEU/Snyderverse will never come close to this imo.
I like how they gave lesser known heroes they're time to shine!
This was and is A great show.
JLU was a fun show with many subtleties and acted as a culmination of the entire DCAU, but the original JL show was easily stronger. The hour long format just allowed for great depth of storytelling in the individual episodes. The smaller cast meant that each character got a deeper study as well. Overall, I'd say it was the more mature of the two, and one I come back to visit more often.
The voice talent in that show. The humor. The character interaction. Man, the show wasn't just perfect. It was SUBLIME.
In a world straying further from hope and ethics, it is refreshing to see a show like this. The modern cynical storytelling will never hold up to the beauty of optimism and joy found in JLU.
Part of what made yhis show so great is that it had an appeal to adults as well as kids. It was never infantile.
Granted, the concept of a "superhero" with powers that no human has had appeal to young boys in past decades, just as Zorro and the Lone Ranger once did, but the sctipts were done so well anyone can be entertained.
This series got me into the DC universe. And when I go back to revisit it today, it’s not dated in the slightest. In fact it’s better than a lot of the shows and other media we get about these characters today.
i love about JLU is whatever how mortal you can get and how least special you were, if you were aiding for help you're in the association and they send support back.
4:43
Damn, that's a John Constantine cameo (behind the Atom and the video camera).
Gotta love the Young Justice cameo in this video, too.
Nice catch!
Would have been nice to have a cigarette hanging from his lips to confirm, but I can see why they skipped it... ^^
It's going to be weird in a couple months, when we'll get our first live action Constantine aside from Matt Ryan
(who also voiced him in a lot of animated stuff, almost every recent one except for the awesome *Justice League Action* I believe)
in 8 years, in the upcoming Netflix show *Sandman* ...
@@randallflagg3700 It will be interesting to see how Ms. Jenna Coleman handles Johanna Constantine. I would have liked Mr. Matt Ryan back, but… oh well.
When I recently bingewatched "Justice League" i joked about the fact only one scene made me cry : When Superman must release his pet wolves
But... "Justice League Unlimited" Season 1 was the solution : The more I was watching what Cadmus and Lex did inflict to our heroes, the more I cried!
This is one of the best video essays I’ve ever scene; well organized, great music to match the subject matter, amazingly chosen clips, narration and content on point, this is impressive
I absolutely LOVE Justice League Unlimited. What a gorgeous video!
This was one of my most favourite superhero childhood shows of all times. Wonderfully written, accurate world building and faithful to the comics characters, and the presentation of complicated and deep themes that made the show, narrative and events so relatable and engaging.
Together with justice league and Avenger’s: EMH, these were the pinnacle of quality superhero cartoon shows.
Just wanted to say it's nice to hear your sincere, unbridled enjoyment of the JLU. The hope and optimism you talk about in your videos is infectious, and appreciated. Thank you for making these videos (even if it was a while ago 😅)
When I was a kid, I thought I would forget about these stuff when I grow up as everyone told me. I didn't want to so I manged to involve myself in making these things. I know I'm not the only one on planet earth but it's nice to see that others have that same simplistic inspiration taken from them and not ashamed yet proud of sharing it like you just did.
“Mine are bigger than your.” Has got to be the most smug moment Batman has ever done.
This show can't even be rebooted because it is so perfect from every character that showed up for even 1 ep was voice acted amazingly this is the only DC I know
I know it’s not in unlimited, but Batman comforting Ace in her death is still probably one of his best moments as a character. Shit made me cry as a kid and as an adult. Nvm it is in unlimited, cool beans.
I think that is in unlimited
Something I liked about it is that I've seen many stories where a kid has epic and dangerous powers, and everyone always CAUSES the resulting disaster by going paranoid and scaring the kid. This JLU episode was the first time I ever saw anyone try talking to the kid instead of panicking.
That episode was from JL Unlimited. It was Batman Beyond finale episode, the episode "Epilogue," I think. 🤔😐😗
I grew up on this show and it always makes me feel good rewatching it!
The DCAU pushed the boundaries of what cartoons can be. It showed that they can be more than funny ,they can be serious and connected
Super man : we can’t be cowboys or cow girls
Vigilante:👁👄👁
The thumbnail makes it look like the JL are being a bunch of messy kids with clark be in the single dad trying to deal with them all and is being extremely patient lol
This show stands as my favorite from my childhood, and it's still awesome to this day.
I grew up with JLU. It was honestly the reason why I was so enamored by the superhero concept. But honestly, the reason I treasure those memories now is purely because it shows me how good superhero shows can be.
And the worst part? The only reason I know this now is because of what DCEU has become now. I won't lie, none of the newer live action or animated shows can hold a candle to JLU, and that's really sad. It's so, so much worse. It's almost as if its soul that built the brand has been completely lost.