Justice League’s second season officially aired in 2003 (same year School of Rock came out) on Cartoon Network. It received critical acclaim from critics, fans and viewers alike. One Year Later, a follow up known as “Justice League Unlimited” Now that James Gunn is rebooting the DC Extended Universe into the DC Universe starting with “Superman: Legacy” coming in 2025, I wanna share my thoughts on Justice League’s second season. I already covered my review on the first season. So, don’t forget to check it out.
This review contains no SPOILERS.
Positive & Negative Qualities
Positive: Kevin Conroy, George Newbern, Susan Eisenberg, Phil LaMarr, Michael Rosenbaum, Maria Canala-Barrera & Carl Lumbly all did an excellent job for their respective voiceover performances.
Bruce Timm developed and produced the show.
Animation retains Season 1’s clean and brighter atmosphere reflecting The Tone as a balance between light and dark.
Action Sequences display The Team’s epic battles against powerful adversaries.
Humor has some hilarious moments. Flash provides comic relief.
Chemistry between the main leads serve as the main highlight.
Besides Batman, John Stewart/Green Lantern is one of my favorite DC superheroes.
A few voice actors/actresses guest star in various episodes.
- Michael Ironside
- Clancy Brown
- Ron Perlman
- Rob Paulsen
- Robert Picardo
- Mark Hamill
- Ted Levine
- Oded Fehr
- Brad Garrett
- Khary Payton
- Tara Strong
- Scott Menville
- Greg Cipes
- Hynden Walch
Negative: Episodes 43-44 has one flaw listed below.
Episodes 27-28 – Twilight
The Team is forced to help Darkseid fight Brainiac.
Batman mentioned Darkseid brainwashed Supes. A callback to the latter’s two-part series finale “Legacy.”
Episodes 29-30 – Tabula Rasa
Diagnosed with blood poisoning since Season 1, Lex uses an advanced robot capable of copying a power.
Martian “MM” Manhunter struggles to control his telepathic abilities. Eventually, he bounces back.
I gotta love Batman’s quip. “Call it insurance.”
Episodes 31-32 – Only a Dream
The Injustice Gang escape prison. Our heroes duke it out with the baddies.
Dr. Destiny terrorizes The Team in their dreams. Kinda like Freddy Krueger.
I chuckled when Batman orders coffee to stay up. “Gimme a triple, now!” Don’t worry, he used cash upfront. Could be worse, if he paid it with a bat credit card.
Episodes 33-34 – Maid of Honor
Wonder Woman befriends a woman who’s about to get married. However, the groom is a familiar adversary.
An awesome intercut between Wonder Woman fighting her way through an army and a wedding ceremony.
We also learn about the villain of the episode’s motive.
Batman hunts down Russian criminals. He finds out their planning on sending asteroids to Earth.
Episodes 35-36 – Hearts and Mind
John Stewart/Green Lantern reunites with Katma. An old flame from the past. She seeks help to stop Despero after her squad’s been overwhelmed by his army.
We learn about Despero’s background.
Meanwhile, Flash & Kilwog search for John’s power charger so the latter can recharge his ring. I find it pretty funny seeing those two eating at John’s apartment.
Episodes 37-38 – A Better World
The Team stumble upon an alternate universe where Superman avenges Flash’s death by killing Lex Luthor. He and his allies become power hungry dictators. Basically, a precursor to evil Superman in the “Injustice” games. A complete jerkstore.
Not willing to break his no killing code, Superman breaks a rule to combat his evil counterpart and the Justice Lords.
My favorite scene is the conversation between Batman and his alternate counterpart. Makes me wanna replay “Injustice 2.”
Episodes 39-40 – Eclipsed
A dark crystal causes a person to go berserk.
Flash escapes via air vent. Batman later uses air vents as a stealth tactic in the Arkham games. Hence John McClane’s line from “Die Hard.” “Now I know what a TV dinner feels like.”
Episodes 41-42 – The Terror Beyond
Aquaman, Kent Nelson/Doctor Fate (DC’s equivalent of Doctor Strange) & Solomon Grundy form an alliance. The Team confront Fate on why Aquaman rescued Solomon Grundy from the military.
A flashback reveals Grundy’s backstory.
Wonder Woman’s fight with Aquaman predicts the “Flashpoint” storyline. In the comics, the Amazons and Atlanteans escalate a war against each other.
Hawkgirl reveals her real name.
Episodes 43-44 – Secret Society
Right: The Team has an argument about working together.
Gorilla Grodd leads a group of supervillains to combat The Team.
Before battle, Batman smirks.
A fight takes place in a football stadium.
Wrong: A temporary break-up with everybody walking away. In almost every rom-com and buddy cop film, you know a pair are gonna apologize, put aside their differences and get back together. I find it predicable.
Episodes 45-46 – Hereafter
Superman’s rogue gallery led by Metallo band together to seek revenge on the Man of Steel. Their experimental weapon causes Superman to transport 30,000 years into the future. As a result of the red sun causing Supes’ powers to not work. Leaving him no choice but to use survival instincts. The old fashion way. Supes also comes across a familiar face. He’ll be fine. He has a prominent role in Justice League Unlimited.
Supes yells a big NO! Coincidentally, Sam Gamgee said it in “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.”
Believed to be dead, The Team attends their “fallen” friend’s funeral. Lobo fills in as a replacement. James Gunn needs to give Lobo a movie in the DC Universe. Lobo also appeared in Supes’ two-parter episode “The Main Man.”
Episodes 47-48 – Wild Cards
Joker hires the Royal Flush Gang by planting bombs in several casinos.
Members of the Royal Flush Gang are voiced by the “Teen Titans” cast.
Batman confronts a girl named, Ace. A Call-Forward to his dog in “Batman Beyond.”
John & Hawkgirl have a heartwarming moment.
Episode 49 – Comfort and Joy
A breather episode, The Team (except Batman & Wonder Woman) celebrate Christmas. John & Hawkgirl have a date. Superman & MM spend time with Jonathan & Marta Kent. Flash makes a promise to give the orphans a special toy.
I already covered the Christmas episode. For more info, check out my Top 12 Cartoon Network Christmas Specials.
Episodes 50-52 – Starcrossed
Hawkgirl’s torn between her allegiance to The Team and her people The Thangarians. This causes conflict between both affiliations going after each other.
John quips, “You can kiss my axe.” Cartoon Network got away with a risqué joke.
Without giving anything away, the three-parter has a bittersweet ending. All I can say is the last scene sets up Justice League Unlimited.
The Final Verdict: A-
Justice League’s second season is a near perfect end moving on to a new beginning of the follow up series mentioned above. If you’re open to see James Gunn’s upcoming DC Universe, watch both seasons.
Nickthemoviecritic.com 