Susan Eisenberg Movies

The villainous Vandal Savage steal's Batman's top secret file containing the known weaknesses of The Justice League members, pitting the noble superheroes in a fight against the Legion of Doom to save the world from certain destruction. Concerned of the consequences should his fellow crime fighters ever turn their backs on humanity, Batman compiles a list detailing the methods he will need to defeat Superman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, and Cyborg in the event of an emergency. But when Vandal Savage breaches the Batcave's security and gets his hands on the list, the Justice League must overcome deep feelings of betrayal to defeat the diabolical Legion of Doom. Meanwhile, The Dark Knight struggles to make a decision that could have devastating consequences. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Upon entering its third season, the animated series Justice League serves up quite a few changes in its format. For starters, the titular League, comprised of the Earth's mightiest superheroes, is now under the full control of J'onn J'onnz, aka the Martian Manhunter, with former leaders Superman and Batman taking rather than issuing orders. For another, the League has been given a brand-new headquarters in an orbiting Earth satellite. Finally and most significantly, the series' title has been changed to Justice League Unlimited, reflecting the sudden expansion of the League's membership roster. In addition to old favorites J'onn J'onnz, Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, the Green Lantern, and Hawkgirl, the League has welcomed such newcomers as the Green Arrow, Supergirl, and Captain Atom along with a few "stringers" whom J'onn J'onnz occasionally calls upon for backup, utilizing their unique crime-fighting talents to the utmost. Foremost among the big story developments during season three include the reformation of former villain Lex Luthor, an effort by wicked sorcerer Mordred to banish all adults from the Earth (forcing several League members to transform into eight-year-olds!), the arrival of a new superhero team called the Ultimen, the resurrection of Batman's supposedly deceased perennial foe Solomon Grundy, and a time-warp journey to the Old West on one end of the spectrum and to a futuristic Gotham City at the other end. It is, in fact, this last-named adventure, the two-part "The Once and Future Thing," which brings the third season of Justice League (or is it, technically, the first season of Justice League Unlimited?) to a pulse-pounding conclusion. ~ Rovi

Season one of the animated series Justice League opens with the three-part "Secret Origins," which explains the reason that the League is formed and establishes the principal players. Duped into disarming the Earth's warheads, veteran superhero Superman is aghast when a fleet of bug-like space aliens attacks the Earth, led on by the traitorous Senator J. Allen Carter. Flying to the orbiting space-station headquarters of Batman, Superman and his fellow crime-fighter try to mount a strong defense against the extraterrestrials, only to discover that it is too much of a job for just the two of them. Thus is formed the mighty Justice League, comprised of Superman and Batman's comic-book confreres the Green Lantern, the Flash, Wonder Woman, and Hawkgirl -- with added backup from a new member of the gang, the telepathic, shape-shifting Martian Manhunter (aka J'onn J'onnz). Once the alien insects are thwarted, the Justice League embarks upon several new adventures, most of them unfolding in two-part story arcs. Though the League members are united in a common cause, there is a certain amount of friction, rivalry, and envy amongst them -- just like any "normal" exclusive club. Featured in the series' 26 are a number of characters who will be familiar to any fan of the original Justice League comic-book line, including underwater superhero Aquaman; Wonder Woman's mother, Hippolyta, and erstwhile boyfriend Steve Trevor; black crime-fighter Virgil "Static Shock" Hawkins; and Sgt. Rock (of Easy Company). Several infamous villains also make appearances, among them Superman's perennial nemesis Lex Luthor (who at one point organizes a rival team of bad guys called The Injustice Guild), Batman's longtime enemy the Joker, and such reprehensible reprobates as Brainiac, Mordred, Star Sapphire, the Shade, and the simian criminal genius Grodd. The season ends with the three-part adventure "The Savage Time," wherein six Justice League members are transported back to D-day during World War 2! ~ Rovi