Techtite TV reviews

Until this series first aired, in fall of 2001, I had major misgivings about Cartoon Network. The station has recently deteriorated from its original "classic cartoons given their just respect" format, to a format with 3 hours of classic cartoons, three hours of so-so cartoons, and 18 hours of TOTAL CRAP. In delicious irony, the only ones who can save us now are the Superfriends...or better yet, a totally revamped version of that 1970's series: Justice League.

The series begins with a major threat from outer space; one that can only be defeated with the combined strength of seven superheroes. This group includes Superman and Batman (as animated from their recent TV series by the same animation team), plus

Wonder Woman (who in this story arc has only recently become a superhero), Hawk Girl, Green Lantern, The Flash, and Martian Manhunter. Sorry, guys; no Aquaman. I suppose those comical quick clips between commercials --of Wonder Woman from the 1970's rolling her eyes at Aquaman's lack of strength in an above-water situation-- reflects feelings of the top brass at Cartoon Network. On the other hand, maybe it's just that there won't be many underwater episodes. Oh well...

Sure, I shrugged off the Aquaman snub, though others may not shrug off this series' creative licenses as easily. Diehard fans of the Superfriends series from the 1970s, might have a hard time accepting its modernized version, complete with the male superheroes flirting with Wonder Woman ("dibs on the new girl," says Flash when they pair up in the series premiere), and with far less "Brady Bunch" perfection from said Super-team. In short; they make mistakes. Overall, this is a far more realistic --and much more gripping-- version of the comic books both series were based on; a great story about teamwork, being a hero, and...well, let's just say it's the coolest superhero show to come down the turnpike since the Batman animated series of the 1990s...and that is saying an awful lot!

What's really the best modernization from its 1970's counterpart is, the superheroes here seem more realistic and alive.

It's unlikely that a group of super-humans this diverse would do everything to each other's liking. These superheroes are shown to have different approaches to solving problems and, in the long run, that's what makes them such a good team. Yet they're often only human; they can get into a mild argument or two, like when The Flash's quick-thinking curiosity grabs a strange scepter artifact, only to nearly accidentally zap Batman right through a wall. Alternately, a moment when Batman goes all-out to see if Wonder Woman is okay, leads to her kissing his cheek, much to his surprise. This type of interaction, between powerful-yet-human heroes, is far more fun to watch than a bunch of perfect cardboard cutouts.

There are minor gripes here. For one, I don't like the "two part" format of the most recent storylines. If Batman's animated series in the 90's could be excellently edited into half hour stories, so can this. It seems almost as though only half a dozen stories were written so far, and they've been stretched out to make it seem like they have more. Fans were forced to see the same 3 or 4 two-part stories for weeks on end, with one part shown each week. I'd say it's time to get the writers to the storyboards for more stories...which, if possible, are limited to only one episode each. If they need an hour to tell the story, give it to them! I'd take one hour of Justice League over hours of Edd, Ed, and Eddy, any day of the week.

Of course, this series would fail miserably if not for a strong animation team to back it up. I admit the series would've been better if made during the initial years of Batman: The Animated Series of the 1990's, though the new, American-anime style of animation here is more than acceptable (as it has been for the more recent Superman animated series, and more recent episodes of Batman). Fans of Superhero yarns should be more than happy with it. I know I am.

WINNER! This series earned a place in Techtite's Golden Otto Awards 2002, for one of the Top 5 Best series. Congratulations!

	Final Rating : Deep Impact. Aside from the tease of a half-hour, "one part a week" format, I love the animation, storylines, and the cartoon as a whole!
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Justice League

A Techtite Review