I wish I had Boomerang. *snif* Saw an eppy of JL season 1 and the Superman episode with Kyle Rayner Green Lantern at a friend's house last night on Boomerang, and man! I want that channel! There were even bonus Superman shorts from the 60s-70s. Very Silver Age-Curt Swan-like Superman stuff. I loved it.

Also, I'm betting that Sinestro simply ringed everyone like GL does with his powers and thus, the LoD was saved. At least the side that was on Lex's team.

If they're really going to wind down the series, and kill people off (like half of the bad guys), I'm wondering if something quite drastic will happen next week. Pure speculation, of course, but what if the series ends with them not saving the day and Darkseid finding the Anti-Life Equation after all? It's always been hinted that finding that equation would be the end of the world as we know it. Kinda grim, but definitely an epic way to go!

Also, No Touching, I don't know if you know but there's a new Blue Beetle series out right now. It's even co-written by Giffen!

When was Darkseid killed? The last thing I remember, Superman just punched him really hard, giving him brain damage or otherwise screwing him up on Superman:TAS. Then Superman was shocked that his human slaves cared about him. Also, was anyone else reminded of Sargeras from the Warcraft 3 series when he started talking about the anti-life equation?

I remembered things the same way, so I just assumed he was either killed in a Timm-verse episode I missed (there's still a handful) or they're tying into some comics continuity I haven't read. Hopefully someone in the know will clue us in. I can't speak to the comics as I ceased being a monthly fanboy circa 1995. I'll demonstrate those fanboy roots with this question:

Wouldn't Darkseid still be able to see them if Sinestro bubbled around them? And that's a very bad thing, considering I read on AICN that this is some supercharged Darkseid, probably because of the whole "pieces of Brainiac" inclusion. They most certainly couldn't have held up to another attack from Darkseid floating in a yellow bubble, so I'm thinking some sort of teleportation was one of Lex's contingencies in case of an explosion. Lex is all about not only plan B, but plans C-Z as well. And haven't you noticed that generally the "powerless" protagonists are frequently the saviors in the JLU?

Darkseid was killed in Twilight, I believe, during the original Justice League seasons. The two-parter where Brainiac tries to invade Apokolips, then Superman and Orion take on Darkseid himself in Brainiac's ship until it blows up with him and Brainiac still inside.

Yup, and this is why having Darkseid appear isn't some random thing. Darkseid's essence and/or molecules were floating around in that asteroid field too.

I'm assuming that Darkseid didn't bother to stick around after he blew up the Legion's HQ, so he wouldn't have seen the survivors. He was more interested in rounding up the troops and heading to Earth.

Lex used magic to resurrect Brainiac, and magic is generally more effective against organic beings than against machines, at least according to what I know about comic books. So it makes sense that it would affect Darkseid instead of Brainiac. Also, I agree that Lex would be too obsessed with getting Brainiac's power to consider this possibility, if he even knew that Darkseid was killed at the exact same time and place that Brainiac was destroyed.

So the outcome makes sense to me.

I like the episode, I like Darkseid voiced by Michael Ironside. I can do without any of the rest of that New Gods crap. I'm sorry I think that was the low point of Jack kirby's ouvre. Just a horrible cross breed of dated psychodelic aesthetics and DC silver age cheese.

Darkseid works, but Virman Vunderbarr? Scott Free? Granny goodness?! We need another Crisis just to clean up that mess.

I don't know, Hasbro. Like most of Kirby's work, I find his concepts exciting enough that the potential is vast, no matter how clunky the original execution went. I think the Mr. Miracle section of the current 7 Soldiers project Grant Morrison's doing really proved just how much depth the New Gods concept has.

Also, outside of the *snrk* Anti-Monitor, I can't think of a bigger threat in the DCU than Darkseid and his minions.

I'm obviously mixing up my bad guys... who is the guy in Superman's Fortress of Solitude that's been trapped by the mind-control plant that the bad guy brought Superman for his birthday? I was mixed up in my recollection that THAT was Darkseid.

Mongul. They do seem like they're related.

In a way they were related. Jim Starlin created Mongul by basically ripping off his Marvel character Thanos, who was himself a ripoff of Darkseid. Ironically enough, while comic Darkseid is a pussy, Thanos is actually somewhat badass, even if he's not really "evil" anymore.

That doesn't hold water when you have to explain the Kirby Fourth World to anyone not raised a fanboy or -girl. I enjoy that stuff and geeked when Metron appeared (Daniel Dae Kim from 'Lost' on the voice characterization, BTW), but then had to explain to my wife who he was and what he represented. Which led to a discussion of the Fourth World stuff, and that's when she looked at me like I was a crazy person. "Granny Goodness?!?" And I can't blame her reaction. Blame it on the era and context in which Kirby created that stuff, but it doesn't hold up over time, if it ever did.

Having said that, Darkseid rocks, as does Orion.

Dwayne, are you still checking out this board? If so,

1) JLU is rocking! Thanks for the great work, and we'll be looking forward to your next project.

2) I was amazed that you got the 9/11 bit with the satellite's laser blasting Cadmus into a Y7 show, but that's nothing compared to today. I am amazed that you got to airlock Grodd in a Y7 show. Sometime when it's all over, I beg you to post tales of your dealings with the censors and CN.

You're forgetting WW throwing a Javelin into Brainiac/Luthor's building, causing it to collapse. Now that was incredible given 9/11 and the egg shells people have had to walk on because of it.

Alive was great, though it depresses me to know this is the second to last JLU ever. So many unexplored plotlines, but at least it's going out on a bang. Still, am I the only one convinced that a show on the villains would be way more entertaining than any superhero show?

Me too. So Grodd's dead right? He may be a super intelligent ape but I don't think even Grodd could survive the cold vacuum of space.

Wow. I don't remember that. Did that happen in "Divided we fall"?

I think Darkseid is a great villain but my personal favorite thing Jack Kirby did for the DC in the early 70s was Kamandi, The Last Boy On Earth.

I love Kamandi, but who can forget the original New Gods team, the Forever People, featuring a heroine named Beautiful Dreamer. Dude was whack, is what I'm saying.

I liked the episode. I kept waiting for the heroes to show but was enjoying an all villian episode.

Wasn't there some comic that had Kamandi and the Warlord together?

Weren't the Forever People the ones that went around in the flying motorcycle with all the sidecars?

In the wise words of Admiral Kirk, "I think he did a little too much LDS."

How did Mormons end up in this conversation?

;)

What about the Black Racer? A black dude on skis is a weird sight in itself, but a black dude on skis wearing a cape, knight's helmet and armor and flying around as the grim reaper for the New Gods--! Jack Kirby was either high or had an incredible sense of humor!

I finally had to look--somebody else might as well.

Wikipedia Forever People

Wkiipeida New Gods

Why is it the Fourth World? I'm counting three.

Coincidently, I'm in the middle of Neil Gaiman's American Gods, which is about that very idea.

I've most often heard that the name came to be because Kirby was doing four books at once: New Gods, Forever People, Mister Miracle and Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen. It was a collective tag for the four books that ended up becoming canon over the years.

Or that could just be an urban legend I heard at some point and just accepted because it sounds good.

(Incidentally, the fact that Darkseid's first appearance is in freaking Jimmy Olsen will never stop being awesome to me.)

From The Jack FAQ (maintained by Kirby pal and scholar Mark Evanier):

The first issue of 52 came out today, with some great Booster Gold moments as his corporate shill self and Skeetz!

Also, the scene with the Question gave me absolute chills. Oh, I can't wait to see how he fits in this whole thing.

I'm right with you, Rai. IMHO, that was the best ending of a comic I have ever encountered. It's stuck with me all day long. And not only does it involve my favorite DC character, The Question, but it also involves, Montoya; a character that I enjoyed in Batman:TAS but really got into after reading Rucka's Batman: No Man's Land and Gotham Central. They're going to make a great team. I have a feeling this is going to become my favorite comic and it will definitely help me through the the JLU/DCAU withdrawl.

JLU getting replaced with IGPX season 2 starting May 20th at 10:30 PM.

A very good write up on JLU and the rest of the Timmverse over at Comics 101

Ooo, Montoya in GC was excellent. Especially that last arc! Good call, MereyGB.

Anyway, so far I would definitely recommend 52 for anyone who will be jonesing shortly from the loss of JL/U, especially if you have a soft spot for second-tier characters. And the Question, of course.

Is this a comic book or a new TV series?

Comic. It is the "bridge" between Infinite Crisis and One Year Later. Told in "real time"... except since it doesn't actually take a week to read one issue, not really.

I know exactly how he feels, because B:TAS came out when I was a freshman in high school, so I've been loving the entire 'verse for 14 years.

Tomorrow night's series finale is going to get to me, if only because it won't feel like a Justice League series finale as much as it will be a finale to a series that ran for 14 years. From high school, to specific years in college (I remember the apartment bedroom I was in the start of my senior year of college when Batman Beyond premired and a few specific episodes I recall watching in there) and the terrible rental house that the bf and I were living in when the news broke that League was becoming League Unlimited.

Sure, now I can get them all on DVD, and I'm looking forward to JL to come out, despite it being on Boomarang now (who needs to watch the 10 o'clock news, anyway?) but it won't beat my video taped copies of episodes. In fact, my entire freshman year of college when I was homesick, I would forget my worries by watching taped copies of B:TAS, and how one time, junior year, I got up early on a Saturday to record all the S:TAS episodes being aired specifically that morning that featured Kyle Rayner's Green Lantern, The Flash, Aquaman, Dr. Fate and Steel.

As I always get misty eyed at finales, tomorrow's going to be even worse. A bit of wine and it's time to say goodbye to something that been apart of my life for 14 years. Everything else from here on out is going to pale in comparrison.

I'll say this much...I watched Ultimate Avengers a few week back. Marvel just doesn't put enough soul into their animated shows...the straight-to-DVD flick felt very cookie-cutter. Even in the slower times, like with the first season of JL, at least the writers were trying.

It was much better than the Justice League origin "movie" IMO (which was one of the most boring things that I've ever watched). Though neither is something that I'd want to watch again.

*snf* I can't believe tonight is the last night of JL/U ever. I am sad. Who else is feeling the end of an era here?

I'm glad they're finally bringing out DVDs, especially since Season 2 was just so excellent all the way around, but it's still sad to see it go here. What's everyone's favorite episode? It's hard for me to pick one, but here are some of them:

A Savage Time, all parts
Starcrossed, all parts
The Christmas episode, which I can't remember the name of,
The death of Superman episode (Hereafter?)
The Booster Gold episode
Pretty much any Question-centric episode

What are others people have liked?

Loved "A Better World" had me hooked from the shocking beginning.
"Maid of Honor" - liked seeing WW outside the League. Favorite line:
Princess: I've never seen anyone take down a helicopter before.
WW: It was my first one.
Ditto any JLU with The Question. Favorite line from Fearful Symmetry:
SuperGirl: How did yo-? Have you been going through my garbage?!
Question: Please. I go through everyone's garbage.
"Wild Cards" - The last time we'll see Mark Hamill's Joker and Harley. Plus the kiss with GL and Hawkgirl.
The list goes on and on. *sniff*

Damn, when Superman cuts loose, he really cuts loose.

Now if only Smallville's season finale had been that action packed.

J'onn: "I should be home in time for dinner. I love you too."
Flash: "These are the end times."

How cool was it to see J'onn in the end? I couldn't figure out who the guy was at first, then he transformed and I was like, "OMFG! J'onn!" Awesome. And he actually hugged Wonder Woman back. I was surprised.

All in all, I thought it was pretty good series finale. The only thing that could top Flash saving the world is Luthor saving the world.

Superman: "A five minute head start? You're getting soft in your old age."
Batman: "Don't you have a tall building to leap?"

Great line and great tone of voice by Batman.

And so we come to the end of an era. There have been a few bumps over the years, but overall it's been a great ride. I'd like to thank all the writers, producers, and animators who have contributed over the years. You've given all of us some great memories.

Great way to go out, even if we needed more episodes to, say, develop Blue Devil, have another Ollie/Dinah adventure, bring in Mxy, and show how J'onn got a girlfriend. Like Wally said, "These are the end times."

Superman really let it fly tonight. He wasn't even thinking about colaterial damage this time. God help me, I was yelling "Daaaaaaayyyymmmn, son!" when he sent Darkseid skyward. And wasn't he just a bit too snarky? "This is Lex flippin' Luthor we're talking about!"

Can't believe Lex was the savior this time. He was a dick to Metron, but he seemed to sacrifice himself to take out Darkseid. So...are they playing poker on the other side of the wall, or are they chillin' on Apokolis and planning the next invasion of Earth? He did seem way too gay for Brainiac, though.

I liked the end, with the heroes running in appropiate pairs and teams (Detroit gang together, Hawk & Dove, etc). And yeah...Batman had to be last. We started with "On Leather Wings" so long ago, and we had to end with Bats, who also seemed a bit snarky in the end.

Remind me again why there are no more new episodes. Honestly, why fuck with what works?

Because the Cartoon Network is full of crack monkeys?

I go cry now. It's over. Whaaaaa!

That was a great episode to go out on though. Packed with action and snarky one-liners and J'ONN! back again and the Question taking out parademons with a car and Superman really cutting loose and....

Yeah.

Good times. I'll miss it but soon it will all be there for me to enjoy again and again. Also, there were serveral episodes I missed this season, thanks to the erratic schedule. It'll be something to look forward to there.

Loved it ending with the Big Three and Batman very last of all. Good show, everyone. I'll keep an eye out for the Legion cartoon in the fall.

Loved the ending shot, didn't care for the "five minute headstart" thing.

I enjoyed the confrontation between the demi-god (Supes) and the god (Darkseid). Also that Batman kept intervening. And that led to a great speech about living in a world made of cardboard.

For the most part, a fitting ending, I think.

Sweet ending! It was cool seeing the heroes and villains working together for a common goal. I kind of wished for cameos from some of the ones we've seen in JL/JLU more frequently, such as Etrigan, Aquaman, or Dr. Fate for the heroes and perhaps Shade, Copperhead, and even Vandal Savage on the villains' roster. Even further back in the 'verse that these series have built, it would have rocked to see some of Batman's enemies on the field (like Poison Ivy or hell, the Joker out there with his props), or Static Shock. Still, it was a freakin' awesome finale we did get.

Kal-El of Krypton: Putting the "Super" in Superman. It was fun watching the Boy Scout rip Darkseid a new one. Speaking of...

Darkseid: I wonder how hard it hurts when one's delusions of godhood are so forcibly shattered. Still, that Agony Matrix of his was a wicked comeback to Pissedoff!Superman.

Lex Luthor to the rescue? I join Superman in a W-T-F moment. That was the only part I didn't really get about the episode. So what's so bad about this Anti-Life equation anways?

I didn't like that Metron guy. I think he was deliberately setting Lex up for something the way he teased him about the Equation and then let Lex's own pride and the situation drive him to accept Met's aid.

I didn't quite get what J'onn was doing. He went on vacation in China and married a human woman?

Still, great way to go out. Too bad this is the end.

Shade & Copperhead were among the villains frozen by Killer Frost in last week's ep.

Anyway: awesome ending, but I hate that it had to end. Everyone said all of the good stuff already, but I would've like to see an ironic scene with Green Lantern and Sinestro working together to fend off the parademons.

Bravo!
I was as excited to see J'onn as WW was. Loved the way Zatanna turned the Para-demons into doves. Great to see the Question fighting in his own way.
Damn. It should've been an hour.
Awesome ending. Can't wait for all this to come out on DVD.

Kudos to Bruce Timm, Dwayne McDuffie, Paul Dini, Alan Burnett, Glen Murakami, James Tucker, Stan Berkowitz, Matt Wayne, Rich Fogel, Andrea Romano, Kevin Conroy and everyone who helped make all this possible.

Question...did we see the Lex Luthor from Smallville? It was in the "chaos erupting" scenes, where I saw a figure pop out from a building. I read about it somewhere, and I think that was it.

Shoot, where were the GL Corps? If not to bring back Kyle Rayner, then at least for Kilowog and Katma Tui. "Hey! You poozers know why there's a dead gorilla floatin' in space?"

::sniff:: So sad...

At least we will probably have some DTVs to look forward to.


Epilogue is my favorite. For me it taps into the same quality and heart-felt emotion as my all time favorite DCAU project, Mask of the Phantasm. It's a brillant episode...both premise and stylistically wise. I would consider it a perfect episode except I can't help but cringe during the heavy-handed Terry/Waller overlapping 'legacy' dialogue. Seriously, (now I admit that I've probably watched this ep. a few too many times and therefore have thought way too much about this ) it just sounds clunky and theatrical...I'm always waiting for them to bust out in song after that bit. Ummm...moving on...

The Starcrossed arc. There's just so much goodness to list in these eps. However, my favorite moment is the big secret ID reveal...which was done is such a brilliant, anti-climatic (i.e. all-knowing-Bats) way. One of my big draws to superheroes are there secret IDs. I live for the reveals. As I'm sure I've mentioned here a few times before, I'm just sad that we didn't get the Superman/Clark to Lois reveal.

and lastly...

Double Date and Question Authority - Yup, it's all about The Question. I'm always be grateful to Timm, McDuffie...etc..for introducing me to The Question. Next to Batman, Nightwing and Oracle, he's my new favorite DC character.

Best line of the episode?

"Then I'm overqualified."

Lex didn't sacrifice himself, I'm certain. If there's ever a real spinoff (I know, I know, I'm not holding my breath, and that "real" doesn't include the freaking Legionin my estimation), he'll be first in line to wreak havoc. He put on his 'power suit' first because he had already been given the knowledge that he and Darkseid were going somewhere. Luthor does nothing for the greater good-- if that's a byproduct of whatever scheme he's hatching, so be it. But don't mistake that he gave his life to save the Earth. Like he gives a shit.

I know all good things must come to an end eventually, but couldn't we have waited until this show jumped the shark first? You'll just have to trust me when I tell you that my poor wife has gotten the "That's the best damn show on television, animated or otherwise" speech after every new viewing for years now. This just sucks.

Oh, and I stand corrected on the whole "saved by the Sinestro bubble" idea. Good call!