SupermanHawaii.com

by Napua Ahina

At San Diego's Comic Con a huge room was filled to capacity with over 2,000 fans of Justice League Unlimited. We attended to hear a panel of the show's creators and to be the first to view the a clip of Season 2's highly anticipated first episode. The guests participating in the panel were met with uproarious cheers. Watching the clips was an electric experience with thousands of fellow fans cheering, gasping, and laughing in unison. The applaud at the end of the program was deafening. JLU is a definite fan favorite.

Just a few months ago in September we were teased with four tantalizing new episodes of JLU's Season 2. What action! What amazing new characters! The first few episodes of season 2 did not disappoint. We got a taste of the Legion of Doom, Supergirl's updated costume, Hawkman, Warlord, and even Green Arrow singing his own theme song.

Alas, our last taste of JLU was on 9/24 and the next few episodes are not planned to air until January 2006. What's going on in the brains of network execs? Cartoon Network's apparent lack of interest in the popular DC animated series is appalling. JLU had received no commercial advertisement for the launch of Season 2, whereas Teen Titans commercials were aplenty. JLU was also moved to a much later time slot at 10 PM, making it the last show in the Toonami block, and practically unviewable by most of the show's demographic (children ages 6- 11). Rumors are circulating that episodes 87-91 have not even been scripted yet. There are also other rumors that the show is being cancelled entirely. After such a noteworthy start can the show really be ending so soon?

For months Cartoon Network has not aired any Justice League at all...not even reruns. And although Warner Bros. recently released JLU's second DVD ("Joining Forces"), it is of little consolation. With only 3 episodes from Season 1 this DVD can hardly satiate my hunger for quality superhero animation. Until then, here's a brief run-down on the next 4 episodes which are tentatively airing in January:

“Flash and Substance”: Batman and Orion see a different side of the Flash when a rogue’s gallery of villains attacks the museum that is opening in his honor.

“Dead Reckoning”: The ghost of a circus performer convinces Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman to help him retrieve the stolen souls of a mystic order of monks.

“Patriot Act”: When an out-of-control super-soldier threatens Metropolis, Green Arrow leads seven non-powered Justice Leaguers, including Crimson Avenger and Shining Knight, in a battle they can’t hope to win.

“The Great Brain Robbery”: A mystical accident leads to Lex Luthor and the Flash’s minds being swapped into each other’s bodies.

I can only hope that this is not the end of Justice League Unlimited. I also hope that Cartoon Network finally realizes what fans already know... that this is a series worth fighting for.

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