Trivia for
"Justice League" (2001) More at IMDbPro »

• Although several actors reprised their voice roles from the shows "Batman" (1992) and "Superman" (1996), conspicuously absent is Timothy Daly, who voiced Superman. He became unavailable after landing the lead role in the TV series "The Fugitive" (2000). However, this is the fourth consecutive animated series starring 'Kevin Conroy' as Bruce Wayne/Batman: the forementioned '92 series, _"New Batman Superman Adventures, The" (1997)_ and "Batman Beyond" (1999) (Not including guest appearances on "Static Shock" (2000) and "The Zeta Project" (2001)).
  
  
• J. Allen Carter, one of the astronauts on Mars from the premier episode "Secret Origins" is named after John Carter, Warlord of Mars from several classic science fiction novels by Edgar Rice Burroughs. It could also be viewed as homage to the names Jay Garrick, Alan Scott, & Carter Hall (the "Golden Age" versions of the Flash, Green Lantern & Hawkman, respectively).
  
  
• Senator Wells from the pilot episode is named after H.G. Wells.
  
  
• This is the fourth time that Bruce W. Timm and his team redesigned Batman. This version is similar to the classic Bob Kane Batman, which also is similar in design to the "Batman Beyond" (1999) design. Similarities between the two are the lengths of the ears on the mask, the figure and the boots have heels.
  
  
• In the episode "And Injustice For All" during the museum fight statuettes of The Wonder Twins, from the _"SuperFriends" (1973)_ cartoon, can be seen.
  
  
• In part one of the "Metamorphosis" story arc, Green Lantern was originally scripted to stop a crashing plane instead of a train wreck, but this was changed after the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001.
  
  
• Was originally to be titled "Justice League of America" after the incredibly popular JLA comic (Revamped by Grant Morrison). However, "Justice League" was favored to give the show a more universal feel.
  
  
• In the episode "The Savage Time", several sly references are made to famous WWII-era comics heroes. For example, during one of the attacks by the roller wheels, an Army sergeant is knocked backwards by an explosion and clutches his wounded eye. This is meant to be a subtle nod to Nick Fury, who lost his eye and gained his infamous patch in the same manner. Steve Trevor, the dashing secret agent, is based on the retired Air Force pilot from All-Star Comics (1941) who was the first man to meet Wonder Woman, when he bombed her island! Also, Sergeant Rock accompanied by Bulldozer, Wildman & Ice Cream Soldier, the Suicide Squad and the Blackhawks make cameos.
  
  
• Beginning with the second season, episodes are filmed in widescreen. Any second season episode broadcast as full-screen actually has the sides "cropped".
  
  
• In the second season episode "Eclipsed" the TV talk show host holds a book called The Innocent Seduced. This is a reference to "Seduction of the Innocent", an actual book written by Frederic Wertham that was published during the early-'50s which accused comic books of corrupting minors.
  
  
• The two-part episode "The Terror Beyond" features several nods to the 1970s Marvel series "The Defenders", with Hawkgirl, Dr. Fate, Aquaman, Solomon Grundy and Wonder Woman serving as analogues for Marvel heroes (and Defenders founders) Nighthawk, Dr. Strange, The Sub-Mariner, The Hulk, and the Valkyrie. The Silver Surfer is also represented by the Android Amazo, recently returned from a cosmic journey and nearly omnipotent as well as Superman. The writers also have Grundy refer to Hawkgirl and Dr. Fate as "Birdnose" and "Magician", nicknames that the Hulk used to refer to Nighthawk and Dr. Strange.
  
  
• Though "Justice League" was to incorporate both the previously aired "Batman" (1992) and "Superman" (1996) cartoon histories, the creative staff initially decided to ignore the previous "Superman" episode, "In Brightest Day," so as to not confuse viewers with two different Green Lanterns. This plan was later reconsidered. In the second season episode, "Hearts and Minds," the Green Lantern introduced in the Superman series, Kyle Rayner, is briefly mentioned as being a Green Lantern Corps member. In the third season episode, "The Return," Rayner is shown in action with the Corps as a speaking part. In the third season episode, "The Once and Future Thing: Time, Warped: Part 2," Chronos' tinkering with space-time causes John Stewart to briefly morph into Hal Jordan, the original comic's Silver Age Green Lantern who was not previously seen in "Batman" (1992), _"Batman: Gotham Knights" (1997)_, "Superman" (1996), or _"New Batman Superman Adventures, The" (1997)_.
  
  
• The John Stewart Green Lantern was selected rather than the better known Lanterns, Hal Jordan and Kyle Rayner, not only because it would allow for an African-American member of the team, but the producers felt that the character's originally abrasive personality would have more dramatic potential. In the comics before the TV series, Stewart had served with the League occasionally as Hal Jordan's backup.
  
  
• "Wild Card" features the debut of the Royal Flush Gang, a group of villains whose costume personas are based upon playing cards. However several members of the gang (Queen and Ace) are based upon two completely different comic book super-villains: Magenta (a deranged vigilante who is obsessed with the Flash) and Psycho Pirate (a telepath who has the ability to induce insanity in others by looking at them).
  
  
• In the episode "Wild Card", the evil Royal Flush Gang are voiced by the actors who play the heroes of "Teen Titans" (2003).
  
  
• In the two-part episode "Hereafter", a futuristic version of the villain Vandal Savage mentions to a time-lost Superman the name "Ray Palmer", and begs Superman to stop his past self from stealing a "white dwarf-powered" device from Palmer. Ray Palmer is the name of the DC super-hero "The Atom" and the source of his shrinking power comes from a white dwarf star that he possesses.
  
  
• In the second season finale, "Starcrossed", the producers decided not to use the familiar Hawkman from the comics. The Hawkman in "Starcrossed" is named Hro Talak. Hro Talak is an anagram of Katar Hol, the name of Hawkman in the comics. The personality of Hro Talak is entirely different from that of Katar Hol.
  
  
• In the episode "A Better World", Batman's secret code is 91939. The first Batman comic debuted on 19 September 1939.
  
  
• The two part episode "Injustice For All" pays tribute to the Legion of Doom from the Superfriends cartoon. Lex Luthor wears a costume almost identical to that which the Luthor character wore in the Superfriends. Returning characters are Solomon Grundy and Cheetah (albeit the modern day version). The Joker takes the place of the Riddler and the Ultra-Humanite takes the place of Gorilla Grodd, who was used in a different episode where he stages an assault on Gorilla City.
  
  
• The plot of "Starcrossed" blends elements of two JLA comic book storylines: the White Martian invasion storyline written by Grant Morrison (extraterrestrials related to one of the League members land offering assistance as cover for a planned invasion) and the Ra's Al Ghul storyline by Mark Waid (detailed information on team members gathered surreptitiously by one of the League members is used by an outside force against the League).
  
  
• As of season 3's beginning, the show's title changes to Justice League Unlimited, which is the name of the team as seen many years into the future in the series Batman Beyond. With the show's title change, each episode now is only half an hour long and tells a complete story, and utilizes a rotating cast of DC Comics characters.
  
  
• In the two part episode "Legends" (ep. 1.16 & 1.17) the heroes are tributes to the Golden-Age Justice Society: Black Siren (Black Canary I); Green Guardsman (Green Lantern I/Alan Scott); Tom Turbine (The Atom I/Al Pratt with a bit of Superman, Starman, Star-Spangled Kid, and Captain Marvel tossed in); The Streak (The Flash I/Jay Garrick); and Cat Man (Wildcat I/Ted Grant and Batman).
  
  
• In the two part episode "Legends" (ep. 1.16 & 1.17) the villains are tributes to the Golden-Age Injustice Society: Dr. Blizzard (The Icicle I); Sir Swami (The Wizard with a bit of Sargo the Sorcerer tossed in); The Music Master (The Fiddler); and The Sportsman (The Sportsmaster).
  
  
• Tobias Manning, the old western criminal wielding future technology in the episode "The Once and Future Thing, Part I", is adapted from Terra-Man. Terra-Man was a cowboy who was abducted, equipped and trained by an alien traveler. He was one of Superman's Rogue's Gallery until the Crisis on Infinite Earths. The character is loosely translated into the series - only the name Tobias Manning and the presence of Nova, the winged horse, are taken from the comics.
  
  
• Many of the adventures are based in Metropolis. The city has been redesigned from the futuristic version seen in Superman: The Animated Series.
  
  
• The episode "Eclipsed" premiered on 8 November 2003, the same night that a total lunar eclipse occurred over North America.
  
  
• Though a member of the Justice League in the comic books, Aquaman was left out of the cartoon series' line-up in favor of Hawkgirl, thus providing another female character. Aquaman appears only as a guest star.
  
  
• The Ultimen team from "Ultimatum" represents a "reunion" or fusion of various previous versions of the Justice League. The Ultimen themselves are based on characters created for _"SuperFriends" (1973)_ who were not previously existing comic book characters. Shifter and Downpour are based on the Wonder Twins, Long Shadow is based on Apache Chief, Wind Dragon is based on Samurai, while Juice is based on Black Vulcan. The character of Max Lord is the same as the comics character introduced in the 1990's who took over the post-Crisis Justice League and remodeled it as an international business enterprise with loose ties to the United Nations. Furthermore, the Justice League members who oppose the Ultimen in the episode are those who were best known as the "Super Friends".
  
  
• Only George Newbern (Superman) and Mark Hamill (the Joker) delivered their lines standing up. All the rest of the cast sat down.
  
  
• When the series was expanded from Justice League to Justice League Unlimited, producers considered adding Batman's sidekicks, Robin, Batgirl, and Nightwing. However, DC Comics turned them down, because the Robin/Dick Grayson role was being used on Teen Titans.
  
  
• The Riddler and the Scarecrow are the only villains from the Challenge of the Superfriends series that don't also appear on Justice League.
  
  
• DC Comics denied use of several characters the producers wanted to feature on the show, including Blue Beetle, Power Girl, Mary Marvel, Firestorm, Black Lightning, Plastic Man and Sandman. The character of Galatea was created as a substitute for Power Girl.
  
  
• In the episode "Wild Cards part 1", in the shot that Green Lantern goes underwater to find the bomb, in the back left you can see a building with 221 B Baker Street written on it. This is the address of Sherlock Holmes the detective.
  
  

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