Justice League (US) 6/25/05 (open spoilers)

[Mr. Blue Sky]

The Question discovers what happened to Prez Luthor in the alternate universe and decides to wack Luthor in our universe so that Superman can't and, thus, trigger Armageddon.

Luthor tells the Question that his presidential campaign was just to piss off Supes and sets forth to torture the Question to make him give up the files he stole.

Luthor seems to be completely free of cancer, but the doctor can't figure out why.

I'm not familiar with the Question in the comics, so what's the deal with his (lack of a) face?

[Kamino Neko]

He wears a faceless mask.

'A is A and Lex is Lex.' is the best line of the episode. (It was from that one, right? Been a few weeks since that one aired up here.)

[Hey, It's That Guy!]

The Question is journalist Vic Sage (real name: Charles Victor Szasz), and he has a very normal, even handsome face. Thing is, he's a famous celebrity, so he uses a special gas to adhere the "faceless" mask to his face, and change the color of his hair and clothes.

Steve Ditko created the Question at Charlton Comics in 1967 (or perhaps '66) as a backup feature in Blue Beetle #1. Ditko's original Question, like his other character Mr. A, was an harsh objectivist, since Ditko himself was enamored of Ayn Rand's philopsophy. He was more than willing to let a criminal die by falling off a building rather than pull him to safety, simply because he was a criminal. Fun guy.

DC Comics acquired all the Charlton characters (Question, Blue Beetle, Captain Atom, Nightshade, Peacemaker, Sarge Steel, Peter Cannon: Thunderbolt, Son of Vulcan, Judomaster and Tiger) in the mid-'80s. Denny O'Neill wrote a Question series that started in 1988, and reimagined the character as a Zenlike philosopher who studied martial arts from the greatest fighters in the DC Universe, Richard Dragon and Lady Shiva. After 36 issues, 2 annuals, and 5 Question Quarterlies, the series was canceled and the character languished in obscurity. Most recently, writer Rick Veitch and artist Tommy Lee Edwards came out with a 6-issue Question miniseries set in Metropolis, and featuring Lex Luthor and Lois Lane as prominent characters (as in tonight's JLU episode). The Question now had the power to communicate with the city of Metropolis itself, to learn things from the city to solve its mysteries, sort of an "urban shaman."

Needless to say, the Question is one of my favorite comic book characters, so I was marking out throughout tonight's episode. Even better, last night I found the last issue I needed to complete the 36-issue run of the '80s Question series, so I'm really on a high for this bizarre superhero.

[Hey, It's That Guy!]

I should also add that Alan Moore based the original characters in his groundbreaking 1986 miniseries Watchmen on the Charlton superheroes, and the Question provided the inspiration for the psychotic, disturbed vigilante Rorschach.

[CandidGamera]

Holy hell, that was a good episode.

I noticed they replaced Captain Atom's voice - I guess George Eads is too busy over at CSI these days? Whatever.

In a couple places, the animation looked a little weak, and that bugged me.

I love everything about this episode, and all its implications. Can't wait for the payoff.

Best moments:
Huntress's tactics to get Superman's attention.
The interrogation of the Question. "The plastic tips on the ends of shoelaces are called aglets. Their purpose is.. sinister."

[Just Some Guy]

The obvious solution to the Luthor problem is that its not Luthor. But then the real question becomes who is he and where is the real Luthor. Presumably he's human since I think Hamilton would notice the difference there but then he displayed unnatural abilities when teaching the Question a lesson...

[Ranchoth]

A few thoughts...well, actually, I notice now that they're all questions. Huh.

-"What's that smell...is that you?" Such a cute couple.

-Hamilton's groan after Superman leaves...evidence of mind control, perhaps? (Like a telepathic mind whammy, or a brain slug.)

-Jeez, everyone always picks on the guy who tries to harm the huge, crazy, semi-invincible monster. What, like you should give him some snausages and keep him on a leash?

-Um...where did they get the video footage of Justice Lord Superman killing Luthor? Justice Lord Batman keeping under his mattress, or something?

-Just a thought on Luthor's new strength/health...remember the "power stealing ray" he used on the Justice Lords? What if it didn't eliminate their powers, but just transferred them?

[Hey, It's That Guy!]

Originally Posted by Ranchoth

-Hamilton's groan after Superman leaves...evidence of mind control, perhaps? (Like a telepathic mind whammy, or a brain slug.)

I assume he was just scared shitless confronting Superman the way he did (especially after Superman crashed through the wall and took him by surprise), and breathed a sigh of relief after Supes left without tossing him around a bit--or worse.

[audreyayn]

Secret messages ... encoded in amino acids ... of carb-free energy bars.

I missed all the other Question episodes, yet I love him for this. "I don't want to go on a date with the hot chick, I just wanna sit in the dark at my computer." He's just ... adorably pathetic in this episode, if you'll excuse the fangirling.

I missed the whole Justice Lords thing and am I ever paying for it now. I wonder if they'll have a marathon, repeats some time?

[Kamino Neko]

YTV showed the Justice Lords episodes just before they got to the last 3 JLU.

It really puts the whole Cadmus thing into a new perspective. And Batman's recent behavior.

[Scott Plaid]

Originally Posted by Ranchoth

-"What's that smell...is that you?" Such a cute couple.

I should point out that this is not out of left field. The huntress was left for dead, floating downstream, in her series in the Mid-90s. The Question, and his Martial arts sensei found her, saved her life, and retrained her. (Echoes of his origin!) There was hints of a relationship there, too. I only have one of those issues, however.

[Wolfian]

Originally Posted by Ranchoth

Just a thought on Luthor's new strength/health...remember the "power stealing ray" he used on the Justice Lords? What if it didn't eliminate their powers, but just transferred them?

So he's AMAZO now?

I just watched the episode. Holy... I... but... WOW! The Huntress was my favorite part of the lastest Birds of Prey and now she goes all bad-ass here. Sweet!

A guy named Emile is a traitor? You don't say.

I'll probably be back when I sort out all the things running though my head. Oh, Captain Atom, take the stick out.

[ouryL]

Originally Posted by Ranchoth

A few thoughts...well, actually, I notice now that they're all questions. Huh.

-"What's that smell...is that you?" Such a cute couple.

-Hamilton's groan after Superman leaves...evidence of mind control, perhaps? (Like a telepathic mind whammy, or a brain slug.)

-Jeez, everyone always picks on the guy who tries to harm the huge, crazy, semi-invincible monster. What, like you should give him some snausages and keep him on a leash?

-Um...where did they get the video footage of Justice Lord Superman killing Luthor? Justice Lord Batman keeping under his mattress, or something?

-Just a thought on Luthor's new strength/health...remember the "power stealing ray" he used on the Justice Lords? What if it didn't eliminate their powers, but just transferred them?

SPOILER:

One major Supes villain, more dangerous than Lex, has yet to make his appearance or should I say reappearance!

[D_Odds]

Captain Atom switched sides real fast, didn't he? I know that the show has only 30 minutes, and that C.A. isn't a focal point, but the reasoning was weak.

Other than that, Superman is becoming a bigger dick by the episode.

[Hey, It's That Guy!]

To be fair, Cap hasn't turned into a super-villain. He was a military man first and foremost, and he sees his duty to the USAF and his government as outweighing his commitment to the League. He is "just following orders," and to a man of his background, training, and moral values, he is doing the right thing.

[Finagle]

Originally Posted by Big Bad Voodoo Lou

To be fair, Cap hasn't turned into a super-villain. He was a military man first and foremost, and he sees his duty to the USAF and his government as outweighing his commitment to the League. He is "just following orders," and to a man of his background, training, and moral values, he is doing the right thing.

Seems dubious. They are rescuing a guy (admittedly, an attempted murderer) from torture and illegal detention. If the Captain is determined to play by the book then he shouldn't stop them. And even though Supes is performing an illegal search (has the Justice League *ever* acquired a search warrant?), as far as I know, this is a private Cadmus facility and not an Air Force facility. Representatives of the Armed Forces aren't supposed to have any particular authority on civilian property unless martial law is declared.

[Hey, It's That Guy!]

Originally Posted by Finagle

Seems dubious. They are rescuing a guy (admittedly, an attempted murderer) from torture and illegal detention. If the Captain is determined to play by the book then he shouldn't stop them. And even though Supes is performing an illegal search (has the Justice League *ever* acquired a search warrant?), as far as I know, this is a private Cadmus facility and not an Air Force facility. Representatives of the Armed Forces aren't supposed to have any particular authority on civilian property unless martial law is declared.

Well that's real life, but General Wade Eiling seems to be Captain Atom's commanding officer, and he has been shown to be in league with Amanda Waller, who is in on the conspiracy with Max Lord and Lex Luthor. So I'm sure Atom, being a good soldier, was only briefed on what they wanted him to know, and Eiling is following orders from outside and above the typical military structure.

[D_Odds]

Good soldier? Guarding a quasi-military installation detaining and torturing a prisoner for several days is, to the best of my knowledge, illegal under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). Therefore, a good soldier is not only obligated to disobey orders, but is duty bound to report to appropriate authorities.

So now, the question becomes does C.A. know what happened to The Question?

Logic expended, I know return to discussing what a dick Superman is.

[CandidGamera]

I imagine the sitch with CA will be explored more next time - perhaps Supes will even try to persuade Atom to see things his way regarding the question of the Question's questionable questioning.

I thought Superman showed a little improvement this time, too. He did agree to help the Huntress, even after she kidnapped Jimmy.

[Askia]

That Jimmy Olsen kidnapping thing made me laugh out loud.

Superman. Dude! That's your pal. He's just been kidnapped, bound and gagged and his signal watch was used to lure you to that location by a woman you just kicked out of the JLU. Jimmy Olsen is mumbling through his gag and your big REACTION is to say, "A minute, Jimmy," and talk to Huntress??? Without freeing your boy??

You have super-speed and super-strength. What, exactly, is the fucking hold-up?

If there is an argument for casting Chris Rock as Jimmy Olsen in the upcoming Superman movie, this is it. Chris/Jimmy wouldn't stand for being treated like a red-headed stepchild.

Superman Is A Dick.

We never did see him untie Jimmy, did we?

[Miller]

Originally Posted by Big Bad Voodoo Lou

I assume he was just scared shitless confronting Superman the way he did (especially after Superman crashed through the wall and took him by surprise), and breathed a sigh of relief after Supes left without tossing him around a bit--or worse.

I thought that was a great touch. He was really, genuinely terrified of Superman. He's a normal human, who just stood up to a guy who could pop his head clean off with a flick of his fingers, and he was entirely uncertain that Superman wouldn't do just that. It was a great way of showing that the people in Cadmus really are frightened of the Justice League, and not simply in it for their own personal power games.

[D_Odds]

Originally Posted by Askia

That Jimmy Olsen kidnapping thing made me laugh out loud.

Superman. Dude! That's your pal. He's just been kidnapped, bound and gagged and his signal watch was used to lure you to that location by a woman you just kicked out of the JLU. Jimmy Olsen is mumbling through his gag and your big REACTION is to say, "A minute, Jimmy," and talk to Huntress??? Without freeing your boy??

Jimmy or Huntress? No doubt which choice I would make. Jimmy can fend for himself. Besides, he just wanted to find out from where she gets her outfits, so that later he could get one for Lois for a little roleplay.

My pals would understand if I chose Huntress over them. Don't know about Ms. D_Odds though, although I'd have to guess she wouldn't understand.

[Odinoneeye]

Originally Posted by Askia

That Jimmy Olsen kidnapping thing made me laugh out loud.

Superman. Dude! That's your pal. He's just been kidnapped, bound and gagged and his signal watch was used to lure you to that location by a woman you just kicked out of the JLU. Jimmy Olsen is mumbling through his gag and your big REACTION is to say, "A minute, Jimmy," and talk to Huntress??? Without freeing your boy??

You have super-speed and super-strength. What, exactly, is the fucking hold-up?

If there is an argument for casting Chris Rock as Jimmy Olsen in the upcoming Superman movie, this is it. Chris/Jimmy wouldn't stand for being treated like a red-headed stepchild.

Superman Is A Dick.

We never did see him untie Jimmy, did we?

Ah, Jimmy's a piutz anyway. If Supes didn't save him all the time, he might just learn how to handle something for himself every once in a while.

[Wolfian]

Originally Posted by D_Odds

Jimmy or Huntress? No doubt which choice I would make. Jimmy can fend for himself. Besides, he just wanted to find out from where she gets her outfits, so that later he could get one for Lois for a little roleplay.

Semi-obligitory superdickery link.

As for the Captain, if Superman doesn't convince him the Huntress will just pop his suit with one of her arrows.

And while I'm linking here is an old thread about the Easter eggs in the Cadmus files.

[Ike Witt]

One of the Cadmus files is called Flashpoint 23. The next episode is called Flashpoint and it is episode 23 of JLU.

[Askia]

D_Odds. If there was a chance that Superman was going to push up on Huntress, he really should have gotten Jimmy out of there: "Lock the door to the roof behind you, Jimmy. What a pal. Oh: mum's the word to Lois. Huntress? Now that we're alone, I have the perfect shaft to slip into your drawstring."

Wolfian. I think this is the first time in five years I'm aware of someone linked to a thread I've started. What a ridiculously easy way to boost my ego.

[Wolfian]

Originally Posted by Askia

Wolfian. I think this is the first time in five years I'm aware of someone linked to a thread I've started. What a ridiculously easy way to boost my ego.

:Borrows one of Green Arrow's arrows. Deflates Askia's head.: Thanks, Conner.

Here's a link to the computer screen.

[Wolfian]

Okaaaaay.

Attempt #2 (scroll down to the "Pans" section).