# JLA's on tonight, don't forget!

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jlas-on-tonight-dont-forget/93960>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [November 17, 2001, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jlas-on-tonight-dont-forget/93960 "2001-11-17T17:57:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Infectious\_Lass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e56c9b/32.png) [@Infectious\_Lass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infectious_Lass)\
**Post date:** [November 19, 2001, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jlas-on-tonight-dont-forget/93960/21 "2001-11-19T14:58:48Z")

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John Stewart is Green Lantern. One of many Green Lanterns in fact, but he’s the only one on this show. I know they were whining like billy-o about it on the DC Green Lantern message board because they would rather have had Hal Jordan, but then they complain about _everything_ on there.

Poor frustrated English person that I am, I’m not gonna get to see this show for a loooong time! (not 'til the Sun goes supernova or something)☹

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**Author:** ![Kilt-wearin\_man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/82dd89/32.png) [@Kilt-wearin\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilt-wearin_man)\
**Post date:** [November 19, 2001, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jlas-on-tonight-dont-forget/93960/22 "2001-11-19T15:08:09Z")

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John Stewart is the “real” name of the Green Lantern on the show - in comic book continuity he was a member of the Green Lantern Corps along with Hal Jordan, the more familiar face behind the power ring.

I kinda liked it - despite the shaky start. First episodes are always a little shaky because every character has to be established. I also hope that other heroes make appearances from time to time - Hawkman, Aquaman, Robin or Nightwing, other Green Lanterns…could be fun.

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**Author:** ![Kilt-wearin\_man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/82dd89/32.png) [@Kilt-wearin\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilt-wearin_man)\
**Post date:** [November 19, 2001, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jlas-on-tonight-dont-forget/93960/23 "2001-11-19T15:12:49Z")

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As for the Superman thing with delayed heat vision, I think that was a bit of detail that was lost on non-geeks. Superman’s powers weaken when he’s away from sunlight - as soon as Batman blew a hole in the alien compound, the sunlight came in and Supes straightened up a bit and started cutting everyone’s restraints. He’s basically a big solar-powered boyscout.

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**Author:** ![tevya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@tevya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tevya)\
**Post date:** [November 19, 2001, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jlas-on-tonight-dont-forget/93960/24 "2001-11-19T20:40:22Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Kilt-wearin’ man \*  
> \*\*As for the Superman thing with delayed heat vision, I think that was a bit of detail that was lost on non-geeks. Superman’s powers weaken when he’s away from sunlight - as soon as Batman blew a hole in the alien compound, the sunlight came in and Supes straightened up a bit and started cutting everyone’s restraints. He’s basically a big solar-powered boyscout. \*\*

Thanks! I thought that he was just a bit dense and that Batman’s main job would be to remind Superman of his powers. (Picture Superman surrounded and Batman reminding him he could fly.)

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**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2001, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jlas-on-tonight-dont-forget/93960/25 "2001-11-20T00:06:17Z")

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BTW, everyone: bumping this as a reminder that JLA’s on _tonight!_

It looks like tonight’s episode features the Manhunter robots, so it could be great.

And I’ve heard a rumor (from a FOAF\*, so take it for what it’s worth) that the last episode of the season will feature the JLA returning from a mission only to find that three cornball-looking bad-guys have taken over a large city: a guy in a white jumpsuit with a cold-gun, a guy who looks like Mandrake the Magician’s evil twin and a guy driving a car shaped like a giant violin, who plays a normal sized violin to do stuff. Strangely, Felix Faust, Dr. Alchemy and Chronos are missing.

The JLA fights the three new villains and is trounced until Flash remembers something. He rushes off to get a comic from Uncle Barry’s collection and realizes that they’ve been fighting _comic-book characters_.

They decide that if comic-book bad-guys are real, then so are comic-book good-guys. And they try to summon the JSA.  
The JSA materializes and says that they’ve been having a similar problem with three new bad-guys! They agree to team up. Cliffhanger/end of season

Yup, it’s Crisis on Earth-1!

Like I said, a rumor. It’s from a FOAF\*, which is strike 1 and it’s waaaay too detailed, which is strike two. But I really, really, _really_ want to believe it, so I’ll stop with two strikes.

Fenris

\*FOAF: Friend Of A Friend…prime source for all urban legends.

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**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2001, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jlas-on-tonight-dont-forget/93960/26 "2001-11-20T02:00:57Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by SterlingNorth \*  
> \*\*
> 
> > [@](#):
> >
> > \*Originally posted by elfkin477 \*  
> > \<hijack\>  
> > So…when is the adult swim on? I can’t find it in the tv guide. Sorry for the hijack, but I bet people in this thread know the information I seek.  
> > \</hijack\>
> 
> Um, OK…
> 
> [Adult Swim](http://www.adultswim.com) airs from 10/P to 1/A ET&PT Sunday and Thursday Nights. It’s not listed in the teevee guide because it’s a block of programming and not an actual individual show. It includes “Home Movies,” “Space Ghost C2C”, “Cowboy Bebop” (an import from Japan), “Sealab 2021”, and occassionally “The Brak Show” and “Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law”.
> 
> Anyplace else? \*\*

Opps, I meant “It’s not listed” (not I can’t find it in it) in the TV guide, because our TV guide doesn’t have listings for the cartoon next work at all. Thanks!

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**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2001, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jlas-on-tonight-dont-forget/93960/27 "2001-11-20T02:04:33Z")

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Oh, I thought Jon Stewart of the Dailey Show had done one of the voices. For a second, I thought **Infectious Lass** was saying rl Jon Stewart was the voice for Green Lantern, which would be bizarre, to say the least.

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**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2001, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jlas-on-tonight-dont-forget/93960/28 "2001-11-20T02:59:40Z")

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This story was written by Steve Englehart. The adapter didn’t even file the serial numbers off. Other than tossing Kanjar Ro in to the story in place of the no-name bad-guy, it _was_ JL of A #140-141. (this is part of the best JL of A run ever, IMHO 139-150 rocked!)

Anyway, I really enjoyed the episode, but…dammit, Englehart _invented_ the entire Manhunter ‘mythology’ in this story. He deserves some screen credit!

Fenris

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**Author:** ![Menocchio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Menocchio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Menocchio)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2001, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jlas-on-tonight-dont-forget/93960/29 "2001-11-20T03:50:02Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Fenris \*  
> \*\*This story was written by Steve Englehart. The adapter didn’t even file the serial numbers off. Other than tossing Kanjar Ro in to the story in place of the no-name bad-guy, it _was_ JL of A #140-141. (this is part of the best JL of A run ever, IMHO 139-150 rocked!)
> 
> Anyway, I really enjoyed the episode, but…dammit, Englehart _invented_ the entire Manhunter ‘mythology’ in this story. He deserves some screen credit!
> 
> Fenris \*\*

Yeah. I loved it too. I agree that they should’ve credited the original writers. I’m liking the art more. The Manhunters were very Kirby (note the mouth circuitry). These guys did their research!

Oh, man, the multiverse! I’ve been away from comics for too long, how fares Hypertime, Waid’s attempts at bringing it back?

They do need to figure out what to do with Flash. He should’ve taken out those soldiers no problem.

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**Author:** ![Daniel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Daniel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daniel)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2001, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jlas-on-tonight-dont-forget/93960/30 "2001-11-20T06:36:53Z")

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I’ve got to say: the one reason I love this show (more than any other reason I can think of) is that **J’Onn J’Onzz** is in it! J’Onn is forgotten by every attempt to bring the JLA into the mainstream media, even though he’s the only one in the group to be in every incarnation of the Justice League. And he’s the coolest one of the bunch, hands down.

I’m tired of having to explain to people who he is; he’s great. Though I was hoping the car-catching-fire in the Monday episode would have brought his weakness-to-fire into the storyline . . . I hope they keep it. Even though they rewrote his origin entirely (though not in a bad way – I think the pilot’s version of the “White Martians” storyline was much better than the comics, even if it did lack that line about Batman).

The Flash rocks. The first episode that had him running across water was great. Thing is, the boy can run as fast as light, so the “I’m the fastest man alive” scene on camera towards the beginning actually seemed a bit sluggish to me.

Also: PlasticMan is much better comic relief in the JLA world. I really wanted to see him in this. Hopefully in future episodes. He was awesome in the comics.

Flash makes up for this though in that so far he’s made some kind of reference to another cartoon in each episode. In the pilot it was “what, like some group of Superfriends?”; Monday it was "Any crash you can walk away from . . . " (A Launchpad McQuack reference! How cool is that!)

I miss Aquaman though; the hook hand, royalty background and sexual tension with Wonder Woman are great. Can’t have them all I guess . . . really miss PlasticMan though . . . but I’d take J’Onn over either of them any day, so I guess I should be happy 😃

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**Author:** ![bafaa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e480ec/32.png) [@bafaa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bafaa)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2001, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jlas-on-tonight-dont-forget/93960/31 "2001-11-20T16:14:17Z")

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**Daniel** , I think Aquaman might be making an appearance at some point. I checked the [model sheets](http://www.cartoonnetwork.com/jl/knowit/) at the Cartoon Network website and it has Aquaman in there with the rest of the league. With a hook and long hair!

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**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2001, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jlas-on-tonight-dont-forget/93960/32 "2001-11-20T16:40:12Z")

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Menocchio wrote:

> [@](#):
>
> The Manhunters were very Kirby (note the mouth circuitry).

Tell me about it. For a while, I thought I was watching the Sentinel robots from the _X-Men_ comics!

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**Author:** ![Kilt-wearin\_man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/82dd89/32.png) [@Kilt-wearin\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilt-wearin_man)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2001, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jlas-on-tonight-dont-forget/93960/33 "2001-11-20T18:12:09Z")

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I was just happy to see evidence of the Green Lantern Corps. I hope Hal Jordan makes a cameo at some point.

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**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2001, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jlas-on-tonight-dont-forget/93960/34 "2001-11-20T18:23:16Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by bafaa \*  
> \*\ ***Daniel** , I think Aquaman might be making an appearance at some point. I checked the [model sheets](http://www.cartoonnetwork.com/jl/knowit/) at the Cartoon Network website and it has Aquaman in there with the rest of the league. With a hook and long hair! \*\*

I’d count on it–the fish dweeb has already made an appearance or two in the animated Superman series. It would be very weird for him not to show up eventually.

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**Author:** ![Heath\_Doolin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Heath\_Doolin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heath_Doolin)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2001, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jlas-on-tonight-dont-forget/93960/35 "2001-11-20T18:28:25Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Kilt-wearin’ man \*  
> \*\*I was just happy to see evidence of the Green Lantern Corps. I hope Hal Jordan makes a cameo at some point. \*\*

Hear hear. I personally dug seeing Killowatt. Will Guy Gardner make a appearance? The second part alludes to more showing of the Green Lantern Corps

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**Author:** ![JDeMobray](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85e7bf/32.png) [@JDeMobray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JDeMobray)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2001, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jlas-on-tonight-dont-forget/93960/36 "2001-11-21T01:51:29Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Fenris \*  
> **They decide that if comic-book bad-guys are real, then so are comic-book good-guys. And they try to summon the JSA.  
> The JSA materializes and says that they’ve been having a similar problem with three new bad-guys! They agree to team up. Cliffhanger/end of season**

I wouldn’t put too much stock in this rumor, if only because I imagine the Pre-Crisis multiverse is a can of worms that DC doesn’t really want opened on TV.

On a semi-related note, the IMDB’s [Justice League](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0275137) lists an actor named Ian Buchannan as doing the voice for the Ultra-Humanite, so I’ve still got my fingers crossed for some sort of JSA appearance, even if only in flashback.

Of course, I’m also hoping that Maxwell Lord, The Blue Beetle and Booster Gold join the cast next season. I mean who really needs Superman anyway?

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**Author:** ![Dave\_Stewart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@Dave\_Stewart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dave_Stewart)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2001, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jlas-on-tonight-dont-forget/93960/37 "2001-11-21T02:33:36Z")

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Alas for those of us outside of the US who may wait months for the show to appear.

It seems to me that I am in the company of many DCMB posters (I post there as “Typhoid Dave”)…

Discussion has been raging at the DCMBs about John Stewart’s appearance on this show. Certainly the schism between Hal Jordan GL fans and Kyle Rayner GL fans has been torn wide open, with John Stewart GL fans now entering the fray. I was always very dubious about DC’s decision to take the most powerful weapon int he universe from a black man with GL tradition (John Stewart) and give it to a totally unknown white guy with no tradition at all (Rayner) just as he happened to be coming out of a night club.

Good to see diversity is being pursued on TV, even if not in the comic books.

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**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2001, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jlas-on-tonight-dont-forget/93960/38 "2001-11-21T03:14:37Z")

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Newbie question: Who are the JSA?

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**Author:** ![Dave\_Stewart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@Dave\_Stewart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dave_Stewart)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2001, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jlas-on-tonight-dont-forget/93960/39 "2001-11-21T03:30:08Z")

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Justice Society of America, the “golden age” predecessor to the “silver age” JLA. A team started in the 1940s which used to appear in All-Star Comics during WW2, composed of “golden age” super-heroes - they had members such as the Atom, Hawkman, Sandman, Wildcat, Dr Mid-nite, Starman, Dr Fate, the Spectre, Wonder Woman, and others. They’re still about, currently with their own fairly successful comic, albeit with a somewhat different team, but at least two of the oldies are still out there batting (the Alan Scott Green Lantern, now called Sentinel, and the original Flash).

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**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2001, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jlas-on-tonight-dont-forget/93960/40 "2001-11-21T03:31:51Z")

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Justice Society of America

The first super-hero team, from 1940s. Hawkman (the Egyptian one), Spectre, Dr. Fate, Mr. Teriffic, Wildcat, Hourman, Sandman, etc.

When the Golden Age collapsed most of the characters collapsed with them. In the mid/late 1950s, many of the characters were revived in new versions (the Golden-Age Flash was Jay Garrick, who’s costume featured a Mercury-esque bowl-on-the-head motif. The “new” Flash was Barry Allen, who wore the more familiar red jumpsuit with a cowl costume).

Since there were a bunch of fans of the Silver Age, and since the writer (Gardner Fox) was so bemused at getting fanmail asking for the return of the origninal Flash, he did a cross-over story where Barry discovers that Jay (who’s only a comic book character on Barry’s world) is real, and living in another dimension (Earth-2…Barry’s world was “Earth 1” because the first trip was from Barry’s world to Jay’s). The story was a mega-hit and after a couple more guest shots, the JSA came out of retirement and teamed up with the JLA (in the story I synopsisied above). After 20-some years, some people thought that the idea of parallel dimensions/alternate histories was too complicated :rolleyes: (they only had 6 parallel worlds of any signifigance) and collapsed everything into one single world.

Anyway, that’s probably more than you wanted to know, but…

Fenris

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