Weekend Aside – Mark Millar’s Superman Adventures

The number of comics icons who have passed through DC’s line of Animated tie-in comics – the ‘Adventures’ line – is astounding for what was ostensibly a kids’ comics line. The line’s received a large amount of critical praise through the years, winning back-to-back Eisners for Best Single Issue along with the expected haul of ‘Best Comic for Younger Readers’ wins, but beyond that there’s an undeniable appeal to comics pros to have the opportunity to play in a different sandbox.

However, it’s also served as a launching ground for several careers; Dan Slott and Adam Beechen both got their big comics breaks writing Justice League tie-in books (to be fair, Slott had a bona fide hit with a Ren and Stimpy book at Marvel first). But the most curious case is a writer who went on to become arguably the most popular writer in comics, all the while writing in a tone completely different from an adventures title. So as promised, let’s take a look at Mark Millar.

Justice League 2×11-12: “A Better World”

Written by Stan Berkowitz
Directed by Dan Riba
Originally Aired: November 1, 2003
DVD: Justice League, The Complete Series, but if for some reason you just want this episode, it’s going to be included as a bonus on the upcoming Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths DVD.

Summary: The Justice League is confronted by their counterparts from an alternate universe, who after a tragedy made the decision to run Earth themselves. Get yourself a coffee for this one, we’re going to be here a while.

Housekeeping: I added a couple of minor points to the past couple of Superman episodes in the respective Background sections. As usual, you can follow Justice League Revisited on Twitter to be informed whenever a new entry is posted.

Arc Notes: Oh, like I’m going to be able to get this in above the jump.

Superman: The Animated Series, Episode 47 – “Absolute Power”

Written by Hilary J. Bader, Alan Burnett
Directed by Butch Lukic
Originally Aired: January 16th, 1999
DVD: Superman, TAS, Volume 3

Summary: Superman stumbles upon a planet ruled by the Kryptonian exiles Jax-Ur and Mala, and must decide between letting their reign continue or intervening and potentially threatening the population.

Superman: The Animated Series, Episode 25 – “Brave New Metropolis”

Story by Stan Berkowitz and Alan Burnett
Teleplay by Stan Berkowitz
Directed by Curt Geda
Originally Aired: September 27, 1997
DVD: Superman TAS Volume Two

Summary: A lab accident catapults Lois into a parallel world where she’s been dead for years and Superman rules over Metropolis with an iron fist, with Lex Luthor at his side.

Weekend Aside: “JLA: Earth 2″

Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Frank Quitely
Buy the TPB here

Oh, like you seriously expected me to talk about anything else the weekend before A Better World came up in the episode order. As always, use Twitter to be informed when a new entry is posted.

Duck Dodgers Chapter 12.05: “The Green Loontern”

Written by Spike Brandt, Tony Cervone, Paul Dini and Tom Minton
Art Direction by Ted Blackman and Mark Whiting
Directed by Spike Brandt and Tony Cervone
Originally Aired:October 18, 2003
DVD: I’m watching it in glorious hi-def thanks to the Green Lantern: First Flight Blu-Ray.

Summary: The respected galactic hero Duck Dodgers has his laundry mixed up with some nobody’s uniform (Mal something?) and finds a mysterious green ring. He then proceeds to save a bunch of hapless aliens with a sociopathic fondness for green from a purple guy who sounds like someone Jean-Luc Picard warned him about once.

Static Shock 042: “Fallen Hero”

Written by: John Semper Jr.
Teleplay by: Stan Berkowitz
Originally Aired: February 7, 2004
DVD: STATIC SHOCK IS NOT ON DVD.

Summary: Static must defend Dakota from the attacks of the rogue Green Lantern John Stewart, his personal hero.

Justice League 2×09-10: “Hearts and Minds”

Written by Keith Damron
Directed by Butch Lukic
Originally Aired: October 25, 2003
DVD: Justice League, Season Two

Summary: After a Green Lantern Corps force is shattered by the forces of Despero, John Stewart is forced into close proximity with a former flame as he attempts to contain the threat.

Updates: Just a reminder, you can use Twitter to receive notification of updates. And click on the retweet buttons to spread the reviews around.

Weekend Aside: “JLA / JSA: Virtue and Vice”

Written by David S. Goyer & Geoff Johns
Art by Carlos Pacheco and Jesus Merino
Buy it on Amazon.com

Important Stuff First – I hopefully don’t have to tell you about the disaster in Hati. Please consider donating what you can to try and alleviate some of the suffering – here’s the link to the American Red Cross’ donation page.

Static Shock 030-31: “A League of Their Own”

Story by John Semper Jr. and Ernie Altbacker (part 1) Dwayne McDuffie (part 2)
Teleplay by Ernie Altbacker
Directed by… uncredited again. Huh.
Originally Aired: March 1st and 8th, 2003
DVD: Do you really still need me to tell you?

Summary: A cosmic anomaly causes the Justice League to call on Static’s help in recharging the Watchtower; however, when the league is called away, Static and Gear must deal with Brainiac, who shows his usual persistence.

Arc Notes: Static’s first encounter with John Stewart and the remaining Justice League members. Revelation that parts of Brainiac survived the explosion at the end of “Twilight.”