This is a review for the full 3 episode, because it should be watched as a full.
Have you seen the new superhero movies on the big screen yet? Do you like them? Yes? You will like this. Didn't you like them? Then you would LOVE this!
What is so special about these episodes you may ask. First, you really don't need to establish a back-story for the justice league. Even as a newcomer, you kinda know who is who and what they do just watching the intro. It's a basic team of superheroes doing superhero stuff. And that is the beauty of the plot here. It swoops in and really gets you go with it. Well written,well drawn, well established and well thought out characters.
Second, what I really like is that none of the heroes gets left out, wimps out or gets portrayed in a bad way. Superman and Batman, the most popular guys in the show, have actually little to do with the story in total. However, they stay true to what we know them for. Even if Hawkgirl plays a key-role here, she doesn't overshadow the rest for her own story, nor does her story gets in the way for the rest of the team. Its perfectly paced out and it is still feels like you are watching a full balanced team.
Third, Hawkman! Its not often you get an antagonist this good. Most movies today, especially a lot of superhero movies, cant compare to Hawkman in this. There is so much dignity into this guy, even when he is at his meanest. Its a joy to watch the last scenes with him. There is no redemption, no moral story, no cliché villain speeches. Everything this guy says, you feel he says it from his heart.
I also like that there is no real moral dilemma or value to be learned here. The voice actors deliver great dialog between the drawn characters that you sometimes forget you are watching a cartoon.
This is superheroes at its best. This is storytelling at its best. This is acting and anime at its best. For those who think this is only for kids, you are truly missing something. For those who think I might have a nostalgic value to this, I first saw this episode on you tube as an adult. Whenever I think of Justice League I think back to this episode and what it offered. I remember saying to myself "I wonder if they could remake this into a full action movie". The answer is no! Some things are better left for what they are. This one definitely stands out, and it still holds up very well to date.
