The Greatest 'Justice League' Episodes of All-Time

Before DC Entertainment brought the Justice League together on the Silver Screen, Warner Bros. Animation brought DC Comics’ super seven for an epic cartoon series that elevated the team’s profile.

GEEKS reflects on some of the series’ best episodes and reveals why these episodes are the perfect ways for fans to prep the newer generation for the JLA’s big screen ventures.

When alien invaders from Mars decide to invade Metropolis, Superman and Batman must trust J’onn J’ozz, the Martian Manhunter, who is the only surviving martian, and assemble a diverse group of heroes to defuse the threat. This three-part episode laid the Justice League’s foundation and introduced fans to Green Lantern (John Stewart), Hawkgirl, and Wonder Woman to the DC Animated Universe.

Lex Luthor’s criminal dealings were exposed, and the Metropolis criminal mastermind was finally arrested but also dying from Kryptonite poisoning. The vindictive billionaire assembled a supergroup of criminals including Cheetah, the Ultra Humanite, the Shade, Star Sapphire, Solomon Grundy, Copperhead, and a scene-stealing Joker to bring down the league. However, when the Injustice Gang captured an injured Batman, he was able to take down the sinister team.

The three-part Season Finale found the majority of the League (minus Batman) back in time to tackle the immortal Vandal Savage, who used his influence to make a Nazi-like regime the victors of World War II. Also, the League is shocked to find a harden alternative version of Batman leading the resistance with classic heroes including the Easy Company, the Blackhawks, and Wonder Woman’s love interest: Steve Trevor.

Justice League’s sophomore season opened up with the superhero team being recruited by Darkseid to help him stop an invasion from Brainiac. However, the Apokolips’ God of Evil tricked them as he revealed that he was in cahoots with Brainiac all along. Can the New Gods help them turn the tide?

The Justice League met their ultimate opponents: themselves! The Justice Lords are a corrupted version of the league whose Flash was killed by former President Lex Luthor. After conquering their world, the Justice Lords set their eyes on the League’s universe. One of the series’ best moments happened during the final confrontation between the two groups, where an uncanny ally assisted them in defeating the Justice Lords.

In "Secret Society," Justice League was slowly unraveling apart, and while the team was bickering, Gorilla Grodd plotted his ultimate revenge on the heroes. He assembled a group of powerful super-villains that could defeat each member of the roster including Clayface, Giganta, Parasite, Killer Frost, Sinestro, and Injustice Gang regular: the Shade. While the Secret Society handed the team its most significant defeat, the Justice League defeated the evil organization in front of a worldwide audience.

The Joker’s final appearance in the DC Animated Universe nearly destroyed Las Vegas. The Clown Prince of Crime planted 25 bombs in Sin City, and it was up to Superman, Batman, Flash, Green Lantern, and Hawkgirl to defuse them. Also, the Joker recruited Harley Quinn and the Royal Flush Gang (voiced by the Teen Titans cast) to assist him in his most significant and dangerous joke! Plus, fans saw the romance between Green Lantern and Hawkgirl blossom.