100 Greatest Superhero Stories Ever
By Steve Lam
Screen Capture from Justice League Unlimited Season 1, Episode 2: “For the Man Who Has Everything”
#78. Justice League Unlimited Season 1, Episode 2: “For the Man Who Has Everything”
Medium
Animated Television Series
Release Date
August 7, 2004
Credits
Director: Dan Riba
Writer: J.M. DeMatteis
Cast: Kevin Conroy as Batman / Bruce Wayne, Susan Eisenberg as Wonder Woman, George Newbern as Superman / Kal-El / Clark Kent, Eric Roberts as Mongul
The Reason It’s Great
When a comic book work resonates with readers, it’s sure to get an adaptation. That’s exactly the case with the Alan Moore / Dave Gibbons Superman story “For the Man Who Has Everything.” The heart-wrenching Man of Steel story was adapted to the critically acclaimed Justice League Unlimited’s second episode of Season 1.
Also titled “For the Man Who Has Everything,” Batman and Wonder Woman show up at the Fortress of Solitide to wish Superman a “Happy Birthday,” but soon finds him under the control of the Black Mercy plant. The mastermind behind this is Mongul, whose only real obstacle was Superman.
As Batman tries to break Superman out of his trance, Wonder Woman fights the formidable Mongul. Superman, within his own perfect world where Krypton was never destroyed, now needs to let go of his biological parents, a wife, and a son. When Superman is freed, Black Mercy attaches itself to Batman, causing him to hallucinate a world where his father successfully fought back Joe Chill.
Wonder Woman finally gives Mongul a taste of hs own medicine after she saves Batman and turns the plant onto the villain. We don’t see what Mongul’s fantasy is, but we get to hear the sounds of suffering and despair envisioned in his twisted perfect world.
“For the Man Who Has Everything” is an episode that’s unforgettable. It has great action and great emotion. It also shows that each hero has “everything” already—dear friends who will do anything to save each other.