100 Greatest Superhero Stories Ever
By Steve Lam
Screen Capture from Justice League Unlimited Season 2, Episode 12: “Divided We Fall”
#29. Justice League Unlimited Season 2, Episode 9–12
Medium
Animated Television Series
Release Dates
June 25, 2005 (“Question Authority”)
July 2, 2005 (“Flashpoint”)
July 9, 2005 (“Panic in the Sky”)
July 16, 2005 (“Divided We Fall”)
Credits
Directors: Dan Riba (“Question Authority,” “Panic in the Sky”), Joaquin dos Santos (“Flashpoint,” “Divided We Fall”)
Writer: Dwayne McDuffie
Cast: George Newbern as Clark Kent / Superman, Jeffrey Combs as Vic Sage / The Question / Dr. Moon, Amy Acker as Helena Bertinelli / The Huntress, Chris Cox as Nathaniel Adams / Captain Atom / Uno / Aztek, Clancy Brown as Lex Luthor, Dana Delany as Lois Lane, Robert Foxworth as Professor Emil Hamilton, CCH Pounder as Amanda WAller, J.K. Simmons as General Wade Eiling / Mantis, Carl Lumbly as J’onn J’onzz / Martian Manhunter / Man, Michael Rosenbaum as Wally West / The Flash / Secretary, Kin Shriner as Ollie Queen / Green Arrow, Nicholle Tom as Kara Kent / Supergirl / Galatea / Watchtower Computer / Woman, Robert Forster as The President, Kevin Conroy as Bruce Wayne / Batman, Susan Eisenberg as Princess Diana / Wonder Woman / Reporter, Phil LaMarr as John Stewart / Green Lantern / John Henry Irons / Steel / STRIPE, Corey Burton as Brainiac, Maria Canals-Barrera as Beatriz da Costa / Fire, Dennis Farina as Ted Grant / Wildcat
The Reason It’s Great
This four-episode finale concludes the Cadmus story arc which started in Season 1 of Justice League Unlimited. The episodes, combined, play like a feature film with the Justice League facing off against the formidable Brainiac and the anticipation that Superman would cross the line.
The Question discovers a conspiracy involving the Justice Lords and Lex Luthor’s plans to ruin the reputation of the Justice League. Lex Luthor soon frames the Justice League by taking control of the Watchtower’s gun and firing it on Cadmus. Amanda Waller then orders an attack on the Watchtower.
The Justice League’s senior founding members, sans Batman, surrender to the government. It’s now up to the extended team to keep the Watchtower from being destroyed. Luthor, now fused with Brainiac, battles the Justice League. When Luthor is about to win, the Flash uses his speed to tear out Brainiac’s technology. However, the Flash almost dissipates into the Speed Force. The Justice League work together to bring him back.
The overall episodes are filled with mystery and politics—it was almost akin to watching an animated version of Watchmen. And, as always, the voice acting and characterizations are perfect, making this one of the finest team-up stories in the DC universe.