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DisneyBoy
02-17-2005, 06:47 PM
Prior to the Justice League series, I'd really had no idea exactly what it was the League did. Obviously, they fought off the "bad guys" in order to protect or save the "good guys". Judging from the inclusion of the word "Justice" in their name, however, I figured there was more to that.

Now, some sixty episodes later, I'm still wondering. The world these heroes protect is plaued by people whose intentions are harmful to the over-whelming majority. In some cases, like with Chronos, Amazo or the Thanagarians, there is a human motivation behind their dangerous schemes, which means the League is truely grappling with the human condition, and not just a "villain". This pleases me, yet I don't know if that struggle has anything to do with justice. When the Thanagarians' misled plans came close to spelling doom for humanity, the League protected the Earth, but didn't try to find a way to end the Gordanian/Thanagarian conflict...which in my eyes would have been more of a pursuit of "justice", but that's perhaps getting too specific.

They take matters into their own hands only when confronted by an army or an individual. But what to do they do when there is no target to beat into submission? Where and how does the active pursuit of "justice" come into play for these people? It seems to me that once the immediate danger has subsided, they return to their normal lives (Clark at the Daily Planet, Bruce at WayneTech, Diana...um...walking the streets), which is understandable, since they are all individuals as well as "justice" seekers. But it's not like the League is going around getting laws changed. Perhaps they do this because they are aware that they can't simply march up to people and tell them how to do things right (nor should they..."A Better World"). If that's the case, I'd still like to see the League try and educate people or bring about change.

Then again, ordinary people could do that too...so why ask the ones with super-human strength to worry about it? Maybe they're supposed to simply be the "last line of defense"....but could you then call them the "Justice League".

efumf
02-17-2005, 07:45 PM
Diana...um...walking the streets
:mad:
Take your crude humour elsewhere! Diana's no streetwalker! :mad: :mad:
:mad:

She's a female escort.

Style
02-17-2005, 08:13 PM
Well DisneyBoy, that's kind of an issue with Superheroism. Back in the old days, Superheroes weren't just uber-butt kickers. They were meant to be a shining example to the populace about everyday heroism. Ofcourse, that's been dropped because it's closely associated with Superfriends and other schlocky material. Personally, I always thought that if they could bring back that "shining example to the people" element without it being corny, that would be an interesting thing.

I-Am That Is
02-17-2005, 08:21 PM
Well DisneyBoy, that's kind of an issue with Superheroism. Back in the old days, Superheroes weren't just uber-butt kickers. They were meant to be a shining example to the populace about everyday heroism. Ofcourse, that's been dropped because it's closely associated with Superfriends and other schlocky material. Personally, I always thought that if they could bring back that "shining example to the people" element without it being corny, that would be an interesting thing.
Well, I think only Superman, & Cap over at Marvel, can really pull that one off.

Captain Marvel, Wonder WOman & some of the JSAers might be able to also, but I'm not sure.

El Zorro
02-17-2005, 09:30 PM
Well, I think only Superman, & Cap over at Marvel, can really pull that one off.

Captain Marvel, Wonder WOman & some of the JSAers might be able to also, but I'm not sure.
That's funny, pretty much the entire DC stable of Heroes managed to "pull it off" for more than 50 years. Its a relatively new trend to have superheroes not be shining examples.

El Zorro
02-17-2005, 10:39 PM
That's funny, pretty much the entire DC stable of Heroes managed to "pull it off" for more than 50 years. Its a relatively new trend to have superheroes not be shining examples.
I just want to appologise. I realised the above may sound a little snippy, I didn't intend it that way.

I-Am That Is
02-17-2005, 11:22 PM
I just want to appologise. I realised the above may sound a little snippy, I didn't intend it that way.S'okay, I got ya.

Anyways, I am aware of this, but what I meant is, the aforementioned still do. Also notice that I mentioned Captain America, who's from the competition.

Crow
02-18-2005, 06:47 AM
It works that they're the JL and not the JLA; they're keeping the planet safe and like any self-respecting law enforcement group tend to act outside of their duristriction every once in a while.

Mynd Hed
02-18-2005, 03:26 PM
Maybe they should start calling themselves the Ministry of Love? Wait, that's taken....

Nomenclature aside, it would be interesting for the show to address a little more directly whether the JLU has any sort of "mission statement" beyond being a first response team in the case of natural disasters, alien invasion, supervillainy, and the like. Or whether they have some sort of formal ethical code a la Star Trek's Prime Directive.
I guess it can sometimes be to the writers' benefit to leave those questions open, but personally I've always felt that you get more interesting stories by delineating such plot points very clearly than by leaving them vague. Again, think of Star Trek and how many great stories they've gotten out of conflicts with the Prime Directive. What a different (and lesser!) franchise it would've been if Starfleet's mission had just kind of been to vaguely fly around space and do good stuff.