Should JL/U have focused more on the characters' alter egos?

[Ian]

Cause personally, I think that the series' near-exclusive focus on the Leaguer's heroic identities has hurt the show--plus, I have problems with it on a fundamental [note: edited; previous version read "personal"] level.

[thanos28542]

Sounds like a personel problem.:shrug:

[Dens Maris]

Well, I definitely wouldn't have wanted an episode revolving around Green Arrow cashing a check. :p But I wouldn't have minded seeing an episode that showed a little more than what a few Leaguers looked like out-of-costume. Offhand, I remember seeing the Big Seven (if "Shayera Hol" counts as an alter-ego), Green Arrow, Wildcat, Hawk, Dove, Vixen, and Black Canary as their alter-egos at some point during the course of the show, but never in a particularly large capacity, saving maybe Bruce in Epilogue.

Let me reiterate that, though- I wouldn't have minded seeing an episode. Singular. I don't think I'm incorrect in thinking the premise of the show demands superhero/supervillain battles, so obviously we see more of that than of Clark or Diana on the street. But an episode along the lines of what "Comfort and Joy" was, at least where Clark and J'onn were concerned in it? Sure, I'd love that.

[Simpler Simon]

I think we got enough characterization with the heroes "in costume" that seeing their daily lives didn't become a huge issue. If the characters were somewhat bland and lifeless like in season 1, then yes seeing alter egos could've helped greatly. But we've gotten some great moments, and more to come. So it balances out.

[sdp]

I beleive it's been mentioned before but the Justice League comics also don't focus on their alter ego's, that is explored on their own books. Same here, just they don't have they own shows, but that is irrelevant ;)

[jadrax]

I dont think I'm really in a possition where I can tell the creatores that they *Should* have done anything.

That being said, it is possable that I might have prefered some more stories that focused on charicters alter egos, ("Divided we fall", was one of my favourate JLA runs in the comics.) Without seeing how the animated team would have handled them however it is hard to tell.

[James]

I think we've had a fairly good balance in JLU. Granted season one of JL lacked that personal edge to the characters that they began to feel slightly flat (a little like the more tongue in cheek Teen Titans), and certainly season two of JL rectified that well. Since then, we've had a good balance. As has been said, JLA IS about the heroes, not the people behind the mask, but as with all heroes, you need to occasionally see behind the mask to appreciate the deeds before it.

With Flash And Substance, Epilogue and a variety of smaller cameo out of costume episodes, we've seen beneath the masks. I personally enjoy seeing such attributes, but as an action cartoon about superheroes, I think JLU has done a good balance, bearing in mind it's mandate as a cartoon and the nature of the source material which I think it shows deep respect for.

Furthermore I don't think it damaged the show because again, seeing behind the mask is a fan thing, not really a kid thing. Yes, JLU is a nerd fest disguised as an action cartoon for kids, but that still makes the kid aspect the most important. That's it's demograph and fans have to remember they are not the core audience the show has to appeal to - just a fortunate one to have a creative crew who as interested in DC as themselves!

[Trevor Balena]

I agree with SJJ. The creators have struck a good balance. You don't need to see the characters out of costume to get a sense of their "normal" lives; indeed, the Big Seven are so close these days that they let their guard down completely and act themselves when they're around each other. Compare Batman and Superman's terse comments and veiled threats in "World's Finest" to their brotherly shorthand in "Starcrossed", "FTMWHE", "Clash", and others.

[Happy]

I am glad there wasn't much focusing on the day jobs. It just wasn't ever as intresting as the heroics in my mind.

[Alex Weitzman]

I recall discussing this with you before. I reiterate my statement from then: I don't think you appreciate the use of Justice League as an insightful show through the interactions of the various heroes.

[Revelator]

I remember that my heart sank during season one of Justice League when one of the producers said something along the lines of, "As far as we're concerned, they eat and sleep in those costumes." That was depressing because the characterization in season one wasn't all that hot, and by showing the heroes in both aspects of their lives, the characterization might have been improved by showing us multiple facets of their personalities, as split between public/private roles.

Season two of Justice League stengthened the show's conception of character, so by the time of Starcrossed, and that great unmasking scene, any concern about alter egos was subsumed. Since then I think we've had a nice balance. In an ensemble show, focusing at length on individual alter egos isn't advisable, and as long as the characters are portrayed richly enough to display aspects of their public and private personalities, the need for more alter-ego stuff is much lessened.

[Sage Shinigami]

Furthermore I don't think it damaged the show because again, seeing behind the mask is a fan thing, not really a kid thing. Yes, JLU is a nerd fest disguised as an action cartoon for kids, but that still makes the kid aspect the most important. That's it's demograph and fans have to remember they are not the core audience the show has to appeal to - just a fortunate one to have a creative crew who as interested in DC as themselves!

Hardly. That's was what I thought as a child was the coolest thing about superheroes--the fact that they led two lives. Not seeing one or the other made me feel ripped off when I read comics.


In JLU, though....too many heroes. Alter egos belong in single-character cartoons/comics. In Morrison's JLA (a comic I grew up on), I didn't see that much of the heroes outside of their costumes. And I didn't expect to. But if it were, say.....a Flash cartoon, and we NEVER saw him out of costume? I'd be considerably pissed.

[bskcase]

I don't think it would have really been important. If it was relevant for the story, then I would support this. Like Ray Palmer working with John Henry Irons on some research. But it would not be a priority.

[James]

Hardly. That's was what I thought as a child was the coolest thing about superheroes--the fact that they led two lives. Not seeing one or the other made me feel ripped off when I read comics.


Yes but I'm guessing you were an uber cartoon fan. People have to remember that strong cartoon and comic fans don't make up the spectrum of kids who watch CN. If it was a key factor to what turns kids on/off in cartoons, we'd have more alteregos. Unfortunately, the masses of kids are more interested in slaps and bangs than alter egos.

I know what you mean, I like you was one of those kids. I loved in the Batman TV series, the transition from Bruce to Batman, the Adam to He-Man, the Parker to Spider-Man.. but I also appreciate that few of the casual friends who watched TV really cared. I was the oddball, not representative of the main demographic. Depressing really. :)

[airfighter]

Not really, but it wouldn't have been too bad if it did.

It may well have done so by showing a few additional short scenes here and there, but it wasn't that necessary in the first place because early on the show was focused on action first and foremost (and arguably part of that still remained the case even later on, with the larger cast and all).

Still, not every superhero needs a secret identity, and the show already did give token recognition to some of them that do. Batman and Superman, for example, already had plenty of time devoted to their civilian personalities in their respective shows and therefore didn't require too much additional exposition in JL/U (granted, a new episode or two dealing with the subject might have worked, but it wasn't essential, IMO). Their characterization continued to develop reasonably well (by my standards and my interpretation of the show, I know others disagree) even without the need for their secret identities to become the focus of the show.

[Juu-kuchi]

Lest not forget that in the case of dealing with alter egos, there's always the possibility that the alter egos may be BORING. That and they portray themselves differently at times from when they're in costume. So in some sense that is double duty for the writers if they have to deal with backstories, alter-egos, etc.

[BlueRocketBoy]

Probably nothing new here ... but, as others have said, the glaring absence of alter egos was in JL season one. In the creators' efforts to focus strictly on action and adventure, a level of characterization was missing by not showing something of the heroes' personal lives. While I don't think there was a need to tell entire stories around their secret identities, something as simple as a shot of Clark at the Daily Planet, getting a call from the watchtower could have satisfied this hidden element. I think people simply wanted an acknowledgment that the persona of Clark, Bruce or Wally actually existed.

[Sage Shinigami]

Yes but I'm guessing you were an uber cartoon fan. People have to remember that strong cartoon and comic fans don't make up the spectrum of kids who watch CN. If it was a key factor to what turns kids on/off in cartoons, we'd have more alteregos. Unfortunately, the masses of kids are more interested in slaps and bangs than alter egos.

I know what you mean, I like you was one of those kids. I loved in the Batman TV series, the transition from Bruce to Batman, the Adam to He-Man, the Parker to Spider-Man.. but I also appreciate that few of the casual friends who watched TV really cared. I was the oddball, not representative of the main demographic. Depressing really. :)

Actually, yes I was an uber cartoon fan. (And still am.) Nonetheless, you have to admit that in a cartoon with a single superhero, if you never ever see his alter ego, you're only getting half a cartoon, and its not very representative of the comic character.

[creepers keeper]

For me I really think the line in Starcrossed made up for all of it.We got to see Alfred for crying out loud! But Batman and Superman had their own alter egos explored already. Flash and GL got theres opened up a bit. With JLU I dont think they have time to really introduce the character, show alter ego, and actually have a story in the 22 minutes of screen time. They showcased Green Arrow, Huntress, and Black Canary well though. I dont mind too much.

[adoptedBatpuppy]

Does it matter, that identities are supposed to be a secret. If every episode focused on superheroes identities, the writers would have no room to write about anything else! ;)

[Enemy Ace]

I voted "yes" because I would hope it means more episodes. A guy can dream.