Mister Intensity
01-29-2002, 09:06 AM
Paradise Lost Part II really impressed me, especially, considering that I wasn't that impressed with Part I. After the ending of Paradise Lost, it is becoming more clear what Justice League is about.
It seems that almost every member of the team is either an orphan or an exile in some manner. Almost each member has a circumstance that leads that person to lean to the Justice League as a surrogate family. Here is the role call of orphans and exiles:
Superman: Last survivor of Krypton. More times than not the responsibility of being Superman has caused Clark to put both his personal life and career (that of being a reporter on the back burner). Too many times, Clark has put himself on the backburner to the point that Clark gets ignored in favor of Superman. There are times that Clark would like nothing more than to settle down with Lois and concentrate on being one of the best reporters in Metropolis but the responsibility of being Superman has to come first. Besides, he knows what can happen when Superman loses the public's trust, that's something that can't happen again.
Batman: Seeing his parents shot and killed at an early age has created a void that cannot be completely filled no matter how hard he subconsciously tries. While Bruce is surrounded by people who respects and loves him, he always keeps them at a distance. Everytime someone new comes into his life, there's always a feeling out process. He feels he is not worthy of love and friendship so he keep those he offers him either at a distance. Yet, despite stating he doesn't need either, he always creates a "families" (the Batsquad and Justice League) to fill the family void in his life. He probably needs the Justice League a lot more than he admits.
Wonder Woman: First she left her home because she saw a danger she couldn't ignore. Then when her people was in trouble, she rewarded by being exiled because she brought the men she befriended to save the people she holds dear. She was brought up to respect Greek ideals of justice, yet it is those same ideals that has created between herself and her people, between herself and her mother. She hasn't completely adjusted to life in "Man's World" but now the Justice League is her conncetion to a world that she didn't create.
Green Lantern: He has chosen duty over happiness. As Green Lantern of Sector 3614, he has chosen to serve his entire sector, instead of using the Earth as his base of operations or as an anchor. It is this duty-imposed exile that has created a distance between the culture of his birth and an universal-wide code of ethics that oftentimes emphasizes the macro over the micro. It is only now that he is a part of the Justice League that he is reconnecting with his Earthly roots.
Martian Manhunter: He saw his entire race slaughtered by war. He stays on Earth with the Justice League because he has noplace else to go. While he could use his shapeshifting abilities to blend in and his telepathic abilities to get a read of the cultures of Earth, he knows that he could never fully be a part of any of it. Each moment is a learning experience and the Justice League has become his adopted family but he still misses home. He also knows that he is likely to outlive the rest of the League, meaning that inevitably he is going to lose another family.
Hawkgirl: She was involuntarily pulled from Thanagar. In many ways she is baffled by the contradiction between the relative tranquility and the sometimes brutal savagery of Earthlings. She makes no apologies that Thanagarians are a brutal lot and she acknowledges that they are not hypocrites about it. When dealing with Thanagarians she knows what she sees but when dealing with Earthlings, things are often hidden beneath the surface, making hard to read who to trust and who no to trust.
Flash: While on the surface the Flash may not meet the "orphan or exile" profile, it does seem that he uses his sarcasm as a shield to separate him from others. Besides, to the "World's Fastest Man," the rest of the world often seems to move too slowly. Slowing down is probably the hardest thing for him to do. It will be interesting to learn more about Wally West and what makes him tick.
It will be interesting to see ho all of this plays out in future episodes.
Myron
It seems that almost every member of the team is either an orphan or an exile in some manner. Almost each member has a circumstance that leads that person to lean to the Justice League as a surrogate family. Here is the role call of orphans and exiles:
Superman: Last survivor of Krypton. More times than not the responsibility of being Superman has caused Clark to put both his personal life and career (that of being a reporter on the back burner). Too many times, Clark has put himself on the backburner to the point that Clark gets ignored in favor of Superman. There are times that Clark would like nothing more than to settle down with Lois and concentrate on being one of the best reporters in Metropolis but the responsibility of being Superman has to come first. Besides, he knows what can happen when Superman loses the public's trust, that's something that can't happen again.
Batman: Seeing his parents shot and killed at an early age has created a void that cannot be completely filled no matter how hard he subconsciously tries. While Bruce is surrounded by people who respects and loves him, he always keeps them at a distance. Everytime someone new comes into his life, there's always a feeling out process. He feels he is not worthy of love and friendship so he keep those he offers him either at a distance. Yet, despite stating he doesn't need either, he always creates a "families" (the Batsquad and Justice League) to fill the family void in his life. He probably needs the Justice League a lot more than he admits.
Wonder Woman: First she left her home because she saw a danger she couldn't ignore. Then when her people was in trouble, she rewarded by being exiled because she brought the men she befriended to save the people she holds dear. She was brought up to respect Greek ideals of justice, yet it is those same ideals that has created between herself and her people, between herself and her mother. She hasn't completely adjusted to life in "Man's World" but now the Justice League is her conncetion to a world that she didn't create.
Green Lantern: He has chosen duty over happiness. As Green Lantern of Sector 3614, he has chosen to serve his entire sector, instead of using the Earth as his base of operations or as an anchor. It is this duty-imposed exile that has created a distance between the culture of his birth and an universal-wide code of ethics that oftentimes emphasizes the macro over the micro. It is only now that he is a part of the Justice League that he is reconnecting with his Earthly roots.
Martian Manhunter: He saw his entire race slaughtered by war. He stays on Earth with the Justice League because he has noplace else to go. While he could use his shapeshifting abilities to blend in and his telepathic abilities to get a read of the cultures of Earth, he knows that he could never fully be a part of any of it. Each moment is a learning experience and the Justice League has become his adopted family but he still misses home. He also knows that he is likely to outlive the rest of the League, meaning that inevitably he is going to lose another family.
Hawkgirl: She was involuntarily pulled from Thanagar. In many ways she is baffled by the contradiction between the relative tranquility and the sometimes brutal savagery of Earthlings. She makes no apologies that Thanagarians are a brutal lot and she acknowledges that they are not hypocrites about it. When dealing with Thanagarians she knows what she sees but when dealing with Earthlings, things are often hidden beneath the surface, making hard to read who to trust and who no to trust.
Flash: While on the surface the Flash may not meet the "orphan or exile" profile, it does seem that he uses his sarcasm as a shield to separate him from others. Besides, to the "World's Fastest Man," the rest of the world often seems to move too slowly. Slowing down is probably the hardest thing for him to do. It will be interesting to learn more about Wally West and what makes him tick.
It will be interesting to see ho all of this plays out in future episodes.
Myron