More Worthless Trivia Re: "Justice League"!

[Anthonynotes]

Or rather, trivia related to the non-big-3 characters (Supes, Bats, Wondy) appearing on the show...enjoy!

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MARTIAN MANHUNTER: Aka J'onn J'onzz (pronounced "John Jones"). Green-colored alien from Mars. First appearance: "Detective Comics" #255(?), November 1955 (reprinted some time ago by DC; lead story features Batman, since it's his comic, natch). In the comics, J'onn was yanked from Mars by accident by some scientist on Earth via a teleportation device (and/or pulled forward in time a few decades I think), after which he's left stranded on Earth (and said scientist dying of a heart attack or somesuch). J'onn tries to make the best of a bad situation and acclimates himself into Earth culture, taking on the secret ID of a police detective named John Jones (I know....I didn't make up the names, OK? :-) The Manhunter was one of the founding members of the JLA in the regular comics, and has been a mainstay through every version of the team...

The Martian Manhunter possesses most of Superman's powers (superstrength, superspeed, "Martian vision" [like heat vision], flight, etc.), and also possesses an array of telepathic powers and shapeshifting abilities (thus allowing him to assume human form for his secret ID). His weakness is fire (yes, fire, not some exotic little glowing green rock...). He also IIRC was revealed to have liked Oreos in the 80's...

HAWKGIRL: While Hawkgirl and her cohort, Hawkman's origins have been SNAFU-ed beyond all belief, I'll do my best here: Hawkgirl first appeared as Hawkman's wife(?) in the sixties, and both IIRC came from the planet Thanagar. Hawkgirl possesses wings made of an antigravity metal that allows her to take flight. Hawkman used various ancient medieval weapons (maces, etc.) to fight crime with, and I presume Hawkgirl might've used the same/similar. Hawkgirl was never a JLA member AFAIK, but presumably was added here to give more than one female member of the team besides Wondy. IIRC, Hawkgirl lived in Chicago(?). There were versions of Hawkman/Hawkgirl in the 40's-era comics who were the reincarnated versions of Egyptian royalty (instead of being from space), something the cartoon might also go with for Hawkgirl.


GREEN LANTERN: While Hal Jordan in the comics was the 60's-early 90's era main GL featured, there were others on Earth, and John Stewart (the African-American featured in this cartoon series) was one of them. As a member of the GL Corps, Stewart served rather notably since his 70's/early 80's debut. These days, no idea what he's up to, though I imagine it isn't something very pleasant (with the way the whole GL mythos got screwed over to make room for Kyle Rayner, the "current" GL, but I digress...). As with other GL's, Stewart could conjure up various forms with his power ring, and was ineffective against the color yellow.

FLASH: Presumably (if they reveal his secret ID) Wally West, the current Flash (vs. the one from the Superfriends-era, his predecessor Barry Allen). First appeared: in a late 50's "Flash" comic issue. While visiting a police lab in Central City (home of the Flash, a midwestern city the size of/comparable to St. Louis), Wally got splashed with chemicals while standing too close to a cabinet during a lightning storm, granting him superspeed. He served with his mentor as a sidekick to the Flash (Barry) for years until Barry got killed off in the mid-80's. Wally then replaced his fallen mentor as the Flash. As rehashed by me various times, the Flash's powers seem to let 'im do anythign short of making instant coffee (using his superspeed to "vibrate" his molecules to turn invisible/go through walls and solid matter/travel to other dimensions, running at ludicrous speeds, travel through time, etc.---see that "Fastest Mice Alive" fanfic story :-). Likely, the cartoon'll leave out the "sidekick to a predecessor Flash" and just make Wally the one and only Flash that's existed in the animated universe (to save on headaches :-) The Flash is another JLA staple in the comics...

And since she hasn't appeared in awhile...

WONDER WOMAN: The Amazing Amazon first appeared in 1941, and since then has been a DC staple. She serves as a representative of Paradise Island in "Man's World". She was created out of clay by her mother (and said clay was given life by the Olympian gods). Traditionally, she worked in Washington DC for the Army in her secret ID as Diana Prince (and dated Steve Trevor, an Army officer); these days in the regular comics, she goes without Trevor or the secret ID/Army job. Her powers include superstrength (presumably Superman-class), some superspeed (but not Flash-level), flight (depending on who's writing), some invulnerability (with the arm braclets used to deflect objects/projectiles), and a lasso that compels whoever's wrapped in it to tell the truth. Shares a distinction with Superman, Batman, Aquaman, and Green Arrow as having been in continuous publication since the 40's.

Not having been seen in any major venue since the Superfriends was cancelled in the mid-80's (those Macaroni-and-cheese ads don't count), it'll be interesting to see her in action again...

I'll also note that missing from the show's Aquaman, who in the comics was a founding member of the JLA. Guess it must've been too hard to think of plotlines in each ep that would involve water ;-)
Though I hear he has a cameo in the new series...

-B.

[RockItShipper]

Originally posted by Brainatra
[B]The Martian Manhunter possesses most of Superman's powers (superstrength, superspeed, "Martian vision" [like heat vision], flight, etc.), and also possesses an array of telepathic powers and shapeshifting abilities (thus allowing him to assume human form for his secret ID).

Secret ids... In the current comics, he has had a number of other human identities all over the world. My first contact with the character was an interview in the first JLA Secret Files where the reporter mentioned 'net rumors about one of those secret ids being Bruce Wayne.

GREEN LANTERN: While Hal Jordan in the comics was the 60's-early 90's era main GL featured, there were others on Earth, and John Stewart (the African-American featured in this cartoon series) was one of them. As a member of the GL Corps, Stewart served rather notably since his 70's/early 80's debut. These days, no idea what he's up to, though I imagine it isn't something very pleasant

He's paralyzed, last I checked.

[The Mad Hatter]

Woo hoo! Useless facts! Gotta love 'em. Actually, this is a pretty neat primer for people who haven't kept up with the characters over the years.

Okay, while we're on the issue of origins, I've got one for you... what's the comic book origin of the Creeper? I know it's different than in TNBA. I caught the short-lived Creeper series a few years ago and found it interesting...

[Anthonynotes]

>>Woo hoo! Useless facts! Gotta love 'em. Actually, this is a pretty neat primer for people who haven't kept up with the characters over the years.
<<

See also the piece below I wrote regarding the villains' origins for this new series (Vandal Savage, etc.; I'm sure Sharklady might find the "Ultra-Humanite"'s entry interesting.... :-).

>>>Okay, while we're on the issue of origins, I've got one for you... what's the comic book origin of the Creeper? I know it's different than in TNBA. I caught the short-lived Creeper series a few years ago and found it interesting...
<<<

Um...no idea. Strangely enough, I've never seen any adventures with this guy, either in the comics or the B:TAS ep that he's in...thus, I pretty much know nothing about him...

-B.

[Sharklady]

> Strangely enough, I've never seen any adventures with (the Creeper), either in the comics or the B:TAS ep that he's in... <

Oh, you really should try to rectify that situation, Brainatra! 'Beware the Creeper' was one of the best B:TAS eps- it includes some really funny lines, the only instance I know of Joker appealing to Batman for help, and, for the guys, a scene with Harley covered in custard-pie filling.

Re Ultra-Humanite's origins: a giant albino ape, no less? You'd think a normal-sized gorilla would be suffcient for most situations.

I think I do have an idea what Mojo Jojo would make of all this: as there's no mention of Ultra-Humanite possessing well-above-average intelligence, Mojo'd probably consider him a pathetic upstart. The only villain Mojo's expressed much admiration for is Aku*, and that guy is undoubtedly Major League.

* Samurai Jack's foe, in case anyone's forgotton.

[Anthonynotes]

>> Strangely enough, I've never seen any adventures with (the Creeper), either in the comics or the B:TAS ep that he's in... <

>Oh, you really should try to rectify that situation, Brainatra! 'Beware the Creeper' was one of the best B:TAS eps- it includes some really funny lines, the only instance I know of Joker appealing to Batman for help, and, for the guys, a scene with Harley covered in custard-pie filling.

I'll try...um, once I get cable and can see B:TAS on CN, I guess....

>>>Re Ultra-Humanite's origins: a giant albino ape, no less? You'd think a normal-sized gorilla would be suffcient for most situations.

Specifically, the Ultra-Humanite was originally a bald, mad scientist/genius who developed a means of being able to transfer himself from one body to another, first appearing in one of the earliest of Superman comics as his first "super"-foe. Eventually, by the seventies, Ultra decided to swipe an albino ape (7 or 8 feet tall from the artwork I saw, so I guess not really "giant" sized) and put himself into it, figuring that he may as well have great strength to go with his great mind. (The issue I saw him in, a three-part JLA story where Ultra plots to eliminate all superheroes via sending 10 of them----5 from the JLA, 5 from the JSA---to Limbo, had some villain he'd recruited to help him in this noting that he's probably as smart as Luthor (the mad-scientist verison of Lex)...).

These days, Ultra's not making too many appearances, so this'll be his "comeback" of sorts...

>>>I think I do have an idea what Mojo Jojo would make of all this: as there's no mention of Ultra-Humanite possessing well-above-average intelligence, Mojo'd probably consider him a pathetic upstart. The only villain Mojo's expressed much admiration for is Aku*, and that guy is undoubtedly Major League.
<<<

Well, see above, since he does have above-average intelligence (your usual mad-scientist level)...still, I gather Mojo wouldn't think much of altering a fellow simian's body for his own personal use :-)

-B.

[Nftnat]

Originally posted by Brainatra
>>>I think I do have an idea what Mojo Jojo would make of all this: as there's no mention of Ultra-Humanite possessing well-above-average intelligence, Mojo'd probably consider him a pathetic upstart. The only villain Mojo's expressed much admiration for is Aku*, and that guy is undoubtedly Major League.
<<<

Well, see above, since he does have above-average intelligence (your usual mad-scientist level)...still, I gather Mojo wouldn't think much of altering a fellow simian's body for his own personal use :-)

-B. [/B]

And I'm wondering what Mojo's take would be on Gorilla Grodd; & for that matter, Gorilla City. Methinks I smell fanfic potential here; a primate alliance to take over Gorilla City, the PPGs teaming up with Flash. Something to think on imo.

[Sharklady]

> And I'm wondering what Mojo's take would be on Gorilla Grodd; & for that matter, Gorilla City. Methinks I smell fanfic potential here; a primate alliance to take over Gorilla City, the PPGs teaming up with Flash. Something to think on imo. <

Great minds think alike- somebody has already done it (sans Flash.) You can find that story at

http://pokeyoaksfanfic.com/blind1.html

[Joe Tully]

Hawkgirl (or a Hawkgirl) has been in JSA comics lately. I haven't been reading, but if you want to figure out what's going on with her, you might try looking up recent issues...or maybe a regular reader could explain what's been going on lately? I know Hawkman recently showed up there too.

The only villain Mojo's expressed much admiration for is Aku*, and that guy is undoubtedly Major League.

Mojo also showed some respect for Him in Telephonies, when Him called Mojo about the PPG's recent visit. He seemed to be somewhat afraid of Him, to be honest, which would fit in with the idea of Him being the ultimate evil. But Him didn't get the same respect when they met each other in The Beat-Alls. Too bad, since I liked the idea of Him being the ultimate evil that all the other villians feared and respected...kind of like a mean big brother.

[DR. BELCH]

Even a small piece of Kryptonite can weaken Superman...so does it take a large amount of fire to render M.M. useless, or just a spark? And does it have to touch him, or does just looking at it do the trick? I mean, I'd hate to see a hero turn into jelly every time some punk pulls out a Zippo lighter....

Joe Tully:
Mojo also showed some respect [and fear] for Him in Telephonies...But Him didn't get the same respect when they met each other in The Beat-Alls. Too bad, since I liked the idea of Him being...kind of like a mean big brother.

I think Mojo had some respect for Him until the birthday party episode, after the pinata incident. Him tried to bluff and say that he thinks long-term--candy today, cavities tomorrow. Mojo and Princess both agreed he was nothing but a sore loser and a self-aggrandizing blowhard. They would have told him to go to blazes, but...well, he lives there, so what'd be the point?
On Mojo altering a fellow simian's body for personal use: well, he might have happily settled down with that girl monkey in "Beat-Alls" and raised a family. Imagine what the kids would be like....:shudder:
I was toying with the idea of Mojo teaming with a proboscis monkey who looks and sounds like Jimmy Durante to form a comedy duo--but how to twist that into an evil scheme would be the question....

[Nftnat]

I agree, Belchie. A gag that wasn't in MTB-As: Mojo & Yoko fronting the Plastic Banana Band. There's an extra ref there which dittoheads will get.

[Anthonynotes]

>>>Even a small piece of Kryptonite can weaken Superman...so does it take a large amount of fire to render M.M. useless, or just a spark? And does it have to touch him, or does just looking at it do the trick? I mean, I'd hate to see a hero turn into jelly every time some punk pulls out a Zippo lighter....
<<<

Depending on the writer, a Zippo lighter-type level of fire could make MM quiver (as was seen in a JLA storyline involving some sort of Martian invasion by a few surviving Martians hiding on Earth(?), a few years ago)... but usually it's at least a campfire/torch-level of fire that renders MM helpless...and just looking at it or being surrounded by it will usually make him helpless (it doesn't have to touch him).

-B.