Initiation
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| Justice League Unlimited episode | |
|---|---|
| |
| "Initiation" | |
| Airdate: | Saturday July 31, 2004 (USA) |
| Production Number: | 353 |
| Airdate Order: | 01 |
| Animation Services by: | D.R. Movie CO., LTD. |
| Written by: | Stan Berkowitz |
| Directed by: | Joaquim Dos Santos |
| Episode images (14) | |
"Initiation" is the series premiere of Justice League Unlimited. It originally aired on July 31, 2004.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
In an undisclosed location, Green Arrow thwarts an armed robbery of a supermarket. Green Lantern arrives and teleports himself and Arrow up to the Justice League's new Watchtower. Arrow first sees the five other members of the League – Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, J'onn J'onzz, and Flash, then looks around and sees a much larger crowd of superheroes.
Superman addresses the assembled crowd, saying that the newly-expanded League has a chance to do real good in the world, provided that they work together and in coordination – that is J'onn's responsibility.
While he speaks, Batman talks privately with Green Arrow, who politely declines membership. In his opinion, the League is too focused on "big" threats, like monsters and alien invasions, while Arrow is devoted to helping "the little guy."
J'onn hands out a mission: a nuclear energy signature is moving across a region in Southeast Asia. Lantern, Captain Atom, and Supergirl are chosen to investigate. Arrow, reluctant to use the teleporter again, insists on hitching a ride home in their Javelin.
On the way, Lantern and Captain Atom explain that the country they are visiting is notoriously xenophobic, and it is a criminal act for United States citizens to go there.
Arriving, the team is attacked by the country's military forces. Their commander, General Kwan, orders his men to stand down and apologizes, but firmly rejects their offer of help and tells them to leave.
J'onn tells them that they can't go against the government's wishes, but Arrow is unwilling to accept this, and strikes out on his own. He sees Kwan's forces evacuating peasants across a bridge. When a truck spins out of control, Arrow helps save the driver. Angrily, Kwan insists that everything is under control – then a gigantic nuclear-powered robot appears, spraying destruction everywhere.
The rest of the team arrives. Captain Atom attempts to absorb the robot's energy, but there is too much for him to handle. Likewise, the robot is too strong for Supergirl, and Lantern is seriously injured.
The team finds a group of the country's scientists, who admit that they built the robot “to protect us from the foreigners” but they lost control. They have carbon rods that will disable the robot's reactor, but they have to be inserted into a cavity in its chest.
Captain Atom takes the rods and says he has to try, even though the heat from the reactor may destroy him. On his attempt, the heat ruptures his containment suit, and he has to fly into the atmosphere, where there is an explosion of energy.
Enraged, Supergirl flies at the robot, but is unable to stop it. Green Arrow picks up the remaining three rods and tries to shoot them into the cavity with his bow, but misses twice. Breaking the last rod into pieces, he lashes a piece to the end of an arrow, and makes the shot. The robot shuts down, and Supergirl demolishes it.
Batman asks Arrow how he feels now about joining the League. Arrow is still hesitant, but changes his mind when he catches sight of Black Canary suiting up in the locker room.
[edit] Continuity
- When John is recuperating from injuries, he unconsciously calls out Shayera's name. This suggests he hasn't recovered from their break-up after the events of "Starcrossed."
[edit] Background Information
[edit] Production Inconsistencies
- The burglars seemed hefty armed to be robbing a grocery store. The cost of those weapons was probably higher than the loot they might have gotten from a store like this.
- During Superman speech, the position of heroes shifts frequently.
- When the League questions the hazmat guys in the destroyed village, there are hazmat men with Geiger counters, which means that the area contains radiation. Why aren't Green Arrow and the other soldiers wearing protective suits?
[edit] Trivia
- Wonder Woman and the Flash appear but have no lines.
- The expansion of the League's membership was going to be depicted in a feature film, Justice League: World's Collide, which was shelved, but which may still be produced in the future.
- This episode along with "Hawk and Dove" and "Kid Stuff" was released on DVD as Justice League Unlimited: Saving The World.
- As of this episode, the opening credits features clips from the concurrent episode, much in the style of Mission: Impossible.
- When J'onn and John are talking about the nuclear monster in Asia, images of the faces of Copperhead, Cheetah, Shade, and Star Sapphire can be seen on the tiny computer screens.
- According to the TV Guide for the week of July 25-31, Kin Shriner showed up at the recording studio dressed as Green Arrow.
[edit] Cast
[edit] Uncredited Appearances
[edit] Quotes
Green Arrow: Well, if it isn't the great and glorious Green Lantern. What's wrong, you guys run out of aliens to fight, so you have to step in on my turf? |
Superman: Each of you brings something different to the table. Strength. Speed. Stealth. Whatever. But we're all equal in at least one way: Each of us is willing to make the sacrifices a hero needs to make. Even the ultimate one. Since there are so many of us, we have a chance to do more than just put out fires. Both literal and figurative. We can be proactive. We can do some real good in the world. But we're going to have to be organized. J'onn'll be up here keeping an eye on everything. He'll be the one to decide whose going where and when. I know that most of you are used to making those decisions for yourself, but we have to be more coordinated than that. We can't be cowboys anymore. Or cowgirls. |
Green Arrow: I don't belong up here. Fighting monsters and aliens. I just help the little guy. And in a big club like this, you tend to forget about the little guy. So gee whiz, I'm flattered and all, but no thanks. |
Lantern: We'll do recon. If you see anything, don't try to engage. |
Green Arrow: I still don't think I belong up here. |
| Previously produced episode: "Starcrossed" | Episodes of Justice League Unlimited | Next produced episode: "For the Man Who Has Everything" |
| Previously aired episode: "Starcrossed" | Next aired episode: "For the Man Who Has Everything" |
