JLU

Since we got the DVR, I’m finally able to start regularly watching Justice League Unlimited. I’ve been only mildly impressed so far — it’s keen to see all the added DCU characters, but that coupled single-part episodes have meant that characterization beyond the sketchiest has been very thin on the ground.

Last week’s ep — “The Once and Future Thing” — was an exception, and so proved the rule. The cast was largely limited (three core members, plus four guest stars we didn’t get more than a sketch of) and it’s a two-parter, so there was time for a bit more personal bits amongst the principles (Bats, GL, and WW). And more next time (part 2) as well. Glee.

Spoilers below …

Seeing a collection of classic DC “Western” heroes was a lot of fun. That seems to be how DC is presenting them in the comics, too, as contemporaries and folks who all know each other (which, given the relative thinness of characterization in the past is probably a fine idea). Having Jonah Hex reckon that Bats, GL, and WW were all time travellers was a fun bit.

I’d noted in the establishing shot that the “future” setting was that of Batman Beyond, and the time travellers hopping back forward to that setting — with the appearance of an adult Static Shock and the already-established-in-that-period Warhawk — gave the ep a nice cliffhanger ending. I look forward to seeing how that plays out.

Which is nothing compared to my looking forward to the two Bats working with each other — or with what the two Bruce Waynes might have to say.

I don’t know if this is the only two-parter planned this season, but it’s a definite improvement on the one-shots thus far.