Justice League: The Complete Series DVD Review

Rating:

I remember being frustrated when the Justice League series began in 2001. Cartoon Network moved it around so many times, even with a DVR it was hard to remember when it was coming on. I worried that the best animated DC series ever wouldn’t last long.

Thankfully I was wrong and it lasted for 5 years and 91 amazing episodes. DC and Warner Home Video done a great job releasing all of their animated shows—there are only a few that haven’t made it to DVD yet. Of course, Justice League was one of the first shows to make its way to DVD. If you didn’t pick those sets up then Warner Home Video has THE set for you this holiday season.

Justice League: The Complete Series is a beautiful 15 DVD set. Housed on 2 multi-disc DVD cases, which in turn are housed in a nice, metal slipcase. To be so simple, it one of the nicest features of the set. The set immediately replaced my multi-season sets. It’s nice having everything in one, smaller package.

All 15 DVDs are single sided and feature nice artwork. The digipak cases themselves feature more of the fluid art from the series. The inside cover of one case features a poster-worthy spread of many of the heroes and villains featured on the show.

All 91 episodes of Justice League and the follow-up Justice League Unlimited are in the set. The previous features from the old season sets are included as well. They are:

Commentary on 8 episodes with Series Creators: "The Enemy Below Part 2", "Legends Part 2", "The Savage Time Part 2", "Twilight Part 2", "A Better World Part 2", "Starcrossed Part 3", "This Little Piggy", "The Return".

Featurettes: "Inside Justice League", "The Look of The League", "The Blueprint for Justice", "Justice League – The First Mission", "Voices of Justice", "Justice League: Declassified", "And Justice for all", "Themes of Justice", "Cadmus: Exposed", "Justice League Chronicles", Music-only audio track for the final episode "Destroyer".

Easter Egg: "Not too Savage", a Deleted Scene with an introduction by producer Bruce Timm.

Also, to entice you to purchase this complete release, a new short feature, “Unlimited Reserve: Exploring the Depths of the DC Universe” is included. This near 20-minute short features creators Dini and Timm discussing the formation of the show and the selection of various elements and characters. It’s nice, but since it is on a standalone disc, I would love to have seen much more.

I’d recommend watching every episode, but if you want to start with the best, start at Disc 11 and watch through Disc 12. This 13 episode arc is essentially one long storyline. It’s amazing how good the series was when it had time to expand and breath. The Superman/Captain Marvel fight is unequaled throughout the series—except for maybe the final battle with Darkseid on Disc 14.

Bruce Timm and Paul Dini started the DC animated revolution with Batman: The Animated Series and Superman: The Animated Series. However, with the Justice League and Justice League Unlimited series—they created a lasting DC animated mythology.

It may be strong words, but this is and will probably always be my favorite animated series. If you don’t own this show—the Complete series set is the perfect release for you.

Here’s a breakdown of episodes per disc:

Disc One:
• "Secret Origins" (Parts One, Two, and Three)
• "In Blackest Night" (Parts One and Two)
• "The Enemy Below" (Parts One and Two)

Disc Two:
• "Injustice for All" (Parts One and Two)
• "Paradise Lost" (Parts One and Two)
• "War World" (Parts One and Two)

Disc Three:
• "The Brave and the Bold" (Parts One and Two)
• "Fury" (Parts One and Two)
• "Legends" (Parts One and Two)

Disc Four:
• "A Knight with Shadows" (Parts One and Two)
• "Metamorphosis" (Parts One and Two)
• "The Savage Time" (Parts One, Two, and Three)

Disc Five:
• "Twilight" (Parts One and Two)
• "Tabula Rasa" (Parts One and Two)
• "Only a Dream" (Parts One and Two)

Disc Six:
• "Maid of Honor" (Parts One and Two)
• "Hearts and Minds" (Parts One and Two)
• "A Better World" (Parts One and Two)

Disc Seven:
• "Eclipsed" (Parts One and Two)
• "The Terror Beyond" (Parts One and Two)
• "Hereafter" (Parts One and Two)

Disc Eight:
• "Secret Society" (Parts One and Two)
• "Comfort and Joy"
• "Wild Card" (Parts One and Two)
• "Starcrossed" (Parts One, Two, and Three)

Disc Nine:
• "Initiation"
• "For the Man Who Has Everything"
• "Hawk and Dove"
• "Fearful Symmetry"
• "Kids’ Stuff"
• "This Little Piggy"
• "The Return"

Disc Ten:
• "The Greatest Story Never Told"
• "Ultimatum"
• "Dark Heart"
• "Wake the Dead"
• "The Once and Future Thing" (Parts One and Two)

Disc Eleven:
• "The Cat and the Canary"
• "The Ties That Bind (aka Miracles Happen)"
• "The Doomsday Sanction"
• "Task Force X"
• "The Balance"
• "Double Date"
• "Clash"

Disc Twelve:
• "Hunter’s Moon (aka Mystery in Space)"
• "Question Authority"
• "Flashpoint"
• "Panic in the Sky"
• "Divided We Fall"
• "Epilogue"

Disc Thirteen:
• "I Am Legion"
• "Shadow of the Hawk"
• "Chaos at the Earth’s Core"
• "To Another Shore"
• "Flash and Substance"
• "Dead Reckoning"
• "Patriot Act"

Disc Fourteen:
• "The Great Brain Robbery"
• "Grudge Match"
• "Far from Home"
• "Ancient History"
• "Alive!"
• "Destroyer"