Marvel and DC Comics have each cultivated fandom with a shared universe between collection. This net of continuity entangles younger minds, who come to see the comics not merely as pulp adventures, however gateways to an entire different world whose historical past they might examine and grasp. Then, superheroes took over twenty first century Hollywood by importing this identical storytelling mannequin. However the first main superhero cinematic universe debuted on the small display, not the silver one. Sure, earlier than the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there was the DC Animated Universe (DCAU). A collection of interconnected cartoons with overlapping solid and crew, the DCAU ran for 14 years from 1992 to 2006.
That long term would’ve been not possible with out the individuals who made these cartoons. The primary DCAU cartoon, “Batman: The Animated Collection,” was co-created by Bruce Timm and Eric Radomski. Timm’s distinctive artwork model (like Jack Kirby meets pin-up woman posters) turned the DCAU normal. Different vital artists who helped steer the DCAU from collection to collection embrace writers/producers Alan Burnett, Paul Dini (the co-creator of Harley Quinn with Timm), and Dwayne McDuffie, director Dan Riba, and voice director Andrea Romano. It was Romano particularly who solid the DCAU’s most well-known voices, from Kevin Conroy as Batman to Mark Hamill because the Joker, and coaxed these character defining-performances out of them.
These are youngsters exhibits, so most DCAU episodes are easy affairs you possibly can watch with none context. However by “Justice League Limitless,” they have been constructing on the canon they’d created, with serialized storylines pulling from previous occasions, main and minor, in earlier exhibits. “Justice League Limitless” is thus finest loved when you have prior DCAU information — however how must you go about getting it?
You must watch the DCAU in launch order
Discounting the spin-off films (which embrace “Batman: Masks of the Illusion,” “Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero,” “Batman Past: Return of the Joker,” and “Batman: Thriller of Batwoman”), right here is the DCAU in launch order:
- “Batman: The Animated Collection” — Follows the adventures of Batman as he faces the superstitious and cowardly villains of Gotham Metropolis. The collection is legendary for its Gothic backgrounds and Fleischer Studios-inspired animation, which is much less sharp and extra expressive than subsequent DCAU exhibits.
- “Superman: The Animated Collection” — Principally Timm and co. doing for Superman what they’d beforehand finished for Batman. “Superman: The Animated Collection” is most fondly remembered for Clancy Brown’s efficiency as Lex Luthor. It is also the place the extra refined artwork model utilized in later DCAU initiatives was launched.
- “New Batman Adventures” — A sequel to “Batman: The Animated Collection,” full with an up to date artwork model and character designs. A handful of crossovers with “Superman” formally created the DCAU.
- “Batman Past” — Set 40 years sooner or later, an aged Bruce Wayne mentors the brand new Batman, teenager Terry McGinnis, in a cyberpunk Gotham Metropolis.
- “Static Shock” — Black teenager Virgil Hawkins positive aspects electromagnetic powers when mutagen gasoline is dispersed throughout his hometown Dakota Metropolis. McDuffie, one among Static’s unique comedian creators, was concerned within the collection and it was his gateway into working extra on the DCAU.
- “The Zeta Challenge” — A spin-off of “Batman Past” that sees the android Zeta looking for his creator whereas on the run from the NSA. General, a futuristic riff on “The Fugitive” (and never the one animated one on the market).
- “Justice League” — The Timm group constructed on the previous Batman/Superman crossovers and introduced DC’s biggest heroes collectively in a single present. Uniquely, every episode was a two/three-parter, in impact permitting for 40 minute episodes slightly than 20 minute ones.
- “Justice League Limitless” — A sequel to “Justice League” the place the group expands from solely seven heroes to a number of dozen. The 2-part episode format was ditched for 20 minute episodes, normally spotlighting one to 3 members of the now large ensemble.
That is additionally the order it’s best to watch the exhibits in, in the event you’re feeling so completionist. The reply is all the time launch order, as a result of it is each the only approach and later-made prequels normally construct on earlier-made installments. Think about, as an illustration, watching the “Star Wars” prequels with out seeing the unique trilogy.
Within the DCAU’s case, the season 2 finale of “Justice League Limitless” —”Epilogue” — is kind of a “Batman Past” episode. If you have not seen “Batman Past,” you will get nothing from that episode. Even in the event you watch “Justice League” first, save “Epilogue” for after you full “Batman Past.”
When you insist on watching the DCAU in chronological order:
- “Batman: The Animated Collection”
- “Superman: The Animated Collection”
- “New Batman Adventures”
- “Static Shock”
- “Justice League”
- “Justice League Limitless”
- “Batman Past”
- “The Zeta Challenge”
Are you able to skip any of the DCAU?
“The Zeta Challenge” is the least important DCAU present. It is not truly based mostly on a pre-existing DC comedian, making it an aberration in comparison with the others, and it frustratingly ends on a cliffhanger. There is a crossover episode in season 3 of “Batman Past” titled “Countdown,” however Zeta’s debut in “Batman Past” itself will fill you in.
“Static Shock” additionally feels extra bubbled off than the others, as a result of it wasn’t initially purported to be a part of the DCAU. It solely turned such when the season 2 premiere, “The Huge Leagues,” was a Batman crossover. “Static Shock” subsequently had just a few different crossovers with the DCAU:
- The “Static Shock” season 3 premiere “Exhausting A Nails,” the place Static visits Gotham and fights Poison Ivy & Harley Quinn with Batman.
- “A League of Their Personal,” a two-parter in “Static Shock” season 3 that crosses over with “Justice League.” Static known as to assist out with some technical points on the League’s satellite tv for pc base, the Watchtower, and finally ends up saving the grownup heroes from Brainiac.
- “Toys within the Hood,” that includes a visitor look by Superman. (“Superman: The Animated Collection” had concluded by this level, however the Man of Metal himself was a part of “Justice League.”)
- “Future Shock,” a “Batman Past” crossover the place Static is shipped into the long run.
- “Fallen Hero,” the place Static groups up with Inexperienced Lantern to battle Sinestro.
- “The As soon as and Future Factor,” the season 1 finale of “Justice League Limitless.” It is a crossover with each “Static Shock” and “Batman Past,” as a result of Batman, Marvel Girl, and Inexperienced Lantern journey into the long run, the place they meet Terry McGinnis and a now middle-aged Static.
As you possibly can inform, the “Static Shock” crossovers have been largely in a single route; the teenage Virgil by no means popped up in “Justice League.” Principally, the core DCAU expertise is: “Batman: The Animated Collection,” “Superman: The Animated Collection,’ “New Batman Adventures,” “Batman Past,” “Justice League,” and “Justice League Limitless.” Watch these on the proper age, and I promise you will be a superhero fan for all times.
