Starcrossed (Justice League episode)
Encyclopedia
Starcrossed is the second-season finale of the Justice League
animated series, composed of the 22nd, 23rd, and 24th episodes. It is notably the last episode to go under the Justice League title before the show's transition into Justice League Unlimited
.
It first aired on May 29, 2004.
The League is staking out a conference of world leaders, based on a tip Batman
received that a terrorist incident may occur. Superman
, as Clark Kent
, is watching the conference from inside, among the press corps. Outside, Green Lantern
steals a few seconds to flirt with Hawkgirl
.
Suddenly, a greater menace appears in the sky: an alien battleship that opens fire. None of the U.S. military’s weapons can hurt it. Before the League attacks, an even larger alien battleship appears and downs the attacking craft, which crashes. Hawkgirl recognizes the newcomer as a Thanagar
ian ship.
The ship’s commander, Hro Talak, asks to meet with Earth’s leaders. He reveals that Hawkgirl has been lying to her teammates: she did not arrive on Earth by accident, nor is she a law enforcement officer; rather, she is a lieutenant in the Thanagarian military, and was sent to Earth as an advance scout, and a sort of ambassador, to prepare for their arrival. Talak explains that for decades Thanagar has been at war with a vicious alien race, the Gordanians. Now the Gordanians have targeted Earth for invasion, and Talak offers to help.
John confronts Hawkgirl, asking what else she’s kept secret. Uncomfortably, she admits that she and Talak are betrothed.
Having seen the power of the Gordanian ship, Earth’s leaders feel they have little choice, and accept the Thangarians’ offer. Immediately, they begin constructing a massive force field
generator in the Gobi Desert
, which they say will provide a planetary defense shield. The Justice League aids in the construction.
Batman is suspicious, as always, and examines the remains of the Gordanian battleship. He finds that all the Gordanians were dead long before the ship appeared on Earth, meaning the attack was a ruse.
As soon as he communicates with the others, the Thanagarians turn on them, taking them prisoner. John tries to fight his way free, but Hawkgirl tricks him into lowering his ring, then knocks him out and takes his ring.
A Thanagarian unit takes control of the Watchtower
, while the rest of their forces occupy Earth.
Part II
The League is taken prisoner and transported to a holding facility. Hawkgirl returns to the mother ship. Talak commends her on a job well done, but his subordinate, Kragger, is suspicious of her sympathies with the League, and the humans.
The League manages to escape the prison ship, which crashes in an unspecified city. The League decides that to stay hidden, they will need to discard their costumes and assume civilian clothes. Flash protests for "secret identity" reasons, but Batman cuts him off, saying that he (always the detective) has already found out Superman and Flash's alter egos, and then reveals his own. (J'onn, Wonder Woman, and Lantern do not have secret identities). The League split into pairs and make their way toward Gotham City
, to rendezvous at Wayne Manor
.
Aboard the mothership, Hro reveals the Thanagarians’ true plan: the force field generator is actually a “hyperspace bypass,” the last in a series of wormhole
relays that will allow the Thanagarians to bypass the Gordanians’ defenses and attack their homeworld directly, finally ending the war. But in the process, Earth will be destroyed – to the Thanagarians, a sad but necessary sacrifice. Hawkgirl is horrified.
The League meets in the Batcave
, to puzzle out why the Thanagarians are interested in Earth. Hawkgirl appears, giving them data on the project. Batman accepts the information, then coldly orders her out. Before she goes, she shares a private moment with John, returning his ring to him.
But Kragger has planted a bug on Shayera, allowing him to track her to the League’s hideout.
Part III
As soon as Shayera returns to the mothership, Kragger has her arrested. He plays the recording of her conversation with the League for Hro, revealing both her treachery and her affection for John. Hro is heartbroken, but orders her locked up.
Kragger leads a strike team to Wayne Manor to eliminate the League. Fully powered now, they beat back the attack and take several prisoners.
Batman is in command of their strategy: Superman, Wonder Woman
, and Green Lantern attack the command ship to shut down the force field protecting the hyperspace generator; Batman, Flash
, and J’onn
infiltrate theWatchtower using the strike team’s shuttle (and with J’onn masquerading as Kragger), and incapacitate the occupation force. Batman explains that he plans to take the Watchtower out of orbit and use it as a missile to destroy the generator. He and the others load the unconscious Thanagarians into the escape pods, but Batman launches the pod with himself staying behind, saying that he has to guide the Tower in manually. “Gentlemen,” he says in farewell, “it’s been an honor.”
While Superman and Wonder Woman battle the Thanagarian fighters, Lantern breaks into the ship to reach the force field controls. Talak is waiting for him, wanting revenge for his stolen love.
As Wonder Woman fights her way through another part of the ship, she passes Hawkgirl’s cell. “I should leave you to burn,” she says, but releases her.
The generator complete, the Thanagarians begin the activation to open the hyperspace gate.
The Watchtower travels down through the atmosphere, piloted by Batman. As the heat increases, the Tower begins to break up. Hearing where Batman is, Superman breaks off from the battle and flies to intercept him.
In the control room, Lantern fights hard against Talak, but loses and is knocked out. Talak raises his battle axe for the kill, and Hawkgirl appears, telling him to stop. He attacks her, and they battle even more ferociously. He beats her, and she begs him, for the sake of “us,” not to kill Earth’s innocents. He throws her to the ground. “There’s no ‘us’ anymore, Shayera. Just a fallen traitor, and a soldier with a job to do.” Lantern regains consciousness, and attacks Talak again, but is very weak. As Talak punches him, Lantern taunts him, and an enraged Talak swings his axe, inadvertently hitting the force field controls. In the resulting explosion, he is knocked out and the force field shuts down.
Superman streaks after the Watchtower as Batman, overcome by the heat and smoke, finally passes out. Superman breaks in and pulls him free just before it hits, destroying the generator.
Aboard the ship, Lantern, Hawkgirl, and Wonder Woman are confronted by more Thanagarian soldiers, but Hro orders them to stand down – their mission has failed, and there’s no point in fighting anymore. The Thanagarian forces leave Earth, abandoning Hawkgirl.
At Wayne Manor, Hawkgirl waits while the League debates whether to allow her to remain. Alfred
tells her that, regardless of what the others decide, he still considers her a hero.
Superman is about to announce the League’s decision, but Hawkgirl interrupts, saying that she’s resigning from the League. Flash is the only person who is upset by this news and hugs her. As she goes, J’onn and Superman say that it’s their duty to rebuild the League.
Outside Wayne Manor, John asks Hawkgirl where she’ll go now. She says she isn’t sure. She tells him that she never lied about one thing: she does love him. Then she flies away, leaving him to say, “I love you, too…”
Justice League (TV series)
Justice League is an American animated television series about a team of superheroes which ran from 2001 to 2004 on Cartoon Network. The show was produced by Warner Bros. Animation. It is based on the Justice League of America and associated comic book characters published by DC Comics...
animated series, composed of the 22nd, 23rd, and 24th episodes. It is notably the last episode to go under the Justice League title before the show's transition into Justice League Unlimited
Justice League Unlimited
Justice League Unlimited is an American animated television series that was produced by Warner Bros. Animation and aired on Cartoon Network. Featuring a wide array of superheroes from the DC Comics universe, and specifically based on the Justice League superhero team, it is a direct sequel to the...
.
It first aired on May 29, 2004.
Plot
Part IThe League is staking out a conference of world leaders, based on a tip Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
received that a terrorist incident may occur. Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
, as Clark Kent
Clark Kent
Clark Kent is a fictional character created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. Appearing regularly in stories published by DC Comics, he debuted in Action Comics #1 and serves as the civilian and secret identity of the superhero Superman....
, is watching the conference from inside, among the press corps. Outside, Green Lantern
John Stewart (comics)
John Stewart is a fictional character, a comic book superhero published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Green Lantern vol. 2, #87 , and was created by Dennis O'Neil and Neal Adams.-Publication history:...
steals a few seconds to flirt with Hawkgirl
Hawkgirl
Hawkgirl is the name of several female fictional superhero characters, all owned by DC Comics and existing in that company's universe. The character is one of the first costumed female superheroes...
.
Suddenly, a greater menace appears in the sky: an alien battleship that opens fire. None of the U.S. military’s weapons can hurt it. Before the League attacks, an even larger alien battleship appears and downs the attacking craft, which crashes. Hawkgirl recognizes the newcomer as a Thanagar
Thanagar
Thanagar is a fictional planet in the . Thanagar is the original home of the humanoid Thanagarian race, noted for the discovery of gravity-defying Nth metal...
ian ship.
The ship’s commander, Hro Talak, asks to meet with Earth’s leaders. He reveals that Hawkgirl has been lying to her teammates: she did not arrive on Earth by accident, nor is she a law enforcement officer; rather, she is a lieutenant in the Thanagarian military, and was sent to Earth as an advance scout, and a sort of ambassador, to prepare for their arrival. Talak explains that for decades Thanagar has been at war with a vicious alien race, the Gordanians. Now the Gordanians have targeted Earth for invasion, and Talak offers to help.
John confronts Hawkgirl, asking what else she’s kept secret. Uncomfortably, she admits that she and Talak are betrothed.
Having seen the power of the Gordanian ship, Earth’s leaders feel they have little choice, and accept the Thangarians’ offer. Immediately, they begin constructing a massive force field
Force field
A force field, sometimes known as an energy shield, force shield, or deflector shield is a concept of a field tightly bounded and of significant magnitude so that objects affected by the particular force relating to the field are unable to pass through the central axis of the field and reach the...
generator in the Gobi Desert
Gobi Desert
The Gobi is a large desert region in Asia. It covers parts of northern and northwestern China, and of southern Mongolia. The desert basins of the Gobi are bounded by the Altai Mountains and the grasslands and steppes of Mongolia on the north, by the Hexi Corridor and Tibetan Plateau to the...
, which they say will provide a planetary defense shield. The Justice League aids in the construction.
Batman is suspicious, as always, and examines the remains of the Gordanian battleship. He finds that all the Gordanians were dead long before the ship appeared on Earth, meaning the attack was a ruse.
As soon as he communicates with the others, the Thanagarians turn on them, taking them prisoner. John tries to fight his way free, but Hawkgirl tricks him into lowering his ring, then knocks him out and takes his ring.
A Thanagarian unit takes control of the Watchtower
Justice League Watchtower
The Watchtower is the name of various bases used by the Justice League of America in DC Comics and various other media. It has been portrayed in DC comics as a building on Earth's moon, and as a space-station in orbit in the Justice League Unlimited cartoon.The Watchtower debuted in JLA #4 during...
, while the rest of their forces occupy Earth.
Part II
The League is taken prisoner and transported to a holding facility. Hawkgirl returns to the mother ship. Talak commends her on a job well done, but his subordinate, Kragger, is suspicious of her sympathies with the League, and the humans.
The League manages to escape the prison ship, which crashes in an unspecified city. The League decides that to stay hidden, they will need to discard their costumes and assume civilian clothes. Flash protests for "secret identity" reasons, but Batman cuts him off, saying that he (always the detective) has already found out Superman and Flash's alter egos, and then reveals his own. (J'onn, Wonder Woman, and Lantern do not have secret identities). The League split into pairs and make their way toward Gotham City
Gotham City
Gotham City is a fictional U.S. city appearing in DC Comics, best known as the home of Batman. Batman's place of residence was first identified as Gotham City in Batman #4 . Gotham City is strongly inspired by Trenton, Ontario's history, location, atmosphere, and various architectural styles...
, to rendezvous at Wayne Manor
Wayne Manor
In DC Comics, Wayne Manor is a fictional setting, the personal residence of Bruce Wayne, who is also Batman. The residence is typically depicted as a huge stately mansion on grounds outside Gotham City, maintained by the Wayne family's servant, Alfred Pennyworth...
.
Aboard the mothership, Hro reveals the Thanagarians’ true plan: the force field generator is actually a “hyperspace bypass,” the last in a series of wormhole
Wormhole
In physics, a wormhole is a hypothetical topological feature of spacetime that would be, fundamentally, a "shortcut" through spacetime. For a simple visual explanation of a wormhole, consider spacetime visualized as a two-dimensional surface. If this surface is folded along a third dimension, it...
relays that will allow the Thanagarians to bypass the Gordanians’ defenses and attack their homeworld directly, finally ending the war. But in the process, Earth will be destroyed – to the Thanagarians, a sad but necessary sacrifice. Hawkgirl is horrified.
The League meets in the Batcave
Batcave
The Batcave is the secret headquarters of fictional DC Comics superhero Batman, the alternate identity of playboy Bruce Wayne, consisting of a series of subterranean caves beneath his residence, Wayne Manor.-Publication history:...
, to puzzle out why the Thanagarians are interested in Earth. Hawkgirl appears, giving them data on the project. Batman accepts the information, then coldly orders her out. Before she goes, she shares a private moment with John, returning his ring to him.
But Kragger has planted a bug on Shayera, allowing him to track her to the League’s hideout.
Part III
As soon as Shayera returns to the mothership, Kragger has her arrested. He plays the recording of her conversation with the League for Hro, revealing both her treachery and her affection for John. Hro is heartbroken, but orders her locked up.
Kragger leads a strike team to Wayne Manor to eliminate the League. Fully powered now, they beat back the attack and take several prisoners.
Batman is in command of their strategy: Superman, Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman is a DC Comics superheroine created by William Moulton Marston. She first appeared in All Star Comics #8 . The Wonder Woman title has been published by DC Comics almost continuously except for a brief hiatus in 1986....
, and Green Lantern attack the command ship to shut down the force field protecting the hyperspace generator; Batman, Flash
Wally West
The Flash is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. He is the first Kid Flash and the third Flash....
, and J’onn
Martian Manhunter
The Martian Manhunter is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in publications published by DC Comics. Created by writer Joseph Samachson and artist Joe Certa, the character first appeared in Detective Comics #225...
infiltrate theWatchtower using the strike team’s shuttle (and with J’onn masquerading as Kragger), and incapacitate the occupation force. Batman explains that he plans to take the Watchtower out of orbit and use it as a missile to destroy the generator. He and the others load the unconscious Thanagarians into the escape pods, but Batman launches the pod with himself staying behind, saying that he has to guide the Tower in manually. “Gentlemen,” he says in farewell, “it’s been an honor.”
While Superman and Wonder Woman battle the Thanagarian fighters, Lantern breaks into the ship to reach the force field controls. Talak is waiting for him, wanting revenge for his stolen love.
As Wonder Woman fights her way through another part of the ship, she passes Hawkgirl’s cell. “I should leave you to burn,” she says, but releases her.
The generator complete, the Thanagarians begin the activation to open the hyperspace gate.
The Watchtower travels down through the atmosphere, piloted by Batman. As the heat increases, the Tower begins to break up. Hearing where Batman is, Superman breaks off from the battle and flies to intercept him.
In the control room, Lantern fights hard against Talak, but loses and is knocked out. Talak raises his battle axe for the kill, and Hawkgirl appears, telling him to stop. He attacks her, and they battle even more ferociously. He beats her, and she begs him, for the sake of “us,” not to kill Earth’s innocents. He throws her to the ground. “There’s no ‘us’ anymore, Shayera. Just a fallen traitor, and a soldier with a job to do.” Lantern regains consciousness, and attacks Talak again, but is very weak. As Talak punches him, Lantern taunts him, and an enraged Talak swings his axe, inadvertently hitting the force field controls. In the resulting explosion, he is knocked out and the force field shuts down.
Superman streaks after the Watchtower as Batman, overcome by the heat and smoke, finally passes out. Superman breaks in and pulls him free just before it hits, destroying the generator.
Aboard the ship, Lantern, Hawkgirl, and Wonder Woman are confronted by more Thanagarian soldiers, but Hro orders them to stand down – their mission has failed, and there’s no point in fighting anymore. The Thanagarian forces leave Earth, abandoning Hawkgirl.
At Wayne Manor, Hawkgirl waits while the League debates whether to allow her to remain. Alfred
Alfred Pennyworth
Alfred Pennyworth is a fictional character that appears throughout the DC Comics franchise. The character first appears in Batman #16 , and was created by writer Bob Kane and artist Jerry Robinson. Alfred serves as Batman’s tireless butler, assistant, confidant, and surrogate father figure...
tells her that, regardless of what the others decide, he still considers her a hero.
Superman is about to announce the League’s decision, but Hawkgirl interrupts, saying that she’s resigning from the League. Flash is the only person who is upset by this news and hugs her. As she goes, J’onn and Superman say that it’s their duty to rebuild the League.
Outside Wayne Manor, John asks Hawkgirl where she’ll go now. She says she isn’t sure. She tells him that she never lied about one thing: she does love him. Then she flies away, leaving him to say, “I love you, too…”
Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Maria Canals | Hawkgirl Hawkgirl Hawkgirl is the name of several female fictional superhero characters, all owned by DC Comics and existing in that company's universe. The character is one of the first costumed female superheroes... |
| Kevin Conroy Kevin Conroy Kevin Conroy is an American stage, screen, and voice actor, best known for his acclaimed voice role as Batman in numerous animated television series, feature films, and video games that make up the DC Animated Universe.-Early life:... |
Batman Batman Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics... |
| Susan Eisenberg Susan Eisenberg Susan Eisenberg is a professional voice-over artist known for her animation, commercial and promotional work. Her breakout role was that of Wonder Woman in the acclaimed Justice League and Justice League Unlimited television series, as well as the direct-to-DVD films Superman/Batman: Apocalypse and... |
Wonder Woman Wonder Woman Wonder Woman is a DC Comics superheroine created by William Moulton Marston. She first appeared in All Star Comics #8 . The Wonder Woman title has been published by DC Comics almost continuously except for a brief hiatus in 1986.... |
| Phil LaMarr Phil LaMarr Phillip "Phil" LaMarr is an American actor, comedian and voice actor. One of the original cast members on the sketch comedy series MADtv, he is also known for his small, but memorable role as Marvin in Pulp Fiction... |
Green Lantern John Stewart (comics) John Stewart is a fictional character, a comic book superhero published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Green Lantern vol. 2, #87 , and was created by Dennis O'Neil and Neal Adams.-Publication history:... |
| Carl Lumbly | J'onn J'onzz Martian Manhunter The Martian Manhunter is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in publications published by DC Comics. Created by writer Joseph Samachson and artist Joe Certa, the character first appeared in Detective Comics #225... |
| George Newbern George Newbern George Young Newbern is an American television and film actor best known for his roles as Bryan MacKenzie in Father of the Bride and its sequel Father of the Bride Part II as well as Danny in Friends... |
Superman Superman Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective... |
| Michael Rosenbaum Michael Rosenbaum Michael Owen Rosenbaum is an American actor and director. He is best known for portraying Lex Luthor on the Superman-inspired television series Smallville and Dutch on FOX's Breaking In, and for providing the voice for the Flash in the DC animated universe... |
The Flash Wally West The Flash is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. He is the first Kid Flash and the third Flash.... |
| Victor Rivers | Hro Talak |
| Hector Elizondo Hector Elizondo Héctor Elizondo is an American actor. Elizondo's first major role was that of "God" in the play Steambath, for which he won an Obie Award... |
Lieutenant Kragger |
| Jason Marsden Jason Marsden Jason Christopher Marsden is an American screen and voice actor who has done numerous voice roles in animated films, as well as various television series.-Early life:... |
Snapper Carr Snapper Carr Lucas "Snapper" Carr is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe, most famous as a supporting character to the superhero team the Justice League of America . He has often been referred to as the team's mascot... |
| Elizabeth Pena Elizabeth Peña Elizabeth Peña is an American actress and the daughter of a theater-company co-founder, who has also compiled experience as a television director in her own right.-Early life:... |
Paran Dul |
| Kevin Michael Richardson Kevin Michael Richardson Kevin Michael Richardson is an American actor and voice actor who currently stars as Cleveland Brown, Jr. in The Cleveland Show... |
General Wells |
| Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. is an American actor known for his starring roles in the television series 77 Sunset Strip and The F.B.I. He is also known as recurring character "Dandy Jim Buckley" in the series Maverick and as the voice behind the character Alfred Pennyworth in Batman: The Animated Series... |
Alfred Pennyworth Alfred Pennyworth Alfred Pennyworth is a fictional character that appears throughout the DC Comics franchise. The character first appears in Batman #16 , and was created by writer Bob Kane and artist Jerry Robinson. Alfred serves as Batman’s tireless butler, assistant, confidant, and surrogate father figure... |