Superman is one of the most beloved characters in fictional media and arguably one of the strongest. Several incarnations of the Man of Steel exist across different forms of media but his depiction in the 2000s animated series Justice League Unlimited remains the superior one.
One particular moment in the series depicts the true strength of Superman that hasn’t been emulated in any other medium. While Henry Cavill’s Superman is depicted as unhinged and intimidating in the Knightmare future of the DCU, the Justice League Unlimited incarnation is far superior, and here is why.
Superman’s Most Intimidating Moment in Justice League Unlimited Proves Why the DCAU is the Best
Justice League Unlimited premiered almost 18 years ago, but remains one of the best animated shows, especially within the DCAU. The series has one of the best depictions of Superman and the series finale proves why.
In the series finale, titled Destroyer, Superman faces off against Darkseid in a climactic battle over control of the Anti-Life Equation. During the battle, Superman delivers a scathing monologue that is a testament to his character and morals as a hero.
“I feel like I live in a world made of cardboard. Always taking constant care not to break something. To break someone. Never allowing myself to lose control, even for a moment, or someone could die.”
Superman (voiced by George Newbern) delivers the above lines, highlighting just how much he has to hold back when he is on Earth. Despite his powers, Superman recognizes the consequences of misusing them or simply losing control, which only makes him look more heroic and honorable.
The scene also demonstrates how perfecting the portrayal of Superman is crucial to the success of a shared universe of DC characters. Therefore, Justice League Unlimited, which brings together various heroes from the DCAU, proves why it is the best adaptation of the DC characters.
Henry Cavill’s Knightmare Superman Failed to Emulate Justice League Unlimited‘s Superman
In contrast to Justice League Unlimited‘s depiction of Superman, the DCEU took a drastically different approach with Henry Cavill‘s take. In the DCEU, the Knightmare sequence is dedicated to depicting the threat Superman can become if he goes rogue and how intimidating he can be. However, the depiction falls completely flat as it goes against everything the character stands for.
The Knightmare sequence and the greater DCEU treat Superman as arguably the most powerful living being. The character fails to resonate with the viewers by depicting Superman using the full extent of his powers without the calm and gentle touch of his humanity as seen in the Justice League Unlimited scene.
Consequently, it can be argued that the faulty depiction of the ideals and values Superman stands for in the DCEU was one of the first major issues of the shared universe, which eventually culminated in a giant failure. Therefore, it is safe to say that Justice League Unlimited understands that being gentle and kind makes Superman stand out from other heroes, making it far more enjoyable to see the Man of Steel go unhinged.
Justice League Unlimited is streaming on Max.
