Bruce Timm’s animated creations within the DC Animated Universe have garnered widespread acclaim across diverse age demographics. Over time, these shows have evolved, delving into deeper character development and exploring intricate plotlines, including romantic arcs such as that between Green Lantern and Hawkgirl in the Justice League animated series.
The show featured both superheroes as the founding members of the Justice League alongside superheroes like Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and The Flash. Timm has acknowledged that they occasionally sought to push the boundaries by incorporating mature elements into the animated series.
Bruce Timm on Including Green Lantern And Hawkgirl Romance in Justice League
Bruce Timm’s animated series Justice League explored the romantic dynamic between Green Lanter and Hawkgirl in the episode “Wild Cards.” The episode follows Joker announcing he’s planted bombs to destroy the Strip, prompting the Justice League’s urgent mission to stop his plans.
John Stewart finds one of the bombs. However, he and Hawkgirl get into an argument while attempting to disable it. As tensions arise, Lantern ejects Hawkgirl from the building just before the bomb explodes, leaving him gravely injured.
Choosing to prioritize Lantern’s well-being over the bomb hunt, Hawkgirl rushes him to receive medical assistance, ultimately saving his life. Upon waking up, Stewart confronts Hawkgirl about their feelings for each other, leading to a heartfelt exchange where they share their first kiss.
In an interview, Bruce Timm admitted that the series occasionally pushed the boundaries of the Y-7 rating in season 2, while comparing it to primetime “family hour” shows like Friends. “We’ve always tried to find that middle ground between ‘adult’ entertainment and ‘kid-friendly’ elements,” he said, as per DC Animated.
He also described the Green Lantern and Hawkgirl romance as an experimental aspect of the show’s format. “JL is the first show that I’ve worked on where we deliberately plotted out a long-term story/character arc,” he said, stating that they gradually developed their relationship over two seasons.
Justice League Unlimited Writer Explains Green Lantern and Hawkgirl’s Relationship Drama
Justice League Unlimited writer Matt Wayne also reflected on the relationship between John Stewart and Hawkgirl. Throughout the series, viewers were captivated by the developing relationship between the two superheroes, only to see their apparent split and Green Lantern’s involvement with Vixen.
Wayne shared the insight into the decision-making process behind the storyline, saying that while Green Lantern may seem committed to Vixen for the time being, his love for Hawkgirl remains unresolved.
“Did he really choose?” he said before adding, “He loves Shayera but he’s committed FOR NOW to Vixen.” He also highlighted the collaborative efforts of the production team, stating that some of the aspects were intentionally left open-ended to provoke speculation among viewers.
Justice League and Justice League Unlimited are available to stream on Max.
