"The Return" is the eighth episode of Justice League Unlimited. It originally aired on September 18, 2004. It depicts the return of Amazo. After the power-absorbing android "destroys" the home planet of the Guardians of the Universe, the League must intercept him before he reaches Earth and achieves his goal: revenge on the recently reformed Lex Luthor.
Plot
John Stewart is in communication with the Guardians of the Universe on Oa, who inform him that his recent request for a transfer away from Earth has been denied. Then the planetary defense system alerts them that something is approaching Oa at an incredible speed. Kyle Rayner and the other resident Green Lanterns fly into space to establish a shield, but the object breaks through it instantly, revealing itself to be Amazo. Before the Guardians can react, the android hurtles into the planet, there is a sudden flash of light, and just like that, Oa is gone.
Amazo's trajectory shows that he is heading for Earth. The League mobilizes its full strength, determined to stop the android from reaching the planet's surface. In short order, they realize what Amazo is coming back for: revenge on Lex Luthor.
On his estate, Luthor is giving a television interview explaining his reformation since he was diagnosed with Kryptonite poisoning. He has just finished expressing his hope that he and the Justice League can be friends when Supergirl and Steel suddenly appear and fly him away. As soon as he is told Amazo is coming, Luthor insists on going to a safe house of his own design — located in a barber shop. He soon gives the two heroes the slip and escapes down an underground tube which includes a number of defenses, including Kryptonite-lined walls. This proves too much for Supergirl and she and Steel return to counter the android.
Luthor ends up in a laboratory where he arms a powerful cannon which is based there. However, the League is one step ahead of him — the Atom is riding on his clothing, having slipped on earlier. Since Atom is an expert in nanotechnology, and has Professor Ivo's original blueprints for the android, he and Luthor agree to modify the cannon specifically to destroy the android.
The League has set up three defensive lines to halt the android: the first, in space, consists of Superman, Green Lantern, Captain Atom, Orion, Dr. Light, S.T.R.I.P.E., Starman, and the League's entire fleet of Javelins. As the android approaches, he communicates with them telepathically, warning them not to stand in his way. When he refuses to turn back, the assembly unleashes a massive energy barrage. But Amazo shrugs it off, smashes through the entire line in moments, and continues toward Earth.
In the laboratory, Luthor and Atom are working flat out to complete the cannon before Amazo arrives. In the upper atmosphere, Amazo locates Luthor with his telepathy and then smashes through the second defensive line — Supergirl, Fire, Red Tornado, and Rocket Red. Seeing the second line collapse, J'onn turns to a visitor to the bridge: Dr. Fate, who says he has an alternative proposal.
Amazo touches down outside the barber shop and, just as easily, disables the third and last defensive line — Wonder Woman, Flash, Steel, and Ice.
The cannon is completed just before Amazo enters the laboratory, which he does just in time to receive a blast from it. Mildly impressed, the Android indicates the cannon might have worked a month earlier when he was still nanotech.
In space, Green Lantern revives to see Kyle and the other surviving Lanterns approaching. Kyle says their only option is to hit Amazo with a concentrated blast from all of their rings at once, even it if it means destroying half the planet.
In the laboratory, as a last resort Atom shrinks both himself and Luthor down to subatomic size, to hide from Amazo Again, this proves futile: Amazo shrinks himself down as well, enough to grasp them in the palm of his hand.
Luthor is prepared to meet his fate, but Amazo hesitates. What he has come back for is not so much revenge as to satisfy his curiosity. Amazo has read his mind, and can't understand it: for all his wealth and power, Luthor is still consumed with ambition to be and have more. Amazo, likewise, was made to evolve and absorb knowledge, but for all that he has learned, he still feels empty, with no idea of what his purpose in life is.
As John and the other Lanterns fly into the laboratory, Fate appears and asks them to hold off. John orders him out of the way, and after a moment, Fate complies.
Luthor says that in a way he is empty of purpose: for all his accomplishments, he is still mortal, and everything he's done will be gone and forgotten after a few generations. Amazo, on the other hand, is immortal and nearly all-powerful. He will be able to see time through until its very end. Amazo is not satisfied with merely being a witness to events. Ultimately, Luthor says, he cannot solve the mystery for Amazo: every being creates its own purpose in life. Amazo then relents and brings both of them to full size.
Just then, the Lanterns arrive and aim their rings. Fate teleports beside Amazo, telling them the threat is over. The Lanterns refuse to accept this, until Amazo surprises them by telling them that Oa was not destroyed, he simply moved it to another dimension as it was in his way. Without leaving the laboratory, he moves it back.
Amazo accepts Fate's offer of sanctuary in his tower, and to help him in his search for meaning as that is his purpose. When they arrive back, it is revealed that someone else has taken sanctuary at Fate's home... Shayera Hol.
Continuity
- John has requested a transfer away from Earth because of "personal problems" — presumably a reference to his heartbreak over Shayera in Justice League, "Starcrossed, Part III".
- Katma Tui and Kilowog are wearing new uniforms from those seen in "Hearts and Minds".
- Amazo's last appearance was in Justice League, "Tabula Rasa", which both introduced the character and gave the reason for his vendetta against Luthor.
- Luthor is still wearing the harness that the Ultra-Humanite created in "Injustice For All, Part II" to hamper his Kryptonite poisoning.
- Luthor claims that the League trusted him "when no one else would". Presumably, he's referring to their teaming up in "A Better World, Part II".
- Amazo destroys Red Tornado when he defeats the second defense line, but Tornado appears in subsequent episodes; how he was reconstructed is not explained.
- This is Shayera's first appearance since she left the League in "Starcrossed".
Background information
Home video releases
- Justice League Unlimited - Season One (DVD)
- Justice League - The Complete Series (DVD)
- Justice League Unlimited - Joining Forces (DVD)
- Green Lantern: First Flight (Blu-ray only)
- Justice League: 3-Pack Fun (DVD)
- DC Comics Super-Villains: Justice League Masterminds of Crime (DVD)
Production inconsistencies
- When Lex is talking to Sroya Bashir, he shows her the harness underneath his shirt. However, when he is working with the Atom, he has his collar unbuttoned, showing an undershirt.
Trivia
- This is the first episode of Justice League Unlimited where the end credits have clips.
- This was the final appearance of the Green Lantern Corps, including Kyle Rayner, Katma Tui, and Kilowog.
- Most of the Green Lanterns in the episode appeared as holograms in the Superman: The Animated Series episode: In Brightest Day....
- Will Friedle, the voice of Terry McGinnis in Batman Beyond, replaces Michael P. Greco as the voice of Kyle Rayner.
- This is Steel's first speaking appearance in Justice League Unlimited. Phil LaMarr replaces Michael Dorn.
- The voice actress for news reporter Sroya Bashir is likely an uncredited Jennifer Hale.
- On the DVD audio commentary for this episode, series creators comment that the battle between Amazo and the entire membership of the Justice League was designed to illustrate just how powerful the android was, and the threat he posed to the entire planet, and the universe at large. The same technique was used during the first season of Justice League, when episodes would often feature the temporary defeat or incapacitation of Superman to reveal the true level of danger facing the League. Commentary on other episodes reveals that fan reaction to the frequent defeat of Superman was highly negative, and a different approach was adopted for later seasons.
References
Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Phil LaMarr | Green Lantern Steel (uncredited) |
| Carl Lumbly | J'onn J'onzz |
| George Newbern | Superman |
| Clancy Brown | Lex Luthor Guardian (uncredited) |
| Maria Canals | Shayera Hol |
| Oded Fehr | Dr. Fate |
| Will Friedle | Kyle Rayner |
| Jennifer Hale | Inza Sroya Bashir (uncredited) |
| John C. McGinley | The Atom |
| Robert Picardo | Amazo |
| Nicholle Tom | Supergirl |
Uncredited appearances
Quotes
Guardian: There's an unidentified object approaching Oa at a somewhat astonishing speed... |
Guardian: Magnify image. |
Lex Luthor: Wherever you're taking me won't be safe enough, but I have just the place. |
Lex Luthor: The most powerful creature in the universe wants my head, and the League sends its least powerful member to protect me. |
Superman: Why have you come back? What do you want? |
The Atom: The android, why does he hate you so much? |
Amazo: Your bravery is admirable, but annoying. |
J'onn J'onzz: You'll need that cannon very soon. |
J'onn J'onzz: You've come to offer help? |
Amazo: An intriguing idea, modifying the cannon so that it could alter my programming, and it might've worked... a month ago, when I was still nanotech. But I have transcended that limitation. |
Kyle Rayner: We're gonna use every bit of power left in our rings and take one last shot at the android. |
Lex Luthor: What do you want from me? |
Dr. Fate: Wait. Please. The android's nature has proved benign before. I believe it will again. |
Lex Luthor: The truth is, for all my struggles to make my mark in life, for all I've accomplished, in just a few short generations my name will be forgotten. Even the greatest of us can't compete with time... and death. |
Lex Luthor: You know, when I heard you were coming I was actually afraid of you. Petrified. But now, when I see your fear, your uncertainty, I just pity you. |
Dr. Fate: It's over. Isn't it? |
Dr. Fate: I can help you on your journey. In your search for meaning. |
Inza: Are you all right? |
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