9 Years Ago, One of The Most Overlooked DC Series Debuted on Cartoon Network

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For years, DC Comics characters – the Justice League and their friends and foes – have expanded beyond comic books into movies, TV shows, video games, and more. Nine years ago, Cartoon Network launched a distinctive series focusing on some of DC’s lesser-known heroes and villains, often overshadowed by the classic DC animated shows. While nothing may ever quite match the impact of series like Batman: The Animated Series and Justice League Unlimited, one DC show in particular deserved a larger audience and more recognition.

Premiering on December 16, 2016, Justice League Action brought together many of DC’s most popular characters in a distinctive animated series. Unlike previous Justice League shows which had longer, connected storylines, this series featured self-contained episodes, typically around twelve minutes long. While aimed at a younger audience than other DC animated programs, Justice League Action stood out with its creative stories and talented voice cast.

The animated series Justice League Action brought back beloved voice actors like Kevin Conroy as Batman and Mark Hamill as the Joker, leading to some very funny moments that celebrated DC’s animated history. One standout segment, “Missing The Mark,” featured Mark Hamill playing himself – and being kidnapped by his own character, the Joker, both voiced by Hamill! He was joined by another character he voiced, the Trickster, and even Swamp Thing – also voiced by Hamill. It’s a hilarious three-minute clip you can watch below.

The Beginning And End of JLA

When the show first came out, I think a lot of DC fans were pleasantly surprised by how many people with a history at the comic company were involved. People like Butch Lukic, who worked on Batman Beyond, Jim Krieg from Green Lantern: The Animated Series, and even Alan Burnett, a key figure on Batman: The Animated Series, all lent their talents to this new version of the Justice League. Plus, with Sam Register, who had experience with Teen Titans Go! as an executive producer, the show really understood what made these heroes and villains tick. It’s a shame, though, that despite all that talent, it couldn’t avoid getting cancelled in 2018, even after two seasons and a bunch of online shorts.

Cartoon Network hasn’t officially explained why the Justice League series ended after two seasons, but several factors likely played a role. Ratings and toy sales weren’t strong, and the network may have wanted to try a new approach to DC’s heroes. With James Gunn now developing animated projects that fit into a new DC Universe storyline, like Creature Commandos, it would have been difficult for Justice League Action to continue.

Most episodes of Justice League Action were self-contained stories, meaning they didn’t build towards a larger, continuous plot. Because of this, the show didn’t have a satisfying conclusion. The final episode, “She Wore Red Velvet,” which aired in 2018, focused on Booster Gold and added more time travel elements to the series.

It’s currently unknown if the Justice League will return in animated form, but DC does have other animated projects planned. Warner Bros Animation recently announced Batman: Knightfall, which will adapt the classic comic storyline featuring Bane and Azrael. Hopefully, we’ll see the Justice League team back on screen soon.

Enjoyed Justice League Action? Share your thoughts in the comments and discuss it with other fans in the ComicBook Forum!

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2025-12-17 00:10