With Justice League finally arriving in cinemas, let’s take a look at every major adaptation of DC’s finest heroes to date…
Super Friends (1973-86)
Arguably the most iconic superhero animated series of all time, Super Friends was a hugely long-running show that launched the Justice League to pop culture prominence. The core members featured in the show were Batman (Olan Soule), Robin (Casey Kasem), Superman (Danny Dark), Wonder Woman (Shannon Farnon) and Aquaman (Norman Alden), with just about every other major DC hero turning up now and again – as well as original characters like the Wonder Twins.
Legends of the Superheroes (1979)
13 years after the 1960s Batman TV show ended, iconic stars Adam West and Burt Ward returned to star as the Dynamic Duo in these two live-action specials which united them with various DC heroes and villains – including Green Lantern (Howard Murphy), Captain Marvel (Garrett Craig), Black Canary (Danuta), Hawkman (Bill Nuckols), Flash (Rod Haase) and Huntress (Barbara Joyce). Frank Gorshin also returned as the Riddler.
Justice League of America (1997)
You can forgive yourself if you’ve never heard of this TV movie. It took the… unique approach of interspersing superhero action with The Office-like interviews to the camera. This JLA consisted of Martian Manhunter (David Ogden Stiers), The Flash (Kenny Johnston), Green Lantern (Matthew Settle), The Atom (John Kassir), Fire and Ice (Michelle Hurd and Kimberly Oja). It was intended as a backdoor pilot for a series, but the reviews were overwhelmingly negative.
Justice League/ Justice League Unlimited (2001-4)
Perhaps the most fondly-remembered version of the Justice League to contemporary fans is the team from the DC Animated Universe. The initial line-up was Superman (George Newbern), Batman (Kevin Conroy), Wonder Woman (Susan Eisenberg), Flash (Michael Rosenbaum), Green Lantern (Phil LaMarr), Hawkgirl (Maria Canals) and Martian Manhunter (Carl Lumbly). Follow-up series Unlimited filled out the roster with dozens of other heroes.
Smallville (2001-11)
Just as Smallville explored Clark Kent’s pre-Superman days, it featured a proto-version of the Justice League. Justin Harley’s Green Arrow first formed the team, comprising Kyle Gallner’s Impulse, Alan Ritchson’s Aquaman and Lee Thompson Young’s Cyborg, in season 6. Later seasons added Phil Morris’ Martian Manhunter, Alaina Huffman’s Black Canary, Serinda Swann’s Zatanna and others.
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