My Crazy Youth: The Time that the DCAU Foreshadowed 'Invincible!'

 DC used to make some great animation back in the day.  From what I hear, they have managed to do some more of that lately with the new Superman Cartoon.

Full confession- I haven't seen any of it.

The Producers faced some challenges about using certain Characters in this Season.

In short, they couldn't use the expanded roster of Batman Characters due to Batman Begins (aka the Bat Embargo) and Aquaman was off the table due to his unsold Pilot in Production.

Looking back at their previous works, I found an Episode with some real accidental foreshadowing.

In Patriot Act, General Wade Eiling is stuck on menial tasks after trying to use the Government to usurp the Justice League.

It all happened in JLU Season 1 (check it out for more context).

He doesn't think that they were wrong, but Amanda Waller tells him to move on.

So he does...by going back to Cadmus and stealing a formula.

The Episode's Cold Open showed us a hero called Spy Smasher (a DC Hero who got a Serial in 1942- beating Batman by a year and Superman by 6) stopping the Nazis from using a super serum.

In the Present, he takes the unstable formula and turns into a tusk-wielding behemoth!

Meanwhile, the Justice League- which basically includes every DC Hero they could license- is spread thin on missions, so a group of them have to take Superman's place in a parade.

The Group- Vigilante, Shining Knight, Stargirl, S.T.R.I.P.E. and Green Arrow- were picked for a few reasons.

Wade attacks and keeps demanding Superman to show up.  Like in the Supergirl Film, however, he's in another Galaxy!

As such, the powerless heroes- they all use tools and/or armor- must battle the metahuman threat.

Along the way, they get help from local kids to get people to safety.  They are a version of Jack Kirby's Newsboy Legion (who he'd write in the 1940s and 1970s)

With all hope lost, backup arrives...in the form of Crimson Avenger and Speedy (Green Arrow's former sidekick).

This was done to complete the full line-up of the 7 Soldiers of Victory (just using new versions- like replacing Starman with Stargirl- of the characters).

Neat.

Ultimately, they can't stop the mad General.

Thankfully, the crowd points out that his fear of metahumans as the real threat is ironic, since he is now one.

He concedes and leaves...sadly never to get a wrap-up (in the Show, at least).

A really good Episode.  It has a good Plot, strong Action and great Characterization.
As mentioned, they had limitations on who they could use.

They sure made the most of it, however, giving many Characters like this a time to shine.  The Legion of Superheroes and Mike Grell's Warlord- among others- also got the spotlight.

This is a good example of changing a Character Background in a great way.  General Wade Eiling becomes this Character in the Comics, but it involves lots of back story, another team of Villains and the continuity of a Silver Age Monster known as The Shaggy Man for it to happen.

I like this version just fine.
Full confession again- I also love Green Arrow in this Show, so I'm a bit biased when he gets to shine.

Why do this Episode though, you may be wondering.

Well, General Eiling is voiced by JK Simmons, who would go on to become Omni-Man, another super-powered guy with a mustache who had a habit of trying to kill other Superheroes.

I'm sure it is just a coincidence, but it is a fun one nonetheless.

JK Simmons was clearly born to play mustachioed superhumans in Cartoons.  I think that this proves it.