Super History of Superman: Batman Beyond (2000)

40 years in the future, there is a new Batman in town but the same old Man of Steel is still patrolling the friendly skies of Gotham. Of course Kal-El ages gracefully, so he just has a little white hair to match his black and white capeless suit.

Crisis of Infinite Episodes - The Demons of Exxor

You loved the Wonder Twins, what about Wonder Planet? Apparently, everyone on Exxor not only has the same barber as Zan and Jayna, but they wear the same outfit. After all its hard to beat the practicality of a high collared purple jumpsuit. Unfortunately, they seem to lack the same shape changing ability as the twins, which means only Zan can be an "ice giant." Of course, even though ice giant sounds like a much better form than "bucket of water" it proved about as effective. 

Crisis of Infinite Episodes - In Captains Cuda's Clutches

Hold on a sec! Was Tusky swimming in the Aquacave? I know I just went on a little rant about the cave, but that was before I realized it was full of water. That underwater computer is now even more ridiculous. Having said that, I had absolutely no problem with the pink crystalline people, nor the fact that some dude dressed up like Magellan wants to conquer their jewel city. But hold the phone. Forget Captain Cuda, the real "gem" in this episode was Cuda's surfboard who happened to be Starro the Conqueror!

Spotlight on Starro

Starro "the Conqueror," given the distinction of being the first foe faced by The Justice League, appeared in 1960's Brave and the Bold #28.

Starro made his first semi-official appearance on the Superman Aquaman show serving more as a vehicle for Captain Cuda than an outright villain.

Starro would not appear on screen for another 30 years when he cameoed as just another exotic creature in Superman's Fortress of Solitude in Superman: The Animated Series' The Main Man.

Fittingly, Starro would return in Batman Beyond's The Call, becoming the animated Justice League's first depicted adversary.

Turns out, the creature shown only briefly in the Superman animated series was hatching a plan for domination and eventually got out of his cage taking control of Superman. He then asexually replicated, as all starfish do, and tried to take over the world. Batman stopped him.

Starro made his next cameo appearance in the epilogue of 2008's Justice League: The New Frontier in a clear homage to the original comic cover.

Starro made yet another homage in a flashback sequence in 2010's Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths.

Most recently, Starro has made another bid for world domination as the big bad in Batman: The Brave and the Bold's second season. Teasers in Revenge of the Reach!, Clash of the Metal Men!, and The Power of Shazam! each depicted phases of the Starro invasion which will culminate in an all out battle in The Seige of Starro! set to debut on September 17th.

Starro looks to start of small and plentiful as in Batman Beyond before become a massive conqueror only to be presumably defeated at the hands of Batman's allies after offering up one more homage to the classic comic cover.

The Justice League: A Super Friendly Tour (Crisis on Two Earths)

Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths

In February, DC animation experienced its first Crisis event in Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths. In the adventure, the Justice League crossed over to a parallel world where evil counterparts ran a mafia style Crime Syndicate. Ultraman (a Superman analog) was the mob's leader though his susceptibility was to blue Kryptonite. Superwoman, who at first glance seemed a Wonder Woman mirror actually had more in common with Miss Mary Marvel (of the Shazam! clan). Owlman (like Batman) was the brains of the organization. Johnny Quick was a speedster and Power Ring wielded, well, a power ring.

J'edd J'arkus of green alien descent was also one of the big guns with the Hawk-like Angelique at his side.

Each of these big six had several "made men" and super-powered lieutenants serving under them and a lot of the fun was identifying their Justice League counterparts. Superwoman actually led a Super Family of Captain Super, Captain Super Jr., and even Uncle Super inspired by DC's Marvel family better known as Captain Marvel AKA Shazam!, Uncle Marvel, and Captain Marvel Jr.

So who was Wonder Woman's doppelganger you may be asking? None other than Olympia.

Although a glimpse of the organization was revealed with villainous versions of Mr. Terrific, Cyborg, Wildcat, Sandman, Blue Beetle, Zatanna, Metamorpho, Doctor Fate, and others show, Syndicate members that received the most actual screen time were based on obscure members of the Justice League Detroit and the Outsiders.

Breakdance was their Vibe (as seen in Justice League Unlimited cameos)

Animal powered Vamp was their Vixen (a regular on Justice League Unlimited).

Model Citizen filled in for Looker (making her on screen debut).

Sai fought with sai rather than a katana, weapon of choice for Katana (member of the Outsiders in Batman: The Brave and the Bold)

Aurora was inspired by Halo (never before seen outside of comics).

Gypsy Woman had a lot in common with Gypsy (a Where's Waldo of Justice League Unlimited).

Extruded Man had a questionably better name than Elongated Man (who had a couple of lines of dialogue on Justice League Unlimited and Batman: The Brave and the Bold).

Aside from the core team a few new Leaguers were recruited including Red Tornado, Aquaman, Black Lightning (making his second on screen appearance after his debut in the last DC DVD Superman Batman: Public Enemies), Firestorm (hot off of his first appearance in 20+ years since Super Friends on Batman: The Brave and the Bold), and Black Canary.

Black Power stepped up as the counter to Black Lightning.

Scream Queen filled in as an evil Black Canary.

Though Green Arrow was no where to be seen (though he was a major player n Justice League Unlimited) Archer played a big role for the Crime Syndicate.

The already questionable Lobo's counterpart Warwolf was another of the made men.

And Jimmy Olsen AKA Mr. Action was Ultraman's Pal.

It should be mentioned that the good guys in the counter Earth also formed a Justice League, though it only has two members: Alexander Luthor and Jester (plus Jester's monkey Harley).

The other Earth's President Slade Wilson is better known in comics as Deathstroke the Terminator AKA Slade for fans of the animated Teen Titans series. In comics, his daughter Rose AKA Ravager was a member of the Teen Titans.

Although originally dubbed World's Collide, this tale was penned to fill the gap between Justice League and Justice League Unlimited, explaining bits of tid like how Wonder Woman obtained her invisible jet and how the League grew in numbers. The story was rewritten and stood just as fine on its own though it may end up adopted a s apocryphal to the cannon of DC animated continuity. It was also a treat to see an homage to the classic cover of Brave and the Bold #28, first appearance of the Justice League, showing the team fighting the dreaded Starro.

The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure * Super Friends * The All New Super Friends Hour * Challenge of the Super Friends * Legends of the Superheroes * The World's Greatest Super Friends * Super Friends (Shorts) * Super Friends (Lost Episodes) * Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show * The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians * Justice League of America (TV Pilot) * Justice League Unlimited on Batman Beyond * Justice League * Justice League Unlimited * Smallville * The Batman * Justice League: The New Frontier * Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths