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* LeftHanging: There are a number of plot threads left dangling. Including Green Lantern, Vixen, and Hawkgirl's LoveTriangle and the result of General Eiling's vendetta against Superman.
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* LeftHanging: There are a number of plot threads left dangling. Including Green Lantern, Vixen, and Hawkgirl's LoveTriangle and LoveTriangle, the result of General Eiling's vendetta against Superman.Superman, and whatever happened to A.M.A.Z.O. after Grundy was taken care of.
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** In "Legends", [[spoiler:the people who populate the city and are used as props in Roy's fantasy. One points out that thirty years driving an ice cream truck around just to be background for a godlike entity's childish dream is horrible enough for any Hell.]]
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** In "Legends", [[spoiler:the people who populate the city and are used as props in Roy's fantasy. One points out that thirty forty years driving an ice cream truck around just to be background for a godlike entity's childish dream is horrible enough for any Hell.]]
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* FlightOfRomance: Inverted. In the reincarnation flashback in "Ancient History", Shayera and the captain of the guard share a romantic moment on horseback, which is apparently more interesting to the winged Shayera.
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* ActualPacifist: Dove
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* ActualPacifist: DoveDove, even more so than in the comics where he was more of a TechnicalPacifist.
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* AllThereInTheManual: Boston Brandt (SelfDemonstrating/{{Deadman}}) had never appeared in the DCAU prior to his appearance in season three of ''Unlimited'', but both he and Batman make reference to previously working together. This occurred in the comic tie-in to ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'', which was considered canon with the aired DCAU.
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* AllThereInTheManual: Boston Brandt Brand (SelfDemonstrating/{{Deadman}}) had never appeared in the DCAU prior to his appearance in season three of ''Unlimited'', but both he and Batman make reference to previously working together. This occurred in the comic tie-in to ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'', which was considered canon with the aired DCAU.
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** Doctor Destiny in "[[Recap/JusticeLeagueS2E5And6OnlyADream Only a Dream]]," [[spoiler:Dr. Destiny stabs himself with a high-powered sedative while fighting Batman, sending him into a catatonic state with "[[EarWorm brother john]]" playing on loop in his head.]]
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** Doctor Destiny in "[[Recap/JusticeLeagueS2E5And6OnlyADream Only a Dream]]," [[spoiler:Dr. Destiny stabs himself with a high-powered sedative while fighting Batman, sending him into a catatonic state with "[[EarWorm brother john]]" Brother John]]" playing on loop in his head.]]]]
*** He seems to have recovered later though, as he's seen in a crowd shot in "I Am Legion" (though, being a cameo, it's unclear whether that's really John Dee or a successor).
*** He seems to have recovered later though, as he's seen in a crowd shot in "I Am Legion" (though, being a cameo, it's unclear whether that's really John Dee or a successor).
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** It ends up happening to the TropeNamer in "Dead Reckoning", when Devil Ray is about to attack Wonder Woman from behind; Deadman quickly possesses Batman, picks up a spare gun and shoots Ray into some electrical machinery, killing him. Bats is visibly disgusted when he sees the gun in his hand after Deadman leaves his body, throwing it away like a curse.
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* AffirmativeActionLegacy: John Stewart was chosen over Hal Jordan precisely to avoid making every super-powered character on the show white. Hawkgirl was chosen over Hawkman in order to have another girl on the team besides Diana to avoid TheSmurfettePrinciple.
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* AffirmativeActionLegacy: John Stewart was chosen over Hal Jordan precisely to avoid making every super-powered character on the show white. Hawkgirl was chosen over Hawkman (and Aquaman, whom she replaces as a founding Leaguer) in order to have another girl on the team besides Diana to avoid TheSmurfettePrinciple.
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* BadassNormal: Batman, of course, but also a fair number of ''Unlimited'' League members. The latter are spotlighted in "Patriot Act", and The Question sometimes seems to be the ''real'' star of the series.
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* BadassNormal: BadassNormal:
** Batman, of course, but also a fair number of ''Unlimited'' League members. The latter are spotlighted in "Patriot Act", and The Question sometimes seems to be the ''real'' star of theseries.series.
** Superman in "Hereafter", who proves he's more than capable in a post-apocalyptic wasteland full of dangerous predators without superpowers.
** Batman, of course, but also a fair number of ''Unlimited'' League members. The latter are spotlighted in "Patriot Act", and The Question sometimes seems to be the ''real'' star of the
** Superman in "Hereafter", who proves he's more than capable in a post-apocalyptic wasteland full of dangerous predators without superpowers.
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*** In the same episode, Superman is the only member of the League to recognize the sound of a Boom Tube. This is thanks to his encounters with the NewGods back in ''Superman: The Animated Series''.
** Superman is shown to know Aquaman and Doctor Fate, both of whom he met back in his own series.
** Superman is shown to know Aquaman and Doctor Fate, both of whom he met back in his own series.
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** In "Twilight", Batman mentions an incident where Darkseid captured Superman and {{Brainwash}}ed him into acting as his puppet. This is in reference to "Legacy", the two-part GrandFinale of ''SupermanTheAnimatedSeries''.
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** See also DoctorFate's AlternateCompanyEquivalent version of the TheDefenders (Doctor Fate for Doctor Strange, Solomon Grundy for Comicbook/TheIncredibleHulk, Aquaman for {{Namor}}, and Hawkgirl for Nighthawk). In the same episode, the screaming minions that the heroes fight in Icthultu's world are clearly based on Marvel's Mindless Ones. And of course Icthultu is {{Cthulhu}} with the serial numbers filed off.
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** See also DoctorFate's AlternateCompanyEquivalent version of the TheDefenders (Doctor Fate for Doctor Strange, DoctorStrange, Solomon Grundy for Comicbook/TheIncredibleHulk, Aquaman for {{Namor}}, and Hawkgirl for Nighthawk). In the same episode, the screaming minions that the heroes fight in Icthultu's world are clearly based on Marvel's Mindless Ones. And of course Icthultu is {{Cthulhu}} with the serial numbers filed off.
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** See also Dr. Fate's AlternateCompanyEquivalent version of the Defenders. In the same episode, the screaming minions that the heroes fight in Icthultu's world are clearly based on Marvel's Mindless Ones.
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** The show's version of Aquaman is a violent, isolationist warrior king who cares first and foremost about Atlantis, and is kind of a JerkAss. So basically, they made Aquaman into {{Namor}}.
** See alsoDr. Fate's DoctorFate's AlternateCompanyEquivalent version of the Defenders.TheDefenders (Doctor Fate for Doctor Strange, Solomon Grundy for Comicbook/TheIncredibleHulk, Aquaman for {{Namor}}, and Hawkgirl for Nighthawk). In the same episode, the screaming minions that the heroes fight in Icthultu's world are clearly based on Marvel's Mindless Ones. And of course Icthultu is {{Cthulhu}} with the serial numbers filed off.
** See also
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** Doctor Destiny in "[[Recap/JusticeLeagueS2E5And6OnlyADream Only a Dream]]," [[spoiler:Dr. Destiny stabs himself with a high-powered sedative while fighting Batman, sending him into a catatonic state with "[[EarWorm brother john]]" playing on loop in his head.]]
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* AliensOfLondon: Maria Canals was cast as Hawkgirl partially because her Cuban accent would help her stand out from the other League members. In "Starcrossed", other Hispanic actors were cast for the primary Thanagarian roles in order to match Hawkgirl and give the impression of a consistent accent that would come from speaking a common language.
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* AliensOfLondon: Maria Canals Creator/MariaCanalsBarrera was cast as Hawkgirl partially because her Cuban accent would help her stand out from the other League members. In "Starcrossed", other Hispanic actors were cast for the primary Thanagarian roles in order to match Hawkgirl and give the impression of a consistent accent that would come from speaking a common language.
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* AffablyEvil: Comicbook/VandalSavage, the Ultra-Humanite, and even Lex Luthor on occasion.
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* AffablyEvil: Comicbook/VandalSavage, the Ultra-Humanite, and even Lex Luthor SelfDemonstrating/LexLuthor on occasion.
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** Comicbook/{{Brainiac}} continues the characterization introduced in ''Superman: The Animated Series'', where he has interpreted his programming to collect data as a directive to collect all information in the universe and then to destroy it.
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** Comicbook/{{Brainiac}} continues the characterization introduced in ''Superman: The Animated Series'', ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'', where he has interpreted his programming to collect data as a directive to collect all information in the universe and then to destroy it.
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* TheBoxingEpisode: "The Cat and the Canary" sees Wildcat get involved in an underground fighting circuit, while Black Canary and Green Arrow try to convince him to get out before he seriously hurts someone or vice-versa.
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typo fix
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** When Green Lantern is fighting Star Sapphire he yells duck. Star Sapphire doesnt move and is hit by a statue of a duck. He says that he tried to warn here.
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** When Green Lantern is fighting Star Sapphire he yells duck. Star Sapphire doesnt move and is hit by a statue of a duck. He says that he tried to warn here.her.
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* AllohistoricalAllusion: Towards the end of "The Savage Time," the members of the German High Command are beginning to resent Vandal Savage's actions and position. When speaking about [[AdolfHitler the previous Fuhrer]], they admit that he was crazy, but at least he listened to his generals. In real life, one of the key reasons often given for the collapse of the German military was Hitler's refusal to accept advice or corrections from his military staff.
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* AllohistoricalAllusion: Towards the end of "The Savage Time," the members of the German High Command are beginning to resent Vandal Savage's actions and position. When speaking about [[AdolfHitler [[UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler the previous Fuhrer]], they admit that he was crazy, but at least he listened to his generals. In real life, one of the key reasons often given for the collapse of the German military was Hitler's refusal to accept advice or corrections from his military staff.
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* HumanPopsicle: AdolfHitler makes a cameo in storage after Vandal Savage assumes command of Nazi Germany.
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* HumanPopsicle: AdolfHitler UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler makes a cameo in storage after Vandal Savage assumes command of Nazi Germany.
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Probably looks better this way.
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Probably looks better this way.
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* DeadpanSnarker:
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* DeadpanSnarker:DeadpanSnarker: The Flash.
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** If ''Justice League'' and ''Justice League Unlimited'' are taken as one series, then it begins and ends with alien invaders setting up giant structures meant for HostileTerraforming, and unexpected team-ups for fighting the threat.
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** In "Question Authority", Huntress uses Comicbook/JimmyOlsen's signal watch to call Superman; the watch first appeared in "Superman's Pal" in ''Superman: The Animated Series''.
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** In "Question Authority", Huntress uses Comicbook/JimmyOlsen's signal watch to call Superman; the watch first appeared in "Superman's Pal" "[[Recap/SupermanTheAnimatedSeriesS3E8SupermansPal Superman's Pal]]" in ''Superman: The Animated Series''.
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** Amanda Waller is basically CCH Pounder with a slightly different skin tone and weight gain.
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** Amanda Waller is basically CCH Pounder Creator/CCHPounder with a slightly different skin tone and weight gain.
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* AdolfHitler: Appears in cryonic storage several times in "The Savage Time," where he has been replaced as the leader of Nazi Germany by Vandal Savage. Referred to by Savage as "That Lunatic" and by High Command as "the old Fuhrer".
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* AdolfHitler: UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler: Appears in cryonic storage several times in "The Savage Time," where he has been replaced as the leader of Nazi Germany by Vandal Savage. Referred to by Savage as "That Lunatic" and by High Command as "the old Fuhrer".
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* BatmanGambit: In addition to [[Franchise/{{Batman}} the obvious]], the Question pulls one on [[{{Expy}} Galatea]], and a sort of a weird helpful one on ComicBook/{{Huntress}}. Flash has the rare honor of successfully pulling off a BatmanGambit against (Justice Lord) Batman himself.
** TheJoker pulls one on the entire American public in "Wild Card". [[spoiler: Naturally, Franchise/{{Batman}} is there to save the day.]]
** TheJoker pulls one on the entire American public in "Wild Card". [[spoiler: Naturally, Franchise/{{Batman}} is there to save the day.]]
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* BatmanGambit: BatmanGambit:
** In addition to [[Franchise/{{Batman}} the obvious]], the Question pulls one on [[{{Expy}} Galatea]], and a sort of a weird helpful one on ComicBook/{{Huntress}}. Flash has the rare honor of successfully pulling off a BatmanGambit against (Justice Lord) Batman himself.
**TheJoker SelfDemonstrating/TheJoker pulls one on the entire American public in "Wild Card".Cards". [[spoiler: Naturally, Franchise/{{Batman}} is there to save the day.]]
** In addition to [[Franchise/{{Batman}} the obvious]], the Question pulls one on [[{{Expy}} Galatea]], and a sort of a weird helpful one on ComicBook/{{Huntress}}. Flash has the rare honor of successfully pulling off a BatmanGambit against (Justice Lord) Batman himself.
**
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* TheCaper: Four normal humans, managed by ''the'' ClockKing and under orders from Amanda Waller, make a raid on the Justice League headquarters to steal a suit of AnimatedArmor.
** [[ShaggyDogStory Not that it does them much good in the long run]], [[spoiler: when the suit is hijacked by Faust.]]
** [[ShaggyDogStory Not that it does them much good in the long run]], [[spoiler: when the suit is hijacked by Faust.]]
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* TheCaper: Four normal humans, managed by ''the'' ClockKing and under orders from Amanda Waller, make a raid on the Justice League headquarters to steal a suit of AnimatedArmor.
**AnimatedArmor. [[ShaggyDogStory Not that it does them much good in the long run]], [[spoiler: when the suit is hijacked by Faust.]]
**
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* FingerTwitchingRevival: Subverted with [[spoiler:Galatea]]. The very last shot ''does'' show her twitching, but he does not get back up and she never returns in any later episodes.
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* FingerTwitchingRevival: Subverted with [[spoiler:Galatea]]. The very last shot ''does'' show her twitching, but he she does not get back up and she never returns in any later episodes.
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* HijackedByGanon: It is revealed that [[spoiler:Lex Luthor was being manipulated by Brainiac to build him a new body. Luthor had been infected by a copy of Brainiac's programming after Brainiac had exploded the last time he and Luthor had met]]. The writing staff [[WordOfGod admitted on the DVD commentary]] that they had no idea how to make the plot of season two of ''Unlimited'' untangle on its own due to the GreyAndGrayMorality situation that had arisen, so they went with an 'old reliable' and let an BlackAndWhiteMorality villain take over [[InvokedTrope so they could have a proper fight finale]].
to:
* HijackedByGanon: It is revealed that [[spoiler:Lex Luthor was being manipulated by Brainiac to build him a new body. Luthor had been infected by a copy of Brainiac's programming after Brainiac had exploded the last time he and Luthor had met]]. The writing staff [[WordOfGod admitted on the DVD commentary]] that they had no idea how to make the plot of season two of ''Unlimited'' untangle on its own due to the GreyAndGrayMorality situation that had arisen, so they went with an 'old reliable' and let an a BlackAndWhiteMorality villain take over [[InvokedTrope so they could have a proper fight finale]].
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* HurricaneOfPuns: The [[TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]] villains in "Legends" love doing this. Even the Flash gets in on it when fighting one of them.
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* HurricaneOfPuns: The [[TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]] villains in "Legends" love doing this. Even the Flash gets in on it when fighting one of them.
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* IfYoureSoEvilEatThisKitten: In "Starcrossed, Part 2" [[spoiler:Kragger asks Hawkgirl]] if it would not be better for her to kill the captive Justice League, rather than risk them escaping. He is clearly testing her, and she clearly does not want to comply, so she advances a [[PragmaticVillainy practical]] reason not to.
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* ImpendingClashShot: In the episode, "Grudge Match". Villainess Roulette makes two female heroes fight each other, and they decide to do it for fun. And they did it a la RockyIII to boot.
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* InstantFlightJustAddSpinning: The Flash used his arms as a helicopter. [[SubvertedTrope He lost control and crashed in short order]].
* IfYoureSoEvilEatThisKitten: In "Starcrossed, Part 2" [[spoiler:Kragger asks Hawkgirl]] if it would not be better for her to kill the captive Justice League, rather than risk them escaping. He is clearly testing her, and she clearly does not want to comply, so she advances a [[PragmaticVillainy practical]] reason not to.
* ImpendingClashShot: In the episode, "Grudge Match". Villainess Roulette makes two female heroes fight each other, and they decide to do it for fun. And they did it a la RockyIII to boot.
* ImpendingClashShot: In the episode, "Grudge Match". Villainess Roulette makes two female heroes fight each other, and they decide to do it for fun. And they did it a la RockyIII to boot.
* InstantFlightJustAddSpinning: The Flash used his arms as a helicopter. [[SubvertedTrope He lost control and crashed in short order]].
* LiteralMetaphor
** When Green Lantern is fighting Star Sapphire he yells duck. Star Sapphire doesnt move and is hit by a statue of a duck. He says that he tried to warn here.
** Brainiac 5 and Green Arrow try to sneak up on the Fatal Five only to find the FiveBadBand waiting for them. Brainiac 5 utters "shoot". Green Arrow thinks he was upset at the circumstances but Braniac 5 really wanted him to open fire.
** When Green Lantern is fighting Star Sapphire he yells duck. Star Sapphire doesnt move and is hit by a statue of a duck. He says that he tried to warn here.
** Brainiac 5 and Green Arrow try to sneak up on the Fatal Five only to find the FiveBadBand waiting for them. Brainiac 5 utters "shoot". Green Arrow thinks he was upset at the circumstances but Braniac 5 really wanted him to open fire.
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* LowerDeckEpisode: The ''Unlimited'' portion of the series focuses heavily on lesser-known members DC Comics, with many minor and supporting heroes receiving their own episodes throughout its three seasons. The episode "Patriot Act" starred seven of these characters, who had weapon- or gadget-based super powers: Green Arrow and Speedy, Stargirl and S.T.R.I.P.E., the Crimson Avenger, Vigilante, and the Shining Knight.
** Counts as a MythologyGag because they [[note]] with Stargirl substituting for Star-Spangled Kid, and Stripsey without a battlesuit[[/note]] starred in the comic ''SevenSoldiersOfVictory''.
** Counts as a MythologyGag because they [[note]] with Stargirl substituting for Star-Spangled Kid, and Stripsey without a battlesuit[[/note]] starred in the comic ''SevenSoldiersOfVictory''.
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* LowerDeckEpisode: The ''Unlimited'' portion of the series focuses heavily on lesser-known members DC Comics, with many minor and supporting heroes receiving their own episodes throughout its three seasons. The episode "Patriot Act" starred seven of these characters, who had weapon- or gadget-based super powers: Green Arrow and Speedy, Stargirl and S.T.R.I.P.E., the Crimson Avenger, Vigilante, and the Shining Knight. \n** Counts as a MythologyGag because they [[note]] with Stargirl substituting for Star-Spangled Kid, and Stripsey without a battlesuit[[/note]] starred in the comic ''SevenSoldiersOfVictory''.''Comicbook/SevenSoldiers''.
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* BoundAndGagged: Happens to [[spoiler:Hippolyta]] in "Fury".
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* BoundAndGagged: Happens BothSidesHaveAPoint: The Cadmus Arc. J'onn, Question, Batman, and Green Arrow concede that Cadmus is right to [[spoiler:Hippolyta]] be afraid of the Leauge if they ever went rogue and preparing for that possibility is reasonable. But Superman is also right in "Fury".pointing that Cadmus is in essence a shadow cabinet that's basically decided to bring them down with no justification or provocation.
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* AndCallHimGeorge:
** In Cheetah's first appearance, it was implied that Solomon Grundy killed her this way - but then she was shown alive, in hand-cuffs. Earlier in the episode, when [[spoiler:Batman exposed her to the members of her criminal team as the "traitor,"]], she was "given" to Grundy and was shown being dragged out of the room, screaming. However, despite the implied death, the end of the episode featured an ensemble picture of the villains being loaded into a police vehicle, including Cheetah. WordOfGod states this was an accident, the intention was for everybody to assume she had been "petted" to death, but it allowed her to make a few future appearances in various episodes.
** In the episode "[[Recap/JusticeLeagueS2E5And6OnlyADream Only a Dream]]", Superman is subjected to a [[PersonalHorror nightmare]] where his strength is [[PowerIncontinence out of control]]. His attempt to [[DeadlyHug hug]] [[JimmyOlsen Jimmy]] in joy snaps the kid like a twig.
** In Cheetah's first appearance, it was implied that Solomon Grundy killed her this way - but then she was shown alive, in hand-cuffs. Earlier in the episode, when [[spoiler:Batman exposed her to the members of her criminal team as the "traitor,"]], she was "given" to Grundy and was shown being dragged out of the room, screaming. However, despite the implied death, the end of the episode featured an ensemble picture of the villains being loaded into a police vehicle, including Cheetah. WordOfGod states this was an accident, the intention was for everybody to assume she had been "petted" to death, but it allowed her to make a few future appearances in various episodes.
** In the episode "[[Recap/JusticeLeagueS2E5And6OnlyADream Only a Dream]]", Superman is subjected to a [[PersonalHorror nightmare]] where his strength is [[PowerIncontinence out of control]]. His attempt to [[DeadlyHug hug]] [[JimmyOlsen Jimmy]] in joy snaps the kid like a twig.
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** Another reference appears in "[[Recap/{{JusticeLeagueS2E5And6OnlyADream Only a Dream]]" when, during his nightmare, Superman calls Jimmy "my pal."
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** Another reference appears in "[[Recap/{{JusticeLeagueS2E5And6OnlyADream "[[Recap/{{JusticeLeagueS2E5And6OnlyADream}} Only a Dream]]" when, during his nightmare, Superman calls Jimmy "my pal."
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** Another reference appears in "[[Recap/{{JusticeLeagueS2E5And6OnlyADream Only a Dream]]" when, during his nightmare, Superman calls Jimmy "my pal."
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** See ShoutOut [[JusticeLeague/{{TropesM-Z}} here]]. Commander Steel was throwing the Parademon shield at another Parademon's head, then cuts to Shayera to show that ''[[OffWithHisHead it went in a straight line]]'' before [[AbsurdlySharpBlade punching into the side of an Apokolips structure.]]
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** See ShoutOut [[JusticeLeague/{{TropesM-Z}} [[JusticeLeague/TropesMToZ here]]. Commander Steel was throwing the Parademon shield at another Parademon's head, then cuts to Shayera to show that ''[[OffWithHisHead it went in a straight line]]'' before [[AbsurdlySharpBlade punching into the side of an Apokolips structure.]]
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Due to the number of tropes present, ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' has been split into two pages. Tropes M To Z can be found [[JusticeLeague/{{TropesM-Z}} here]].
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Due to the number of tropes present, ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' has been split into two pages. Tropes M To Z can be found [[JusticeLeague/{{TropesM-Z}} [[JusticeLeague/TropesMToZ here]].
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Due to the number of tropes present, ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' has been split into two pages. Tropes M-Z can be found [[JusticeLeague/{{TropesM-Z}} here]].
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Due to the number of tropes present, ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' has been split into two pages. Tropes M-Z M To Z can be found [[JusticeLeague/{{TropesM-Z}} here]].
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Moving off hyphenated title
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%% ZeroContextExample entries are not allowed on wiki pages. All such entries have been commented out. Add context to the entries before uncommenting them.
Due to the number of tropes present, ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' has been split into two pages. Tropes M-Z can be found [[JusticeLeague/{{TropesM-Z}} here]].
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!!This series provides examples of:
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder: A-C]]
* AbsenceOfEvidence: In "[[Recap/{{JusticeLeagueS2E19And20Hereafter}} Hereafter]]", Superman is apparently killed by Toyman's latest machine, but Bruce refuses to believe it and presents his theory to Alfred by saying the lack of evidence is what tipped him off. Toyman's weapon left no debris, so it didn't blow him up. It left no scorch marks, so it didn't incinerate him. It didn't even leave ''radiation'', hence it didn't disintegrate him. Bats deduces that since Toyman is merely an obnoxious MadScientist, not a god, the [[NoConservationOfEnergy Law of Conservation]] is still in effect and therefore Superman couldn't have just been destroyed. His conclusion: it teleported him somewhere. [[spoiler:He is right - Superman was shunted forward in time, but the show leaves it vague whether or not Batman is [[NotSoStoic simply in denial]]]].
* AbsenteeActor: In ''Justice League'', it would be common for one or two members of the Original Seven to sit out a mission.
* AbsoluteCleavage: Vixen.
* {{Acrofatic}}[=/=]StoutStrength: Steven Mandragora.
* ActionDressRip: Franchise/WonderWoman in "Maid of Honor".
* ActionGirl: Too many examples to list individually.
* ActualPacifist: Dove
* ActuallyIAmHim: In "A Better World", after the League rescues Hawkgirl from the Justice Lord universe's Arkham Asylum, they are confronted by the military. Before anything can happen, the Justice Lord Batman arrives and orders the soldiers to stand down, whilst he takes them away. The League assumed that he was ''their'' Batman, who had disguised himself with the Lord Batman's costume in order to let them escape.
-->'''Superman''': You fooled them. Even ''I'' thought you were him.\\
'''Justice Lord Batman''': I ''am'' him.
* AdaptationDistillation: The JLU version of ''ComicBook/ForTheManWhoHasEverything'' cuts Robin and gives his awesome moments to Wonder Woman. It also makes Superman's dream happier and closer to what one might imagine his dreams would be. (The changed focus of the dream also makes sense in terms of the contrast between the Pre-Crisis Superman of the comic — heavily steeped in his Kryptonian heritage, who always considered Superman/Kal-El his "true self" and Clark Kent a mere mask — and the Post-Crisis Superman of the cartoon — raised as human who considers himself Clark Kent first.)
* AdaptationExplanationExtrication[=/=]AdaptationInducedPlothole: Obsidian is seen [[LivingProp in the background]] in many episodes of ''Unlimited'', but as the son of Alan Scott, the original [[TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks Golden Age]] Franchise/GreenLantern, his birth is something of a mystery since his father apparently never existed in this continuity.
* AdaptationalBadass - The Ultimen, updated versions of original characters created for ''WesternAnimation/SuperFriends''.
* AdaptiveAbility: A.M.A.Z.O. with his AllYourPowersCombined.
* AdolfHitler: Appears in cryonic storage several times in "The Savage Time," where he has been replaced as the leader of Nazi Germany by Vandal Savage. Referred to by Savage as "That Lunatic" and by High Command as "the old Fuhrer".
* AdultFear: "The Enemy Below". [[spoiler: Aquaman in a DeathTrap]] is bad enough, but [[spoiler: Aquaman ''and his baby'' in a DeathTrap]] is a whole other can of worms.
* AdventurerArchaeologist: Hawkman's secret identity, Carter Hall, seems to spend all his time either breaking into ancient tombs riddled with {{Death Trap}}s, or [[StalkingIsLove stalking Hawkgirl]].
* AffablyEvil: Comicbook/VandalSavage, the Ultra-Humanite, and even Lex Luthor on occasion.
* AffectionateParody: The "Legends" two-parter was a loving {{homage}} to the Golden Age of Comic Books, lampooning themed villains, kid sidekicks, assumed gender roles and social norms. It skewers what comics used to be like, but clearly shows how important they were.
* AffirmativeActionLegacy: John Stewart was chosen over Hal Jordan precisely to avoid making every super-powered character on the show white. Hawkgirl was chosen over Hawkman in order to have another girl on the team besides Diana to avoid TheSmurfettePrinciple.
* AgonyBeam: Darkseid's Agony Matrix. According to him:
--> Direct neural stimulation of pain receptors. All of them. Imagine the worst pain you've ever felt in your life, times a thousand. [[FateWorseThanDeath Now imagine that pain continuing forever]]. Oh, that's right: you don't have to imagine.
* AIIsACrapshoot:
** Comicbook/{{Brainiac}} continues the characterization introduced in ''Superman: The Animated Series'', where he has interpreted his programming to collect data as a directive to collect all information in the universe and then to destroy it.
** The Manhunter robots, which were originally created by the Guardians before they were replaced by the Green Lanterns.
* AlienInvasion: Numerous times.
* AlienSky: The view from an alien moon is a plot point in "In Blackest Night".
* AliensOfLondon: Maria Canals was cast as Hawkgirl partially because her Cuban accent would help her stand out from the other League members. In "Starcrossed", other Hispanic actors were cast for the primary Thanagarian roles in order to match Hawkgirl and give the impression of a consistent accent that would come from speaking a common language.
* AliensSpeakingEnglish: Green Lantern rings ''can'' [[TranslatorMicrobes translate languages]], but even when no rings or telepathic Martians are around, [[TranslationConvention English still seems to be the default language of the universe]].
* AllGermansAreNazis: Averted. When Wonder Woman rescues a code-breaker from Nazi captivity in UsefulNotes/WorldWarII she is surprised to discover that he is German himself, and he explains that not all Germans are like ''them''.
* AllOfThem: In "Patriot Act", when Speedy asks Green Arrow how many League members General Eiling has managed to defeat, Green Arrow responds "that would be all of them".
* AllThereInTheManual: Boston Brandt (SelfDemonstrating/{{Deadman}}) had never appeared in the DCAU prior to his appearance in season three of ''Unlimited'', but both he and Batman make reference to previously working together. This occurred in the comic tie-in to ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'', which was considered canon with the aired DCAU.
* AllohistoricalAllusion: Towards the end of "The Savage Time," the members of the German High Command are beginning to resent Vandal Savage's actions and position. When speaking about [[AdolfHitler the previous Fuhrer]], they admit that he was crazy, but at least he listened to his generals. In real life, one of the key reasons often given for the collapse of the German military was Hitler's refusal to accept advice or corrections from his military staff.
* AlternateCompanyEquivalent: The roster of Dr. Fate's super-team seen in "Wake the Dead" is based on the original Defenders. Dr. Fate = Dr. Strange, A.M.A.Z.O. = Silver Surfer, Hawkgirl = Nighthawk, Solomon Grundy = Hulk and Aquaman = Namor.
* AlternateUniverse: The show had several -- the retro-styled world of the Justice Guild, the dark dystopia of the Justice Lords, the Vandal Savage-ruled world created through time travel, and others.
* AmuletOfConcentratedAwesome: The Amulet of First Magic, which gives Mordred the power to get rid of his mother and completely rid the world of all adults.
* AncientAstronauts: When two Thanagarian law officers accidentally crashed in north-east Africa eight thousand years ago, they used their advanced technology to bring water and food to the arid locale and created a peaceful society that covered much of the continent. It was such a nice place to live that neighboring countries would actually ''thank'' them for conquering their homes. Unfortunately, they had only educated their people to the level of tool ''users'', not tool ''makers'', so when they died their society collapsed in a generation.
* AndIMustScream:
** Chronos in "The Once and Future Thing", [[spoiler:trapped in a time loop of his wife screaming at him for all eternity.]]
** In "Legends", [[spoiler:the people who populate the city and are used as props in Roy's fantasy. One points out that thirty years driving an ice cream truck around just to be background for a godlike entity's childish dream is horrible enough for any Hell.]]
** At the end of "Kid Stuff", [[spoiler:Mordred. After being tricked into giving up his eternal youth he rapidly ages to his proper chronological age and is now a drooling vegetable.]]
* AndShowItToYou: Thematically speaking. It is not literally a heart, but in "Chaos at the Earth's Core" [[spoiler:Supergirl uses a dagger to carve out Metallo's Kryptonite power source.]]
* AndTheAdventureContinues: {{Trope Namer|s}}
* AndThenWhat: When Bizarro appears in "Ultimatum" he is assisting Giganta in her efforts to break Gorilla Grodd out of jail. When Wonder Woman asks him why, he explains that he has fallen in love with her. When Wonder Woman asks him what he thinks will happen after they have broken her boyfriend out of jail, [[LogicBomb he freezes in confusion]].
* AndThisIsFor: In "War World", Draaga gives such a speech while [[UnstoppableRage pounding]] on Mongul, citing his people, his honor, and justice.
* AnimatedArmor: The Annihilator, built by Hephaestus for Ares, the God of War.
* AntagonistInMourning: Lex Luthor in "Hereafter".
* AntiClimacticUnmasking: When Lex Luthor unmasks the Flash, all he can do is stare at the red-headed kid and admit that he has no idea who the heck it is.
* AntiClimax: Captain Cold is very disappointed with how the fight against the Flash ended, since he was looking forward to bloody revenge and all he got was the sight of the Flash falling into a mirror. Of course, [[YourPrincessIsInAnotherCastle the episode was not over yet...]]
* AntiMagic: Hawkgirl's mace, and Thanagarian technology in general, is designed to nullify magic.
* AntiVillain: The Ultra-Humanite fixed a toy for ''orphans on Christmas'', then willingly went back to jail. The only outright villainous thing he does in the whole series is help Lex break out of jail and fight the League, but he gives ''that'' up when he gets a better offer: money for public broadcasting.
* {{Anvilicious}}: In universe, even Superman finds Wind Dragon's impassioned speech about environmentalism to be too much.
* ApatheticCitizens: Averted. Most citizens will get involved and help when they can. In "Starcrossed" [[spoiler:a restaurant owner, who services Mediterranean clientele helps, hide Bruce and Diana disguised as civilians from the the Thanagarian soldiers by giving them a table in the back and saying they were there for hours when the soldiers came in]].
* ArbitrarySkepticism: Frequently used by characters, but {{deconstructed|Trope}} each and every time.
** Franchise/TheFlash was the first to explicitly point out the ridiculous nature of skepticism in their line of work since, as he points out to John Stewart, "we've both got a [[MartianManhunter martian's]] phone number on our speed dial; I think I deserve the benefit of the doubt here."
** In "Shadow of the Hawk", where Batman describes the academic humiliation of Carter Hall after he began to believe that aliens had visited Ancient Egypt, Shayera Hol mocks the idea that there is no such things as aliens, since she herself is from another planet and the conversation includes Green Lantern.
** When SelfDemonstrating/{{Deadman}} mocks the idea of Gorilla City in "Dead Reckoning" Wonder Woman asks why he, as a ghost from the Himalayas possessing Superman's body, has a problem with this. Deadman concedes that she has a point.
** The straightest example is when Batman seriously believes (and Alfred takes him seriously) that Superman [[ItMakesSenseInContext can't be dead because of the implications of the laws of conservation of mass]]. Even though he routinely work against a supervillain and with several superheroes whose only power [[ShapeshifterBaggage is to change their size whenever they want to]].
* ArcWelding: The long-running storylines of ''Justice League Unlimited'' were all connected back to second season episodes of ''Justice League'' itself, and were then pushed back even further into ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries''. Ultimately, plot points were developed directly from episodes of ''Superman'' that had aired eight years (And two series) before the current show. References are also made to episodes as far back as the beginning of ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'', including "On Leather Wings", which was the ''very first'' entry in the Franchise/{{DCAU}}--as well as direct connections to ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'', which preceded ''Unlimited'' in broadcast order, [[CallForward but in-universe is chronologically the final entry.]]
* ArmorPiercingQuestion:
** Justice-Lord Batman drives home one of these to his regular universe counterpart, to the reason why he helped create a totalitarian state. This was ''such'' an armor-piercing question that ''the writers'' couldn't come up with a way to beat it. They had intended Batman to win the argument, but after that line they couldn't think of a response:
--> '''Batman''': You grabbed power!
--> '''Lord Batman''' And ''with'' that power, we made a world where no eight-year-old boy will EVER lose his parents ''because of some punk with a gun.''
--> '''Batman''': *drops Batarang dejectedly* You win.
** Batman turns it back on him later though, after stopping by a cafe and seeing a guy getting taken away by [[FacelessGoons masked police]] for complaining about the bill:
--> '''Batman''': They'd love it here, don't you think?
--> '''Lord Batman''': Who?
--> '''Batman''': Mom and Dad. They'd be ''so'' proud of you.
--> '''Lord Batman''': ... Just drive.
** In "Patriot Act," a random ''bystander'' gets the WellIntentionedExtremist villain to stop fighting and leave the city with one.
--> '''Little Old Lady:''' Tell me, son: how many of us do you have to kill to keep us safe?
* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking: After taking over Tartarus and perusing Hades' Library, Faust lists off texts that "make the [[TomeOfEldritchLore Necronomicon]] look like a children's book": the Lost Scrolls of Herculaneum, Merlin's juvenilia, Pierre Menard's ''Literature/DonQuixote''![[note]]This is actually a reference to "Pierre Menard, Author of the ''Quixote''", a short story that plays on literary criticism and such. Point is that it's not magical.[[/note]]
* ArtEvolution:
** Superman was originally designed to be slightly bulkier than his ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'' incarnation, along with some additional lines on his face and a change in coloration. Negative fan response to the design (the lines made him look older/recovering from Kryptonite-tainted clams) led to them tweaking the design slightly by altering the face, making it resemble to the ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'' design, though the design still retained the bulk of the Season 1 design. [[http://www.worldsfinestonline.com/WF/jl/episodes/secretorigins/p1/09.jpg Here is one image]] of the first design used in ''Justice League'', and [[http://www.worldsfinestonline.com/WF/jl/episodes/starcrossed/p3/34.jpg here is an image]] of the redesign for Season 2 and ''Justice League Unlimited''.
** Wonder Woman also had [[http://worldsfinestonline.com/WF/jlu/bios/ww/13.jpg a tweak]] for Season 2 and ''Unlimited'', [[http://worldsfinestonline.com/WF/jl/bios/heroes/wwoman/46.jpg losing the cheekbones she had in Season 1]].
* ArtisticLicenseBiology:
** The show has a biological inaccuracy serve as the key plot-point to a season 1 episode. In "Fury", [[BigBad Arisia]] attempts to [[{{Gendercide}} wipe out all men on Earth]] with a deadly "allergen". Allergens are not contagious; different people (and different ''species'') have different allergic reactions to the same substance.
** Grodd's plan in "Dead Reckoning" is to create a "Devolution Ray" to turn every human being in the planet into an ape. Humans (Let alone Kryptonians) did not evolve from (modern-day) apes, so even if we grant the premise that Grodd can undo evolution, it would have turned a human being into whatever common ancestor on the evolutionary path the two species share.
* ArtShift: Grodd's story about Prince Jon in "To Another Shore" is drawn in a more typical, realistic comic book style reminiscent of classic Viking Prince artist Joe Kubert.
* AssimilationBackfire: During A.M.A.Z.O.'s first appearance, he copies the powers of all the League's members while fighting them. When he absorbs Superman's powers he also gets his vulnerability to Kryptonite, [[SubvertedTrope but quickly learns how to modify himself so it is no longer an issue]].
* AnAssKickingChristmas: The Christmas special where Green Lantern and Hawkgirl spend their holiday in an alien bar, asskicking.
* AttackOfThe50FootWhatever:
** Giganta is a recurring villain, created by Gorilla Grodd.
** Longshadow, [[CaptainErsatz a recreation of]] [[WesternAnimation/SuperFriends Apache Chief]], appears in "Ultimatum" and the climax of the Cadmus arc.
** Atom-Smasher appears in numerous group shots of the expanded League, and has a personal fight scene in "Task Force X," [[LivingProp but never gets any dialogue or backstory]].
** Toyman and Luthor create giant robots at different points, Ray creates one in "Legends," the Chinese have one in the first episode of ''Unlimited''... quite frankly, it's a show based on one of the most well-known superhero teams of all time, giant monsters and robots are par for the course.
* TheAtoner: Hawkgirl spends much of the first two seasons of ''Unlimited'' trying to win back the trust of humanity in general and her friends in the League.
* AxCrazy: Killer Frost.
* BackForTheDead:
** General Hardcastle, who was a minor recurring character in ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'', returns in "Fearful Symmetry" and is killed by Galatea.
** Dr. Milo, a minor villain from ''Batman The Animated Series'', comes back to release from Cadmus custody, and be killed off by, Doomsday.
* BackForTheFinale: [[spoiler:J'onn J'onzz]].
* BackFromTheDead: Solomon Grundy (who CameBackWrong-- twice!) and [[spoiler: Darkseid]].
* BackToBackBadasses: In the final episode, [[spoiler: Batman and Lex Luthor]].
* BadGuyBar: In "Flash and Substance", Central City is shown to have a bar frequented by the various Flash rogues. The Flash is well aware of where it is and who drinks there, occasionally popping by to arrest a villain when he feels it necessary.
* BadGuysDoTheDirtyWork: Lord!Superman. In the comics, Doomsday [[Comicbook/TheDeathOfSuperman killed Superman]] after already defeating the entirety of the Franchise/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica, but Lord!Superman lobotomized him five minutes into the fight once it became apparent that his strength approached Superman's own.
* BadGuysPlayPool: The BadGuyBar in "Flash and Substance" has a pool table constantly in use in the background. When the Flash [[FriendlyEnemy convinces the Trickster to help him out]], the pool table is destroyed.
* {{Badass}}: Pretty much everyone, but Comicbook/{{Aquaman}} is the most surprising iteration. In his first appearance in ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'', Aquaman was portrayed as a mix of the angry-king version then current and the classic, optimistic character previously used in ''WesternAnimation/SuperFriends'', but by the time Justice League rolled around the depiction "[[NinetiesAntiHero matured]]" to the Creator/PeterDavid version of the character.
* BadassBoast: "No man escapes the Manhunters!" Well, up until now.
* BadassGrandpa: Several, such as the modern day ComicBook/{{Blackhawk}}s and the leader of Skartaris. Wildcat, much like [[Comicbook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica his comic counterpart]], is still a trainer and compatriot of the new generation of heroes despite his advancing years.
* BadassInANiceSuit: Lex Luthor, when he is not wearing his military style fatigues, InstitutionalApparel or PoweredArmor. Lampshaded with "I had to get my power suit."
* BadassLongcoat: Comicbook/TheQuestion.
* BadassNormal: Batman, of course, but also a fair number of ''Unlimited'' League members. The latter are spotlighted in "Patriot Act", and The Question sometimes seems to be the ''real'' star of the series.
* BaitTheDog: Deadshot spends most of "Task Force X" flirting with Plastique but at the end of the episode detonates an explosive a few inches from her face.
* BarBrawl: Hawkgirl seems to enjoy a good brawl, as she starts a fight (In anger) in "In Blackest Night" and starts another one (Just for fun) in "Comfort and Joy".
* BareHandedBladeBlock: General Wade Eiling, after his transformation, catches Shining Knight's sword ''with one hand'' and throws him to the ground. It had previously been established that Shining Knight's sword was the one weapon present which ''could'' injure the General, after bullets, explosions and even Quantum Arrows did not even mark him.
* BareYourMidriff: Supergirl, Shayera (in JLU), Fire, Huntress, Stargirl, Volcana, Kat's new outfit, the females at Skartaris.
* BarrierWarrior: The Green Lanterns, Sinestro, and Star Sapphire.
* BashBrothers:
** Flash and Green Lantern were the most-often paired of the main team
** Vigilante and Shining Knight show up a surprising amount in ''Unlimited.''
* BatmanColdOpen: Numerous times, often as a way of sneaking in references and cameos of [[Franchise/TheDCU DCU]] heroes and villains that could not be fit into the regular episode.
* BatmanGambit: In addition to [[Franchise/{{Batman}} the obvious]], the Question pulls one on [[{{Expy}} Galatea]], and a sort of a weird helpful one on ComicBook/{{Huntress}}. Flash has the rare honor of successfully pulling off a BatmanGambit against (Justice Lord) Batman himself.
** TheJoker pulls one on the entire American public in "Wild Card". [[spoiler: Naturally, Franchise/{{Batman}} is there to save the day.]]
* BatmanGrabsAGun: Superman attempts to lobotomize Doomsday in the "Doomsday Sanction," just as his Justice Lord counterpart did in "A Better World". It is pointed out by other characters that this is but one commonality between the two, and that Superman might not be as from his Lord counterpart as they would all like to think.
* BattleCouple: Pretty much every OfficialCouple in the show.
* BattleInTheCenterOfTheMind: "Only A Dream."
* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor[=/=]LiteralGenie: Hath-Set follows through on his loyalty to his Thanagarian pharaoh Katar-Hol with brutal efficiency. When Katar discovers his wife and best friend are in love with each other he offhand wishes they were dead while overcome with rage. Hath-Set, who was eavesdropping, makes it so... to Katar's intense dismay.
* BeamOWar: In "Only a Dream," John Stewart and [[PlayingWithFire Volcana]] square off against one another. Volcana seemed to be on the verge of overpowering John, but she was knocked down by Batman and John was able to gain the upper hand.
* BeautifulAllAlong:
** There was never any implication that she was actually ugly, but Hawkgirl wore her mask for every single scene in the first two seasons, never revealing what she really looked like and leading some fans to think that her mask ''was'' her face. When she and John Stewart finally admit that they have feelings for each other she points out that they are too different, not even the same ''species'', and John says that all he sees are a man and a woman as he [[DramaticUnmask slowly takes off her mask]]. Beneath the mask she is a beautiful woman with [[FieryRedhead long red hair]] and [[GreenEyes piercing green eyes]].
** When the Question and ComicBook/{{Huntress}} team-up in "Double Date," she theorizes that he must be the ugliest person in the world in order to hide his face [[TheBlank like he does]]. There was a brief glance at his unmasked face earlier in the series in "Fearful Symmetry," but "Flashpoint" has his {{dramatic unmask}}ing. At that point he has been beaten so badly his face is almost unrecognizable as the same man and he sourly comments that Huntress was right, he is "the ugliest guy in the world." [[Heartwarming/JusticeLeague Huntress disagrees.]]
* BelligerentSexualTension: Hawkgirl and Green Lantern bicker and argue so much throughout the first two seasons that Flash [[EveryoneCanSeeIt actually compares them to an old married couple]]. The two eventually [[TheyDo realize their feelings]] in "Wild Cards", near the end of the second season, and are a couple in "Starcrossed", the season finale. Even SelfDemonstrating/TheJoker [[LampshadeHanging noticed their relationship]] before they finally admitted it:
-->'''The Joker''': Is it just me, or is there something going on between those two?
* BeneathNotice: When running from the Thanagarians in "Starcrossed", J'onn points out that the Thanagarians are looking for the Justice League, not six regular people. By taking off their costumes and walking down the street they are able to avoid notice. [[spoiler:[[GenreSavvy Unfortunately, the Thanagarians are aware that the League will take off their costumes, so they have soldiers stationed at train stations checking identification.]]]]
* BeneathTheMask: The Flash. See ObfuscatingStupidity.
* BenevolentAlienInvasion: The Thanagarians ''pretended'' to be a BenevolentAlienInvasion to cover their true purpose, but Batman exposed them in short order. Season three of ''Unlimited'' reveals that two Thanagarians ''had'' been benevolent rulers [[AncientAstronauts thousands of years ago when they were worshipped as gods]], but their empire crumbled shortly after their death.
* BerserkButton: Aquaman is [[PapaWolf rather protective of his child]].
* BetrayalInsurance: When A.M.A.Z.O. copies Superman's powers (and weaknesses), Batman uses a piece of kryptonite on it.
-->'''Hawkgirl:''' Do you always keep that in your belt?\\
'''Batman:''' Call it... insurance. ([[GrapplingHookPistol grapples away]])\\
'''Hawkgirl:''' And they call me scary.
** Discussed in one episode where Batman asks Superman what's to keep him from becoming a Justice Lord. Superman half-jokes that there's always the Kryptonite that Bruce carries around, but Bruce yells that it's no laughing matter.
* BetweenMyLegs: The series ''loves'' this shot.
* BewareTheNiceOnes:
** Flash, [[FunPersonified the goofy, light-hearted member of the League]] is the one to finally defeat [[spoiler: Brainiac/Luthor]] after the entire rest of the League had failed.
** The series seems built on the principle that the nicer you are, the more epic your eventual rages are. Darkseid finds out [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ywo6F4xYTvA the hard and painful way]] when Superman decides to finally stop holding back..
* BigBad:
** [[spoiler: Brainiac]] in the Cadmus Arc, though he ultimately fuses with [[spoiler: Lex]] to acquire an imagination.
** The LegionOfDoom Arc started out with Grodd, and then switched to Lex, but ultimately defaulted to [[spoiler: Darkseid]].
* BigBadassBattleSequence: Six episodes involve the League, or their allies, taking part in what can only be described as a war given the number of enemies and scale of the fight.
** In "The Savage Time," the League is sent back to UsefulNotes/WorldWarII and takes part in the struggle between the Allies and the Axis. They fight off fighter squadrons, armored battalions and even War Wheels.
** In "Maid of Honor," Wonder Woman and Batman stage what is, in essence, a full invasion of Kasnia. They wind up fighting the air force, infantry and tanks. [[SoundtrackDissonance All set to the marriage of Princess Audrey and Vandal Savage]].
** "Hearts and Minds," opens with four Green Lanterns engaged against the entire military might of Despero, including dozens of his superpowered acolytes and an armada of battleships.
** "Starcrossed" climaxes with a fight between the League and thousands of fighters of the Thanagarian Expeditionary Force.
** In "Chaos at the Earth's Core", members of the League are present during the final battle between Demos and forces of free Skartaris. Hundreds of people and LizardFolk clash using swords, bows-and-arrows, laser weapons and giant monsters.
** "Destroyer," the [[GrandFinale final episode]], has the expanded League ''and'' the Legion of Doom [[EnemyMine teaming up]] against a full-scale invasion of Earth by Darkseid and the forces of Apokolips.
* BigDamnHeroes: The entire point of the genre, let alone the series.
* TheBigDamnKiss: John and Shayera at the end of "Wild Cards".
* BigEater: Flash is one due to RequiredSecondaryPowers (Which [[NoConservationOfEnergy really does not nearly account for how much energy he uses]], but hey, it is comic book physics, we are used to it).
* [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff Big in Japan]]: [[invoked]] Supergirl. Green Lantern describes her as such word for word when Stargirl is shocked to notice a Supergirl convention, complete with cosplayers.
* BilingualBonus: The song that Batman is [[PsychicStatic muttering]] at the end of "Just a Dream" is an ad-jingle parody of the old French song ''Frere Jacques'', which tells about an asleep man.
* BittersweetEnding:
** The ''Justice League'' finale, "Starcrossed". It saw the rescue of the world and routing of the invading aliens, but [[spoiler: Hawkgirl leaves the League and her relationship with Green Lantern ends.]]
-->"... I love you too."
** "Ultimatum". Longshadow symbolically joins the League, but [[spoiler:it is implied he dies extremely soon after, and the rest of the Ultimen likewise.]]
* BlackBlood: In "Twilight", Darkseid can be seen bleeding black blood when hit. This is especially noticeable near the end when [[spoiler: Brainiac]] is about to explode and Batman forces Superman to get out.
* TheBlank: Comicbook/TheQuestion.
* BloodKnight: Draaga, Doomsday.
* BloodlessCarnage: Played straight for most episodes, with occasional aversions (John Stewart did look pretty beaten after his fight with Hro Talak, who himself had a nosebleed after the fight) or justifications (Captain Atom cannot bleed since he does not have blood).
* BoardingPod: Seen in the season 2 finale. Each pod was loaded with cloned Ultimen, and had triple buzzsaws for cutting through the Watchtower's hull. But given that their goal was ''shooting down'' the Watchtower, the [[WhyDontYouJustShootHim question has to be asked why they didn't just fire normal missiles]].
* BodyHorror: The ending of "Panic in the Sky."
* BodySurf: Eclipso.
* BodyWipe: The last episode ends with the League members running toward the camera in its final, trope naming "AndTheAdventureContinues" scene. It notably ends with Batman's logo, causing Batman to provide [[WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries the]] BookEnds to the DCAU.
* BoisterousBruiser: Hawkgirl, who loves fighting so much she uses a BarBrawl as a holiday celebration. Maria Canals, her actress, explained that she personally felt stress-relieved when she was allowed to give Hawkgirl's war cry.
* BondOneLiner:
** After Vandal Savage [[spoiler:knocks out Wonder Woman with an electric-pistol [[SpeakNowOrForeverHoldYourPeace when she attempted to stop his wedding to Princess Audrey]]]] he turned to the crowd and asked "Does anyone else have any objections?"
** When Devil Ray is told by the guardian of Nanda Parbat that one must earn entry to the sacred city, Devil Ray [[CombatPragmatist just shoots him]].
-->"Keep the change."
* BookEnds:
** ''Justice League'' begins and ends with alien invasions. The first causes the formation of the League, while the second sees it [[spoiler:lose a member]].
** The ending of "Epilogue" has [[WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond Terry McGinnis]] flying past a flying police car, confusing the pilots. This mirrors the opening scene of the very first episode of ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'', "On Leather Wings" (right down to the line spoken by the policeman - played both times by Creator/KevinConroy, no less - who notices Batman). [[UnCanceled The original plan was for this episode to be the finale for the series]], [[PostScriptSeason only for another season to appear]].
** Batman does provide a book end in the ''actual'' final episode for the DCAU, as when all the heroes rush out the image fades to black by going into his logo.
* BottomlessMagazines: Averted. Both Green Arrow and Speedy run completely out of arrows in "Patriot Act", and resort to [[PistolWhipping swinging their bows at the enemy]].
* BoundAndGagged: Happens to [[spoiler:Hippolyta]] in "Fury".
* BoxedCrook: Task Force X, which is an adaptation of the Comicbook/SuicideSquad.
* {{Brainwashed}}: Despero was converting entire populations to his will using "The Flame of Pytar" in the season two episode "Hearts and Minds."
* BrainwashedAndCrazy: The Flash in "The Brave and the Bold"
* BrainwashingForTheGreaterGood: How the Justice Lords dealt with their RoguesGallery.
* BrandishmentBluff: In "Chaos at the Earth's Core", Supergirl's powers are [[BroughtDownToNormal reduced]], with a comparable reduction in her vulnerability to Kryptonite. When she faces Metallo, who is unaware that the environment has impacted her powers, she claims that she is simply immune to Kryptonite and threatens him to surrender or be destroyed.
* BrattyTeenageDaughter: Stargirl. For extra points, her stepfather is her sidekick.
* BreadAndCircuses: How Mongul controls his people in "War World".
* BreatherEpisode: Several lighthearted/more humorous episodes such as "Comfort and Joy", the ChristmasEpisode which almost plays out like a [[{{WAFF}} Warm And Fuzzy Fan Fic]]. With a BarBrawl.
* BrickJoke:
** In "Wild Cards," the Joker finds an old woman who is still feeding a slot machine in Las Vegas, despite the rest of the city being abandoned after he seeded it with bombs. When he asks why she stayed behind, [[ComicallyMissingThePoint she explains that the machine has to pay out sooner or later]]. [[spoiler:The final shot of the episode, [[SexyDiscretionShot after cutting away from Shayera and John kissing passionately]], is that old woman hitting "Well, it's about time!"]]
** In "Dead Reckoning", Superman is talking about a fast food restaurant's milkshakes, which are very thick, when he gets possessed by Deadman. As soon as Deadman abandons him, [[{{Unpaused}} Superman completes the punchline.]]
* BrokenPedestal: Billy Batson, aka Captain Marvel, always considered Superman to be the example to follow. But when the hero he admired actually attacks him, it hurts him much more deeply than the beating he received.
* BroughtDownToNormal
** Green Lantern in "The Savage Time," where his ring runs out of energy, and "Hearts and Minds," where Despero [[MindRape affected his ability to use it]].
** Superman in "Hereafter," where he loses all his abilities after being transported to a planet with a red sun. Not that it does anything to hinder his determination, or his awesomeness.
** Supergirl in "Chaos at the Earth's Core." She herself describes it as "half strength," but she lacks the ability to fly more than a few feet or lift a stone larger than herself, so her power is much closer to human-normal than "half" would imply.
* TheBrute: Solomon Grundy, who is the dumb muscle for whichever supervillain has hired him this week.
* BulletproofHumanShield: Superman purposefully stepped in front of a group of soldiers to shield them from a hail of bullets. Since he is Superman, it made more sense than many other human shields.
* BurialInSpace: Given to the Viking Prince.
* BusFullOfInnocents: A bus full of nuns is about to collide with a truck full of dynamite in "Legends". Even the Flash realizes that it's a ContrivedCoincidence.
* BuyThemOff: In an episode where Batman was [[BadassInDistress kidnapped]] by Luthor and his fellow villains, he not only [[GuileHero manipulates]] half of the villains there to either turn against each other or help him in some way, for his final masterstroke he gets Ultra-Humanite to backstab Luthor... ''By promising him double what Luthor was paying.''
* CallBack: When Batman sings "Am I Blue" in "This Little Piggy". The song made an earlier DCAU appearance in the DTV film ''Batman & Mr. Freeze: Subzero''.
* CallForward:
** Crime Boss Steven Mandragora's son, Edgar, appears at the end of "Double Date." Edgar would "later" appear in the ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'' episode "Mind Games."
** Batman does not enjoy travelling via boom tube, referencing a line of Old!Bruce's in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond''.
** Amanda Waller mentions attempts to splice human and animal DNA. This "Splicing" would become popular with criminals in ''Batman Beyond.''
** The Justice League trains with "Z8 Trainer" robots, early models of Zeta from ''WesternAnimated/TheZetaProject''.
** At numerous points in the series Batman uses electric brass knuckles while fighting. They were later used by Mr. Fixx in the pilot to ''Batman Beyond''.
* CameBackWrong: Solomon Grundy. Twice. First as a zombie of a gangster, then as a mindless killing machine capable of going toe to toe with the likes of Superman and A.M.A.Z.O.
* TheCameo:
** [[Franchise/GreenLantern Hal Jordan]] makes a brief appearance in "Once and Future Thing" when Chronos' messing with time causes him to get retconned into the JL in place of John Stewart.
** There is an appearance by [[spoiler:a much older [[WesternAnimation/BatmanMaskOfThePhantasm Andrea Beaumont, AKA The Phantasm]]]] in "Epilogue".
* CanonForeigner: The Ultimen (who were incarnations of the Canon Foreigners from ''WesternAnimation/SuperFriends''), Tsukuri, and Galatea. Yet all of them look [[{{Expy}} strangely familiar]]...
* TheCaper: Four normal humans, managed by ''the'' ClockKing and under orders from Amanda Waller, make a raid on the Justice League headquarters to steal a suit of AnimatedArmor.
** [[ShaggyDogStory Not that it does them much good in the long run]], [[spoiler: when the suit is hijacked by Faust.]]
* CaptainErsatz:
** The Justice Guild of America is a recreation of the Comicbook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica. The Society was originally supposed to appear in the episode "Legends," [[ExecutiveMeddling but DC Comics said they could not use the actual characters.]]
** The Ultimen are a recreation of [[WesternAnimation/SuperFriends Black Vulcan, Apache Chief, Samurai, and the Wonder Twins]].
** Aresia and Tsukuri are [[ComicBook/InfinityInc Fury]] and {{Katana}}, right down to having extremely similar outfits. For added points, their debut episode is even [[MythologyGag named "Fury"]]!
** Devil Ray was a direct recreation of Black Manta. They could not use the name because of a potential live-action Aquaman series, so they simply changed what he was called.
* CaptainObvious: Flash after seeing the stuffed T-Rex in the Batcave:
-->'''Flash:''' "That's a giant dinosaur!"
-->'''Alfred:''' "And here I thought Batman was the detective."
* CaptainSuperhero: Comicbook/CaptainAtom (Who actually held the rank of captain in the United States Air Force) and [[Comicbook/{{Shazam}} Captain Marvel]].
* CardCarryingVillain: The show {{lampshade|Hanging}}s it when an evil race of snake spirits want to possess the League.
-->'''General (under possession from the spirits):''' How would one contact this "Just-Us League?"\\
'''Sergeant:''' I don't know, sir. Wear a gaudy costume and threaten a bunch of people?\\
'''General:''' Thank you Sergeant, you've been quite a help.
** Lampshaded yet again in ''Unlimited'' by Flash, during his FreakyFridayFlip with SelfDemonstrating/LexLuthor:
-->'''"Luthor":''' *Walking out of the bathroom* What?\\
'''Polaris:''' You gonna wash your hands?\\
'''"Luthor":''' No...[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyYOuuRmQp0 cause I'm EVIL]].
* CarFu: Question in "Destroyer", SelfDemonstrating/{{Lobo}} in "Hereafter" (by ''throwing'' the car), etc.
* CassandraTruth: In "The Balance"
-->'''Shayera:''' How'd you do that?
-->'''Wonder Woman:''' Magic lasso. Who knew?
-->'''Shayera:''' If you don't want to tell me, fine.
* CasualDangerDialog:
** Between Batman and Superman in "Clash".
** Batman again in "Dark Heart," after ejecting from the Batplane and having his parachute destroyed.
-->'''Batman:''' Batman to all points. I could use some air support. Since I can't fly. At all.
--> [Beat, Batman continues to fall]
-->'''Batman:''' Now would be good.
* CatFight: Several {{Action Girl}}s and {{Dark Action Girl}}s are always willing to mix it up, with each other or their male counterparts. However the episode "Grudge Match" deserves special mention, as Roulette and Lex Luthor restart Metabrawl by pandering to public demand for this trope.
* CatGirl:
** Cheetah, [[ProfessorGuineaPig a scientist who transformed herself into a human/cheetah hybrid as part of her experiments]], appears early in the series for what was supposed to be a single episode. However, [[ThrowItIn she survived the episode due to an animation error]], and kept reappearing in background and group shots throughout the show.
** Shakira in Skartaris is a woman who can change from cat to human.
* CatapultNightmare: Supergirl throughout "Fearful Symmetry".
* CavemenVsAstronautsDebate: In "Patriot Act", Shining Knight and Vigilante [[SeinfeldianConversation talk about]] ''Film/DirtyHarry''. Vigilante likes the film, but Shining Knight feels that the CowboyCop tendencies of the character "besmirch" his role as a police office. Vigilante then warns Shining Knight that if he ever wants to watch any more movies on Vigilante's big-screen TV, he better watch what he says about Creator/ClintEastwood.
* CelibateHero: Batman gives Wonder Woman an entire laundry list of reasons why they will not be dating. The best is probably, "You're a princess from a society of immortal warriors; I'm a rich kid with issues. ''Lots'' of issues."
* CensorSteam: Fire's fire. They had to do several redesigns to make sure [[SceneryCensor her naughty bits were covered]]. ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold'' later took [[BarbieDollAnatomy a different approach]].
* ChainOfPeople: The Big Seven (less one) band together to help Flash [[spoiler:escape the Speed Force]].
* ChandlersLaw: After Green Arrow, the Question and Supergirl were unable to get anything to genuinely prove that something was going on in ''Fearful Symmetry'' [[spoiler: Cadmus conveniently sent teams of soldiers and robots to attack them]] which got them out of the rut they were stuck in.
* CharacterDevelopment: Each of the main seven characters go through a little of this.
** Superman retains the same goals and desires from [[WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries his own show]], but his experiences with Cadmus teach him to go about his heroics in a manner that will not cause fear and distrust from those he wishes to help.
** Wonder Woman gains an appreciation for man's world and men in general, and gradually learns to integrate into other societies while retaining her cultural identity as an Amazon.
** Batman begins to cooperate with other people and learns to appreciate friendship and camaraderie in addition to working partnerships. (Unfortunately, [[DoomedByCanon he will inevitably become isolated and alone again]] [[WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond in the future]].)
** Green Lantern learned to accept himself as a Lantern without fearing the loss of his own personal identity, but then became despondent again following the end of his relationship with Hawkgirl. He eventually becomes [[ScrewDestiny determined to live his own life no matter what]], but retains conflicted thoughts and feelings for Hawkgirl.
** The Flash is initially the inexperienced comic relief. A number of times early on, he appears more interested in showing off and impressing women. However, over the course of the series, he learns to use his brain in a fight and not just his speed. He also develops into TheHeart and "the conscience" of the team, becoming a far more selfless hero.
** Hawkgirl has the most profound and fundamental character shift. Starting as an aggressive, self-confident warrior she grows depressed and self-critical while suffering an identity and personality crisis during the shift to ''Unlimited''. Ultimately, she accepts her place in Earth society, but as a much calmer and internally settled character that no longer identifies as "Hawkgirl" at all.
** Martian Manhunter slowly realizes the implications of what it means to be the Last Martian, doomed to be eternally alone on Earth, and simultaneously grows detached and unfeeling towards humanity at large. [[spoiler:He finally leaves the League in order to find some connection to humanity; when he reappears as a 'guest star' in the final episode, he has found a personal life and honest emotional companionship on Earth.]]
* CharacterizationMarchesOn: Zatanna goes from being an extraordinarily skilled but decidedly mortal, realistic magician in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' to being [[MagiciansAreWizards an actually magical and very powerful wizard]] in her appearances here. An issue of ''Comic/TheBatmanAdventures'' [[AllThereInTheManual does show what seems to be an early instance of actual magic use]], so her skills possibly grew from that.
* ChargeIntoCombatCut: This takes place in the episode "Flash and Substance", when Batman DualWielding batarangs is about to face Captain Boomerang dual wielding boomerangs.
* CharlesAtlasSuperpower: Several heroes who are ostensibly {{Badass Normal}}s can punch dents into steel or craters into concrete.
* ChekhovsGun: In "Hereafter", the assertion that Vandal Savage's Zero Generator is a "miniature sun". As soon as Superman gets near it, he regains his yellow sun-induced powers.
* TheChessmaster: Lex Luthor and Brainiac. Brainiac is mechanically better, balanced out by Lex's imagination and force of personality. [[spoiler: They ultimately merge to combine the best (worst?) of both worlds]].
* TheChosenMany: The Justice League itself, and [[Franchise/GreenLantern the Green Lantern Corps.]]
* ChristmasEpisode: "Comfort and Joy," which has all the classic earmarks of a quality holiday episode: Visiting family, exchanging gifts, an actual aluminum Christmas tree, and... a ''BarBrawl?!?'' Sure, why not. Also a case of MerryChristmasInGotham.
* CivilianVillain: Lex Luthor, after being pardoned and while running for president.
* CivvieSpandex: Upon returning to the Justice League midway in the 3rd season, Hawkgirl ditched the helmet and traded her earlier outfit for something you might go jogging in.
* {{Claustrophobia}}: Hawkgirl, who almost has a heart attack when Dr. Destiny invades her dreams and traps her in a coffin.
* CleavageWindow: Galatea and Ice's outfits both have one.
* ClockKing: [[TropeNamers The man himself.]]
* CoatHatMask: The Question and the Crimson Avenger.
* CollectiveGroan:
** In the "Doomsday Sanction", after Batman informs the League that he has the Question on the case. After the groan he admits that the Question is wound a little too tight.
** In "Panic In the Sky", when the power went back on in the Watchtower, a group of heroes cheered right before the power went out again, causing them to groan.
* ColonyDrop: Batman uses this to ''save'' the world in "Starcrossed", [[spoiler: piloting the Watchtower out of orbit and into the Thanagarian hyperspace array before it could activate and cause an EarthShatteringKaboom]].
* CombatBreakdown: In "Patriot Act", the fight begins with the League members present all using their various gimmicks and abilities. As the episode progresses, they are each defeated one by one and the ones still standing run out of ammunition. Ultimately, it ends with the last men standing fighting with blunt instruments and their bare hands.
* CombatPragmatist:
** In "Chaos at the Earth's Core", Supergirl [[BroughtDownToNormal loses her powers while in Skartaris]]. She compensates by grabbing whatever weapon she finds at at hand, including swords, laser guns, and even Stargirl's staff.
** Devil Ray, when confronted by a sword-bearing monk who explains that entrance to Nanda Parbat must be earned, shoots the monk and keeps walking. Later, when the Old Master is able to block his attacks, Devil Ray just collapses the roof on him instead of continuing the fight.
--> "[[BondOneLiner Keep the change]]."
** After Captain Cold, Captain Boomerang, Mirror Master, and the Trickster [[MookChivalry take turns trying to defeat the Flash one at a time]], Captain Cold points out that taking turns is dumb and they agree to jump the Flash together.
* ComeWithMeIfYouWantToLive: From Aquaman to Solomon Grundy in "The Terror Beyond."
* ComesGreatResponsibility: John Stewart is a proponent of this:
-->"Think of the others like us. We all need to be held accountable, we have too much power not to be."
* ComicallyMissingThePoint: When the Joker seeds bombs throughout Las Vegas, he finds one old woman who is still feeding a slot machine when everybody else in the city has fled. When he asks her why she remains, she points out that the slot machine has to pay out sooner or later.
* TheComicallySerious: Batman, usually. Martian Manhunter too.
* ComicBookMoviesDontUseCodenames:
** J'onn J'onzz, the Martian Manhunter, is only called "J'onn" or "the Martian" here. He is referred to as "The Martian Manhunter" once in the entire series, during the briefing in "Task Force X".
** Wonder Woman is usually referred to either as "Diana" or "Princess" by the League members and people who know her personally. It is only the public at large and some enemies who refer to her as "Wonder Woman".
** A.M.A.Z.O. is universally referred to as "the Android" (and occasionally "Ivo's Android" to refer to ''which'' android they are talking about). The word "A.M.A.Z.O." is seen written once in his introductory episode, when Lex Luthor looks at his blueprints, and spoken aloud once when Luthor is later building a new model.
** In the episode "Metamorphosis," Metamorpho's name was not spoken aloud as such.
* CommutingOnABus: Flash in the first season of ''Unlimited''. Voice-actor Michael Rosenbaum was unavailable for the role, so the Flash only appears in background and group shots without any lines throughout the entire season.
* [[ComplainingAboutPeopleNotLikingTheShow Complaining About People Not Liking Hawkgirl]]: [[invoked]] [[StalkerWithACrush Hawkman]] keeps getting banned from the "I Hate Hawkgirl" websites [[InUniverse because he is constantly flaming their members for their dislike of Hawkgirl.]]
* CompositeCharacter:
** An example that works as such even in-universe, Loana, Superman's wife in his dream state during "For The Man Who Has Everything". She is explicitly a combination of Lois Lane and Lana Lang. Appearance wise, she looks a lot like Lois (even having Dana Delany as her voice actress), but has red hair like Lana.
** Doomsday gets combined with [[spoiler:the Kon-El version of Superboy, being a modified Superman clone created by Cadmus]].
** Stephen Mandragora is basically a combination of Stefano Mandragora from the ''Huntress'' comics with Tobias Whale from ''Black Lightning''.
* ConflictKiller:
** {{Implied|Trope}} in "Starcrossed, Part 2". The USA has apparently set up mutual communication and coordination of armed forces with both China and Russia under the threat of Gordanian invasion.
** In the climax of the Cadmus arc, when it looks like the Justice League and government might actually turn on each other and destroy the world, [[spoiler:Brainiac]] shows up and puts all previous rivalries on the back burner.
** In the finale "Destroyer", the League and the Secret Society of Supervillains team up against [[spoiler:Darkseid]].
* ConquerorFromTheFuture:
** Vandal Savage's gambit in "The Savage Time". He could not actually time-travel on his own, but he could only send technology and messages to himself in the past.
** From the episode "The Once and Future Thing", where a Wild West outlaw robs a time traveler and uses his access to time travel to get a few future guns and robots to take over a Western town. The time traveler himself becomes another straight example, using his time travel powers to take over the far-future.
** Comicbook/BoosterGold is an inversion of this idea. He is a physically fit, but otherwise normal citizen from the future who uses relatively common technology from his time to travel back in time and become a superhero so that he can become rich and famous.
* ConservationOfNinjutsu: "Twilight Of The Gods" demonstrates this trope in stages with the Brainiacs. When there was just one, it put up quite a fight against Superman, J'onn and Hawkgirl, requiring a vicious beatdown to destroy. Then there was several, and each put up considerably less of a fight. Then there were dozens, and the heroes were destroying at least one with each attack.
* ConspiracyTheorist: The Question.
* ContemporaryCaveman: Vandal Savage of course.
* ContinuityNod:
** In "Hereafter", the trunk of the car Superman is driving has a box of the energy bars Flash was hawking in "Eclipsed", and Deadshot smuggled a gun into the watchtower by hiding the parts in wrappers of the same bars in "Task Force X." "Flash and Substance" featured a cardboard cutout of him in his apartment, still advertising the same energy bars, which is destroyed when it startles Orion.
---> '''Flash''': ''[Bummed out]'' Dude, that was my last standee.
** In "Clash", Superman brings up deodorant advertisement deals in his lecture to Captain Marvel--the way Flash covers his face indicates that he takes this as a dig against his energy bar commercials.
** In "Hearts and Minds", Katma Tui brings up that John Stewart sent Green Lantern Kyle Rayner to Oa for training after receiving his ring, accounting for his absence since his introduction in "In Brightest Day..." in ''Superman: The Animated Series''.
** In "Question Authority", Huntress uses Comicbook/JimmyOlsen's signal watch to call Superman; the watch first appeared in "Superman's Pal" in ''Superman: The Animated Series''.
** In part two of "The Once and Future Thing," Green Lantern alludes to a past team-up with ComicBook/{{Static}}. This references "Fallen Hero", an episode of ''WesternAnimation/StaticShock'' that Green Lantern guest-starred in.
** Lex Luthor has cancer from manipulating [[GreenRocks kryptonite]] for years. The first mention of the disease was in ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'', when the [[{{Crossover}} Joker]] stole a jade dragon statue. Every past owner fell ill and died, because it actually was made of kryptonite.
* ConvenientlyUnverifiableCoverStory: Hawkgirl's cover story of being teleported to earth by [[MythologyGag Zeta beams]].
* CoolCar: Comicbook/TheQuestion's Pontiac GTO. And he's VERY good at [[CarFu using it to kick butt]].
* CoolVersusAwesome: The first half of "The Once and Future Thing" is absolutely ''made'' of this. Cowboys and superheroes versus outlaws, ''dinosaurs'', and '''ROBOTS!'''
* CorporateSponsoredSuperhero: The Flash does this for one episode, which gets him chewed out by Batman.
* CorruptCorporateExecutive: Lex Luthor, Simon Stagg, Morgan Edge, etc.
* CosplayOtakuGirl: Supergirl, who is [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff Big in Japan]], is surrounded by an InstantFanClub of young girls all dressed in one of her early costume designs after she helps defeat a rampaging monster near a Supergirl convention.
* CourtroomEpisode: Flash defends Franchise/GreenLantern when he is accused of murder. "If the ring wasn't lit, you must acquit!"
* CowboyEpisode: The "Weird Western Tales" part of "The Once and Future Thing"
* CradlingYourKill: In "Only a Dream", Superman cradles JimmyOlsen's body after [[AccidentalMurder inadvertently]] [[DoesNotKnowHisOwnStrength crushing]] [[AndCallHimGeorge him]] to death. Fortunately, it's AllJustADream.
* CrazyPrepared:
** Franchise/{{Batman}}, after having Medusa brought up from Tartarus in order to provide information on the recently released Circe, gives Charon the required two pennies. In the DVD audio commentary, the producers feel it is only natural that Batman would happen to be carrying exactly two pennies in his utility belt, ''just in case'' he had to cross the River Styx.
** Green Arrow reflects on this nature during a [[RuleOfFunny quite amusing]] moment in "To Another Shore";
-->'''Green Arrow''': And Black Canary said a buzz-saw arrow was self indulgent.
* CrazySurvivalist: The Question. Then again, he ''has'' [[ProperlyParanoid been right before...]]
* CreativeSterility: SelfDemonstrating/LexLuthor accuses Brainiac of this. Brainiac agrees and they decide to combine their respective strengths for their mutual benefit.
* CreateYourOwnVillain: The darkest inversion of this trope is presented in "Epilogue", where WellIntentionedExtremist Amanda Waller reveals to [[WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond Terry McGinnis]] that [[spoiler: when she noticed Bruce Wayne was getting too old to be the Batman, she decided to create her own hero by taking Bruce's DNA and overwriting Warren [=McGinnis=]'s gametes with said DNA, meaning his child by Mary was genetically Bruce Wayne's; when Terry was 7 years old, Waller then commissioned an aging Phantasm to assassinate Terry's parents in his presence. Thankfully, the Phantasm decided to abort the operation.]]
* CreepyMonotone: Brainiac
* CrimefightingWithCash: Batman and Green Arrow (who started out as a virtual carbon-copy {{Expy}} of Batman by, interestingly, the same company).
* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: Flash has several of these throughout the series, mainly because he is frequently underestimated.
* CuffsOffRubWrists: The entire league in "Starcrossed".
* CurbStompBattle:
** In "Ultimen", Shifter attempts to blast Aquaman with a geyser of water. Though the blast had enough power to knock down a concrete wall, so it is not as if Shifter expected him to drown, Aquaman was unmoved and unimpressed. He then knocked Shifter out with a single backhand blow.
-->'''Aquaman''': King of the seas, remember?
** In "Panic in the Sky" three clones of Wind Dragon are blowing away members of the League using their wind-based powers when ComicBook/RedTornado steps in and blocks their three wind blasts with one of his own. After a quick struggle, all three of the clones are blown away. Double points considering Red Tornado only used ''one hand'' to do it
* CurseCutShort: Frequently.
-->'''Etrigan''': The truth hurts, doesn't it, princess?
-->'''Wonder Woman''': Why don't you go straight to h--
-->'''Flash''': More bad news; the Javelin's gone.
* CurtainCall: "Destroyer" ends with the entire League running down the stairs of the Hall of Justice/Metro Tower in a sort of Curtain Call.
* CustomUniform: The first two appearances of the Green Lantern Corps feature a conspicuous absence of this trope, unlike the Corps' depiction in the comics. A few notable members are later given custom uniforms in later appearances.
* CuteBruiser: Supergirl. Hawkgirl too.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: D-G]]
* DamselInDistress:
** Comicbook/BoosterGold points out that the ones in distress are his favorite type of damsel.
** [[spoiler:Hippolyta]] becomes this in "Fury".
* DangerouslyGenreSavvy: In "Injustice for All", the Joker, of all people, is the one who insists that Luthor immediately kill Batman after he's been captured. Luthor [[VillainBall doesn't do it]], eventually proving the Joker right as Batman derails all of Luthor's schemes ''despite being locked in a basement with everything but his head being restrained''. And even then he just escapes his bonds offscreen anyway.
* TheDarkSideWillMakeYouForget: Justice Lord Superman is ready to kill Franchise/TheFlash, whose counterpart's death was the reason for their FaceHeelTurn in the first place:
-->'''The Flash:''' You can't do it, can you? I'm the last piece of your conscience. [[TemptingFate And this is the one thing you'll never do.]]
-->'''Justice Lord Superman:''' ''(grimly)'' I've done a ''lot'' of things I thought I'd never do in these last two years. One more won't hurt.
* ADayInTheLimelight: As an ensemble show, each episode focuses on only two or three members of the cast, giving each character several episodes where they rise to prominence over the other characters.
* DayOfTheJackboot: The Vandal Savage altered future in "The Savage Time".
* DaydreamSurprise:
** "Only a Dream" opens with John Dee dreaming of being congratulated by supervillains like Luthor and Joker after defeating the League.
** In "The Doomsday Sanction", Professor Milo briefly fantasizes about taking out a gun and killing the Cadmus board that had just fired him.
* DeadAlternateCounterpart: In "A Better World", where the Justice Lords turned into an authoritarian group that controlled the world. When looking for leads about this world, the League finds out that their Flash had been killed, forcing the others to this style. Once he found this out, the Flash capitalized on this to break free from their control and get the others out as well.
* DeadlyDoctor: Doctor Destiny
--> '''Doctor Destiny''': [[FromNobodyToNightmare And now that I'm a doctor... I think I'll perform]] [[GoryDiscretionShot some surgery...]]
* DeadlyDodging: In the action finale of "Starcrossed".
* DeadpanSnarker:
** Hawkgirl, Deadshot, and occasionally Batman on the rare occasion that he is not TheComicallySerious. When together, Huntress and Question seem to take turns trying to out-snark each other. Of course, knowing them it is probably some kind of foreplay...
** Even Martian Manhunter joins in sometimes.
---> '''Batman''': (''while helping J'onn fight a bunch of Brainiac drones'') Having fun?
---> '''Martian Manhunter''': (''completely deadpan'') Yes.
* [[DeathByWomanScorned Death By Man Scorned:]]
** That was the StartOfDarkness for Doctor Destiny.
** Hro Talak could accept Hawkgirl's decision to save humanity, but not her decision to choose Green Lantern over himself.
* DeathSeeker: The Viking Prince.
* DeathTrap: It would not be a superhero show without them.
* {{Deconstruction}}: The Trickster in "Flash and Substance" deconstructs the idea of a supervillain being "insane." Rather than the usual cruel, amoral, giggling villain traditionally thrown into Arkham Asylum, the Trickster is a quiet, awkward villain who tends to PokeThePoodle and make jokes that nobody gets. It turns out that he is a diagnosed mental patient who reverts back to his "villainous" personality when he is off his medicine, and is unaware that he is even wearing his supervillain costume. The Flash talks him down gently and treats him respectfully, which is shown to be far more effective than the standard JackBauerInterrogationTechnique favored by Batman when dealing with somebody who has genuine mental problems. The character is even portrayed by Creator/MarkHamill, who usually plays "comic book insane" villains like SelfDemonstrating/TheJoker.
* DefiantStoneThrow: Several [[FreeRangeChildren children]] throw rocks at General Eiling to distract him in "Patriot Act".
* DefiantToTheEnd: Hawkgirl to Ichthultu in "The Terror Beyond".
* DeliberateValuesDissonance: "Legends," where Hawkgirl, J'onn, Flash and Green Lantern are sent into a 60's-style alternate dimension [[spoiler: which is actually an illusionary construct]].
* DeliberatelyMonochrome: Mr. Miracle's flashbacks to his time in the X-Pit on Apokolips are all blue-tinted.
* DemocracyIsFlawed: In the episode "A Better World", when League!Batman fights and argues with [[EvilCounterpart Lord!Batman]], they briefly touch on the topic of democracy, which Lord!Batman quickly dismisses, because "it has other virtues, but it doesn't keep you very safe". He eventually defeats League!Batman by pointing out that in his totalitarian world, no eight year-old boy would lose his parents because of some punk with a gun. League!Batman has to admit that he has a point.
* DepletedPhlebotinumShells: Hardcastle's kryptonite bullet, Cadmus's kryptonite tipped nuclear missile etc.
* {{Determinator}}:
** Batman, logically, as seen on [[Quotes/{{Determinator}} the quote page]].
** Comicbook/CaptainAtom, after being soundly beaten by Superman in a fight throughout the Cadmus headquarters, refused to give up even after Superman was clearly the victor. He had been beaten nearly senseless and lost the ability to even throw a punch, but he ''refused'' to stop.
-->'''Superman:''' You fought a good fight, ''[[DontMakeMeDestroyYou stay down]]''.\\
'''Captain Atom:''' I can't do that Superman.
** Shining Knight. In "Patriot Act" he is the last Leaguer standing before the General, having already lost his sword and been severely beaten, and explicitly states that the General might as well give up because no matter what happens, Shining Knight ''will not''.
--> '''The General:''' Why don't you give up?\\
'''Shining Knight:''' ''Why don't you?''
** Supergirl. In "Chaos at the Earth's Core", already nearly powerless and being poisoned by kryptonite, responds to an immobilized Metallo's taunts with a teeth clenched "I won't quit!" and continues to struggle till Stargirl makes the save.
** Solomon Grundy, surprisingly, in "The Terror Beyond". Superman is trying to convince him to stand down, and he simply responds "Grundy won't quit!" before attacking again.
* DeusExMachina: Darkseid's final defeat in "Destroyer" will probably seem like an especially JustForFun/{{egregious}} example of this to anyone who is not sufficiently familiar with Darkseid.
* DeusExitMachina: In early episodes, you can make a DrinkingGame out of it.
* [[DidYouJustFlipOffCthulhu Did You Just Flip Off Icthultu]]: Yes, Hawkgirl did.
--> '''Icthultu:''' "Speak to me, child of Thanagar."\\
'''Hawkgirl:''' "Nothing to say. I've got a ''gesture'' for you, but my hands are tied."
* [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu Did You Just Punch Out Ichthultu]]: "The Terror Beyond" (Not quite the {{Trope Namer|s}} but close enough).
* DisappearsIntoLight: [[spoiler: Darkseid and Luthor]].
* DiscriminateAndSwitch: The superheroes [[PlayingWithFire Fire]] and [[AnIcePerson Ice]] have been close friends and partners for the entirety of their tenure in comics. This has, over time, given rise to a lot of romantic/sexual subtext between them and corresponding theories in the fandom. When they were added to the [[HeroesUnlimited expanded roster]] of ''Justice League Unlimited'' Franchise/TheFlash began to nurse a not-so-subtle crush on Fire and Hawkgirl tried to prod him into action as best she knew how.
--> '''Shayera Hol (Hawkgirl):''' "You'd be wasting your time, anyway, I hear she's... yknow... ''Brazilian''."
* DisneyVillainDeath: [[spoiler:Demos]] in "Chaos at the Earths Core".
* DoesNotKnowHisOwnStrength:
** Part of Superman's [[YourWorstNightmare worst nightmare]], as literally seen in "Only a Dream".
** Lex Luthor experiences the trope played straight when he suddenly gains SuperStrength, briefly surprising himself during his fight with TheQuestion before he embraces it and proceeds with the NoHoldsBarredBeatdown.
* DoesntLikeGuns:
** Batman, obviously, who refuses to take an offered gun on two separate occasions.
** Averted by Vigilante, whose main power seems to be "owns [[GunsAkimbo a pair of]] {{revolvers|AreJustBetter}}." He is [[CouldHaveBeenMessy only ever shown hitting villains who are]] ImmuneToBullets or vehicles.
** Franchise/GreenLantern, who is a former marine, has zero compunctions about using firearms and is possibly the only hero in the whole DCAU that actually succeeds in shooting someone in "The Savage Time".[[note]]"Possibly" because the HitFlash is placed ambiguously, so that it could be interpreted as either [[BlastingItOutOfTheirHands hitting the enemy's rifle]], or as a [[BoomHeadshot headshot]]. Either way, the guy does not seem to get back up afterwards.[[/note]]
* DoesNotLikeMen: Aresia wants to kill every man on Earth, which presumably would have led to an adaptation of [[Comicbook/YTheLastMan another DC comic book...]]
* DoesNotLikeShoes:
** Gypsy always goes around barefoot as to authenticate her gypsy attire. Aquagirl too from the Future Justice League Unlimited as seen in a flashback in "Epilogue".
** Villainous examples include Cheetah and Tala (extra points for going to the snowy regions of Nanda Parbat completely barefoot and barelegged). Another villainous example is the Ten from the second incarnation of the Royal Flush Gang (or third, Future Amanda Waller can't remember which). Like JLU Aquagirl, she just wears a one-piece swimsuit and nothing else. Unlike JLU Aquagirl, [[PrehensileHair her powers have nothing to do with water]].
* DomesticAbuse: The character of Hro Talak in "Starcrossed" gradually progressed to violence when the truth about Shayera's relationship with Green Lantern came out, something which was particularly difficult for Victor Rivers to voice since [[MeanCharacterNiceActor he is a leading crusader against domestic abuse]].
* DontExplainTheJoke: SelfDemonstrating/TheJoker, [[{{Irony}} of all people]], violates this trope in "Wild Cards".
* DontMakeMeDestroyYou:
** When Comicbook/CaptainAtom has his military commission reactivated by General Wade Eiling he ends up coming to blows with Superman who, after one of the most brutal fights in the series, emerges as the clear victor.
-->'''Superman:''' (''To Captain Atom'') You fought a good fight, ''stay down''.\\
'''Captain Atom:''' [[{{Determinator}} I can't do that Superman]].
** When General Eiling has been transformed into a hulking monster and is rampaging through Metropolis he is left facing Shining Knight after he has already defeated several other heroes.
--> "Save yourself a hospital stay and stand down."
* DoNotTauntCthulhu: "Flash, stop heckling the supervillain!"
* DontTouchItYouIdiot: Batman to Flash in "Paradise Lost" and the third part of "Starcrossed," too.
* DopeSlap: Green Lantern to Flash in "The Brave and the Bold".
* DoubleEntendre: "Yeah, you'd probably be wasting your time anyway. I hear she's... you know... [[UnusualEuphemism Brazilian]]." See also DiscriminateAndSwitch.
* DramaticUnmask:
** Hawkgirl had worn her mask for every scene in the first two seasons, never letting viewers know what she looked like, and some viewers were convinced that she did not ''wear'' a mask, that that was her natural appearance as a Thanagarian. In "Wild Cards", when she and Green Lantern [[TheyDo finally admit their feelings]], he slowly reaches forward and takes off her mask, revealing that the two of them are exactly what he said they were: A man and a woman in love.
** During the climax of the Cadmus story-arc, after he had taken a severe beating and was recuperating in the Watchtower medical bay, the Question has Huntress remove his mask for the first time.
* DualWielding: Several times in the series, including in "Secret Origins", Batman wields a pair of electrified knuckle duster weapons when fighting super powered foes. In "Dark Heart" he also duel wields a pair of what are either bat themed blade weapons or oversized batarangs in close combat with the alien spiders.
* DudleyDoRightStopsToHelp: By Wonder Woman in "Starcrossed".
* DyingDeclarationOfLove: It takes being in the center of a massive explosion and having his heart stopped to finally convince John Stewart that there is no reason to wait or hide, and he confesses his feelings for Shayera, getting her to [[DramaticUnmask take off her mask for the first time]] and [[BigDamnKiss kiss]].
* DynamicEntry: Solomon Grundy enters a battle by attacking Superman from behind. ''[[ThereWasADoor Through]]'' [[ThereWasADoor a door]].
* DysfunctionJunction: The original team: two [[LastOfHisKind Last Of Their Kind]], TheExile, an [[ParentalAbandonment orphan]], an [[TheMole alien stranded on the other side of the galaxy from her homeworld]], a CasanovaWannabe, and a man with a JerkassFacade.
* EarthAllAlong: Superman in "Hereafter" is transported to a post-apocalyptic planet orbiting a red sun that he learns is Earth is the very distant future.
* EarthShatteringKaboom: In one episode, Green Lantern inadvertently destroys a planet with a stray blast from his power ring, through the planet's destruction is later revealed to have been an illusion. In a different episode, Mongul threatens to destroy a world full of innocent civilians with some kind of superlaser, but is stopped by the Justice League.
* EasilyForgiven: Averted, as Hawkgirl is not forgiven by certain League members or the general public for being TheMole; when she returns to save the day after her [[PutOnABus recuperation with Dr. Fate]] she is ''heckled by an angry mob'', and later episodes reveal that there are several hundred "I Hate Hawkgirl" websites. Even Superman is distrusted and feared by former friends and allies for the events of "Legacy", which occurred several years (and two TV series) prior to this series.
* EldritchAbomination:
** Icthultu, who was a rather transparent CaptainErsatz of Franchise/{{Cthulhu|Mythos}}.
** The Dark Heart. It apparently warps the very nature of reality, as every close-up has the screen distorted and visibly pulsing while the surface of the creature itself does not appear to move at all.
* EmperorScientist: Chronos becomes one via TimeTravel.
* EnemyCivilWar: On Apokolips after Darkseid's death, and also between the Grodd and Luthor factions of the LegionOfDoom.
* EnemyMine:
** In order to defeat the Justice Lords, the League cuts a deal with [[spoiler:Lex Luthor]].
** Kalibak quotes the actual "Enemy of my enemy is my friend" maxim when Mr. Miracle, Big Barda, and the Flash rescue him on Apokolips.
** The Legion of Doom [[spoiler: go to the Justice League after accidentally reviving Darkseid]].
* EngineeredPublicConfession: What sends Luthor to prison for the first time.
* [[EtTuBrute Et Tu, Hawkgirl?]]: Happens in the episode, "Starcrossed", when it's revealed that she had been spying on the League for the Thanagarians.
** Luthor actually uses this classic line on Ultra Humanite, in "Injustice for All", after finding out he betrayed him.
* EvasiveFightThreadEpisode: "Grudge Match", which revolves around numerous heroes being brainwashed to fight one another, closes with Huntress and Black Canary agreeing to one last fight in order to settle their contest. The episode ends before they make contact.
* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: Steven Mandragora, for being a world class sleaze and murdering sociopath, appears to be a truly loving and dedicated father.
* EvenEvilHasStandards:
** In "In Blackest Night", Kanjar Ro claims that this is why he, a pirate, comes forward as a witness at John Stewart's trial when he is accused of destroying a planet. [[spoiler: [[SubvertedTrope He was lying, though; he was helping to frame John for the crime.]]]]
** In "Fury," Star Sapphire turns against Aresia once she learns the full extent of her plans. She is evil, not ''gendercidal''. [[spoiler:[[SubvertedTrope Except she is, and actively looks forward to a world without men]]. She was just luring Diana and Hawkgirl to Aresia so that they could be invited to join them.]]
* EveryoneCanSeeIt: Before John and Shayera ever admit their feelings Flash is teasing them that they are acting like an old married couple and, when Hro Talak enters the scene in "Starcrossed", Batman and J'onn each spontaneously approach John to give him advice and consolation. SelfDemonstrating/TheJoker himself actually comments on the [[UnresolvedSexualTension tension]] between them, wondering if they have a history behind the scenes. Ironically, when [[TheyDo they finally become a couple]] it was the Flash who had no idea they were involved, despite being the first one to comment on their tension.
* EverythingsBetterWithMonkeys: Gorilla Grodd, Ultra-Humanite, and Gorilla City. And the brief but very fun shout-out to ''[[DorkAge J. L. Apes]]'' in an otherwise [[TearJerker rather sad]] episode centered on Deadman. Ape!Luthor is, of course, entirely devoid of fur.
* EvilAlbino: Mandragora, the not-Wonder Twins after their FaceHeelTurn
* EvilCostumeSwitch: Happens when the heroes turn into the Justice Lords in an AlternateUniverse.
* EvilMeScaresMe: The Justice Lords
* EvilPlan: Constantly. Parodied with Grodd's "master plan".
* EvilSorcerer: Circe, Felix Faust, and Tala.
* EvilSoundsDeep: Darkseid, Despero, etc. Phil Lamarr even lampshades it in some DVD commentary.
* EvilTwin:
** The Justice Lords are a classic example, being from a MirrorUniverse where [[KnightTemplar they took a hard-line approach to crime fighting]].
** Galatea is actually an evil ''clone'' of Comicbook/{{Supergirl}}, but she fits the trope otherwise.
* ExpectingSomeoneTaller: In "Starcrossed": Hro Talak, after hearing about John Stewart from Hawkgirl, is surprised he is not taller.
* {{Expy}}:
** Hro Talak is not quite [[Comicbook/{{Hawkman}} Katar Hol]], but his name is an anagram and he was also given a past relationship with Hawkgirl.
** Galatea is not exactly ComicBook/PowerGirl, but she wears a similar costume, which one scene made identical with the addition of a red towel hanging over her shoulder in place of a cape. She shares the background of "not exactly Comicbook/{{Supergirl}}, but close."
** See also Dr. Fate's AlternateCompanyEquivalent version of the Defenders. In the same episode, the screaming minions that the heroes fight in Icthultu's world are clearly based on Marvel's Mindless Ones.
** The Justice Lords from "A Better World" were heavily inspired by ''Comicbook/TheAuthority'', which the producers had begun to read between seasons one and two, and one idea they had was to see what the world would be like if the League ever tried to emulate their tactics.
** When Brainthor summons up robot versions of the Justice Lords to distract the League, he has to create a new one for Flash (since Flash of that universe died before they became the Lords). The costume he gives Flash is identical to the costume of famed Flash Villain Professor Zoom, The Reverse-Flash.
** The giant turtle that attacks Japan in "Chaos at the Earth's Core" is an expy of Franchise/{{Gamera}}, as well as being a MythologyGag to Jimmy Olsen's comic book.
** Doctor Destiny is a pretty striking one for [[Franchise/ANightmareOnElmStreet Freddy Krueger]]. Even his backstory is very similar to Freddy's. [[spoiler:His opening act implied to be torturing his ex-wife within her dreams, resulting in her ''real'' death.]]
* FaceDeathWithDignity:
--> '''Shining Knight:''' "I'll die as befits a knight, defending the weak."
* FaceHeelTurn - Professor Emil Hamilton
* {{Facepalm}}:
** Luthor in "Injustice for All".
** Flash in "Flash and Substance".
* FakeMemories: The Ultimen are implanted with this, to disguise the fact that they are clones only a few months old.
* FakeOutMakeOut: Between Batman and Wonder Woman in "Starcrossed".
* FakeStatic: When Amanda Waller tries to order Galatea to abort her attack on the Watchtower she claims that she cannot understand the transmission, [[ImplausibleDeniability then says that it was a wrong number]].
* FanDisservice: Comicbook/BlackCanary's sonic scream ripping the clothes off [[EvilAlbino Steven]] [[FatBastard Mandragora]].
* FanService: Whenever Comicbook/BlackCanary has time to prep for a fight -- sparring with Huntress or Green Arrow -- she starts by removing her jacket, fighting only in a bustier and sheer hose (the fishnets were impossible to animate).
* FantasticFragility: The flaw in Hephaestus's armor.
* FarmersDaughter: Galatea (and, [[EvilTwin by extension]], Supergirl) is described as "blonde hair, blue eyes, real farmer's daughter type."
* FasterThanLightTravel:
** In "War World" it appears that Green Lantern's ring lets him do this.
** It seems to be quite a common feature of spaceships in the DCAU, to the point where even the League's Javelin can do it.
* FearfulSymmetry: Supergirl vs. Galatea in the episode "Fearful Symmetry".
* FictionalCounterpart: In "A Knight of Shadows" Flash and Wonder Woman visit the house of Harv Hickman, a Hugh Heffner {{expy}} who publishes a ''Playboy''-style periodical.
* FieryRedhead: Hawkgirl, and ([[PlayingWithFire quite literally]]) Volcana.
* FinalBattle: In the GrandFinale.
* FingerPokeOfDoom: Superman, because of ''[[SuperStrength just how strong he is]]'', once defeated the villain with a literal flick of his finger. Provides the page image.
* FingerTwitchingRevival: Subverted with [[spoiler:Galatea]]. The very last shot ''does'' show her twitching, but he does not get back up and she never returns in any later episodes.
* FinishDialogueInUnison: Happens in "Patriot Act" (Shining Knight: "Even thought that ogre was--" All: "Morgan Le Fey.") and "Far From Home" (Brainy and Supergirl: "A quantum tunneling RF transponder!")
* FinishHim - In War World. Superman, of course, refuses.
* FirstNameBasis:
** Starting in ''Unlimited'', most of the characters hardly addressed each other using their superhero identities, often opting to use their real names instead ("Diana", "Shayera", "John", "J'onn", "Wally"). Superman and Batman were the characters most often referred to by their superhero names, but they would occasionally address each other personally.
** The Question was the only person in the series to ever call Huntress "Helena", until Black Canary does so during their reconciliation in "Grudge Match".
* FiveBadBand: Plenty
** The Royal Flush Gang from "Wild Cards".
*** BigBad: King
*** TheDragon: Jack
*** EvilGenius: Ace
*** TheBrute: Ten
*** DarkChick: Queen
*** BiggerBad: The Joker
** The Injustice Gang
*** BigBad: Lex Luthor, later Aresia
*** TheDragon: Joker, also Ultra Humanite fits
*** EvilGenius: Ultra Humanite, The Shade
*** TheBrute: Solomon Grundy, Star Sapphire
*** DarkChick: Cheetah, Copperhead, later Tsukuri
** The Secret Society
*** BigBad: Gorilla Grodd
*** CoDragons: Giganta and The Shade
*** EvilGenius: Clayface (uses more stealth tactics than the others)
*** TheBrute: Sinestro, Parasite
*** DarkChick: Killer Frost
** Cadmus
*** BigBadDuumvirate: Amanda Waller and [[spoiler: Lex Luthor]]
*** TheDragon: General Wade Eilling
*** EvilGenius: [[spoiler: Emil Hamilton]], Dr. Moon/Hugo Strange
*** TheBrute: Galetea
*** DarkChick: Tala, Dr. Milo
*** BiggerBad: [[spoiler: Brainiac]]
** Task Force X
*** TheLeader: Rick Flagg, Jr.
*** TheDragon: Deadshot
*** EvilGenius: Clock King
*** TheBrute: Captain Boomerang
*** DarkChick: Plastique
*** SixthRanger: [[spoiler: The Annihilator]]
*** BiggerBad: Amanda Waller
* FiveManBand:
** Dr. Fate's "[[CaptainErsatz Totally Not]] Comicbook/TheDefenders" in "The Terror Beyond," adding Amazo in "Raise The Dead"
*** TheHero: Dr. Fate
*** TheLancer: Aquaman
*** TheSmartGuy: Amazo
*** TheBigGuy: Grundy
*** ActionGirl: Hawkgirl
** The Big Seven
*** TheHero: Superman (duh)
*** TheLancer: Batman/Wonder Woman
*** TheSmartGuy: Martian Manhunter/Batman
*** TheBigGuy: Hawkgirl (Although all members have played this role at least once)
*** TheChick: Wonder Woman
*** TheHeart: Flash
*** SixthRanger: Green Lantern
* FlameWar: Carter Hall apparently gets involved in this over Hawkgirl proving his StalkerWithACrush status.
* FlashStep: Superman to Darkseid in "Destroyer".
* FlippingTheBird:
--> '''[[EldritchAbomination Ichthultu]]:''' "Speak to me, child of Thanagar."\\
'''Hawkgirl:''' "Nothing to say. I've got a [[DidYouJustFlipOffCthulhu gesture]] for you, but my hands are tied."
* FlyAtTheCameraEnding: The last episode ends with Batman running into the screen.
* ForTheEvulz: Famously played with when Flash ends up in Luthor's body.
--> '''Doctor Polaris''': You gonna ''wash your hands''?
--> '''Luthor!Flash''': No... 'cause I'm ''evil.''
* ForcedPrizeFight: In "Grudge Match".
* {{Foreshadowing}}: Commentary on the DVD release of ''Justice League'' reveals that the producers intended to have [[spoiler:Hawkgirl be a spy]] from the beginning of Season Two. As such, throughout the season there are plenty of hints that supported that plot point, including contradictory backstories, behavior and evidence that they had something to hide. [[AscendedFanon As a lucky break]], "The Brave and the Bold" (a season one episode) also had a scene that only helps with the foreshadow.
* ForgingScene: Superman, finding himself thousands of years in the future against giant mutant animals and without his powers, forges a blade using road flares, a sledge hammer, and a metal rod. It was pretty epic.
* ForgottenPhlebotinum:
** The disempowerment gun used in "A Better World" is never seen again for the rest of the show. While it is unclear whether it would work on other super powered individuals, what ''is'' clear is that it works on the original seven Leaguers (well, [[BadassNormal except Batman]]), so it is strange that Cadmus or Luthor do not even reference it.
** In "Wake the Dead", A.M.A.Z.O. is forced to flee after Solomon Grundy uses chaos magic to absorb his cosmic attack. Dr. Fate later tells Hawkgirl that only she can defeat Grundy because her mace is made of Nth metal. It is too bad the writers and Dr. Fate forgot that A.M.A.Z.O. can replicate her mace, and use it to better effect.
* TheFourthWallWillNotProtectYou: The second half of "Wild Cards" revolves around Ace, whose MindRape powers work even through the television and is attacking the viewing audience.
* FreakyFridayFlip: "The Great Brain Robbery".
* FreeRangeChildren: "Patriot Act" gives the trope a minor {{deconstruction}} when Vigilante asks a group of children where their parents are and the kids explain that they all ran off after the monster appeared, apparently leaving all their children behind to be killed. However, even at the end of the episode, after the monster is defeated and the police and rescue workers are cleaning up, the same kids are ''still'' running around without supervision.
* FreezeFrameBonus:
** In "Starcrossed, Part 3", during the climactic final fight there is a single "white frame" inserted into a shot of Shayera being shocked by an Nth-metal weapon.
** Nightwing, who could not appear as a character due to the "Bat Embargo," had a brief cameo skulking atop a building in Bludhaven, [[MythologyGag which in the comics is "his" city after he stopped being Robin.]]
** If you look at all of the lobotomized inmates at the Other Dimension Arkham, you will notice that Arnold Wesker isn't lobotomized, but the puppet Scarface is.
** In "Kid Stuff" there is also a couple of black-and-white reversal frames when Superboy fires his heat vision.
* FriendlyEnemy:
** Flash and the Ultra-Humanite. They agree to a Christmas truce and, afterwards, the Ultra-Humanite helps Flash deliver a toy to orphans before peacefully allowing himself to be taken to jail. In jail, Flash gives him an aluminum Christmas tree, just like the one he had when he was a child.
** Flash and Trickster. Flash manages to convince the Trickster to go back on his medication, turn himself into the police, and tell the Flash where the other villains are. In return, Flash promises to visit him in the hospital and play darts (the soft kind).
* FriendshipMoment: Numerous.
* FromASingleCell: Brainiac.
* FromMyOwnPersonalGarden: In the episode "Hereafter", after Franchise/{{Superman}} realizes the futility of fighting Vandal Savage, the latter invites the former to lunch. Food's great because [[EarthAllAlong he has had 30,000 years to rediscover the principles of agriculture.]]
* FromNobodyToNightmare: Dr Destiny. ''Literally''. He was originally a harmless {{mook|s}} who was arrested for guarding stolen property, but he gained telepathic powers after undergoing experiments in prison.
* FullyAbsorbedFinale:
** The controversial episode "Epilogue", a finale for ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond''. It was originally intended as the JLU series finale, after the originally planned finale "Starcrossed," but the series [[UnCancelled was renewed again.]]
** The episode "Flash and Substance" [[DownplayedTrope closes up a minor dangling plot thread]] from the EvasiveFightThreadEpisode "Speed Demons" in ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries''. That episode had ended with Superman and the Flash starting a new race to determine which of them is the Fastest Man Alive; a banner hanging in the Flash Museum here indicates that the Flash was the winner of their contest.
* FunWithAcronyms: The '''B'''inary '''F'''usion '''G'''enerator.
* FunbagAirbag: Nearly happens to Flash with Fire in "I Am Legion" when Fire tries to get his attention. Flash turns and his face was a mere few inches away from her breasts before slowly looking up. Followed by DistractedByTheSexy when Fire tries to chat with him.
* FunnyBackgroundEvent: In "Chaos at the Earths Core", when Travis Morgan is explaining to Green Lantern the threat of Demos, Supergirl is visible in the background trying (and failing) to lift a boulder as she practices with her [[BroughtDownToNormal reduced]] SuperStrength.
* FurBikini: Worn by some of the inhabitants of Skartaris.
* FusionDance: [[FanNickname Brainthor/Luthoriac]].
* GainingTheWillToKill: An episode involves an Alternate Universe version of the League called the Justice Lords. At the beginning, we see a flashback showing Superman make this decision and killing Lex Luthor at Luthor's goading. After that the League has no problem killing (or lobotomising) criminals, justifying it as the greater good.
* GalacticConqueror: Mongul and Darkseid, who each also set their sights on Earth.
* {{Gendercide}}: In "Fury", an Amazon, Aresia, with a serious bent against the male gender decides to release a disease into the atmosphere that nearly kills off all of the men on the planet. This includes the male members of the Justice League (even Superman and the Martian Manhunter are affected, despite not being human, and Solomon Grundy, who is The Undead. It's implied magic is involved). It's up to Wonder Woman and Hawkgirl to save the day.
* GeneralRipper: General Eiling, and earlier General Hardcastle.
* GenericDoomsdayVillain:
** Doomsday shows in "A Better World" and rampages through Metropolis, forcing Justice Lord Superman to lobotomize him. He is given no backstory or context, and his only motivation is a vague reference to power. [[spoiler:Later episodes of ''Unlimited'' would delve into his origin and reasoning]].
** The show's version of Brimstone, a superweapon that went berserk for no identifiable reason. Even when the League speaks to scientists involved with its creation they never learn what actually caused the problem.
* GeniusDitz: The Flash. Despite his goofy behavior throughout the series, it is revealed in one episode that he works in police forensics, analyzing crime scene evidence.
* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: Has its own [[Radar/JusticeLeague page]].
* GenreSavvy: Clayface, due to his history as an actor. He explicitly points out that the villains in his movies were always defeated because they made very stupid decisions like leaving the heroes alive, and if ''this'' team wants to succeed they need to act smarter. [[spoiler:Except that's not Clayface talking in that particular case, but J'onn J'onnz posing as him...]]
* TheGhost: ComicBook/PlasticMan couldn't actually appear in the show due to rights issues, but he is referred in a few episodes. In "The Greatest Story Never Told", Elongated Man is relegated to crowd-control duty with Booster Gold, and is told this is because Plastic Man is already engaged in the main battle and "We don't need ''two'' stretchy guys."
* GildedCage: Lois in the Justice Lords universe. Cronos's wife in the second part of "The Once and Future Thing."
* GirlsNightOutEpisode: "Fury," and later on "Grudge Match."
* GivingRadioToTheRomans: "The Savage Time"
* GladiatorGames: In "War World".
* GladiatorRevolt: Also in "War World".
* GlamourFailure: In "Legends," after [[spoiler: Roy is exposed as a psychic mutant who reconstructed a giant illusion of his dimension from before a nuclear war destroyed everything, all just so he could go on adventures with his favorite heroes,]] he reverts to his true form.
* GloryHound:
** Comicbook/BoosterGold, one of the most iconic iterations of the trope, appears.
** Stargirl is a minor example. Altruism guides most of her actions, but she does want the recognition and adoration that she feels her heroics deserve.
* GoGoEnslavement: Katma Tui is subjected to this by Despero.
* GoodOldFisticuffs: Due to the [[CombatBreakdown gradual defeat of all the League members with weapons and technology throughout the episode]], "Patriot Act" ends with the last two combatants fighting bare-handed one-on-one.
* GoThroughMe:
--> '''Shining Knight:''' "Do your worst, I'll not let you harm another."
* AGodAmI:
** Vandal Savage, when faced with the looming specter of his own defeat, proclaims that gods do not grovel.
** Comicbook/{{Darkseid}} returns in season two of ''Justice League''.
-->Super or not, you are merely a man. Whereas I am a god.
* GonnaNeedMoreX: Batman in "Twilight".
* TheGoodCaptain: [[Comicbook/{{Shazam}} Captain Marvel]], Comicbook/CaptainAtom, [[strike: Captain Boomerang]], etc.
* GoodCopBadCop:
** In "The Terror Beyond", Hawkgirl explains her aggressive questioning of Queen Mera by saying that she was playing Bad Cop in a standard interrogation technique. When Wonder Woman points out that she ''always'' plays Bad Cop, Hawkgirl [[LampshadeHanging says she should not play against type]].
** Captain Atom and Supergirl in "Initiation"
-->'''Captain Atom:''' What are we up against?
-->'''Supergirl:''' He asked you a question!
-->'''Officer:''' Don't answer them! That's classified informa- *Supergirl does {{Neck Lift}}*
-->'''Supergirl:''' I just about had it with you guys! You've got to the count of five. One... ''four''... *[[RedEyesTakeWarning Eyes]] {{glow|ingEyesOfDoom}}*
-->'''Captain Atom:''' I'd speak up if I were you.
** In the case of Bruce Wayne of today and Bruce Wayne of the future; Bad Cop/Worse Cop.
-->'''Static:''' Wow. Batman playing "Good Cop".
-->'''Green Lantern:''' Everything's relative.
* GoodIsNotDumb: In "Flash and Substance," Orion asks why Central City would honor a buffoon like the Flash, "who makes bad jokes, who concerns himself with pitiful men like the Trickster." But the Flash is anything but dumb--he is able to handle the Trickster without throwing a single punch. In fact, he convinces the Trickster to happily turn himself in to the police.
* GoodIsOldFashioned: General Wade Eiling accuses Shining Knight of being a relic after the Knight continues to rush at the General, [[{{Determinator}} even after already losing his weapon and being viciously beaten]], to protect the locals and innocent bystanders.
* GoodPeopleHaveGoodSex: ''Heavily'' implied in "The Great Brain Robbery". Hawkgirl also is apparently particularly good at causing men to not be... restful.
* GoryDiscretionShot:
** When Aquaman [[spoiler:cuts his hand off]] it only shows his face before [[{{Pun}} cutting]] to the next scene.
** See ShoutOut [[JusticeLeague/{{TropesM-Z}} here]]. Commander Steel was throwing the Parademon shield at another Parademon's head, then cuts to Shayera to show that ''[[OffWithHisHead it went in a straight line]]'' before [[AbsurdlySharpBlade punching into the side of an Apokolips structure.]]
* GoshdangItToHeck:
** "Hell" can only be uttered backwards apparently.
** Superman doesn't trust Lex "flippin'" Luthor.
* GrandFinale: Three separate mini-arcs were intended as the final finale of the series, but the show [[PostScriptSeason kept getting renewed]] so they had to do it all again the next season.
** The first was "Starcrossed (Parts 1, 2 and 3)", which were the final episodes of the original ''Justice League'' iteration.
** "Question Authority", "Flashpoint", "Panic in the Sky" and "Divided We Fall" was the planned final arc at the end of the second season of ''Unlimited''. Technically "Epilogue" was the actual final episode of the season, but [[FullyAbsorbedFinale was concerned with]] ''WesternAnimated/BatmanBeyond''.
** "Alive" and "Destroyer" were the final GrandFinale in season three of ''Unlimited''.
* GrandRomanticGesture: Superman takes Lois for a picnic... atop a suspension bridge.
* GratuitousDiscoSequence: Mirror Master's [[DoomyDoomsOfDoom discotheque of doom]] in "Flash And Substance".
* GravityMaster: Vandal Savage, offscreen [[ResetButton (and even then, only 'sort of')]] in "Hereafter". He kills the entire League with it, but also terminally destabilises the Solar System and wipes out humanity [[EpicFail by accident.]]
* TheGreatestStoryNeverTold: {{Trope Namer|s}}.
* GreenEyedMonster: Stargirl, when she sees how popular Supergirl is.
* [[SignificantGreenEyedRedhead Green-Eyed Redhead]]:
** Shayera Hol is {{fiery|Redhead}} and {{green|Eyes}} all over.
** Poison Ivy, as seen in the only episode she appears: "A Better World".
* GreenEyes:
** A requisite part of the [[SignificantGreenEyedRedhead above-mentioned trope]] for Shayera Hol.
** John Stewart has inhuman bright green eyes, which the producers explained was because he had been a Green Lantern for so long that the energy had become a part of him. When the ring is depowered, his eyes return to normal.
* GreenLanternRing: Obviously. Also somewhat shows up with Sinestro's power ring and Star Sapphire's head-jewel-thing.
* GreenThumb: In the two-parter "Twilight", one of the children of New Genesis was having trouble working in the garden, complaining that it was difficult. High Father explains the virtue of hard work by [[BrokenAesop accelerating the growth of the plant she was tending]].
* GunboatDiplomacy: Batman to Amanda Waller
--> Mine are bigger than yours...
* GunsAkimbo:
** Vigilante wields a pair of revolvers as his standard weapons.
** Lex Luthor also wields a pair of handguns in "Destroyer", even going so far as to offer his spare to Batman when Batman has exhausted his supply of batarangs.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: H-L]]
* HalfHumanHybrid: [[spoiler: Rex Stewart aka Warhawk, son of Green Lantern and Hawkgirl.]]
* HalfwayPlotSwitch: The series has a habit of introducing a plot in the first scene of an episode, [[ExaggeratedTrope and then immediately transferring the story of the episode to a new plot]].
** "Starcrossed" opens with the League patrolling Washington, D.C. because Batman has received a tip that terrorists are planning to attack a summit of world leaders. In the first scene they are instead attacked by a Gordanian spaceship and are rescued by the Thanagarians, who explain that Earth has now been dragged into their interstellar war.
** In "This Little Piggy", Batman and Wonder Woman are staking out a museum because J'onn received a tip that Intergang was going to try and steal the Rosetta Stone. Instead Circe arrives and transforms Wonder Woman into a pig, and the rest of the episode revolves around trying to undo this spell.
* HandsomeLech: Flash. When he ''stops'' hitting on everything that moves he ends up a bit of a ChickMagnet.
* HannibalLecture: The fake Justice Lords constructed by Braniac. Also President SelfDemonstrating/LexLuthor makes one very effective with Justice Lord Superman [[ColdOpen at the beginning]] of "A Better World".
* HappilyMarried: Big Barda and Scott Free are a BattleCouple with absolutely no inter-personal strife. They might be invading the X Pit in the heart of Apokolips, but their relationship is solid as a rock.
* HappyFunBall: Toyman's specialty.
* HeWhoFightsMonsters:
** The Justice Lords became totalitarian overlords on their world in their attempts to preserve peace and security.
** General Eiling; lampshaded by himself when he admits that he has become what he hated.
* TheHeart:
** The creators admitted that Flash was killed in the AlternateUniverse of "A Better World" partially because they could not imagine him becoming evil "for the greater good," and it was made clear that because he was not around the original seven became KnightTemplar.
** Green Arrow was recruited to the League partly because he ''would'' look at the expanded League with a critical eye, keeping them in check.
* HeelFaceTurn: Solomon Grundy and A.M.A.Z.O.
* HeelRealization:
** The Cadmus arc plays with the trope, as both sides believe that they are the righteous and that the other is in the wrong. Cadmus has the more traditional "Heel" aspects, with secret genetic experiments, torture, and generally morally questionable behavior, but when Batman confronts Amanda Waller with this she retorts with everything that the ''League'' does wrong. Her argument is so convincing that it leaves Batman shaken, and he ''visibly leaves through the door.''
** [[spoiler:Eiling]] has one in "Patriot Act," after his drive to protect humanity from the super powered heroes leads him to gaining super powers and thrashing several human heroes without powers. He even lampshades it:
--> Alright, I've become what I hate. I'll give you that.
* HeroInsurance: Superman is in frequent need of this.
* HeroWithBadPublicity: A theme throughout the entire show. As the series opens, Superman is still dealing with his poor image following "Legacy" in ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries''. The Flash gets flak in "Eclipsed" for taking corporate endorsements and making stupid comments on live television. The entire League and Shayera in particular take a further hit after the events of "Starcrossed", and things just escalate as ''Unlimited'' progresses.
* HeroesUnlimited: The entire later incarnation and {{Trope Namer|s}}.
* HeroicAlbino: Downpour and Shifter prior to their FaceHeelTurn.
* HeroicBystander:
** In "Starcrossed", when Wonder Woman and Batman are on the run in civilian clothing, a restaurant owner calls them inside to hide. His wife helps them disguise themselves and the rest of the patrons all support the 'there's nothing going on here' story.
** In "Wake the Dead" a car is thrown off a bridge and plummets to the water below. Shayera, making her return, [[BigDamnHeroes swoops down and cleaves off the roof with her mace to rescue its occupants]]. The mother in the car, instead of waiting for Shayera to grab her daughter, picks her up and ''throws'' her to Hawkgirl before pushing herself out of the falling vehicle.
** In "Patriot Act," when the various B-list heroes are fighting General Eiling, a group of kids twice attempt to attack the general, first by pelting him with rocks and then by hitting him with a wrecking ball (How the heck do they know how to work a wrecking ball?). Later, when Shining Knight [[{{Determinator}} is the last man standing]], a crowd of civilians gather around him and state their protection.
* HeroicRROD: Averted when Flash managed to survive after going into the Speed Force.
* HeroicSacrifice:
** The unnamed ship captain in "Fury", who gave his all and perished to save a girl he barely knew. There is a reason he is the only man buried on Themyscira.
** Batman fully intended to perform one of these at the end of "Starcrossed" (by literally crash-landing the Watchtower onto the Thanagarian army's hyperspace bypass), but Superman came and saved him before it impacted.
* HeterosexualLifePartners: Flash and Green Lantern, Vigilante and Shining Knight, Batman and Superman.
* HeyYouHaymaker: Played straight when Superman taps Darkseid on the shoulder to get him to turn around and clobbers him when he does during the finale.
* HijackedByGanon: It is revealed that [[spoiler:Lex Luthor was being manipulated by Brainiac to build him a new body. Luthor had been infected by a copy of Brainiac's programming after Brainiac had exploded the last time he and Luthor had met]]. The writing staff [[WordOfGod admitted on the DVD commentary]] that they had no idea how to make the plot of season two of ''Unlimited'' untangle on its own due to the GreyAndGrayMorality situation that had arisen, so they went with an 'old reliable' and let an BlackAndWhiteMorality villain take over [[InvokedTrope so they could have a proper fight finale]].
* HijackedByJesus: Hades and the Greek Pantheon in general. Hades in particular rules only over Tartarus (i.e. Hell), not the virtuous dead, and is portrayed as able to breathe fire and with devilish goat horns in his "[[OneWingedAngel true form]]". Hawkgirl manages to convince a few mooks in Tartarus that she is a Judeo-Christian angel and harming her would unwisely piss God off.
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: In "The Savage Time", "[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josef_Mengele Josef]]" is given the assignment of retrieving information from a captured J'onn J'onzz.
* HitFlash:
** Used regularly throughout the show, but not universally. The hit flash is left out of certain fight scenes when the creators felt that they need to give more impact to the ...impacts.
** In "Starcrossed, Part 3", there is [[FreezeFrameBonus a single "white frame" inserted into the fight scene]] when Hawkgirl is shocked.
* HitlersTimeTravelExemptionAct: In "The Savage Time". Vandal Savage replaced Hitler as the ''Fuhrer'' of Nazi Germany, but ultimately he is defeated by the League and Hitler becomes the leader again.
* HoistByHisOwnPetard:
** Dr. Destiny murdered his own wife via MindRape and attempted to do the same to the League. [[spoiler:This fails miserably when he attempts the same treatment on Batman and ends up a slobbering vegetable.]]
** The Joker attempted to use Ace of the Royal Flush Gang to drive millions of TV viewers insane, [[spoiler:but wound up a drooling, catatonic wreck himself when Ace learned that he was just using her.]]
* HoistHeroOverHead: Darkseid does this to Superman in the last episode.
* {{Homage}}:
** The giant robot fought in the opening to "Legends" is inspired by the HumongousMecha of ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion''.
** Ichthultu. Seeing the name, you know it's going to be a horror. Said name is anagrammatic for "It Cthulhu".
** "This Little Piggy" is one large homage to a variety of TV shows and movies stretching across approximately seven decades. Producer Creator/BruceTimm had the original idea for the episode after watching ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' and ''Series/{{Angel}}'', two action/adventure Creator/JossWhedon shows that were never afraid to shift the paradigm and abandon 'normal' action/adventure plots in favor of more creative, not to say ''bizarre'', storylines. The story itself was an homage to the 1960's sitcom ''Series/{{Bewitched}}'', and during the scripting stage the writers even imagined the characters as reimaginings of characters from the original show: Wonder Woman was Samantha, Batman was Darrin, and Circe was Serena. Jack Carter, who voiced the magical supplier Sid, was a veteran actor of such classic sitcoms, and the episode ends on a musical cue that the producers actually referred to as a ''Bewitched'' musical cue. The character design of Medusa, whom Batman and Zatanna go to for information, was designed to look similar to a character from ''Series/ILoveLucy'', another classic sitcom, and the producers remarked that the voice actress even spoke in a manner reminiscent of the original model, even though they did not decide on that image until after the recordings had already been done. Medusa's dialogue, [[AnimationAgeGhetto though tame by necessity]], was inspired by prison slang and the HBO series ''Series/{{Oz}}'', since the writers felt that mythological characters would not necessarily speak exactly the same way they would have a thousand years ago, and since Medusa is in mythological prison she should speak like a convict. The rest of the episode is full of one-off gags that refer to other movies, including the admonition of "[[Film/{{Babe}} that'll do, pig]]" and Circe's feet rolling up beneath a piano as the Witch's had done in ''Film/TheWizardOfOz''.
** From the comics adaptation, the end of issue #34 of ''Justice League Unlimited'' includes several references to one of the last scenes in ''ComicBook/WhateverHappenedToTheManOfTomorrow'', specifically Mxy's fate.
* HomemadeSweaterFromHell: J'onn receives one from the Kents in the ChristmasEpisode, but [[VoluntaryShapeshifting is able to literally grow into it]].
* HomoeroticSubtext: Kragger toward Hro Talak. He has a bad habit of [[MomentKiller interrupting moments between Talak and Hawkgirl]], and his MentalWorld has huge statues of Talak and Kragger side-by-side, with a crushed statue of Hawkgirl at their feet. WordOfGod is that this was ''very'' deliberate.
-->'''Hawkgirl:''' You're in my way.\\
'''Kragger:''' Likewise, I'm sure.
* HonorBeforeReason: The Amazons exile Wonder Woman from Themyscira for breaking the law and bringing men to Paradise Island, even though all the Amazons would have been slain and a mad god would have conquered the world if she had not done so.
* HordeOfAlienLocusts: In "Dark Heart". The implication is that the locusts have been spreading across planets for ages.
* HostageForMcGuffin: Felix Faust turns the residents of [[LadyLand Themiscyra]] into stone, but promises to turn them back into normal in exchange for Wonder Woman retrieving some items that will release [[SealedEvilInACan Hades]].
* HostileTerraforming: The Imperium attempted to do this in the series premier, and for BookEnds, the denizens of Apokolips attempted it in the series finale.
* HotGypsyWoman: Gypsy... [[LivingProp sort of]].
* HotScientist: Lampshaded in "TheGreatestStoryNeverTold".
* HugeGuyTinyGirl: Stargirl and S.T.R.I.P.E. She is a teenager and he is her stepfather, even though he is also her sidekick.
* HumanAliens: In addition to Kryptonians, denizens of New Genesis and Apokolips also look almost identical to humans, except for individual outliers.
* HumanPopsicle: AdolfHitler makes a cameo in storage after Vandal Savage assumes command of Nazi Germany.
* HumanitysWake: "Hereafter" features an Earth 30,000 years after the extension of mankind. True to humor, cockroaches now rule the planet.
* HumansAreTheRealMonsters: This is a stance held by many of the non-human people of Earth, including the Gorillas of Gorilla City and the people of Atlantis. Both change their tune somewhat after the Justice League helps them fight internal enemies, but Aresia (An Amazon) goes to her death believing all ''men'' are bastards, despite the fact that she learns a man gave up his life so that she could live. J'onn had an emotional breakdown when he tried a massive psychic scan of a city, frustrated over human pettiness. This became a bit of a CharacterDevelopment as he learns that the only friends he has are part of the league and if he was going to live among humanity, he has to learn to like at least some of them.
* HumiliationConga: Wonder Woman being turned into a pig - and Batman having to keep it under wraps - in ''This Little Piggy'' certainly counts.
* HumongousMecha:
** The first large mech fought was controlled by Lex Luthor, and [[ShoutOut explicitly modeled on]] ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'', in the first season episode "Legends."
** Toyman had a heavily armed Transformer-bot in "Hereafter".
** There was a truly massive mech in "Initiation".
* HumorlessAliens: Martian Manhunter seems to respond to Flash's attempts at humor with either confusion or disdain.
* HurlItIntoTheSun:
** When Grundy came back from the dead Hawkgirl comments on A.M.A.Z.O. "before Golden Boy teleports him into the sun..."
** Flash's suggestion for getting rid of a giant alien machine. It was inspired by a [[https://groups.google.com/group/rec.arts.comics.dc.universe/browse_thread/thread/fbdc7b8bfc72c409/6e1dfe6bdba1286b?q=dwayne+mcduffie+%22into+the+sun%22#6e1dfe6bdba1286b Usenet discussion]] of an earlier episode, in which the poster wondered why Green Lantern hadn't done just that. Writer Dwayne [=McDuffie=] responded that the animated GL's ring wasn't that powerful: "Although it does suggest a really interesting spin-off, where every week GL throws whoever is attacking into the sun."
* HurricaneOfPuns: The [[TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]] villains in "Legends" love doing this. Even the Flash gets in on it when fighting one of them.
* IAmNotLeftHanded: This is the subject of the famous WorldOfCardboardSpeech, where Franchise/{{Superman}} sees that he doesn't need to hold his power back against {{Darkseid}}.
* IChooseToStay: [[spoiler: Supergirl]] in "Far From Home"
* IfYoureSoEvilEatThisKitten: In "Starcrossed, Part 2" [[spoiler:Kragger asks Hawkgirl]] if it would not be better for her to kill the captive Justice League, rather than risk them escaping. He is clearly testing her, and she clearly does not want to comply, so she advances a [[PragmaticVillainy practical]] reason not to.
* IGotYouCovered: Frequently.
* IKnowYoureInThereSomewhereFight: Yes, Luthor is still in there, [[SubvertedTrope but he]] ''[[SubvertedTrope likes]]'' [[SubvertedTrope it in there]].
* ILikeThoseOdds: In "Starcrossed, Part 3", Superman, Wonder Woman, and Green Lantern are heading straight for the Thanagarian mothership (and the dozens of smaller ships around it).
-->'''Wonder Woman:''' Pretty bad odds.
-->'''Superman:''' Yeah, they don't stand a chance.
* ImpendingClashShot: In the episode, "Grudge Match". Villainess Roulette makes two female heroes fight each other, and they decide to do it for fun. And they did it a la RockyIII to boot.
* INeedToGoIronMyDog:
--> '''Captain Atom:''' "I'm pretty sure there's something I have to do someplace."
* InstantFlightJustAddSpinning: The Flash used his arms as a helicopter. [[SubvertedTrope He lost control and crashed in short order]].
* IReadItForTheArticles: Flash explains that he purchases a ''[[FictionalCounterpart Playboy]]''-[[FictionalCounterpart style]] periodical by commenting that he reads it for the articles.
* ISeeDeadPeople: After a fashion. After Brainiac is destroyed in the ''Unlimited'' season two finale Luthor can see his "ghost" and they have conversations, but to everyone else it looks like Luthor is talking to an imaginary friend. We never learn whether or not he truly can see Brainiac, especially since he lost him after Darkseid was free.
* ITakeOffenseToThatLastOne: "The Brave And The Bold".
--> '''Gorilla Grodd''': Humans are slow, ugly, immoral, and have an unpleasant body odor!
--> '''Flash''': Hey, who are you calling slow?
* ImColdSoCold: Flash after being ThrownOutTheAirlock.
* ImStandingRightHere:
-->'''Aquaman (to Hawkgirl):''' Such scintillating repartee. I get better conversation from the android.
-->'''Amazo:''' You ''are'' aware I'm in the room.
** Wonder Woman confirming that Batman had, indeed, tap-danced in the conversational minefield in the opening moments of "The Once And Future Thing":
-->'''Batman (to Green Lantern):''' I don't have time to pursue a relationship; my work is too important to allow any distractions. Diana's a remarkable woman, she's a valued friend, she's--*shot pans around to show his face, brow raised followed by a wince as it pulls back to show*--standing right behind me, isn't she?
-->'''Franchise/WonderWoman:''' Don't let ''that'' stop you; keep digging!
* AnIcePerson - Ice is a heroic example and Killer Frost a villainous one.
* AnIceSuit: Killer Frost.
* IdiotBall: The episode "In Blackest Night" revolves around Green Lantern and an entire planet not noticing that another planet ''wasn't'' destroyed, simply because a holographic projection made it look like it was. No one bothered to investigate the planet at all.
* IfIWantedYouDead: [[InvertedTrope Said by the hero]] during the climax of the Justice League/Cadmus conflict in "Panic in the Sky." After the former Cadmus headquarters is destroyed by [[KillSat the Justice League Watchtower]] Batman points out that the League has been monitoring Cadmus for months and knew they had already moved their headquarters. When Waller then suggests that it was a warning shot Batman tells her "Don't be dense." If the League had wanted to attack Cadmus they ''would'' have attacked Cadmus, not what is now an abandoned and empty warehouse.
* ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice: In "Chaos at the Earth's Core" [[spoiler:Supergirl stabs Metallo in his chest cavity with a dagger. The dagger itself is not big enough to qualify for the trope, but Supergirl then ''[[AndShowItToYou pries out Metallo's Kryptonite power source]]'' with the knife.]]
* ImplausibleDeniability: After Galatea [[FakeStatic claims she cannot hear Amanda Waller's orders]] she turns to Supergirl and says that the call (in space, directed to her earpiece that she just crushed between her fingertips) was a ''wrong number''.
* ImportantHaircut: John Stewart during ''Unlimited''. Previously, Justice Lord GL.
* ImpossibleHourglassFigure: Pretty much the entire female cast, except the younger ones like Supergirl. It is a standard part of Bruce Timm's drawing style.
* InSeriesNickname: The Leaguers abbreviate each others' codenames a lot. Huntress calls Question "Q," Green Arrow calls Vigilante "Vig," Batman is "Bats," Superman is "Supes," Mr. Terrific is "T," Green Lantern and Green Arrow are "GL" and "GA..."
* InSpiteOfANail: In the alternate reality of "The Savage Time," the Allies lost UsefulNotes/WorldWarII and the world is dominated by Vandal Savage, but Bruce Wayne's parents were still killed when he was eight years old. Afterwards, the world returned exactly to its previous "real" nature after the League traveled back in time to thwart Vandal Savage, despite the repulsion of the Allied landing at Normandy.
* InTheirOwnImage: Lord Chronos' desperate endgame in "The Once and Future Thing"
* IncorruptiblePurePureness:
** The Flash. DVD commentary reveals that they had him die in the alternate reality of "A Better World" because they simply could not conceive of ''anything'' that would cause him to become a KnightTemplar.
** Superman is ''[[SubvertedTrope not]]'' an example; it is directly discussed in "A Better World," where Lord!Superman is unable to be talked down from his KnightTemplar ways. League!Superman explains that he has felt the same urges and compulsions himself, and he knows just how hard they are to resist. If he was ever put into that same position, he knows himself well enough to admit that he would break, too.
** [[Comicbook/{{Shazam}} Captain Marvel]]. Some of it is childhood naiveté, but part of his pureness is his ability to ''retain'' such naiveté, even when everybody around him has become jaded and cynical.
* IncredibleShrinkingMan: The Atom
* IndulgentFantasySegue: Milo in "The Doomsday Sanction".
* IneffectualSympatheticVillain: Copperhead gradually becomes more and more ineffectual after his first appearance. He never loses his malice, but does lose his competence. The Flash's Rogues' Gallery are also noteworthy for this in "Flash And Substance," although they're [[NotSoHarmlessVillain not entirely harmless.]]
* InformedAttractiveness:
** When Batman and Wonder Woman travel to New Genesis Wonder Woman is awe-struck by its splendor and magnificence, never having seen anything like it before. The floating city itself is... okay. It is not bad, it is a technological marvel unequaled in real life, but it is also a rather generic "future city" that has been seen in fiction countless times before and is overshadowed by many of the fantastic locations seen elsewhere in ''Justice League''.
** To a degree, Atlantis suffers from this as well- parts of it look like some of the more out-there architecture of Metropolis (which New Genesis also looks like).
* InkSuitActor:
** Amanda Waller is basically CCH Pounder with a slightly different skin tone and weight gain.
** Prior to his transformation, General Eiling resembles J.K. Simmons with the mustache he sports as [[Film/SpiderManTrilogy J. Jonah Jameson]].
** Creator/MarkHamill as the Trickster, who is drawn to look like the Trickster on the Flash TV series, [[ActorAllusion who was also played by Hamill.]]
* {{Innocent Bigot}}s: The Justice Guild in "Legends" -- telling Green Lantern he's "[[YouAreACreditToYourRace a credit to his people]]", asking Hawkgirl to bake cookies...
* InnocuouslyImportantEpisode:
** "A Better World" turns out to be one of the main motivation for the formation of Project Cadmus, the main villains for the first two seasons of ''Unlimited''. It also begins to sow seeds of distrust within the League itself, who fear that the League might go in the same direction and wonder how they might change events.
** "Dark Heart" is just your standard MonsterOfTheWeek episode, right? Wrong. [[spoiler:The weapon the JLA uses to slow the monster's advance becomes Luthor's means of framing them in "Flashpoint" and the monster itself returns to give Brainithor a massive powerup in "Divided We Fall."]]
* InstantFanClub: Supergirl has one of these in Japan, with one CosplayOtakuGirl even attacking a jealous Stargirl who was badmouthing her.
* InstitutionalApparel: Lex Luthor wears prison grays in "Injustice For All" but changes to orange fatigues in "I am Legion".
* IntellectualAnimal: Gorilla Grodd and the other denizens of Gorilla City.
* InterspeciesRomance:
** Between John Stewart and Hawkgirl and, it is implied, also between John Stewart and Katma Tui.
** The relationship between Superman and Lois Lane appears in a few small-but-important scenes.
** Grodd and Tala had a sexual relationship, which even people within the show find unsettling.
** Grodd and Giganta is an unusual example, as Giganta was once an ape, but now looks human. She also has super powers, so it is not entirely clear what, exactly, she is.
** Bizzaro was in love with Giganta, but she was just using him to break Grodd out of prison.
** J'onn and his unnamed human companion, who he refers to as his wife, in the finale.
** Supergirl (Kryptonian) and Brainiac 5 (Coluan).
** Carter Hall and Shayera Hol, but that is another rather confusing example. Is Carter an insane human or reincarnated Thanagarian?
* InverseLawOfSharpnessAndAccuracy: Vigilante and Shining Knight, armed with pistols and a sword respectively, are up against [[BadassNormal people they could actually hurt with them]] in "Task Force X," and thus never manage to make contact with their weapons. They do, however, do quite well when it comes to their fists and lassos.
* InvisiblePresident:
** He gets a small cameo towards the end of season two of ''Unlimited'' as the crisis approaches its climax, but the president's face is never seen and he is never named, only referred to as "Mr. President."
** The Justice Lords president does get some face time, and is pretty obviously an expy of George W. Bush, kowtowing to Superman by saying "elections are traditional, kind of like Thanksgiving".
* InvulnerableKnuckles:
** Averted in "For the Man Who Has Everything" and "Double Date". Franchise/WonderWoman and Comicbook/BlackCanary injure their hands punching Mongul and Steve Mandragora, respectively.
** Supergirl normally has them, but when [[BroughtDownToNormal she loses her powers in Skartaris]] her first attempt to punch one of the attacking dino-troopers causes her pain. Her hand has visible bruises/scratches afterwards.
* IronicEcho: in "Twilight," Superman opens his fight against Darkseid with a BadassBoast ending in "let's go." Three seasons later, in "Destroyer," Darkseid echoes the line (and one-ups the BadassBoast) before attacking Supes.
* IsThisThingStillOn: Happens to Linda Park in "Flash and Substance". Hilariously.
* ItGetsEasier: In "A Better World", Franchise/TheFlash states that killing him, a close friend whose parallel universe death was the motivation for his FaceHeelTurn in the first place, would be a line Lord!Superman would never cross. [[spoiler:Lord!Superman shrugs and says that he has done many things he once thought were over a line; one more will not hurt]].
* ItHasBeenAnHonor: Batman in "Starcrossed".
* ItOnlyWorksOnce: In his first appearance, the Shadow Thief can be disabled with bright lights. In his second appearance, he advises against trying this tactic, since it hasn't worked "in months".
* ItsALongStory - Superman after returning from the BadFuture in "Hereafter".
* ItsNotYouItsMyEnemies:
** Given by Batman to Wonder Woman as a reason they should not get together. Wonder Woman demurs... by crushing a stone gargoyle's head in her bare fist.
** Given to [[WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond Dana by Terry]] in the "finale" [[AllJustADream ... sort of... but sort of not...]]
* ItsWhatIDo: [[ManipulativeBastard Darkseid]] in "Twilight".
* ItWasHereISwear: The Cadmus facility which grew and managed the Ultimen was disassembled and moved after they discovered the truth, and when they returned to destroy it they only found empty offices.
* JabbaTableManners: Displayed by VillainousGlutton Steven Mandagora.
* JawDrop: You would, too, if you watched an entire planet get obliterated before your eyes in a matter of nanoseconds. And you would do it again when you have been shown it was still there all along and you have been royally had.
* JerkAss:
** Surprisingly, Superman in "Clash".
** Comicbook/{{Deadshot}}, [[ComicBook/SecretSix unsurprisingly]].
** Aquaman, even to people trying to help him.
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Batman
-->'''Amanda Waller:''' For all that fierce exterior I've never met anyone who cared as deeply about his fellow man as Bruce Wayne.
* JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope:
** The Justice Lords of "A Better World" all did it following their Flash's death, an event that eventually led to every member shrugging off ThouShaltNotKill and taking over the planet by force, but Superman was the one who really went full-tilt.
** After a history of friendship and cooperation with Superman and Supergirl, Emil Hamilton begins to question the trustworthiness and good intentions of superheroes after Superman is brainwashed and forced to attack Earth. [[FaceHeelTurn He begins to clone, kidnap, torture and kill them as part of a government conspiracy]].
* JustFollowingOrders:
** [[spoiler:Hawkgirl]] explains the years-long subterfuge as being a soldier under orders, and expects John Stewart to understand given his history as a Marine.
** In "Ultimatum", Maxwell Lord begins to tell the Ultimen that he was only following orders, but they interrupt him and scoff at the idea before he can even finish the sentence.
** Captain Atom explains his working for Cadmus because he has official orders from General Eiling as an officer in the US Air Force.
* JustFriends: Batman's description of his and Diana's relationship. Comicbook/{{Zatanna}} does not buy it for a second.
* JustIgnoreIt: In "Hawk and Dove", it turns out that JustIgnoreIt is the key to victory.
* JustInTime:
** The Flash manages to find the last TimeBomb that the Joker set up in "Wild Cards" with only a few seconds left before it explodes.... [[SubvertedTrope and cannot disarm it in time with the Joker distracting him]]. [[spoiler:[[DoubleSubversion So it is a good thing he can just use his super speed to move the bomb into a desolate area to let it explode harmlessly]]]].
** In "Starcrossed," [[spoiler: the League destroys the Hyperspace Bypass mere moments before it would have destroyed the planet]].
* JustPlaneWrong: The Green Guardsman tries to pop the villains' blimp with an arrow created by his power ring. Later Flash brings down the blimp by puncturing it. See this trope's page for why it shouldn't work, though [[spoiler:since it's all a mentally-generated image, it makes sense that things in that world would react the way the average person would ''expect'' them to, not the way they would in real life.]]
* KickTheDog: In "For The Man Who Has Everything", Mongul specifically uses the Black Mercy because he wants Superman to have to sacrifice his greatest desire in order to escape.
* KidFromTheFuture[=/=]LukeYouAreMyFather: [[spoiler: Rex Stewart aka Warhawk]], previously introduced in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond''.
* KilledOffForReal: Heroes in the show invariably turn out to be NotQuiteDead, as one would expect on a superhero cartoon, but villains die surprisingly frequently. Bystanders and sympathetic bit characters are ambiguously or explicitly killed off from time to time, to keep the villains appropriately threatening.
* KillerYoYo: Used by Toyman to defeat Killer Frost in "Alive".
* KillMeNowOrForeverStayYourHand: In "Fearful Symmetry", the Question tells [[spoiler:Galatea]] to kill him, but he believes she will not go through with it because she is beginning to feel guilt over her actions. [[spoiler: She does hesitate, but whether she would have gone through with it or not is ultimately unknown, [[CombatPragmatist as Supergirl attacks her when her back is turned]].]]
* KingArthur: Arthurian legend is mentioned and featured in three episodes, two of which involve his foe Morgaine le Fae and her role in the fall of Camelot, and the third features a retelling of his relationship with Sir Justin (Shining Knight), one of his vassals.
* KingIncognito: Villainous example. When Grodd's secret society broke in the headquarters of Crime Lord Morgan Edge, Edge tried to escape by disguising himself as a servant, but was detected because he forgot to put on shoes that weren't too fancy for a servant.
* KirkSummation: Supergirl to Galatea
* KissKissSlap: Big Barda is constantly at odds with her husband, Mister Miracle, over his increasingly dangerous Houdini-esque escape tricks
-->'''Barda (''elated''):''' Scott! I thought you were dead!
-->'''hugs'''
-->'''Barda (''angry''):''' You insufferable showboat! (''lifts off feet'') I thought you were dead!
* KlingonPromotion:
** Luthor takes over the LegionOfDoom by shooting Grodd and placing himself at the head of the table. [[JustifiedTrope It makes a lot of sense]], since Luthor is more or less as smart as Grodd, and the plan Grodd had been working towards for months proved both stupid and somewhat harmful to the rest of the Legion.
** Polaris tries to do the same after Luthor swaps bodies with Flash and back. Luthor quickly reminds everyone [[BetrayalInsurance why he's the one in charge]].
* KneelBeforeZod: Luthor to Grodd in "Alive".
* KnightInShiningArmor: [[CaptainObvious Shining Knight.]]
* KnightTemplar: The Justice Lords in "A Better World" and several Cadmus residents, particularly [[GeneralRipper Wade Eiling]].
* KryptoniteFactor: Kryptonite itself has a lasting impact throughout the series.
* KryptoniteRing: Batman carries around a piece of Kryptonite in the event that Superman ever [[FaceHeelTurn goes rogue]], and Superman is aware and glad that he does so.
* LadyLand: Themiscyra.
* LameComeback: Flash has a number of these.
--> '''Flash''' (to a hologram of Mirror Master): "Oh yeah well... you're not really all there!"
* LamePunReaction: In "Wild Cards," when the Flash briefly defeats King by wrapping him up in fake mummy bandages, he comments that it "wraps [him] up." Though the wrappings mean that King's subsequent comment is muffled and unintelligible, the Flash still apologizes, saying it was the only quip he could think of.
* LampshadeHanging: All the time, but one of the most direct ones was in the episode "Hereafter", when Wonder Woman stopped a lightning attack with her ''metal'' wrist bracers.
--> '''Flash''': "There are ''so'' many reasons why that shouldn't have worked."
* LaResistance: The alternate Batman runs one in "The Savage Time."
* LargeHam:
** Despero, Despero, Despero.
--> '''Despero''': "GOOOOO! THE CONQUEST BEGINS NNNOOOOWWW! EMBLAZON MY WORD AND WILL ACROSS THE COSMOS!"
** Most of the really big villains tend to have this quality, to a greater or lesser degree, which makes the ultimate BigBad, Darkseid, much more imposing because he ''doesn't'' act this way.
* LaserGuidedTykebomb: This version of Doomsday, a mutated clone of Superman whose creators conditioned him to hate the original. Interestingly, the original Doomsday was created on the Planet Krypton in its distant past (in the Comics,) so in both of these continuities, he is Kryptonian.
* LastSecondWordSwap: In the episode "Far From Home", when Supergirl was about to leave to attempt to stop the Legion of Superheroes, Brainiac 5 nearly said that he loves her, but swapped "love" for "lied to" at the last moment.
* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: In "Wild Cards", Joker's 22:51 time limit is an obvious reference to the runtime of a half-hour television program, although the episode itself is double-length.
* LeaveHimToMe: At the climax of "Starcrossed", Green Lantern fights his way into the Thanagarian command ship. Hro Talak countermands the order to send soldiers to stop him, and goes himself to fight one-on-one.
* LeftHanging: There are a number of plot threads left dangling. Including Green Lantern, Vixen, and Hawkgirl's LoveTriangle and the result of General Eiling's vendetta against Superman.
* LegionOfDoom: The Injustice Gang and both Secret Societies. [[ExecutiveMeddling The name "Legion of Doom" was not allowed to be spoken within the show]], but the producers have revealed that they consider the organization in season three of ''Unlimited'' to be the ''actual'' Legion.
* {{Leitmotif}}:
** Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, Green Lantern, and Green Arrow all have their own musical motifs (Batman and Superman retain their melody motifs from their respective solo shows). Green Arrow even hums his own theme while swinging forth into battle at one point.
** The ComicBook/{{Blackhawk}}s have their own theme in "The Savage Time," and it is ''their real song''. One of the classic comic teams from Golden Age, the Blackhawks had plenty of supplemental material released including, at one point, a song book. Though the music from this episode was composed by Lolita Ritmanis, she composed it to match the lyrics from the original Blackhawk Theme. An EasterEgg on the DVD plays the song as a music video, featuring it in its entirety over the aerial dogfight of the episode (It is '''''quite''''' epic).
** A.M.A.Z.O. got one in his introduction episode that played whenever he assimilates any of the heroes' powers.
* LeotardOfPower: All over the place, though most often seen, of course, on Franchise/WonderWoman.
* LetMeAtHim: Green Arrow lunges against the government agents interviewing Steven Mandragora when Mandragora continuously insults Black Canary, who is there with Arrow as special security. Arrow ends up pleading with them to leave him alone with Mandragora for just five minutes. [[spoiler: Ultimately, ''Canary'' ends up smacking him one... and nearly breaks her hand in the process!]]
* LetsGetDangerous: It is probably good to remember that Flash, as carefree and goofy as he is, can make you explode just by touching you.
* LetsYouAndHimFight: Occasionally, including the Metamorpho episode and also in "The Terror Beyond". Deconstructed in "Clash".
* LifeOrLimbDecision: For Aquaman.
* LighterAndSofter: "Flash and Substance" shows that Central City is a 'lighter and softer' corner of the DCAU. Even the Flash's enemies tend to be pretty mundane guys when they're not in CardCarryingVillain mode.
* LightheartedRematch: In "Grudge Match".
* LightningBruiser: Steven Mandragora. The guy is HUGE, but he moves just as fast as Black Canary when she attacks him. Foreshadowed earlier in the episode when, after she punches him, states that there is no fat, only muscle.
* LikeAnOldMarriedCouple: Franchise/TheFlash [[EveryoneCanSeeIt points out]] that Franchise/GreenLantern and Hawkgirl are bickering like an old married couple
* LikeBrotherAndSister: Flash and Hawkgirl.
* LimitedWardrobe: The Flash and Hawkgirl wear their same costumes in literally every single scene until the end of ''Justice League''. Hawkgirl does not remove her mask until the final scene of "Wild Cards" (Second-to-last episode), and the Flash does not take off his costume until Part 2 of "Starcrossed" (Last episode). The other League members are rarely out of costume, but it does happen on occasion when in disguise or "off duty".
* LivingProp: Many superheroes introduced during ''Unlimited'' (who, in the comics, belonged to teams ranging from the [[Comicbook/JusticeSocietyofAmerica JSA]] to JL Detroit) never progressed beyond this.
* LivingShadow: Shadow Thief.
* LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters: From the third season on, the Justice League has over three dozen members.
* LogicBomb: Bizarro is assisting Giganta because he has fallen in love with her, and in "Ultimatum" he is helping her break Gorilla Grodd out of jail. When Wonder Woman asks him [[AndThenWhat what will happen to his relationship with Giganta after they have rescued her boyfriend]], Bizarro freezes in confusion.
* LostWorld: Skartaris and Themiscyra.
* LotusEaterMachine: The Black Mercy in "For The Man Who has Everything".
* LoudOfWar: The Question once successfully tortured a man with the use of crappy, overproduced pop music. For added fun, he is later heard singing the same song softly as he is breaking into a secure facility!
* LovableAlphaBitch: Stargirl. She is [[GloryHound vain and fame seeking]], has a large sense of entitlement, and mocks and belittles those around her to ease her own feelings, but means well beneath it all. [[GenreSavvy She is aware of how her actions look]] and recognizes with frustration that her words make her "petty."
* LoveCannotOvercome: No matter how hard she tries, Franchise/WonderWoman cannot get grumpy, antisocial Batman to give a relationship a chance.
* LoveTriangle: Green Lantern and Hawkgirl get romantically involved right before it comes out that Hawkgirl is [[spoiler:a Thanagarian spy ''and'' engaged to another man]]. Although he does not quite lose his feelings for her, he does take up with Vixen before going into the future and learning that [[spoiler:he has a son by Hawkgirl]]. Meanwhile, Hawkgirl picks up a stalker in Hawkman who believes (with more than a little justification) that he and Hawkgirl are reincarnations of Thanagarian lovers from ancient Egypt. Later in the series, it comes out that [[spoiler:Green Lantern is (supposedly) ''also'' a reincarnation of one of the Egyptian Thanagarians' human friends who was having an affair with Hawkgirl's preincarnation which ended in the tragic death of all three of them.]] The series ends with Green Lantern and Vixen together, but with unresolved feelings between John and Shayera and the knowledge that they will somehow rekindle their relationship [[ForegoneConclusion sometime before Batman Beyond]].
* LovingAShadow:
--> '''Hawkman:''' "We are the reincarnations of Katar and Chayera Hol, and I love you."\\
'''Hawkgirl:''' "You can't love me, Carter. You don't even ''know'' me."
* LowerDeckEpisode: The ''Unlimited'' portion of the series focuses heavily on lesser-known members DC Comics, with many minor and supporting heroes receiving their own episodes throughout its three seasons. The episode "Patriot Act" starred seven of these characters, who had weapon- or gadget-based super powers: Green Arrow and Speedy, Stargirl and S.T.R.I.P.E., the Crimson Avenger, Vigilante, and the Shining Knight.
** Counts as a MythologyGag because they [[note]] with Stargirl substituting for Star-Spangled Kid, and Stripsey without a battlesuit[[/note]] starred in the comic ''SevenSoldiersOfVictory''.
* LowestCosmicDenominator: {{God}} makes no appearances in the show and gets no explicit references, but when Hawkgirl is in Tartarus [[HijackedByJesus the demons mistake her for]] [[WingedHumanoid an angel]] and flee when she makes reference to "the boss." Greek deities, however, are fair game.
* LukeIAmYourFather: For ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'' via [[FullyAbsorbedFinale "Epilogue."]] Hades also pulls this on Franchise/WonderWoman, only to have her shut him down by basically saying "Who cares?".
* LuxuryPrisonSuite: Enjoyed by the Ultra-Humanite and Lex Luthor (although it might be a bit much to say Luthor ''enjoyed'' it). In the parallel world of "A Better World", Comicbook/LoisLane is living in a lavishly furnished apartment, dating Superman and eating ''gazpacho''... and she cannot leave the premises, have visitors, make phone calls or even write a letter. A gilded cage, indeed.
[[/folder]]
----
Due to the number of tropes present, ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' has been split into two pages. Tropes M-Z can be found [[JusticeLeague/{{TropesM-Z}} here]].
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!!This series provides examples of:
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder: A-C]]
* AbsenceOfEvidence: In "[[Recap/{{JusticeLeagueS2E19And20Hereafter}} Hereafter]]", Superman is apparently killed by Toyman's latest machine, but Bruce refuses to believe it and presents his theory to Alfred by saying the lack of evidence is what tipped him off. Toyman's weapon left no debris, so it didn't blow him up. It left no scorch marks, so it didn't incinerate him. It didn't even leave ''radiation'', hence it didn't disintegrate him. Bats deduces that since Toyman is merely an obnoxious MadScientist, not a god, the [[NoConservationOfEnergy Law of Conservation]] is still in effect and therefore Superman couldn't have just been destroyed. His conclusion: it teleported him somewhere. [[spoiler:He is right - Superman was shunted forward in time, but the show leaves it vague whether or not Batman is [[NotSoStoic simply in denial]]]].
* AbsenteeActor: In ''Justice League'', it would be common for one or two members of the Original Seven to sit out a mission.
* AbsoluteCleavage: Vixen.
* {{Acrofatic}}[=/=]StoutStrength: Steven Mandragora.
* ActionDressRip: Franchise/WonderWoman in "Maid of Honor".
* ActionGirl: Too many examples to list individually.
* ActualPacifist: Dove
* ActuallyIAmHim: In "A Better World", after the League rescues Hawkgirl from the Justice Lord universe's Arkham Asylum, they are confronted by the military. Before anything can happen, the Justice Lord Batman arrives and orders the soldiers to stand down, whilst he takes them away. The League assumed that he was ''their'' Batman, who had disguised himself with the Lord Batman's costume in order to let them escape.
-->'''Superman''': You fooled them. Even ''I'' thought you were him.\\
'''Justice Lord Batman''': I ''am'' him.
* AdaptationDistillation: The JLU version of ''ComicBook/ForTheManWhoHasEverything'' cuts Robin and gives his awesome moments to Wonder Woman. It also makes Superman's dream happier and closer to what one might imagine his dreams would be. (The changed focus of the dream also makes sense in terms of the contrast between the Pre-Crisis Superman of the comic — heavily steeped in his Kryptonian heritage, who always considered Superman/Kal-El his "true self" and Clark Kent a mere mask — and the Post-Crisis Superman of the cartoon — raised as human who considers himself Clark Kent first.)
* AdaptationExplanationExtrication[=/=]AdaptationInducedPlothole: Obsidian is seen [[LivingProp in the background]] in many episodes of ''Unlimited'', but as the son of Alan Scott, the original [[TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks Golden Age]] Franchise/GreenLantern, his birth is something of a mystery since his father apparently never existed in this continuity.
* AdaptationalBadass - The Ultimen, updated versions of original characters created for ''WesternAnimation/SuperFriends''.
* AdaptiveAbility: A.M.A.Z.O. with his AllYourPowersCombined.
* AdolfHitler: Appears in cryonic storage several times in "The Savage Time," where he has been replaced as the leader of Nazi Germany by Vandal Savage. Referred to by Savage as "That Lunatic" and by High Command as "the old Fuhrer".
* AdultFear: "The Enemy Below". [[spoiler: Aquaman in a DeathTrap]] is bad enough, but [[spoiler: Aquaman ''and his baby'' in a DeathTrap]] is a whole other can of worms.
* AdventurerArchaeologist: Hawkman's secret identity, Carter Hall, seems to spend all his time either breaking into ancient tombs riddled with {{Death Trap}}s, or [[StalkingIsLove stalking Hawkgirl]].
* AffablyEvil: Comicbook/VandalSavage, the Ultra-Humanite, and even Lex Luthor on occasion.
* AffectionateParody: The "Legends" two-parter was a loving {{homage}} to the Golden Age of Comic Books, lampooning themed villains, kid sidekicks, assumed gender roles and social norms. It skewers what comics used to be like, but clearly shows how important they were.
* AffirmativeActionLegacy: John Stewart was chosen over Hal Jordan precisely to avoid making every super-powered character on the show white. Hawkgirl was chosen over Hawkman in order to have another girl on the team besides Diana to avoid TheSmurfettePrinciple.
* AgonyBeam: Darkseid's Agony Matrix. According to him:
--> Direct neural stimulation of pain receptors. All of them. Imagine the worst pain you've ever felt in your life, times a thousand. [[FateWorseThanDeath Now imagine that pain continuing forever]]. Oh, that's right: you don't have to imagine.
* AIIsACrapshoot:
** Comicbook/{{Brainiac}} continues the characterization introduced in ''Superman: The Animated Series'', where he has interpreted his programming to collect data as a directive to collect all information in the universe and then to destroy it.
** The Manhunter robots, which were originally created by the Guardians before they were replaced by the Green Lanterns.
* AlienInvasion: Numerous times.
* AlienSky: The view from an alien moon is a plot point in "In Blackest Night".
* AliensOfLondon: Maria Canals was cast as Hawkgirl partially because her Cuban accent would help her stand out from the other League members. In "Starcrossed", other Hispanic actors were cast for the primary Thanagarian roles in order to match Hawkgirl and give the impression of a consistent accent that would come from speaking a common language.
* AliensSpeakingEnglish: Green Lantern rings ''can'' [[TranslatorMicrobes translate languages]], but even when no rings or telepathic Martians are around, [[TranslationConvention English still seems to be the default language of the universe]].
* AllGermansAreNazis: Averted. When Wonder Woman rescues a code-breaker from Nazi captivity in UsefulNotes/WorldWarII she is surprised to discover that he is German himself, and he explains that not all Germans are like ''them''.
* AllOfThem: In "Patriot Act", when Speedy asks Green Arrow how many League members General Eiling has managed to defeat, Green Arrow responds "that would be all of them".
* AllThereInTheManual: Boston Brandt (SelfDemonstrating/{{Deadman}}) had never appeared in the DCAU prior to his appearance in season three of ''Unlimited'', but both he and Batman make reference to previously working together. This occurred in the comic tie-in to ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'', which was considered canon with the aired DCAU.
* AllohistoricalAllusion: Towards the end of "The Savage Time," the members of the German High Command are beginning to resent Vandal Savage's actions and position. When speaking about [[AdolfHitler the previous Fuhrer]], they admit that he was crazy, but at least he listened to his generals. In real life, one of the key reasons often given for the collapse of the German military was Hitler's refusal to accept advice or corrections from his military staff.
* AlternateCompanyEquivalent: The roster of Dr. Fate's super-team seen in "Wake the Dead" is based on the original Defenders. Dr. Fate = Dr. Strange, A.M.A.Z.O. = Silver Surfer, Hawkgirl = Nighthawk, Solomon Grundy = Hulk and Aquaman = Namor.
* AlternateUniverse: The show had several -- the retro-styled world of the Justice Guild, the dark dystopia of the Justice Lords, the Vandal Savage-ruled world created through time travel, and others.
* AmuletOfConcentratedAwesome: The Amulet of First Magic, which gives Mordred the power to get rid of his mother and completely rid the world of all adults.
* AncientAstronauts: When two Thanagarian law officers accidentally crashed in north-east Africa eight thousand years ago, they used their advanced technology to bring water and food to the arid locale and created a peaceful society that covered much of the continent. It was such a nice place to live that neighboring countries would actually ''thank'' them for conquering their homes. Unfortunately, they had only educated their people to the level of tool ''users'', not tool ''makers'', so when they died their society collapsed in a generation.
* AndIMustScream:
** Chronos in "The Once and Future Thing", [[spoiler:trapped in a time loop of his wife screaming at him for all eternity.]]
** In "Legends", [[spoiler:the people who populate the city and are used as props in Roy's fantasy. One points out that thirty years driving an ice cream truck around just to be background for a godlike entity's childish dream is horrible enough for any Hell.]]
** At the end of "Kid Stuff", [[spoiler:Mordred. After being tricked into giving up his eternal youth he rapidly ages to his proper chronological age and is now a drooling vegetable.]]
* AndShowItToYou: Thematically speaking. It is not literally a heart, but in "Chaos at the Earth's Core" [[spoiler:Supergirl uses a dagger to carve out Metallo's Kryptonite power source.]]
* AndTheAdventureContinues: {{Trope Namer|s}}
* AndThenWhat: When Bizarro appears in "Ultimatum" he is assisting Giganta in her efforts to break Gorilla Grodd out of jail. When Wonder Woman asks him why, he explains that he has fallen in love with her. When Wonder Woman asks him what he thinks will happen after they have broken her boyfriend out of jail, [[LogicBomb he freezes in confusion]].
* AndThisIsFor: In "War World", Draaga gives such a speech while [[UnstoppableRage pounding]] on Mongul, citing his people, his honor, and justice.
* AnimatedArmor: The Annihilator, built by Hephaestus for Ares, the God of War.
* AntagonistInMourning: Lex Luthor in "Hereafter".
* AntiClimacticUnmasking: When Lex Luthor unmasks the Flash, all he can do is stare at the red-headed kid and admit that he has no idea who the heck it is.
* AntiClimax: Captain Cold is very disappointed with how the fight against the Flash ended, since he was looking forward to bloody revenge and all he got was the sight of the Flash falling into a mirror. Of course, [[YourPrincessIsInAnotherCastle the episode was not over yet...]]
* AntiMagic: Hawkgirl's mace, and Thanagarian technology in general, is designed to nullify magic.
* AntiVillain: The Ultra-Humanite fixed a toy for ''orphans on Christmas'', then willingly went back to jail. The only outright villainous thing he does in the whole series is help Lex break out of jail and fight the League, but he gives ''that'' up when he gets a better offer: money for public broadcasting.
* {{Anvilicious}}: In universe, even Superman finds Wind Dragon's impassioned speech about environmentalism to be too much.
* ApatheticCitizens: Averted. Most citizens will get involved and help when they can. In "Starcrossed" [[spoiler:a restaurant owner, who services Mediterranean clientele helps, hide Bruce and Diana disguised as civilians from the the Thanagarian soldiers by giving them a table in the back and saying they were there for hours when the soldiers came in]].
* ArbitrarySkepticism: Frequently used by characters, but {{deconstructed|Trope}} each and every time.
** Franchise/TheFlash was the first to explicitly point out the ridiculous nature of skepticism in their line of work since, as he points out to John Stewart, "we've both got a [[MartianManhunter martian's]] phone number on our speed dial; I think I deserve the benefit of the doubt here."
** In "Shadow of the Hawk", where Batman describes the academic humiliation of Carter Hall after he began to believe that aliens had visited Ancient Egypt, Shayera Hol mocks the idea that there is no such things as aliens, since she herself is from another planet and the conversation includes Green Lantern.
** When SelfDemonstrating/{{Deadman}} mocks the idea of Gorilla City in "Dead Reckoning" Wonder Woman asks why he, as a ghost from the Himalayas possessing Superman's body, has a problem with this. Deadman concedes that she has a point.
** The straightest example is when Batman seriously believes (and Alfred takes him seriously) that Superman [[ItMakesSenseInContext can't be dead because of the implications of the laws of conservation of mass]]. Even though he routinely work against a supervillain and with several superheroes whose only power [[ShapeshifterBaggage is to change their size whenever they want to]].
* ArcWelding: The long-running storylines of ''Justice League Unlimited'' were all connected back to second season episodes of ''Justice League'' itself, and were then pushed back even further into ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries''. Ultimately, plot points were developed directly from episodes of ''Superman'' that had aired eight years (And two series) before the current show. References are also made to episodes as far back as the beginning of ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'', including "On Leather Wings", which was the ''very first'' entry in the Franchise/{{DCAU}}--as well as direct connections to ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'', which preceded ''Unlimited'' in broadcast order, [[CallForward but in-universe is chronologically the final entry.]]
* ArmorPiercingQuestion:
** Justice-Lord Batman drives home one of these to his regular universe counterpart, to the reason why he helped create a totalitarian state. This was ''such'' an armor-piercing question that ''the writers'' couldn't come up with a way to beat it. They had intended Batman to win the argument, but after that line they couldn't think of a response:
--> '''Batman''': You grabbed power!
--> '''Lord Batman''' And ''with'' that power, we made a world where no eight-year-old boy will EVER lose his parents ''because of some punk with a gun.''
--> '''Batman''': *drops Batarang dejectedly* You win.
** Batman turns it back on him later though, after stopping by a cafe and seeing a guy getting taken away by [[FacelessGoons masked police]] for complaining about the bill:
--> '''Batman''': They'd love it here, don't you think?
--> '''Lord Batman''': Who?
--> '''Batman''': Mom and Dad. They'd be ''so'' proud of you.
--> '''Lord Batman''': ... Just drive.
** In "Patriot Act," a random ''bystander'' gets the WellIntentionedExtremist villain to stop fighting and leave the city with one.
--> '''Little Old Lady:''' Tell me, son: how many of us do you have to kill to keep us safe?
* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking: After taking over Tartarus and perusing Hades' Library, Faust lists off texts that "make the [[TomeOfEldritchLore Necronomicon]] look like a children's book": the Lost Scrolls of Herculaneum, Merlin's juvenilia, Pierre Menard's ''Literature/DonQuixote''![[note]]This is actually a reference to "Pierre Menard, Author of the ''Quixote''", a short story that plays on literary criticism and such. Point is that it's not magical.[[/note]]
* ArtEvolution:
** Superman was originally designed to be slightly bulkier than his ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'' incarnation, along with some additional lines on his face and a change in coloration. Negative fan response to the design (the lines made him look older/recovering from Kryptonite-tainted clams) led to them tweaking the design slightly by altering the face, making it resemble to the ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'' design, though the design still retained the bulk of the Season 1 design. [[http://www.worldsfinestonline.com/WF/jl/episodes/secretorigins/p1/09.jpg Here is one image]] of the first design used in ''Justice League'', and [[http://www.worldsfinestonline.com/WF/jl/episodes/starcrossed/p3/34.jpg here is an image]] of the redesign for Season 2 and ''Justice League Unlimited''.
** Wonder Woman also had [[http://worldsfinestonline.com/WF/jlu/bios/ww/13.jpg a tweak]] for Season 2 and ''Unlimited'', [[http://worldsfinestonline.com/WF/jl/bios/heroes/wwoman/46.jpg losing the cheekbones she had in Season 1]].
* ArtisticLicenseBiology:
** The show has a biological inaccuracy serve as the key plot-point to a season 1 episode. In "Fury", [[BigBad Arisia]] attempts to [[{{Gendercide}} wipe out all men on Earth]] with a deadly "allergen". Allergens are not contagious; different people (and different ''species'') have different allergic reactions to the same substance.
** Grodd's plan in "Dead Reckoning" is to create a "Devolution Ray" to turn every human being in the planet into an ape. Humans (Let alone Kryptonians) did not evolve from (modern-day) apes, so even if we grant the premise that Grodd can undo evolution, it would have turned a human being into whatever common ancestor on the evolutionary path the two species share.
* ArtShift: Grodd's story about Prince Jon in "To Another Shore" is drawn in a more typical, realistic comic book style reminiscent of classic Viking Prince artist Joe Kubert.
* AssimilationBackfire: During A.M.A.Z.O.'s first appearance, he copies the powers of all the League's members while fighting them. When he absorbs Superman's powers he also gets his vulnerability to Kryptonite, [[SubvertedTrope but quickly learns how to modify himself so it is no longer an issue]].
* AnAssKickingChristmas: The Christmas special where Green Lantern and Hawkgirl spend their holiday in an alien bar, asskicking.
* AttackOfThe50FootWhatever:
** Giganta is a recurring villain, created by Gorilla Grodd.
** Longshadow, [[CaptainErsatz a recreation of]] [[WesternAnimation/SuperFriends Apache Chief]], appears in "Ultimatum" and the climax of the Cadmus arc.
** Atom-Smasher appears in numerous group shots of the expanded League, and has a personal fight scene in "Task Force X," [[LivingProp but never gets any dialogue or backstory]].
** Toyman and Luthor create giant robots at different points, Ray creates one in "Legends," the Chinese have one in the first episode of ''Unlimited''... quite frankly, it's a show based on one of the most well-known superhero teams of all time, giant monsters and robots are par for the course.
* TheAtoner: Hawkgirl spends much of the first two seasons of ''Unlimited'' trying to win back the trust of humanity in general and her friends in the League.
* AxCrazy: Killer Frost.
* BackForTheDead:
** General Hardcastle, who was a minor recurring character in ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'', returns in "Fearful Symmetry" and is killed by Galatea.
** Dr. Milo, a minor villain from ''Batman The Animated Series'', comes back to release from Cadmus custody, and be killed off by, Doomsday.
* BackForTheFinale: [[spoiler:J'onn J'onzz]].
* BackFromTheDead: Solomon Grundy (who CameBackWrong-- twice!) and [[spoiler: Darkseid]].
* BackToBackBadasses: In the final episode, [[spoiler: Batman and Lex Luthor]].
* BadGuyBar: In "Flash and Substance", Central City is shown to have a bar frequented by the various Flash rogues. The Flash is well aware of where it is and who drinks there, occasionally popping by to arrest a villain when he feels it necessary.
* BadGuysDoTheDirtyWork: Lord!Superman. In the comics, Doomsday [[Comicbook/TheDeathOfSuperman killed Superman]] after already defeating the entirety of the Franchise/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica, but Lord!Superman lobotomized him five minutes into the fight once it became apparent that his strength approached Superman's own.
* BadGuysPlayPool: The BadGuyBar in "Flash and Substance" has a pool table constantly in use in the background. When the Flash [[FriendlyEnemy convinces the Trickster to help him out]], the pool table is destroyed.
* {{Badass}}: Pretty much everyone, but Comicbook/{{Aquaman}} is the most surprising iteration. In his first appearance in ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'', Aquaman was portrayed as a mix of the angry-king version then current and the classic, optimistic character previously used in ''WesternAnimation/SuperFriends'', but by the time Justice League rolled around the depiction "[[NinetiesAntiHero matured]]" to the Creator/PeterDavid version of the character.
* BadassBoast: "No man escapes the Manhunters!" Well, up until now.
* BadassGrandpa: Several, such as the modern day ComicBook/{{Blackhawk}}s and the leader of Skartaris. Wildcat, much like [[Comicbook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica his comic counterpart]], is still a trainer and compatriot of the new generation of heroes despite his advancing years.
* BadassInANiceSuit: Lex Luthor, when he is not wearing his military style fatigues, InstitutionalApparel or PoweredArmor. Lampshaded with "I had to get my power suit."
* BadassLongcoat: Comicbook/TheQuestion.
* BadassNormal: Batman, of course, but also a fair number of ''Unlimited'' League members. The latter are spotlighted in "Patriot Act", and The Question sometimes seems to be the ''real'' star of the series.
* BaitTheDog: Deadshot spends most of "Task Force X" flirting with Plastique but at the end of the episode detonates an explosive a few inches from her face.
* BarBrawl: Hawkgirl seems to enjoy a good brawl, as she starts a fight (In anger) in "In Blackest Night" and starts another one (Just for fun) in "Comfort and Joy".
* BareHandedBladeBlock: General Wade Eiling, after his transformation, catches Shining Knight's sword ''with one hand'' and throws him to the ground. It had previously been established that Shining Knight's sword was the one weapon present which ''could'' injure the General, after bullets, explosions and even Quantum Arrows did not even mark him.
* BareYourMidriff: Supergirl, Shayera (in JLU), Fire, Huntress, Stargirl, Volcana, Kat's new outfit, the females at Skartaris.
* BarrierWarrior: The Green Lanterns, Sinestro, and Star Sapphire.
* BashBrothers:
** Flash and Green Lantern were the most-often paired of the main team
** Vigilante and Shining Knight show up a surprising amount in ''Unlimited.''
* BatmanColdOpen: Numerous times, often as a way of sneaking in references and cameos of [[Franchise/TheDCU DCU]] heroes and villains that could not be fit into the regular episode.
* BatmanGambit: In addition to [[Franchise/{{Batman}} the obvious]], the Question pulls one on [[{{Expy}} Galatea]], and a sort of a weird helpful one on ComicBook/{{Huntress}}. Flash has the rare honor of successfully pulling off a BatmanGambit against (Justice Lord) Batman himself.
** TheJoker pulls one on the entire American public in "Wild Card". [[spoiler: Naturally, Franchise/{{Batman}} is there to save the day.]]
* BatmanGrabsAGun: Superman attempts to lobotomize Doomsday in the "Doomsday Sanction," just as his Justice Lord counterpart did in "A Better World". It is pointed out by other characters that this is but one commonality between the two, and that Superman might not be as from his Lord counterpart as they would all like to think.
* BattleCouple: Pretty much every OfficialCouple in the show.
* BattleInTheCenterOfTheMind: "Only A Dream."
* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor[=/=]LiteralGenie: Hath-Set follows through on his loyalty to his Thanagarian pharaoh Katar-Hol with brutal efficiency. When Katar discovers his wife and best friend are in love with each other he offhand wishes they were dead while overcome with rage. Hath-Set, who was eavesdropping, makes it so... to Katar's intense dismay.
* BeamOWar: In "Only a Dream," John Stewart and [[PlayingWithFire Volcana]] square off against one another. Volcana seemed to be on the verge of overpowering John, but she was knocked down by Batman and John was able to gain the upper hand.
* BeautifulAllAlong:
** There was never any implication that she was actually ugly, but Hawkgirl wore her mask for every single scene in the first two seasons, never revealing what she really looked like and leading some fans to think that her mask ''was'' her face. When she and John Stewart finally admit that they have feelings for each other she points out that they are too different, not even the same ''species'', and John says that all he sees are a man and a woman as he [[DramaticUnmask slowly takes off her mask]]. Beneath the mask she is a beautiful woman with [[FieryRedhead long red hair]] and [[GreenEyes piercing green eyes]].
** When the Question and ComicBook/{{Huntress}} team-up in "Double Date," she theorizes that he must be the ugliest person in the world in order to hide his face [[TheBlank like he does]]. There was a brief glance at his unmasked face earlier in the series in "Fearful Symmetry," but "Flashpoint" has his {{dramatic unmask}}ing. At that point he has been beaten so badly his face is almost unrecognizable as the same man and he sourly comments that Huntress was right, he is "the ugliest guy in the world." [[Heartwarming/JusticeLeague Huntress disagrees.]]
* BelligerentSexualTension: Hawkgirl and Green Lantern bicker and argue so much throughout the first two seasons that Flash [[EveryoneCanSeeIt actually compares them to an old married couple]]. The two eventually [[TheyDo realize their feelings]] in "Wild Cards", near the end of the second season, and are a couple in "Starcrossed", the season finale. Even SelfDemonstrating/TheJoker [[LampshadeHanging noticed their relationship]] before they finally admitted it:
-->'''The Joker''': Is it just me, or is there something going on between those two?
* BeneathNotice: When running from the Thanagarians in "Starcrossed", J'onn points out that the Thanagarians are looking for the Justice League, not six regular people. By taking off their costumes and walking down the street they are able to avoid notice. [[spoiler:[[GenreSavvy Unfortunately, the Thanagarians are aware that the League will take off their costumes, so they have soldiers stationed at train stations checking identification.]]]]
* BeneathTheMask: The Flash. See ObfuscatingStupidity.
* BenevolentAlienInvasion: The Thanagarians ''pretended'' to be a BenevolentAlienInvasion to cover their true purpose, but Batman exposed them in short order. Season three of ''Unlimited'' reveals that two Thanagarians ''had'' been benevolent rulers [[AncientAstronauts thousands of years ago when they were worshipped as gods]], but their empire crumbled shortly after their death.
* BerserkButton: Aquaman is [[PapaWolf rather protective of his child]].
* BetrayalInsurance: When A.M.A.Z.O. copies Superman's powers (and weaknesses), Batman uses a piece of kryptonite on it.
-->'''Hawkgirl:''' Do you always keep that in your belt?\\
'''Batman:''' Call it... insurance. ([[GrapplingHookPistol grapples away]])\\
'''Hawkgirl:''' And they call me scary.
** Discussed in one episode where Batman asks Superman what's to keep him from becoming a Justice Lord. Superman half-jokes that there's always the Kryptonite that Bruce carries around, but Bruce yells that it's no laughing matter.
* BetweenMyLegs: The series ''loves'' this shot.
* BewareTheNiceOnes:
** Flash, [[FunPersonified the goofy, light-hearted member of the League]] is the one to finally defeat [[spoiler: Brainiac/Luthor]] after the entire rest of the League had failed.
** The series seems built on the principle that the nicer you are, the more epic your eventual rages are. Darkseid finds out [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ywo6F4xYTvA the hard and painful way]] when Superman decides to finally stop holding back..
* BigBad:
** [[spoiler: Brainiac]] in the Cadmus Arc, though he ultimately fuses with [[spoiler: Lex]] to acquire an imagination.
** The LegionOfDoom Arc started out with Grodd, and then switched to Lex, but ultimately defaulted to [[spoiler: Darkseid]].
* BigBadassBattleSequence: Six episodes involve the League, or their allies, taking part in what can only be described as a war given the number of enemies and scale of the fight.
** In "The Savage Time," the League is sent back to UsefulNotes/WorldWarII and takes part in the struggle between the Allies and the Axis. They fight off fighter squadrons, armored battalions and even War Wheels.
** In "Maid of Honor," Wonder Woman and Batman stage what is, in essence, a full invasion of Kasnia. They wind up fighting the air force, infantry and tanks. [[SoundtrackDissonance All set to the marriage of Princess Audrey and Vandal Savage]].
** "Hearts and Minds," opens with four Green Lanterns engaged against the entire military might of Despero, including dozens of his superpowered acolytes and an armada of battleships.
** "Starcrossed" climaxes with a fight between the League and thousands of fighters of the Thanagarian Expeditionary Force.
** In "Chaos at the Earth's Core", members of the League are present during the final battle between Demos and forces of free Skartaris. Hundreds of people and LizardFolk clash using swords, bows-and-arrows, laser weapons and giant monsters.
** "Destroyer," the [[GrandFinale final episode]], has the expanded League ''and'' the Legion of Doom [[EnemyMine teaming up]] against a full-scale invasion of Earth by Darkseid and the forces of Apokolips.
* BigDamnHeroes: The entire point of the genre, let alone the series.
* TheBigDamnKiss: John and Shayera at the end of "Wild Cards".
* BigEater: Flash is one due to RequiredSecondaryPowers (Which [[NoConservationOfEnergy really does not nearly account for how much energy he uses]], but hey, it is comic book physics, we are used to it).
* [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff Big in Japan]]: [[invoked]] Supergirl. Green Lantern describes her as such word for word when Stargirl is shocked to notice a Supergirl convention, complete with cosplayers.
* BilingualBonus: The song that Batman is [[PsychicStatic muttering]] at the end of "Just a Dream" is an ad-jingle parody of the old French song ''Frere Jacques'', which tells about an asleep man.
* BittersweetEnding:
** The ''Justice League'' finale, "Starcrossed". It saw the rescue of the world and routing of the invading aliens, but [[spoiler: Hawkgirl leaves the League and her relationship with Green Lantern ends.]]
-->"... I love you too."
** "Ultimatum". Longshadow symbolically joins the League, but [[spoiler:it is implied he dies extremely soon after, and the rest of the Ultimen likewise.]]
* BlackBlood: In "Twilight", Darkseid can be seen bleeding black blood when hit. This is especially noticeable near the end when [[spoiler: Brainiac]] is about to explode and Batman forces Superman to get out.
* TheBlank: Comicbook/TheQuestion.
* BloodKnight: Draaga, Doomsday.
* BloodlessCarnage: Played straight for most episodes, with occasional aversions (John Stewart did look pretty beaten after his fight with Hro Talak, who himself had a nosebleed after the fight) or justifications (Captain Atom cannot bleed since he does not have blood).
* BoardingPod: Seen in the season 2 finale. Each pod was loaded with cloned Ultimen, and had triple buzzsaws for cutting through the Watchtower's hull. But given that their goal was ''shooting down'' the Watchtower, the [[WhyDontYouJustShootHim question has to be asked why they didn't just fire normal missiles]].
* BodyHorror: The ending of "Panic in the Sky."
* BodySurf: Eclipso.
* BodyWipe: The last episode ends with the League members running toward the camera in its final, trope naming "AndTheAdventureContinues" scene. It notably ends with Batman's logo, causing Batman to provide [[WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries the]] BookEnds to the DCAU.
* BoisterousBruiser: Hawkgirl, who loves fighting so much she uses a BarBrawl as a holiday celebration. Maria Canals, her actress, explained that she personally felt stress-relieved when she was allowed to give Hawkgirl's war cry.
* BondOneLiner:
** After Vandal Savage [[spoiler:knocks out Wonder Woman with an electric-pistol [[SpeakNowOrForeverHoldYourPeace when she attempted to stop his wedding to Princess Audrey]]]] he turned to the crowd and asked "Does anyone else have any objections?"
** When Devil Ray is told by the guardian of Nanda Parbat that one must earn entry to the sacred city, Devil Ray [[CombatPragmatist just shoots him]].
-->"Keep the change."
* BookEnds:
** ''Justice League'' begins and ends with alien invasions. The first causes the formation of the League, while the second sees it [[spoiler:lose a member]].
** The ending of "Epilogue" has [[WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond Terry McGinnis]] flying past a flying police car, confusing the pilots. This mirrors the opening scene of the very first episode of ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'', "On Leather Wings" (right down to the line spoken by the policeman - played both times by Creator/KevinConroy, no less - who notices Batman). [[UnCanceled The original plan was for this episode to be the finale for the series]], [[PostScriptSeason only for another season to appear]].
** Batman does provide a book end in the ''actual'' final episode for the DCAU, as when all the heroes rush out the image fades to black by going into his logo.
* BottomlessMagazines: Averted. Both Green Arrow and Speedy run completely out of arrows in "Patriot Act", and resort to [[PistolWhipping swinging their bows at the enemy]].
* BoundAndGagged: Happens to [[spoiler:Hippolyta]] in "Fury".
* BoxedCrook: Task Force X, which is an adaptation of the Comicbook/SuicideSquad.
* {{Brainwashed}}: Despero was converting entire populations to his will using "The Flame of Pytar" in the season two episode "Hearts and Minds."
* BrainwashedAndCrazy: The Flash in "The Brave and the Bold"
* BrainwashingForTheGreaterGood: How the Justice Lords dealt with their RoguesGallery.
* BrandishmentBluff: In "Chaos at the Earth's Core", Supergirl's powers are [[BroughtDownToNormal reduced]], with a comparable reduction in her vulnerability to Kryptonite. When she faces Metallo, who is unaware that the environment has impacted her powers, she claims that she is simply immune to Kryptonite and threatens him to surrender or be destroyed.
* BrattyTeenageDaughter: Stargirl. For extra points, her stepfather is her sidekick.
* BreadAndCircuses: How Mongul controls his people in "War World".
* BreatherEpisode: Several lighthearted/more humorous episodes such as "Comfort and Joy", the ChristmasEpisode which almost plays out like a [[{{WAFF}} Warm And Fuzzy Fan Fic]]. With a BarBrawl.
* BrickJoke:
** In "Wild Cards," the Joker finds an old woman who is still feeding a slot machine in Las Vegas, despite the rest of the city being abandoned after he seeded it with bombs. When he asks why she stayed behind, [[ComicallyMissingThePoint she explains that the machine has to pay out sooner or later]]. [[spoiler:The final shot of the episode, [[SexyDiscretionShot after cutting away from Shayera and John kissing passionately]], is that old woman hitting "Well, it's about time!"]]
** In "Dead Reckoning", Superman is talking about a fast food restaurant's milkshakes, which are very thick, when he gets possessed by Deadman. As soon as Deadman abandons him, [[{{Unpaused}} Superman completes the punchline.]]
* BrokenPedestal: Billy Batson, aka Captain Marvel, always considered Superman to be the example to follow. But when the hero he admired actually attacks him, it hurts him much more deeply than the beating he received.
* BroughtDownToNormal
** Green Lantern in "The Savage Time," where his ring runs out of energy, and "Hearts and Minds," where Despero [[MindRape affected his ability to use it]].
** Superman in "Hereafter," where he loses all his abilities after being transported to a planet with a red sun. Not that it does anything to hinder his determination, or his awesomeness.
** Supergirl in "Chaos at the Earth's Core." She herself describes it as "half strength," but she lacks the ability to fly more than a few feet or lift a stone larger than herself, so her power is much closer to human-normal than "half" would imply.
* TheBrute: Solomon Grundy, who is the dumb muscle for whichever supervillain has hired him this week.
* BulletproofHumanShield: Superman purposefully stepped in front of a group of soldiers to shield them from a hail of bullets. Since he is Superman, it made more sense than many other human shields.
* BurialInSpace: Given to the Viking Prince.
* BusFullOfInnocents: A bus full of nuns is about to collide with a truck full of dynamite in "Legends". Even the Flash realizes that it's a ContrivedCoincidence.
* BuyThemOff: In an episode where Batman was [[BadassInDistress kidnapped]] by Luthor and his fellow villains, he not only [[GuileHero manipulates]] half of the villains there to either turn against each other or help him in some way, for his final masterstroke he gets Ultra-Humanite to backstab Luthor... ''By promising him double what Luthor was paying.''
* CallBack: When Batman sings "Am I Blue" in "This Little Piggy". The song made an earlier DCAU appearance in the DTV film ''Batman & Mr. Freeze: Subzero''.
* CallForward:
** Crime Boss Steven Mandragora's son, Edgar, appears at the end of "Double Date." Edgar would "later" appear in the ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'' episode "Mind Games."
** Batman does not enjoy travelling via boom tube, referencing a line of Old!Bruce's in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond''.
** Amanda Waller mentions attempts to splice human and animal DNA. This "Splicing" would become popular with criminals in ''Batman Beyond.''
** The Justice League trains with "Z8 Trainer" robots, early models of Zeta from ''WesternAnimated/TheZetaProject''.
** At numerous points in the series Batman uses electric brass knuckles while fighting. They were later used by Mr. Fixx in the pilot to ''Batman Beyond''.
* CameBackWrong: Solomon Grundy. Twice. First as a zombie of a gangster, then as a mindless killing machine capable of going toe to toe with the likes of Superman and A.M.A.Z.O.
* TheCameo:
** [[Franchise/GreenLantern Hal Jordan]] makes a brief appearance in "Once and Future Thing" when Chronos' messing with time causes him to get retconned into the JL in place of John Stewart.
** There is an appearance by [[spoiler:a much older [[WesternAnimation/BatmanMaskOfThePhantasm Andrea Beaumont, AKA The Phantasm]]]] in "Epilogue".
* CanonForeigner: The Ultimen (who were incarnations of the Canon Foreigners from ''WesternAnimation/SuperFriends''), Tsukuri, and Galatea. Yet all of them look [[{{Expy}} strangely familiar]]...
* TheCaper: Four normal humans, managed by ''the'' ClockKing and under orders from Amanda Waller, make a raid on the Justice League headquarters to steal a suit of AnimatedArmor.
** [[ShaggyDogStory Not that it does them much good in the long run]], [[spoiler: when the suit is hijacked by Faust.]]
* CaptainErsatz:
** The Justice Guild of America is a recreation of the Comicbook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica. The Society was originally supposed to appear in the episode "Legends," [[ExecutiveMeddling but DC Comics said they could not use the actual characters.]]
** The Ultimen are a recreation of [[WesternAnimation/SuperFriends Black Vulcan, Apache Chief, Samurai, and the Wonder Twins]].
** Aresia and Tsukuri are [[ComicBook/InfinityInc Fury]] and {{Katana}}, right down to having extremely similar outfits. For added points, their debut episode is even [[MythologyGag named "Fury"]]!
** Devil Ray was a direct recreation of Black Manta. They could not use the name because of a potential live-action Aquaman series, so they simply changed what he was called.
* CaptainObvious: Flash after seeing the stuffed T-Rex in the Batcave:
-->'''Flash:''' "That's a giant dinosaur!"
-->'''Alfred:''' "And here I thought Batman was the detective."
* CaptainSuperhero: Comicbook/CaptainAtom (Who actually held the rank of captain in the United States Air Force) and [[Comicbook/{{Shazam}} Captain Marvel]].
* CardCarryingVillain: The show {{lampshade|Hanging}}s it when an evil race of snake spirits want to possess the League.
-->'''General (under possession from the spirits):''' How would one contact this "Just-Us League?"\\
'''Sergeant:''' I don't know, sir. Wear a gaudy costume and threaten a bunch of people?\\
'''General:''' Thank you Sergeant, you've been quite a help.
** Lampshaded yet again in ''Unlimited'' by Flash, during his FreakyFridayFlip with SelfDemonstrating/LexLuthor:
-->'''"Luthor":''' *Walking out of the bathroom* What?\\
'''Polaris:''' You gonna wash your hands?\\
'''"Luthor":''' No...[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyYOuuRmQp0 cause I'm EVIL]].
* CarFu: Question in "Destroyer", SelfDemonstrating/{{Lobo}} in "Hereafter" (by ''throwing'' the car), etc.
* CassandraTruth: In "The Balance"
-->'''Shayera:''' How'd you do that?
-->'''Wonder Woman:''' Magic lasso. Who knew?
-->'''Shayera:''' If you don't want to tell me, fine.
* CasualDangerDialog:
** Between Batman and Superman in "Clash".
** Batman again in "Dark Heart," after ejecting from the Batplane and having his parachute destroyed.
-->'''Batman:''' Batman to all points. I could use some air support. Since I can't fly. At all.
--> [Beat, Batman continues to fall]
-->'''Batman:''' Now would be good.
* CatFight: Several {{Action Girl}}s and {{Dark Action Girl}}s are always willing to mix it up, with each other or their male counterparts. However the episode "Grudge Match" deserves special mention, as Roulette and Lex Luthor restart Metabrawl by pandering to public demand for this trope.
* CatGirl:
** Cheetah, [[ProfessorGuineaPig a scientist who transformed herself into a human/cheetah hybrid as part of her experiments]], appears early in the series for what was supposed to be a single episode. However, [[ThrowItIn she survived the episode due to an animation error]], and kept reappearing in background and group shots throughout the show.
** Shakira in Skartaris is a woman who can change from cat to human.
* CatapultNightmare: Supergirl throughout "Fearful Symmetry".
* CavemenVsAstronautsDebate: In "Patriot Act", Shining Knight and Vigilante [[SeinfeldianConversation talk about]] ''Film/DirtyHarry''. Vigilante likes the film, but Shining Knight feels that the CowboyCop tendencies of the character "besmirch" his role as a police office. Vigilante then warns Shining Knight that if he ever wants to watch any more movies on Vigilante's big-screen TV, he better watch what he says about Creator/ClintEastwood.
* CelibateHero: Batman gives Wonder Woman an entire laundry list of reasons why they will not be dating. The best is probably, "You're a princess from a society of immortal warriors; I'm a rich kid with issues. ''Lots'' of issues."
* CensorSteam: Fire's fire. They had to do several redesigns to make sure [[SceneryCensor her naughty bits were covered]]. ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold'' later took [[BarbieDollAnatomy a different approach]].
* ChainOfPeople: The Big Seven (less one) band together to help Flash [[spoiler:escape the Speed Force]].
* ChandlersLaw: After Green Arrow, the Question and Supergirl were unable to get anything to genuinely prove that something was going on in ''Fearful Symmetry'' [[spoiler: Cadmus conveniently sent teams of soldiers and robots to attack them]] which got them out of the rut they were stuck in.
* CharacterDevelopment: Each of the main seven characters go through a little of this.
** Superman retains the same goals and desires from [[WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries his own show]], but his experiences with Cadmus teach him to go about his heroics in a manner that will not cause fear and distrust from those he wishes to help.
** Wonder Woman gains an appreciation for man's world and men in general, and gradually learns to integrate into other societies while retaining her cultural identity as an Amazon.
** Batman begins to cooperate with other people and learns to appreciate friendship and camaraderie in addition to working partnerships. (Unfortunately, [[DoomedByCanon he will inevitably become isolated and alone again]] [[WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond in the future]].)
** Green Lantern learned to accept himself as a Lantern without fearing the loss of his own personal identity, but then became despondent again following the end of his relationship with Hawkgirl. He eventually becomes [[ScrewDestiny determined to live his own life no matter what]], but retains conflicted thoughts and feelings for Hawkgirl.
** The Flash is initially the inexperienced comic relief. A number of times early on, he appears more interested in showing off and impressing women. However, over the course of the series, he learns to use his brain in a fight and not just his speed. He also develops into TheHeart and "the conscience" of the team, becoming a far more selfless hero.
** Hawkgirl has the most profound and fundamental character shift. Starting as an aggressive, self-confident warrior she grows depressed and self-critical while suffering an identity and personality crisis during the shift to ''Unlimited''. Ultimately, she accepts her place in Earth society, but as a much calmer and internally settled character that no longer identifies as "Hawkgirl" at all.
** Martian Manhunter slowly realizes the implications of what it means to be the Last Martian, doomed to be eternally alone on Earth, and simultaneously grows detached and unfeeling towards humanity at large. [[spoiler:He finally leaves the League in order to find some connection to humanity; when he reappears as a 'guest star' in the final episode, he has found a personal life and honest emotional companionship on Earth.]]
* CharacterizationMarchesOn: Zatanna goes from being an extraordinarily skilled but decidedly mortal, realistic magician in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' to being [[MagiciansAreWizards an actually magical and very powerful wizard]] in her appearances here. An issue of ''Comic/TheBatmanAdventures'' [[AllThereInTheManual does show what seems to be an early instance of actual magic use]], so her skills possibly grew from that.
* ChargeIntoCombatCut: This takes place in the episode "Flash and Substance", when Batman DualWielding batarangs is about to face Captain Boomerang dual wielding boomerangs.
* CharlesAtlasSuperpower: Several heroes who are ostensibly {{Badass Normal}}s can punch dents into steel or craters into concrete.
* ChekhovsGun: In "Hereafter", the assertion that Vandal Savage's Zero Generator is a "miniature sun". As soon as Superman gets near it, he regains his yellow sun-induced powers.
* TheChessmaster: Lex Luthor and Brainiac. Brainiac is mechanically better, balanced out by Lex's imagination and force of personality. [[spoiler: They ultimately merge to combine the best (worst?) of both worlds]].
* TheChosenMany: The Justice League itself, and [[Franchise/GreenLantern the Green Lantern Corps.]]
* ChristmasEpisode: "Comfort and Joy," which has all the classic earmarks of a quality holiday episode: Visiting family, exchanging gifts, an actual aluminum Christmas tree, and... a ''BarBrawl?!?'' Sure, why not. Also a case of MerryChristmasInGotham.
* CivilianVillain: Lex Luthor, after being pardoned and while running for president.
* CivvieSpandex: Upon returning to the Justice League midway in the 3rd season, Hawkgirl ditched the helmet and traded her earlier outfit for something you might go jogging in.
* {{Claustrophobia}}: Hawkgirl, who almost has a heart attack when Dr. Destiny invades her dreams and traps her in a coffin.
* CleavageWindow: Galatea and Ice's outfits both have one.
* ClockKing: [[TropeNamers The man himself.]]
* CoatHatMask: The Question and the Crimson Avenger.
* CollectiveGroan:
** In the "Doomsday Sanction", after Batman informs the League that he has the Question on the case. After the groan he admits that the Question is wound a little too tight.
** In "Panic In the Sky", when the power went back on in the Watchtower, a group of heroes cheered right before the power went out again, causing them to groan.
* ColonyDrop: Batman uses this to ''save'' the world in "Starcrossed", [[spoiler: piloting the Watchtower out of orbit and into the Thanagarian hyperspace array before it could activate and cause an EarthShatteringKaboom]].
* CombatBreakdown: In "Patriot Act", the fight begins with the League members present all using their various gimmicks and abilities. As the episode progresses, they are each defeated one by one and the ones still standing run out of ammunition. Ultimately, it ends with the last men standing fighting with blunt instruments and their bare hands.
* CombatPragmatist:
** In "Chaos at the Earth's Core", Supergirl [[BroughtDownToNormal loses her powers while in Skartaris]]. She compensates by grabbing whatever weapon she finds at at hand, including swords, laser guns, and even Stargirl's staff.
** Devil Ray, when confronted by a sword-bearing monk who explains that entrance to Nanda Parbat must be earned, shoots the monk and keeps walking. Later, when the Old Master is able to block his attacks, Devil Ray just collapses the roof on him instead of continuing the fight.
--> "[[BondOneLiner Keep the change]]."
** After Captain Cold, Captain Boomerang, Mirror Master, and the Trickster [[MookChivalry take turns trying to defeat the Flash one at a time]], Captain Cold points out that taking turns is dumb and they agree to jump the Flash together.
* ComeWithMeIfYouWantToLive: From Aquaman to Solomon Grundy in "The Terror Beyond."
* ComesGreatResponsibility: John Stewart is a proponent of this:
-->"Think of the others like us. We all need to be held accountable, we have too much power not to be."
* ComicallyMissingThePoint: When the Joker seeds bombs throughout Las Vegas, he finds one old woman who is still feeding a slot machine when everybody else in the city has fled. When he asks her why she remains, she points out that the slot machine has to pay out sooner or later.
* TheComicallySerious: Batman, usually. Martian Manhunter too.
* ComicBookMoviesDontUseCodenames:
** J'onn J'onzz, the Martian Manhunter, is only called "J'onn" or "the Martian" here. He is referred to as "The Martian Manhunter" once in the entire series, during the briefing in "Task Force X".
** Wonder Woman is usually referred to either as "Diana" or "Princess" by the League members and people who know her personally. It is only the public at large and some enemies who refer to her as "Wonder Woman".
** A.M.A.Z.O. is universally referred to as "the Android" (and occasionally "Ivo's Android" to refer to ''which'' android they are talking about). The word "A.M.A.Z.O." is seen written once in his introductory episode, when Lex Luthor looks at his blueprints, and spoken aloud once when Luthor is later building a new model.
** In the episode "Metamorphosis," Metamorpho's name was not spoken aloud as such.
* CommutingOnABus: Flash in the first season of ''Unlimited''. Voice-actor Michael Rosenbaum was unavailable for the role, so the Flash only appears in background and group shots without any lines throughout the entire season.
* [[ComplainingAboutPeopleNotLikingTheShow Complaining About People Not Liking Hawkgirl]]: [[invoked]] [[StalkerWithACrush Hawkman]] keeps getting banned from the "I Hate Hawkgirl" websites [[InUniverse because he is constantly flaming their members for their dislike of Hawkgirl.]]
* CompositeCharacter:
** An example that works as such even in-universe, Loana, Superman's wife in his dream state during "For The Man Who Has Everything". She is explicitly a combination of Lois Lane and Lana Lang. Appearance wise, she looks a lot like Lois (even having Dana Delany as her voice actress), but has red hair like Lana.
** Doomsday gets combined with [[spoiler:the Kon-El version of Superboy, being a modified Superman clone created by Cadmus]].
** Stephen Mandragora is basically a combination of Stefano Mandragora from the ''Huntress'' comics with Tobias Whale from ''Black Lightning''.
* ConflictKiller:
** {{Implied|Trope}} in "Starcrossed, Part 2". The USA has apparently set up mutual communication and coordination of armed forces with both China and Russia under the threat of Gordanian invasion.
** In the climax of the Cadmus arc, when it looks like the Justice League and government might actually turn on each other and destroy the world, [[spoiler:Brainiac]] shows up and puts all previous rivalries on the back burner.
** In the finale "Destroyer", the League and the Secret Society of Supervillains team up against [[spoiler:Darkseid]].
* ConquerorFromTheFuture:
** Vandal Savage's gambit in "The Savage Time". He could not actually time-travel on his own, but he could only send technology and messages to himself in the past.
** From the episode "The Once and Future Thing", where a Wild West outlaw robs a time traveler and uses his access to time travel to get a few future guns and robots to take over a Western town. The time traveler himself becomes another straight example, using his time travel powers to take over the far-future.
** Comicbook/BoosterGold is an inversion of this idea. He is a physically fit, but otherwise normal citizen from the future who uses relatively common technology from his time to travel back in time and become a superhero so that he can become rich and famous.
* ConservationOfNinjutsu: "Twilight Of The Gods" demonstrates this trope in stages with the Brainiacs. When there was just one, it put up quite a fight against Superman, J'onn and Hawkgirl, requiring a vicious beatdown to destroy. Then there was several, and each put up considerably less of a fight. Then there were dozens, and the heroes were destroying at least one with each attack.
* ConspiracyTheorist: The Question.
* ContemporaryCaveman: Vandal Savage of course.
* ContinuityNod:
** In "Hereafter", the trunk of the car Superman is driving has a box of the energy bars Flash was hawking in "Eclipsed", and Deadshot smuggled a gun into the watchtower by hiding the parts in wrappers of the same bars in "Task Force X." "Flash and Substance" featured a cardboard cutout of him in his apartment, still advertising the same energy bars, which is destroyed when it startles Orion.
---> '''Flash''': ''[Bummed out]'' Dude, that was my last standee.
** In "Clash", Superman brings up deodorant advertisement deals in his lecture to Captain Marvel--the way Flash covers his face indicates that he takes this as a dig against his energy bar commercials.
** In "Hearts and Minds", Katma Tui brings up that John Stewart sent Green Lantern Kyle Rayner to Oa for training after receiving his ring, accounting for his absence since his introduction in "In Brightest Day..." in ''Superman: The Animated Series''.
** In "Question Authority", Huntress uses Comicbook/JimmyOlsen's signal watch to call Superman; the watch first appeared in "Superman's Pal" in ''Superman: The Animated Series''.
** In part two of "The Once and Future Thing," Green Lantern alludes to a past team-up with ComicBook/{{Static}}. This references "Fallen Hero", an episode of ''WesternAnimation/StaticShock'' that Green Lantern guest-starred in.
** Lex Luthor has cancer from manipulating [[GreenRocks kryptonite]] for years. The first mention of the disease was in ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'', when the [[{{Crossover}} Joker]] stole a jade dragon statue. Every past owner fell ill and died, because it actually was made of kryptonite.
* ConvenientlyUnverifiableCoverStory: Hawkgirl's cover story of being teleported to earth by [[MythologyGag Zeta beams]].
* CoolCar: Comicbook/TheQuestion's Pontiac GTO. And he's VERY good at [[CarFu using it to kick butt]].
* CoolVersusAwesome: The first half of "The Once and Future Thing" is absolutely ''made'' of this. Cowboys and superheroes versus outlaws, ''dinosaurs'', and '''ROBOTS!'''
* CorporateSponsoredSuperhero: The Flash does this for one episode, which gets him chewed out by Batman.
* CorruptCorporateExecutive: Lex Luthor, Simon Stagg, Morgan Edge, etc.
* CosplayOtakuGirl: Supergirl, who is [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff Big in Japan]], is surrounded by an InstantFanClub of young girls all dressed in one of her early costume designs after she helps defeat a rampaging monster near a Supergirl convention.
* CourtroomEpisode: Flash defends Franchise/GreenLantern when he is accused of murder. "If the ring wasn't lit, you must acquit!"
* CowboyEpisode: The "Weird Western Tales" part of "The Once and Future Thing"
* CradlingYourKill: In "Only a Dream", Superman cradles JimmyOlsen's body after [[AccidentalMurder inadvertently]] [[DoesNotKnowHisOwnStrength crushing]] [[AndCallHimGeorge him]] to death. Fortunately, it's AllJustADream.
* CrazyPrepared:
** Franchise/{{Batman}}, after having Medusa brought up from Tartarus in order to provide information on the recently released Circe, gives Charon the required two pennies. In the DVD audio commentary, the producers feel it is only natural that Batman would happen to be carrying exactly two pennies in his utility belt, ''just in case'' he had to cross the River Styx.
** Green Arrow reflects on this nature during a [[RuleOfFunny quite amusing]] moment in "To Another Shore";
-->'''Green Arrow''': And Black Canary said a buzz-saw arrow was self indulgent.
* CrazySurvivalist: The Question. Then again, he ''has'' [[ProperlyParanoid been right before...]]
* CreativeSterility: SelfDemonstrating/LexLuthor accuses Brainiac of this. Brainiac agrees and they decide to combine their respective strengths for their mutual benefit.
* CreateYourOwnVillain: The darkest inversion of this trope is presented in "Epilogue", where WellIntentionedExtremist Amanda Waller reveals to [[WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond Terry McGinnis]] that [[spoiler: when she noticed Bruce Wayne was getting too old to be the Batman, she decided to create her own hero by taking Bruce's DNA and overwriting Warren [=McGinnis=]'s gametes with said DNA, meaning his child by Mary was genetically Bruce Wayne's; when Terry was 7 years old, Waller then commissioned an aging Phantasm to assassinate Terry's parents in his presence. Thankfully, the Phantasm decided to abort the operation.]]
* CreepyMonotone: Brainiac
* CrimefightingWithCash: Batman and Green Arrow (who started out as a virtual carbon-copy {{Expy}} of Batman by, interestingly, the same company).
* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: Flash has several of these throughout the series, mainly because he is frequently underestimated.
* CuffsOffRubWrists: The entire league in "Starcrossed".
* CurbStompBattle:
** In "Ultimen", Shifter attempts to blast Aquaman with a geyser of water. Though the blast had enough power to knock down a concrete wall, so it is not as if Shifter expected him to drown, Aquaman was unmoved and unimpressed. He then knocked Shifter out with a single backhand blow.
-->'''Aquaman''': King of the seas, remember?
** In "Panic in the Sky" three clones of Wind Dragon are blowing away members of the League using their wind-based powers when ComicBook/RedTornado steps in and blocks their three wind blasts with one of his own. After a quick struggle, all three of the clones are blown away. Double points considering Red Tornado only used ''one hand'' to do it
* CurseCutShort: Frequently.
-->'''Etrigan''': The truth hurts, doesn't it, princess?
-->'''Wonder Woman''': Why don't you go straight to h--
-->'''Flash''': More bad news; the Javelin's gone.
* CurtainCall: "Destroyer" ends with the entire League running down the stairs of the Hall of Justice/Metro Tower in a sort of Curtain Call.
* CustomUniform: The first two appearances of the Green Lantern Corps feature a conspicuous absence of this trope, unlike the Corps' depiction in the comics. A few notable members are later given custom uniforms in later appearances.
* CuteBruiser: Supergirl. Hawkgirl too.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: D-G]]
* DamselInDistress:
** Comicbook/BoosterGold points out that the ones in distress are his favorite type of damsel.
** [[spoiler:Hippolyta]] becomes this in "Fury".
* DangerouslyGenreSavvy: In "Injustice for All", the Joker, of all people, is the one who insists that Luthor immediately kill Batman after he's been captured. Luthor [[VillainBall doesn't do it]], eventually proving the Joker right as Batman derails all of Luthor's schemes ''despite being locked in a basement with everything but his head being restrained''. And even then he just escapes his bonds offscreen anyway.
* TheDarkSideWillMakeYouForget: Justice Lord Superman is ready to kill Franchise/TheFlash, whose counterpart's death was the reason for their FaceHeelTurn in the first place:
-->'''The Flash:''' You can't do it, can you? I'm the last piece of your conscience. [[TemptingFate And this is the one thing you'll never do.]]
-->'''Justice Lord Superman:''' ''(grimly)'' I've done a ''lot'' of things I thought I'd never do in these last two years. One more won't hurt.
* ADayInTheLimelight: As an ensemble show, each episode focuses on only two or three members of the cast, giving each character several episodes where they rise to prominence over the other characters.
* DayOfTheJackboot: The Vandal Savage altered future in "The Savage Time".
* DaydreamSurprise:
** "Only a Dream" opens with John Dee dreaming of being congratulated by supervillains like Luthor and Joker after defeating the League.
** In "The Doomsday Sanction", Professor Milo briefly fantasizes about taking out a gun and killing the Cadmus board that had just fired him.
* DeadAlternateCounterpart: In "A Better World", where the Justice Lords turned into an authoritarian group that controlled the world. When looking for leads about this world, the League finds out that their Flash had been killed, forcing the others to this style. Once he found this out, the Flash capitalized on this to break free from their control and get the others out as well.
* DeadlyDoctor: Doctor Destiny
--> '''Doctor Destiny''': [[FromNobodyToNightmare And now that I'm a doctor... I think I'll perform]] [[GoryDiscretionShot some surgery...]]
* DeadlyDodging: In the action finale of "Starcrossed".
* DeadpanSnarker:
** Hawkgirl, Deadshot, and occasionally Batman on the rare occasion that he is not TheComicallySerious. When together, Huntress and Question seem to take turns trying to out-snark each other. Of course, knowing them it is probably some kind of foreplay...
** Even Martian Manhunter joins in sometimes.
---> '''Batman''': (''while helping J'onn fight a bunch of Brainiac drones'') Having fun?
---> '''Martian Manhunter''': (''completely deadpan'') Yes.
* [[DeathByWomanScorned Death By Man Scorned:]]
** That was the StartOfDarkness for Doctor Destiny.
** Hro Talak could accept Hawkgirl's decision to save humanity, but not her decision to choose Green Lantern over himself.
* DeathSeeker: The Viking Prince.
* DeathTrap: It would not be a superhero show without them.
* {{Deconstruction}}: The Trickster in "Flash and Substance" deconstructs the idea of a supervillain being "insane." Rather than the usual cruel, amoral, giggling villain traditionally thrown into Arkham Asylum, the Trickster is a quiet, awkward villain who tends to PokeThePoodle and make jokes that nobody gets. It turns out that he is a diagnosed mental patient who reverts back to his "villainous" personality when he is off his medicine, and is unaware that he is even wearing his supervillain costume. The Flash talks him down gently and treats him respectfully, which is shown to be far more effective than the standard JackBauerInterrogationTechnique favored by Batman when dealing with somebody who has genuine mental problems. The character is even portrayed by Creator/MarkHamill, who usually plays "comic book insane" villains like SelfDemonstrating/TheJoker.
* DefiantStoneThrow: Several [[FreeRangeChildren children]] throw rocks at General Eiling to distract him in "Patriot Act".
* DefiantToTheEnd: Hawkgirl to Ichthultu in "The Terror Beyond".
* DeliberateValuesDissonance: "Legends," where Hawkgirl, J'onn, Flash and Green Lantern are sent into a 60's-style alternate dimension [[spoiler: which is actually an illusionary construct]].
* DeliberatelyMonochrome: Mr. Miracle's flashbacks to his time in the X-Pit on Apokolips are all blue-tinted.
* DemocracyIsFlawed: In the episode "A Better World", when League!Batman fights and argues with [[EvilCounterpart Lord!Batman]], they briefly touch on the topic of democracy, which Lord!Batman quickly dismisses, because "it has other virtues, but it doesn't keep you very safe". He eventually defeats League!Batman by pointing out that in his totalitarian world, no eight year-old boy would lose his parents because of some punk with a gun. League!Batman has to admit that he has a point.
* DepletedPhlebotinumShells: Hardcastle's kryptonite bullet, Cadmus's kryptonite tipped nuclear missile etc.
* {{Determinator}}:
** Batman, logically, as seen on [[Quotes/{{Determinator}} the quote page]].
** Comicbook/CaptainAtom, after being soundly beaten by Superman in a fight throughout the Cadmus headquarters, refused to give up even after Superman was clearly the victor. He had been beaten nearly senseless and lost the ability to even throw a punch, but he ''refused'' to stop.
-->'''Superman:''' You fought a good fight, ''[[DontMakeMeDestroyYou stay down]]''.\\
'''Captain Atom:''' I can't do that Superman.
** Shining Knight. In "Patriot Act" he is the last Leaguer standing before the General, having already lost his sword and been severely beaten, and explicitly states that the General might as well give up because no matter what happens, Shining Knight ''will not''.
--> '''The General:''' Why don't you give up?\\
'''Shining Knight:''' ''Why don't you?''
** Supergirl. In "Chaos at the Earth's Core", already nearly powerless and being poisoned by kryptonite, responds to an immobilized Metallo's taunts with a teeth clenched "I won't quit!" and continues to struggle till Stargirl makes the save.
** Solomon Grundy, surprisingly, in "The Terror Beyond". Superman is trying to convince him to stand down, and he simply responds "Grundy won't quit!" before attacking again.
* DeusExMachina: Darkseid's final defeat in "Destroyer" will probably seem like an especially JustForFun/{{egregious}} example of this to anyone who is not sufficiently familiar with Darkseid.
* DeusExitMachina: In early episodes, you can make a DrinkingGame out of it.
* [[DidYouJustFlipOffCthulhu Did You Just Flip Off Icthultu]]: Yes, Hawkgirl did.
--> '''Icthultu:''' "Speak to me, child of Thanagar."\\
'''Hawkgirl:''' "Nothing to say. I've got a ''gesture'' for you, but my hands are tied."
* [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu Did You Just Punch Out Ichthultu]]: "The Terror Beyond" (Not quite the {{Trope Namer|s}} but close enough).
* DisappearsIntoLight: [[spoiler: Darkseid and Luthor]].
* DiscriminateAndSwitch: The superheroes [[PlayingWithFire Fire]] and [[AnIcePerson Ice]] have been close friends and partners for the entirety of their tenure in comics. This has, over time, given rise to a lot of romantic/sexual subtext between them and corresponding theories in the fandom. When they were added to the [[HeroesUnlimited expanded roster]] of ''Justice League Unlimited'' Franchise/TheFlash began to nurse a not-so-subtle crush on Fire and Hawkgirl tried to prod him into action as best she knew how.
--> '''Shayera Hol (Hawkgirl):''' "You'd be wasting your time, anyway, I hear she's... yknow... ''Brazilian''."
* DisneyVillainDeath: [[spoiler:Demos]] in "Chaos at the Earths Core".
* DoesNotKnowHisOwnStrength:
** Part of Superman's [[YourWorstNightmare worst nightmare]], as literally seen in "Only a Dream".
** Lex Luthor experiences the trope played straight when he suddenly gains SuperStrength, briefly surprising himself during his fight with TheQuestion before he embraces it and proceeds with the NoHoldsBarredBeatdown.
* DoesntLikeGuns:
** Batman, obviously, who refuses to take an offered gun on two separate occasions.
** Averted by Vigilante, whose main power seems to be "owns [[GunsAkimbo a pair of]] {{revolvers|AreJustBetter}}." He is [[CouldHaveBeenMessy only ever shown hitting villains who are]] ImmuneToBullets or vehicles.
** Franchise/GreenLantern, who is a former marine, has zero compunctions about using firearms and is possibly the only hero in the whole DCAU that actually succeeds in shooting someone in "The Savage Time".[[note]]"Possibly" because the HitFlash is placed ambiguously, so that it could be interpreted as either [[BlastingItOutOfTheirHands hitting the enemy's rifle]], or as a [[BoomHeadshot headshot]]. Either way, the guy does not seem to get back up afterwards.[[/note]]
* DoesNotLikeMen: Aresia wants to kill every man on Earth, which presumably would have led to an adaptation of [[Comicbook/YTheLastMan another DC comic book...]]
* DoesNotLikeShoes:
** Gypsy always goes around barefoot as to authenticate her gypsy attire. Aquagirl too from the Future Justice League Unlimited as seen in a flashback in "Epilogue".
** Villainous examples include Cheetah and Tala (extra points for going to the snowy regions of Nanda Parbat completely barefoot and barelegged). Another villainous example is the Ten from the second incarnation of the Royal Flush Gang (or third, Future Amanda Waller can't remember which). Like JLU Aquagirl, she just wears a one-piece swimsuit and nothing else. Unlike JLU Aquagirl, [[PrehensileHair her powers have nothing to do with water]].
* DomesticAbuse: The character of Hro Talak in "Starcrossed" gradually progressed to violence when the truth about Shayera's relationship with Green Lantern came out, something which was particularly difficult for Victor Rivers to voice since [[MeanCharacterNiceActor he is a leading crusader against domestic abuse]].
* DontExplainTheJoke: SelfDemonstrating/TheJoker, [[{{Irony}} of all people]], violates this trope in "Wild Cards".
* DontMakeMeDestroyYou:
** When Comicbook/CaptainAtom has his military commission reactivated by General Wade Eiling he ends up coming to blows with Superman who, after one of the most brutal fights in the series, emerges as the clear victor.
-->'''Superman:''' (''To Captain Atom'') You fought a good fight, ''stay down''.\\
'''Captain Atom:''' [[{{Determinator}} I can't do that Superman]].
** When General Eiling has been transformed into a hulking monster and is rampaging through Metropolis he is left facing Shining Knight after he has already defeated several other heroes.
--> "Save yourself a hospital stay and stand down."
* DoNotTauntCthulhu: "Flash, stop heckling the supervillain!"
* DontTouchItYouIdiot: Batman to Flash in "Paradise Lost" and the third part of "Starcrossed," too.
* DopeSlap: Green Lantern to Flash in "The Brave and the Bold".
* DoubleEntendre: "Yeah, you'd probably be wasting your time anyway. I hear she's... you know... [[UnusualEuphemism Brazilian]]." See also DiscriminateAndSwitch.
* DramaticUnmask:
** Hawkgirl had worn her mask for every scene in the first two seasons, never letting viewers know what she looked like, and some viewers were convinced that she did not ''wear'' a mask, that that was her natural appearance as a Thanagarian. In "Wild Cards", when she and Green Lantern [[TheyDo finally admit their feelings]], he slowly reaches forward and takes off her mask, revealing that the two of them are exactly what he said they were: A man and a woman in love.
** During the climax of the Cadmus story-arc, after he had taken a severe beating and was recuperating in the Watchtower medical bay, the Question has Huntress remove his mask for the first time.
* DualWielding: Several times in the series, including in "Secret Origins", Batman wields a pair of electrified knuckle duster weapons when fighting super powered foes. In "Dark Heart" he also duel wields a pair of what are either bat themed blade weapons or oversized batarangs in close combat with the alien spiders.
* DudleyDoRightStopsToHelp: By Wonder Woman in "Starcrossed".
* DyingDeclarationOfLove: It takes being in the center of a massive explosion and having his heart stopped to finally convince John Stewart that there is no reason to wait or hide, and he confesses his feelings for Shayera, getting her to [[DramaticUnmask take off her mask for the first time]] and [[BigDamnKiss kiss]].
* DynamicEntry: Solomon Grundy enters a battle by attacking Superman from behind. ''[[ThereWasADoor Through]]'' [[ThereWasADoor a door]].
* DysfunctionJunction: The original team: two [[LastOfHisKind Last Of Their Kind]], TheExile, an [[ParentalAbandonment orphan]], an [[TheMole alien stranded on the other side of the galaxy from her homeworld]], a CasanovaWannabe, and a man with a JerkassFacade.
* EarthAllAlong: Superman in "Hereafter" is transported to a post-apocalyptic planet orbiting a red sun that he learns is Earth is the very distant future.
* EarthShatteringKaboom: In one episode, Green Lantern inadvertently destroys a planet with a stray blast from his power ring, through the planet's destruction is later revealed to have been an illusion. In a different episode, Mongul threatens to destroy a world full of innocent civilians with some kind of superlaser, but is stopped by the Justice League.
* EasilyForgiven: Averted, as Hawkgirl is not forgiven by certain League members or the general public for being TheMole; when she returns to save the day after her [[PutOnABus recuperation with Dr. Fate]] she is ''heckled by an angry mob'', and later episodes reveal that there are several hundred "I Hate Hawkgirl" websites. Even Superman is distrusted and feared by former friends and allies for the events of "Legacy", which occurred several years (and two TV series) prior to this series.
* EldritchAbomination:
** Icthultu, who was a rather transparent CaptainErsatz of Franchise/{{Cthulhu|Mythos}}.
** The Dark Heart. It apparently warps the very nature of reality, as every close-up has the screen distorted and visibly pulsing while the surface of the creature itself does not appear to move at all.
* EmperorScientist: Chronos becomes one via TimeTravel.
* EnemyCivilWar: On Apokolips after Darkseid's death, and also between the Grodd and Luthor factions of the LegionOfDoom.
* EnemyMine:
** In order to defeat the Justice Lords, the League cuts a deal with [[spoiler:Lex Luthor]].
** Kalibak quotes the actual "Enemy of my enemy is my friend" maxim when Mr. Miracle, Big Barda, and the Flash rescue him on Apokolips.
** The Legion of Doom [[spoiler: go to the Justice League after accidentally reviving Darkseid]].
* EngineeredPublicConfession: What sends Luthor to prison for the first time.
* [[EtTuBrute Et Tu, Hawkgirl?]]: Happens in the episode, "Starcrossed", when it's revealed that she had been spying on the League for the Thanagarians.
** Luthor actually uses this classic line on Ultra Humanite, in "Injustice for All", after finding out he betrayed him.
* EvasiveFightThreadEpisode: "Grudge Match", which revolves around numerous heroes being brainwashed to fight one another, closes with Huntress and Black Canary agreeing to one last fight in order to settle their contest. The episode ends before they make contact.
* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: Steven Mandragora, for being a world class sleaze and murdering sociopath, appears to be a truly loving and dedicated father.
* EvenEvilHasStandards:
** In "In Blackest Night", Kanjar Ro claims that this is why he, a pirate, comes forward as a witness at John Stewart's trial when he is accused of destroying a planet. [[spoiler: [[SubvertedTrope He was lying, though; he was helping to frame John for the crime.]]]]
** In "Fury," Star Sapphire turns against Aresia once she learns the full extent of her plans. She is evil, not ''gendercidal''. [[spoiler:[[SubvertedTrope Except she is, and actively looks forward to a world without men]]. She was just luring Diana and Hawkgirl to Aresia so that they could be invited to join them.]]
* EveryoneCanSeeIt: Before John and Shayera ever admit their feelings Flash is teasing them that they are acting like an old married couple and, when Hro Talak enters the scene in "Starcrossed", Batman and J'onn each spontaneously approach John to give him advice and consolation. SelfDemonstrating/TheJoker himself actually comments on the [[UnresolvedSexualTension tension]] between them, wondering if they have a history behind the scenes. Ironically, when [[TheyDo they finally become a couple]] it was the Flash who had no idea they were involved, despite being the first one to comment on their tension.
* EverythingsBetterWithMonkeys: Gorilla Grodd, Ultra-Humanite, and Gorilla City. And the brief but very fun shout-out to ''[[DorkAge J. L. Apes]]'' in an otherwise [[TearJerker rather sad]] episode centered on Deadman. Ape!Luthor is, of course, entirely devoid of fur.
* EvilAlbino: Mandragora, the not-Wonder Twins after their FaceHeelTurn
* EvilCostumeSwitch: Happens when the heroes turn into the Justice Lords in an AlternateUniverse.
* EvilMeScaresMe: The Justice Lords
* EvilPlan: Constantly. Parodied with Grodd's "master plan".
* EvilSorcerer: Circe, Felix Faust, and Tala.
* EvilSoundsDeep: Darkseid, Despero, etc. Phil Lamarr even lampshades it in some DVD commentary.
* EvilTwin:
** The Justice Lords are a classic example, being from a MirrorUniverse where [[KnightTemplar they took a hard-line approach to crime fighting]].
** Galatea is actually an evil ''clone'' of Comicbook/{{Supergirl}}, but she fits the trope otherwise.
* ExpectingSomeoneTaller: In "Starcrossed": Hro Talak, after hearing about John Stewart from Hawkgirl, is surprised he is not taller.
* {{Expy}}:
** Hro Talak is not quite [[Comicbook/{{Hawkman}} Katar Hol]], but his name is an anagram and he was also given a past relationship with Hawkgirl.
** Galatea is not exactly ComicBook/PowerGirl, but she wears a similar costume, which one scene made identical with the addition of a red towel hanging over her shoulder in place of a cape. She shares the background of "not exactly Comicbook/{{Supergirl}}, but close."
** See also Dr. Fate's AlternateCompanyEquivalent version of the Defenders. In the same episode, the screaming minions that the heroes fight in Icthultu's world are clearly based on Marvel's Mindless Ones.
** The Justice Lords from "A Better World" were heavily inspired by ''Comicbook/TheAuthority'', which the producers had begun to read between seasons one and two, and one idea they had was to see what the world would be like if the League ever tried to emulate their tactics.
** When Brainthor summons up robot versions of the Justice Lords to distract the League, he has to create a new one for Flash (since Flash of that universe died before they became the Lords). The costume he gives Flash is identical to the costume of famed Flash Villain Professor Zoom, The Reverse-Flash.
** The giant turtle that attacks Japan in "Chaos at the Earth's Core" is an expy of Franchise/{{Gamera}}, as well as being a MythologyGag to Jimmy Olsen's comic book.
** Doctor Destiny is a pretty striking one for [[Franchise/ANightmareOnElmStreet Freddy Krueger]]. Even his backstory is very similar to Freddy's. [[spoiler:His opening act implied to be torturing his ex-wife within her dreams, resulting in her ''real'' death.]]
* FaceDeathWithDignity:
--> '''Shining Knight:''' "I'll die as befits a knight, defending the weak."
* FaceHeelTurn - Professor Emil Hamilton
* {{Facepalm}}:
** Luthor in "Injustice for All".
** Flash in "Flash and Substance".
* FakeMemories: The Ultimen are implanted with this, to disguise the fact that they are clones only a few months old.
* FakeOutMakeOut: Between Batman and Wonder Woman in "Starcrossed".
* FakeStatic: When Amanda Waller tries to order Galatea to abort her attack on the Watchtower she claims that she cannot understand the transmission, [[ImplausibleDeniability then says that it was a wrong number]].
* FanDisservice: Comicbook/BlackCanary's sonic scream ripping the clothes off [[EvilAlbino Steven]] [[FatBastard Mandragora]].
* FanService: Whenever Comicbook/BlackCanary has time to prep for a fight -- sparring with Huntress or Green Arrow -- she starts by removing her jacket, fighting only in a bustier and sheer hose (the fishnets were impossible to animate).
* FantasticFragility: The flaw in Hephaestus's armor.
* FarmersDaughter: Galatea (and, [[EvilTwin by extension]], Supergirl) is described as "blonde hair, blue eyes, real farmer's daughter type."
* FasterThanLightTravel:
** In "War World" it appears that Green Lantern's ring lets him do this.
** It seems to be quite a common feature of spaceships in the DCAU, to the point where even the League's Javelin can do it.
* FearfulSymmetry: Supergirl vs. Galatea in the episode "Fearful Symmetry".
* FictionalCounterpart: In "A Knight of Shadows" Flash and Wonder Woman visit the house of Harv Hickman, a Hugh Heffner {{expy}} who publishes a ''Playboy''-style periodical.
* FieryRedhead: Hawkgirl, and ([[PlayingWithFire quite literally]]) Volcana.
* FinalBattle: In the GrandFinale.
* FingerPokeOfDoom: Superman, because of ''[[SuperStrength just how strong he is]]'', once defeated the villain with a literal flick of his finger. Provides the page image.
* FingerTwitchingRevival: Subverted with [[spoiler:Galatea]]. The very last shot ''does'' show her twitching, but he does not get back up and she never returns in any later episodes.
* FinishDialogueInUnison: Happens in "Patriot Act" (Shining Knight: "Even thought that ogre was--" All: "Morgan Le Fey.") and "Far From Home" (Brainy and Supergirl: "A quantum tunneling RF transponder!")
* FinishHim - In War World. Superman, of course, refuses.
* FirstNameBasis:
** Starting in ''Unlimited'', most of the characters hardly addressed each other using their superhero identities, often opting to use their real names instead ("Diana", "Shayera", "John", "J'onn", "Wally"). Superman and Batman were the characters most often referred to by their superhero names, but they would occasionally address each other personally.
** The Question was the only person in the series to ever call Huntress "Helena", until Black Canary does so during their reconciliation in "Grudge Match".
* FiveBadBand: Plenty
** The Royal Flush Gang from "Wild Cards".
*** BigBad: King
*** TheDragon: Jack
*** EvilGenius: Ace
*** TheBrute: Ten
*** DarkChick: Queen
*** BiggerBad: The Joker
** The Injustice Gang
*** BigBad: Lex Luthor, later Aresia
*** TheDragon: Joker, also Ultra Humanite fits
*** EvilGenius: Ultra Humanite, The Shade
*** TheBrute: Solomon Grundy, Star Sapphire
*** DarkChick: Cheetah, Copperhead, later Tsukuri
** The Secret Society
*** BigBad: Gorilla Grodd
*** CoDragons: Giganta and The Shade
*** EvilGenius: Clayface (uses more stealth tactics than the others)
*** TheBrute: Sinestro, Parasite
*** DarkChick: Killer Frost
** Cadmus
*** BigBadDuumvirate: Amanda Waller and [[spoiler: Lex Luthor]]
*** TheDragon: General Wade Eilling
*** EvilGenius: [[spoiler: Emil Hamilton]], Dr. Moon/Hugo Strange
*** TheBrute: Galetea
*** DarkChick: Tala, Dr. Milo
*** BiggerBad: [[spoiler: Brainiac]]
** Task Force X
*** TheLeader: Rick Flagg, Jr.
*** TheDragon: Deadshot
*** EvilGenius: Clock King
*** TheBrute: Captain Boomerang
*** DarkChick: Plastique
*** SixthRanger: [[spoiler: The Annihilator]]
*** BiggerBad: Amanda Waller
* FiveManBand:
** Dr. Fate's "[[CaptainErsatz Totally Not]] Comicbook/TheDefenders" in "The Terror Beyond," adding Amazo in "Raise The Dead"
*** TheHero: Dr. Fate
*** TheLancer: Aquaman
*** TheSmartGuy: Amazo
*** TheBigGuy: Grundy
*** ActionGirl: Hawkgirl
** The Big Seven
*** TheHero: Superman (duh)
*** TheLancer: Batman/Wonder Woman
*** TheSmartGuy: Martian Manhunter/Batman
*** TheBigGuy: Hawkgirl (Although all members have played this role at least once)
*** TheChick: Wonder Woman
*** TheHeart: Flash
*** SixthRanger: Green Lantern
* FlameWar: Carter Hall apparently gets involved in this over Hawkgirl proving his StalkerWithACrush status.
* FlashStep: Superman to Darkseid in "Destroyer".
* FlippingTheBird:
--> '''[[EldritchAbomination Ichthultu]]:''' "Speak to me, child of Thanagar."\\
'''Hawkgirl:''' "Nothing to say. I've got a [[DidYouJustFlipOffCthulhu gesture]] for you, but my hands are tied."
* FlyAtTheCameraEnding: The last episode ends with Batman running into the screen.
* ForTheEvulz: Famously played with when Flash ends up in Luthor's body.
--> '''Doctor Polaris''': You gonna ''wash your hands''?
--> '''Luthor!Flash''': No... 'cause I'm ''evil.''
* ForcedPrizeFight: In "Grudge Match".
* {{Foreshadowing}}: Commentary on the DVD release of ''Justice League'' reveals that the producers intended to have [[spoiler:Hawkgirl be a spy]] from the beginning of Season Two. As such, throughout the season there are plenty of hints that supported that plot point, including contradictory backstories, behavior and evidence that they had something to hide. [[AscendedFanon As a lucky break]], "The Brave and the Bold" (a season one episode) also had a scene that only helps with the foreshadow.
* ForgingScene: Superman, finding himself thousands of years in the future against giant mutant animals and without his powers, forges a blade using road flares, a sledge hammer, and a metal rod. It was pretty epic.
* ForgottenPhlebotinum:
** The disempowerment gun used in "A Better World" is never seen again for the rest of the show. While it is unclear whether it would work on other super powered individuals, what ''is'' clear is that it works on the original seven Leaguers (well, [[BadassNormal except Batman]]), so it is strange that Cadmus or Luthor do not even reference it.
** In "Wake the Dead", A.M.A.Z.O. is forced to flee after Solomon Grundy uses chaos magic to absorb his cosmic attack. Dr. Fate later tells Hawkgirl that only she can defeat Grundy because her mace is made of Nth metal. It is too bad the writers and Dr. Fate forgot that A.M.A.Z.O. can replicate her mace, and use it to better effect.
* TheFourthWallWillNotProtectYou: The second half of "Wild Cards" revolves around Ace, whose MindRape powers work even through the television and is attacking the viewing audience.
* FreakyFridayFlip: "The Great Brain Robbery".
* FreeRangeChildren: "Patriot Act" gives the trope a minor {{deconstruction}} when Vigilante asks a group of children where their parents are and the kids explain that they all ran off after the monster appeared, apparently leaving all their children behind to be killed. However, even at the end of the episode, after the monster is defeated and the police and rescue workers are cleaning up, the same kids are ''still'' running around without supervision.
* FreezeFrameBonus:
** In "Starcrossed, Part 3", during the climactic final fight there is a single "white frame" inserted into a shot of Shayera being shocked by an Nth-metal weapon.
** Nightwing, who could not appear as a character due to the "Bat Embargo," had a brief cameo skulking atop a building in Bludhaven, [[MythologyGag which in the comics is "his" city after he stopped being Robin.]]
** If you look at all of the lobotomized inmates at the Other Dimension Arkham, you will notice that Arnold Wesker isn't lobotomized, but the puppet Scarface is.
** In "Kid Stuff" there is also a couple of black-and-white reversal frames when Superboy fires his heat vision.
* FriendlyEnemy:
** Flash and the Ultra-Humanite. They agree to a Christmas truce and, afterwards, the Ultra-Humanite helps Flash deliver a toy to orphans before peacefully allowing himself to be taken to jail. In jail, Flash gives him an aluminum Christmas tree, just like the one he had when he was a child.
** Flash and Trickster. Flash manages to convince the Trickster to go back on his medication, turn himself into the police, and tell the Flash where the other villains are. In return, Flash promises to visit him in the hospital and play darts (the soft kind).
* FriendshipMoment: Numerous.
* FromASingleCell: Brainiac.
* FromMyOwnPersonalGarden: In the episode "Hereafter", after Franchise/{{Superman}} realizes the futility of fighting Vandal Savage, the latter invites the former to lunch. Food's great because [[EarthAllAlong he has had 30,000 years to rediscover the principles of agriculture.]]
* FromNobodyToNightmare: Dr Destiny. ''Literally''. He was originally a harmless {{mook|s}} who was arrested for guarding stolen property, but he gained telepathic powers after undergoing experiments in prison.
* FullyAbsorbedFinale:
** The controversial episode "Epilogue", a finale for ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond''. It was originally intended as the JLU series finale, after the originally planned finale "Starcrossed," but the series [[UnCancelled was renewed again.]]
** The episode "Flash and Substance" [[DownplayedTrope closes up a minor dangling plot thread]] from the EvasiveFightThreadEpisode "Speed Demons" in ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries''. That episode had ended with Superman and the Flash starting a new race to determine which of them is the Fastest Man Alive; a banner hanging in the Flash Museum here indicates that the Flash was the winner of their contest.
* FunWithAcronyms: The '''B'''inary '''F'''usion '''G'''enerator.
* FunbagAirbag: Nearly happens to Flash with Fire in "I Am Legion" when Fire tries to get his attention. Flash turns and his face was a mere few inches away from her breasts before slowly looking up. Followed by DistractedByTheSexy when Fire tries to chat with him.
* FunnyBackgroundEvent: In "Chaos at the Earths Core", when Travis Morgan is explaining to Green Lantern the threat of Demos, Supergirl is visible in the background trying (and failing) to lift a boulder as she practices with her [[BroughtDownToNormal reduced]] SuperStrength.
* FurBikini: Worn by some of the inhabitants of Skartaris.
* FusionDance: [[FanNickname Brainthor/Luthoriac]].
* GainingTheWillToKill: An episode involves an Alternate Universe version of the League called the Justice Lords. At the beginning, we see a flashback showing Superman make this decision and killing Lex Luthor at Luthor's goading. After that the League has no problem killing (or lobotomising) criminals, justifying it as the greater good.
* GalacticConqueror: Mongul and Darkseid, who each also set their sights on Earth.
* {{Gendercide}}: In "Fury", an Amazon, Aresia, with a serious bent against the male gender decides to release a disease into the atmosphere that nearly kills off all of the men on the planet. This includes the male members of the Justice League (even Superman and the Martian Manhunter are affected, despite not being human, and Solomon Grundy, who is The Undead. It's implied magic is involved). It's up to Wonder Woman and Hawkgirl to save the day.
* GeneralRipper: General Eiling, and earlier General Hardcastle.
* GenericDoomsdayVillain:
** Doomsday shows in "A Better World" and rampages through Metropolis, forcing Justice Lord Superman to lobotomize him. He is given no backstory or context, and his only motivation is a vague reference to power. [[spoiler:Later episodes of ''Unlimited'' would delve into his origin and reasoning]].
** The show's version of Brimstone, a superweapon that went berserk for no identifiable reason. Even when the League speaks to scientists involved with its creation they never learn what actually caused the problem.
* GeniusDitz: The Flash. Despite his goofy behavior throughout the series, it is revealed in one episode that he works in police forensics, analyzing crime scene evidence.
* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: Has its own [[Radar/JusticeLeague page]].
* GenreSavvy: Clayface, due to his history as an actor. He explicitly points out that the villains in his movies were always defeated because they made very stupid decisions like leaving the heroes alive, and if ''this'' team wants to succeed they need to act smarter. [[spoiler:Except that's not Clayface talking in that particular case, but J'onn J'onnz posing as him...]]
* TheGhost: ComicBook/PlasticMan couldn't actually appear in the show due to rights issues, but he is referred in a few episodes. In "The Greatest Story Never Told", Elongated Man is relegated to crowd-control duty with Booster Gold, and is told this is because Plastic Man is already engaged in the main battle and "We don't need ''two'' stretchy guys."
* GildedCage: Lois in the Justice Lords universe. Cronos's wife in the second part of "The Once and Future Thing."
* GirlsNightOutEpisode: "Fury," and later on "Grudge Match."
* GivingRadioToTheRomans: "The Savage Time"
* GladiatorGames: In "War World".
* GladiatorRevolt: Also in "War World".
* GlamourFailure: In "Legends," after [[spoiler: Roy is exposed as a psychic mutant who reconstructed a giant illusion of his dimension from before a nuclear war destroyed everything, all just so he could go on adventures with his favorite heroes,]] he reverts to his true form.
* GloryHound:
** Comicbook/BoosterGold, one of the most iconic iterations of the trope, appears.
** Stargirl is a minor example. Altruism guides most of her actions, but she does want the recognition and adoration that she feels her heroics deserve.
* GoGoEnslavement: Katma Tui is subjected to this by Despero.
* GoodOldFisticuffs: Due to the [[CombatBreakdown gradual defeat of all the League members with weapons and technology throughout the episode]], "Patriot Act" ends with the last two combatants fighting bare-handed one-on-one.
* GoThroughMe:
--> '''Shining Knight:''' "Do your worst, I'll not let you harm another."
* AGodAmI:
** Vandal Savage, when faced with the looming specter of his own defeat, proclaims that gods do not grovel.
** Comicbook/{{Darkseid}} returns in season two of ''Justice League''.
-->Super or not, you are merely a man. Whereas I am a god.
* GonnaNeedMoreX: Batman in "Twilight".
* TheGoodCaptain: [[Comicbook/{{Shazam}} Captain Marvel]], Comicbook/CaptainAtom, [[strike: Captain Boomerang]], etc.
* GoodCopBadCop:
** In "The Terror Beyond", Hawkgirl explains her aggressive questioning of Queen Mera by saying that she was playing Bad Cop in a standard interrogation technique. When Wonder Woman points out that she ''always'' plays Bad Cop, Hawkgirl [[LampshadeHanging says she should not play against type]].
** Captain Atom and Supergirl in "Initiation"
-->'''Captain Atom:''' What are we up against?
-->'''Supergirl:''' He asked you a question!
-->'''Officer:''' Don't answer them! That's classified informa- *Supergirl does {{Neck Lift}}*
-->'''Supergirl:''' I just about had it with you guys! You've got to the count of five. One... ''four''... *[[RedEyesTakeWarning Eyes]] {{glow|ingEyesOfDoom}}*
-->'''Captain Atom:''' I'd speak up if I were you.
** In the case of Bruce Wayne of today and Bruce Wayne of the future; Bad Cop/Worse Cop.
-->'''Static:''' Wow. Batman playing "Good Cop".
-->'''Green Lantern:''' Everything's relative.
* GoodIsNotDumb: In "Flash and Substance," Orion asks why Central City would honor a buffoon like the Flash, "who makes bad jokes, who concerns himself with pitiful men like the Trickster." But the Flash is anything but dumb--he is able to handle the Trickster without throwing a single punch. In fact, he convinces the Trickster to happily turn himself in to the police.
* GoodIsOldFashioned: General Wade Eiling accuses Shining Knight of being a relic after the Knight continues to rush at the General, [[{{Determinator}} even after already losing his weapon and being viciously beaten]], to protect the locals and innocent bystanders.
* GoodPeopleHaveGoodSex: ''Heavily'' implied in "The Great Brain Robbery". Hawkgirl also is apparently particularly good at causing men to not be... restful.
* GoryDiscretionShot:
** When Aquaman [[spoiler:cuts his hand off]] it only shows his face before [[{{Pun}} cutting]] to the next scene.
** See ShoutOut [[JusticeLeague/{{TropesM-Z}} here]]. Commander Steel was throwing the Parademon shield at another Parademon's head, then cuts to Shayera to show that ''[[OffWithHisHead it went in a straight line]]'' before [[AbsurdlySharpBlade punching into the side of an Apokolips structure.]]
* GoshdangItToHeck:
** "Hell" can only be uttered backwards apparently.
** Superman doesn't trust Lex "flippin'" Luthor.
* GrandFinale: Three separate mini-arcs were intended as the final finale of the series, but the show [[PostScriptSeason kept getting renewed]] so they had to do it all again the next season.
** The first was "Starcrossed (Parts 1, 2 and 3)", which were the final episodes of the original ''Justice League'' iteration.
** "Question Authority", "Flashpoint", "Panic in the Sky" and "Divided We Fall" was the planned final arc at the end of the second season of ''Unlimited''. Technically "Epilogue" was the actual final episode of the season, but [[FullyAbsorbedFinale was concerned with]] ''WesternAnimated/BatmanBeyond''.
** "Alive" and "Destroyer" were the final GrandFinale in season three of ''Unlimited''.
* GrandRomanticGesture: Superman takes Lois for a picnic... atop a suspension bridge.
* GratuitousDiscoSequence: Mirror Master's [[DoomyDoomsOfDoom discotheque of doom]] in "Flash And Substance".
* GravityMaster: Vandal Savage, offscreen [[ResetButton (and even then, only 'sort of')]] in "Hereafter". He kills the entire League with it, but also terminally destabilises the Solar System and wipes out humanity [[EpicFail by accident.]]
* TheGreatestStoryNeverTold: {{Trope Namer|s}}.
* GreenEyedMonster: Stargirl, when she sees how popular Supergirl is.
* [[SignificantGreenEyedRedhead Green-Eyed Redhead]]:
** Shayera Hol is {{fiery|Redhead}} and {{green|Eyes}} all over.
** Poison Ivy, as seen in the only episode she appears: "A Better World".
* GreenEyes:
** A requisite part of the [[SignificantGreenEyedRedhead above-mentioned trope]] for Shayera Hol.
** John Stewart has inhuman bright green eyes, which the producers explained was because he had been a Green Lantern for so long that the energy had become a part of him. When the ring is depowered, his eyes return to normal.
* GreenLanternRing: Obviously. Also somewhat shows up with Sinestro's power ring and Star Sapphire's head-jewel-thing.
* GreenThumb: In the two-parter "Twilight", one of the children of New Genesis was having trouble working in the garden, complaining that it was difficult. High Father explains the virtue of hard work by [[BrokenAesop accelerating the growth of the plant she was tending]].
* GunboatDiplomacy: Batman to Amanda Waller
--> Mine are bigger than yours...
* GunsAkimbo:
** Vigilante wields a pair of revolvers as his standard weapons.
** Lex Luthor also wields a pair of handguns in "Destroyer", even going so far as to offer his spare to Batman when Batman has exhausted his supply of batarangs.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: H-L]]
* HalfHumanHybrid: [[spoiler: Rex Stewart aka Warhawk, son of Green Lantern and Hawkgirl.]]
* HalfwayPlotSwitch: The series has a habit of introducing a plot in the first scene of an episode, [[ExaggeratedTrope and then immediately transferring the story of the episode to a new plot]].
** "Starcrossed" opens with the League patrolling Washington, D.C. because Batman has received a tip that terrorists are planning to attack a summit of world leaders. In the first scene they are instead attacked by a Gordanian spaceship and are rescued by the Thanagarians, who explain that Earth has now been dragged into their interstellar war.
** In "This Little Piggy", Batman and Wonder Woman are staking out a museum because J'onn received a tip that Intergang was going to try and steal the Rosetta Stone. Instead Circe arrives and transforms Wonder Woman into a pig, and the rest of the episode revolves around trying to undo this spell.
* HandsomeLech: Flash. When he ''stops'' hitting on everything that moves he ends up a bit of a ChickMagnet.
* HannibalLecture: The fake Justice Lords constructed by Braniac. Also President SelfDemonstrating/LexLuthor makes one very effective with Justice Lord Superman [[ColdOpen at the beginning]] of "A Better World".
* HappilyMarried: Big Barda and Scott Free are a BattleCouple with absolutely no inter-personal strife. They might be invading the X Pit in the heart of Apokolips, but their relationship is solid as a rock.
* HappyFunBall: Toyman's specialty.
* HeWhoFightsMonsters:
** The Justice Lords became totalitarian overlords on their world in their attempts to preserve peace and security.
** General Eiling; lampshaded by himself when he admits that he has become what he hated.
* TheHeart:
** The creators admitted that Flash was killed in the AlternateUniverse of "A Better World" partially because they could not imagine him becoming evil "for the greater good," and it was made clear that because he was not around the original seven became KnightTemplar.
** Green Arrow was recruited to the League partly because he ''would'' look at the expanded League with a critical eye, keeping them in check.
* HeelFaceTurn: Solomon Grundy and A.M.A.Z.O.
* HeelRealization:
** The Cadmus arc plays with the trope, as both sides believe that they are the righteous and that the other is in the wrong. Cadmus has the more traditional "Heel" aspects, with secret genetic experiments, torture, and generally morally questionable behavior, but when Batman confronts Amanda Waller with this she retorts with everything that the ''League'' does wrong. Her argument is so convincing that it leaves Batman shaken, and he ''visibly leaves through the door.''
** [[spoiler:Eiling]] has one in "Patriot Act," after his drive to protect humanity from the super powered heroes leads him to gaining super powers and thrashing several human heroes without powers. He even lampshades it:
--> Alright, I've become what I hate. I'll give you that.
* HeroInsurance: Superman is in frequent need of this.
* HeroWithBadPublicity: A theme throughout the entire show. As the series opens, Superman is still dealing with his poor image following "Legacy" in ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries''. The Flash gets flak in "Eclipsed" for taking corporate endorsements and making stupid comments on live television. The entire League and Shayera in particular take a further hit after the events of "Starcrossed", and things just escalate as ''Unlimited'' progresses.
* HeroesUnlimited: The entire later incarnation and {{Trope Namer|s}}.
* HeroicAlbino: Downpour and Shifter prior to their FaceHeelTurn.
* HeroicBystander:
** In "Starcrossed", when Wonder Woman and Batman are on the run in civilian clothing, a restaurant owner calls them inside to hide. His wife helps them disguise themselves and the rest of the patrons all support the 'there's nothing going on here' story.
** In "Wake the Dead" a car is thrown off a bridge and plummets to the water below. Shayera, making her return, [[BigDamnHeroes swoops down and cleaves off the roof with her mace to rescue its occupants]]. The mother in the car, instead of waiting for Shayera to grab her daughter, picks her up and ''throws'' her to Hawkgirl before pushing herself out of the falling vehicle.
** In "Patriot Act," when the various B-list heroes are fighting General Eiling, a group of kids twice attempt to attack the general, first by pelting him with rocks and then by hitting him with a wrecking ball (How the heck do they know how to work a wrecking ball?). Later, when Shining Knight [[{{Determinator}} is the last man standing]], a crowd of civilians gather around him and state their protection.
* HeroicRROD: Averted when Flash managed to survive after going into the Speed Force.
* HeroicSacrifice:
** The unnamed ship captain in "Fury", who gave his all and perished to save a girl he barely knew. There is a reason he is the only man buried on Themyscira.
** Batman fully intended to perform one of these at the end of "Starcrossed" (by literally crash-landing the Watchtower onto the Thanagarian army's hyperspace bypass), but Superman came and saved him before it impacted.
* HeterosexualLifePartners: Flash and Green Lantern, Vigilante and Shining Knight, Batman and Superman.
* HeyYouHaymaker: Played straight when Superman taps Darkseid on the shoulder to get him to turn around and clobbers him when he does during the finale.
* HijackedByGanon: It is revealed that [[spoiler:Lex Luthor was being manipulated by Brainiac to build him a new body. Luthor had been infected by a copy of Brainiac's programming after Brainiac had exploded the last time he and Luthor had met]]. The writing staff [[WordOfGod admitted on the DVD commentary]] that they had no idea how to make the plot of season two of ''Unlimited'' untangle on its own due to the GreyAndGrayMorality situation that had arisen, so they went with an 'old reliable' and let an BlackAndWhiteMorality villain take over [[InvokedTrope so they could have a proper fight finale]].
* HijackedByJesus: Hades and the Greek Pantheon in general. Hades in particular rules only over Tartarus (i.e. Hell), not the virtuous dead, and is portrayed as able to breathe fire and with devilish goat horns in his "[[OneWingedAngel true form]]". Hawkgirl manages to convince a few mooks in Tartarus that she is a Judeo-Christian angel and harming her would unwisely piss God off.
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: In "The Savage Time", "[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josef_Mengele Josef]]" is given the assignment of retrieving information from a captured J'onn J'onzz.
* HitFlash:
** Used regularly throughout the show, but not universally. The hit flash is left out of certain fight scenes when the creators felt that they need to give more impact to the ...impacts.
** In "Starcrossed, Part 3", there is [[FreezeFrameBonus a single "white frame" inserted into the fight scene]] when Hawkgirl is shocked.
* HitlersTimeTravelExemptionAct: In "The Savage Time". Vandal Savage replaced Hitler as the ''Fuhrer'' of Nazi Germany, but ultimately he is defeated by the League and Hitler becomes the leader again.
* HoistByHisOwnPetard:
** Dr. Destiny murdered his own wife via MindRape and attempted to do the same to the League. [[spoiler:This fails miserably when he attempts the same treatment on Batman and ends up a slobbering vegetable.]]
** The Joker attempted to use Ace of the Royal Flush Gang to drive millions of TV viewers insane, [[spoiler:but wound up a drooling, catatonic wreck himself when Ace learned that he was just using her.]]
* HoistHeroOverHead: Darkseid does this to Superman in the last episode.
* {{Homage}}:
** The giant robot fought in the opening to "Legends" is inspired by the HumongousMecha of ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion''.
** Ichthultu. Seeing the name, you know it's going to be a horror. Said name is anagrammatic for "It Cthulhu".
** "This Little Piggy" is one large homage to a variety of TV shows and movies stretching across approximately seven decades. Producer Creator/BruceTimm had the original idea for the episode after watching ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' and ''Series/{{Angel}}'', two action/adventure Creator/JossWhedon shows that were never afraid to shift the paradigm and abandon 'normal' action/adventure plots in favor of more creative, not to say ''bizarre'', storylines. The story itself was an homage to the 1960's sitcom ''Series/{{Bewitched}}'', and during the scripting stage the writers even imagined the characters as reimaginings of characters from the original show: Wonder Woman was Samantha, Batman was Darrin, and Circe was Serena. Jack Carter, who voiced the magical supplier Sid, was a veteran actor of such classic sitcoms, and the episode ends on a musical cue that the producers actually referred to as a ''Bewitched'' musical cue. The character design of Medusa, whom Batman and Zatanna go to for information, was designed to look similar to a character from ''Series/ILoveLucy'', another classic sitcom, and the producers remarked that the voice actress even spoke in a manner reminiscent of the original model, even though they did not decide on that image until after the recordings had already been done. Medusa's dialogue, [[AnimationAgeGhetto though tame by necessity]], was inspired by prison slang and the HBO series ''Series/{{Oz}}'', since the writers felt that mythological characters would not necessarily speak exactly the same way they would have a thousand years ago, and since Medusa is in mythological prison she should speak like a convict. The rest of the episode is full of one-off gags that refer to other movies, including the admonition of "[[Film/{{Babe}} that'll do, pig]]" and Circe's feet rolling up beneath a piano as the Witch's had done in ''Film/TheWizardOfOz''.
** From the comics adaptation, the end of issue #34 of ''Justice League Unlimited'' includes several references to one of the last scenes in ''ComicBook/WhateverHappenedToTheManOfTomorrow'', specifically Mxy's fate.
* HomemadeSweaterFromHell: J'onn receives one from the Kents in the ChristmasEpisode, but [[VoluntaryShapeshifting is able to literally grow into it]].
* HomoeroticSubtext: Kragger toward Hro Talak. He has a bad habit of [[MomentKiller interrupting moments between Talak and Hawkgirl]], and his MentalWorld has huge statues of Talak and Kragger side-by-side, with a crushed statue of Hawkgirl at their feet. WordOfGod is that this was ''very'' deliberate.
-->'''Hawkgirl:''' You're in my way.\\
'''Kragger:''' Likewise, I'm sure.
* HonorBeforeReason: The Amazons exile Wonder Woman from Themyscira for breaking the law and bringing men to Paradise Island, even though all the Amazons would have been slain and a mad god would have conquered the world if she had not done so.
* HordeOfAlienLocusts: In "Dark Heart". The implication is that the locusts have been spreading across planets for ages.
* HostageForMcGuffin: Felix Faust turns the residents of [[LadyLand Themiscyra]] into stone, but promises to turn them back into normal in exchange for Wonder Woman retrieving some items that will release [[SealedEvilInACan Hades]].
* HostileTerraforming: The Imperium attempted to do this in the series premier, and for BookEnds, the denizens of Apokolips attempted it in the series finale.
* HotGypsyWoman: Gypsy... [[LivingProp sort of]].
* HotScientist: Lampshaded in "TheGreatestStoryNeverTold".
* HugeGuyTinyGirl: Stargirl and S.T.R.I.P.E. She is a teenager and he is her stepfather, even though he is also her sidekick.
* HumanAliens: In addition to Kryptonians, denizens of New Genesis and Apokolips also look almost identical to humans, except for individual outliers.
* HumanPopsicle: AdolfHitler makes a cameo in storage after Vandal Savage assumes command of Nazi Germany.
* HumanitysWake: "Hereafter" features an Earth 30,000 years after the extension of mankind. True to humor, cockroaches now rule the planet.
* HumansAreTheRealMonsters: This is a stance held by many of the non-human people of Earth, including the Gorillas of Gorilla City and the people of Atlantis. Both change their tune somewhat after the Justice League helps them fight internal enemies, but Aresia (An Amazon) goes to her death believing all ''men'' are bastards, despite the fact that she learns a man gave up his life so that she could live. J'onn had an emotional breakdown when he tried a massive psychic scan of a city, frustrated over human pettiness. This became a bit of a CharacterDevelopment as he learns that the only friends he has are part of the league and if he was going to live among humanity, he has to learn to like at least some of them.
* HumiliationConga: Wonder Woman being turned into a pig - and Batman having to keep it under wraps - in ''This Little Piggy'' certainly counts.
* HumongousMecha:
** The first large mech fought was controlled by Lex Luthor, and [[ShoutOut explicitly modeled on]] ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'', in the first season episode "Legends."
** Toyman had a heavily armed Transformer-bot in "Hereafter".
** There was a truly massive mech in "Initiation".
* HumorlessAliens: Martian Manhunter seems to respond to Flash's attempts at humor with either confusion or disdain.
* HurlItIntoTheSun:
** When Grundy came back from the dead Hawkgirl comments on A.M.A.Z.O. "before Golden Boy teleports him into the sun..."
** Flash's suggestion for getting rid of a giant alien machine. It was inspired by a [[https://groups.google.com/group/rec.arts.comics.dc.universe/browse_thread/thread/fbdc7b8bfc72c409/6e1dfe6bdba1286b?q=dwayne+mcduffie+%22into+the+sun%22#6e1dfe6bdba1286b Usenet discussion]] of an earlier episode, in which the poster wondered why Green Lantern hadn't done just that. Writer Dwayne [=McDuffie=] responded that the animated GL's ring wasn't that powerful: "Although it does suggest a really interesting spin-off, where every week GL throws whoever is attacking into the sun."
* HurricaneOfPuns: The [[TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]] villains in "Legends" love doing this. Even the Flash gets in on it when fighting one of them.
* IAmNotLeftHanded: This is the subject of the famous WorldOfCardboardSpeech, where Franchise/{{Superman}} sees that he doesn't need to hold his power back against {{Darkseid}}.
* IChooseToStay: [[spoiler: Supergirl]] in "Far From Home"
* IfYoureSoEvilEatThisKitten: In "Starcrossed, Part 2" [[spoiler:Kragger asks Hawkgirl]] if it would not be better for her to kill the captive Justice League, rather than risk them escaping. He is clearly testing her, and she clearly does not want to comply, so she advances a [[PragmaticVillainy practical]] reason not to.
* IGotYouCovered: Frequently.
* IKnowYoureInThereSomewhereFight: Yes, Luthor is still in there, [[SubvertedTrope but he]] ''[[SubvertedTrope likes]]'' [[SubvertedTrope it in there]].
* ILikeThoseOdds: In "Starcrossed, Part 3", Superman, Wonder Woman, and Green Lantern are heading straight for the Thanagarian mothership (and the dozens of smaller ships around it).
-->'''Wonder Woman:''' Pretty bad odds.
-->'''Superman:''' Yeah, they don't stand a chance.
* ImpendingClashShot: In the episode, "Grudge Match". Villainess Roulette makes two female heroes fight each other, and they decide to do it for fun. And they did it a la RockyIII to boot.
* INeedToGoIronMyDog:
--> '''Captain Atom:''' "I'm pretty sure there's something I have to do someplace."
* InstantFlightJustAddSpinning: The Flash used his arms as a helicopter. [[SubvertedTrope He lost control and crashed in short order]].
* IReadItForTheArticles: Flash explains that he purchases a ''[[FictionalCounterpart Playboy]]''-[[FictionalCounterpart style]] periodical by commenting that he reads it for the articles.
* ISeeDeadPeople: After a fashion. After Brainiac is destroyed in the ''Unlimited'' season two finale Luthor can see his "ghost" and they have conversations, but to everyone else it looks like Luthor is talking to an imaginary friend. We never learn whether or not he truly can see Brainiac, especially since he lost him after Darkseid was free.
* ITakeOffenseToThatLastOne: "The Brave And The Bold".
--> '''Gorilla Grodd''': Humans are slow, ugly, immoral, and have an unpleasant body odor!
--> '''Flash''': Hey, who are you calling slow?
* ImColdSoCold: Flash after being ThrownOutTheAirlock.
* ImStandingRightHere:
-->'''Aquaman (to Hawkgirl):''' Such scintillating repartee. I get better conversation from the android.
-->'''Amazo:''' You ''are'' aware I'm in the room.
** Wonder Woman confirming that Batman had, indeed, tap-danced in the conversational minefield in the opening moments of "The Once And Future Thing":
-->'''Batman (to Green Lantern):''' I don't have time to pursue a relationship; my work is too important to allow any distractions. Diana's a remarkable woman, she's a valued friend, she's--*shot pans around to show his face, brow raised followed by a wince as it pulls back to show*--standing right behind me, isn't she?
-->'''Franchise/WonderWoman:''' Don't let ''that'' stop you; keep digging!
* AnIcePerson - Ice is a heroic example and Killer Frost a villainous one.
* AnIceSuit: Killer Frost.
* IdiotBall: The episode "In Blackest Night" revolves around Green Lantern and an entire planet not noticing that another planet ''wasn't'' destroyed, simply because a holographic projection made it look like it was. No one bothered to investigate the planet at all.
* IfIWantedYouDead: [[InvertedTrope Said by the hero]] during the climax of the Justice League/Cadmus conflict in "Panic in the Sky." After the former Cadmus headquarters is destroyed by [[KillSat the Justice League Watchtower]] Batman points out that the League has been monitoring Cadmus for months and knew they had already moved their headquarters. When Waller then suggests that it was a warning shot Batman tells her "Don't be dense." If the League had wanted to attack Cadmus they ''would'' have attacked Cadmus, not what is now an abandoned and empty warehouse.
* ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice: In "Chaos at the Earth's Core" [[spoiler:Supergirl stabs Metallo in his chest cavity with a dagger. The dagger itself is not big enough to qualify for the trope, but Supergirl then ''[[AndShowItToYou pries out Metallo's Kryptonite power source]]'' with the knife.]]
* ImplausibleDeniability: After Galatea [[FakeStatic claims she cannot hear Amanda Waller's orders]] she turns to Supergirl and says that the call (in space, directed to her earpiece that she just crushed between her fingertips) was a ''wrong number''.
* ImportantHaircut: John Stewart during ''Unlimited''. Previously, Justice Lord GL.
* ImpossibleHourglassFigure: Pretty much the entire female cast, except the younger ones like Supergirl. It is a standard part of Bruce Timm's drawing style.
* InSeriesNickname: The Leaguers abbreviate each others' codenames a lot. Huntress calls Question "Q," Green Arrow calls Vigilante "Vig," Batman is "Bats," Superman is "Supes," Mr. Terrific is "T," Green Lantern and Green Arrow are "GL" and "GA..."
* InSpiteOfANail: In the alternate reality of "The Savage Time," the Allies lost UsefulNotes/WorldWarII and the world is dominated by Vandal Savage, but Bruce Wayne's parents were still killed when he was eight years old. Afterwards, the world returned exactly to its previous "real" nature after the League traveled back in time to thwart Vandal Savage, despite the repulsion of the Allied landing at Normandy.
* InTheirOwnImage: Lord Chronos' desperate endgame in "The Once and Future Thing"
* IncorruptiblePurePureness:
** The Flash. DVD commentary reveals that they had him die in the alternate reality of "A Better World" because they simply could not conceive of ''anything'' that would cause him to become a KnightTemplar.
** Superman is ''[[SubvertedTrope not]]'' an example; it is directly discussed in "A Better World," where Lord!Superman is unable to be talked down from his KnightTemplar ways. League!Superman explains that he has felt the same urges and compulsions himself, and he knows just how hard they are to resist. If he was ever put into that same position, he knows himself well enough to admit that he would break, too.
** [[Comicbook/{{Shazam}} Captain Marvel]]. Some of it is childhood naiveté, but part of his pureness is his ability to ''retain'' such naiveté, even when everybody around him has become jaded and cynical.
* IncredibleShrinkingMan: The Atom
* IndulgentFantasySegue: Milo in "The Doomsday Sanction".
* IneffectualSympatheticVillain: Copperhead gradually becomes more and more ineffectual after his first appearance. He never loses his malice, but does lose his competence. The Flash's Rogues' Gallery are also noteworthy for this in "Flash And Substance," although they're [[NotSoHarmlessVillain not entirely harmless.]]
* InformedAttractiveness:
** When Batman and Wonder Woman travel to New Genesis Wonder Woman is awe-struck by its splendor and magnificence, never having seen anything like it before. The floating city itself is... okay. It is not bad, it is a technological marvel unequaled in real life, but it is also a rather generic "future city" that has been seen in fiction countless times before and is overshadowed by many of the fantastic locations seen elsewhere in ''Justice League''.
** To a degree, Atlantis suffers from this as well- parts of it look like some of the more out-there architecture of Metropolis (which New Genesis also looks like).
* InkSuitActor:
** Amanda Waller is basically CCH Pounder with a slightly different skin tone and weight gain.
** Prior to his transformation, General Eiling resembles J.K. Simmons with the mustache he sports as [[Film/SpiderManTrilogy J. Jonah Jameson]].
** Creator/MarkHamill as the Trickster, who is drawn to look like the Trickster on the Flash TV series, [[ActorAllusion who was also played by Hamill.]]
* {{Innocent Bigot}}s: The Justice Guild in "Legends" -- telling Green Lantern he's "[[YouAreACreditToYourRace a credit to his people]]", asking Hawkgirl to bake cookies...
* InnocuouslyImportantEpisode:
** "A Better World" turns out to be one of the main motivation for the formation of Project Cadmus, the main villains for the first two seasons of ''Unlimited''. It also begins to sow seeds of distrust within the League itself, who fear that the League might go in the same direction and wonder how they might change events.
** "Dark Heart" is just your standard MonsterOfTheWeek episode, right? Wrong. [[spoiler:The weapon the JLA uses to slow the monster's advance becomes Luthor's means of framing them in "Flashpoint" and the monster itself returns to give Brainithor a massive powerup in "Divided We Fall."]]
* InstantFanClub: Supergirl has one of these in Japan, with one CosplayOtakuGirl even attacking a jealous Stargirl who was badmouthing her.
* InstitutionalApparel: Lex Luthor wears prison grays in "Injustice For All" but changes to orange fatigues in "I am Legion".
* IntellectualAnimal: Gorilla Grodd and the other denizens of Gorilla City.
* InterspeciesRomance:
** Between John Stewart and Hawkgirl and, it is implied, also between John Stewart and Katma Tui.
** The relationship between Superman and Lois Lane appears in a few small-but-important scenes.
** Grodd and Tala had a sexual relationship, which even people within the show find unsettling.
** Grodd and Giganta is an unusual example, as Giganta was once an ape, but now looks human. She also has super powers, so it is not entirely clear what, exactly, she is.
** Bizzaro was in love with Giganta, but she was just using him to break Grodd out of prison.
** J'onn and his unnamed human companion, who he refers to as his wife, in the finale.
** Supergirl (Kryptonian) and Brainiac 5 (Coluan).
** Carter Hall and Shayera Hol, but that is another rather confusing example. Is Carter an insane human or reincarnated Thanagarian?
* InverseLawOfSharpnessAndAccuracy: Vigilante and Shining Knight, armed with pistols and a sword respectively, are up against [[BadassNormal people they could actually hurt with them]] in "Task Force X," and thus never manage to make contact with their weapons. They do, however, do quite well when it comes to their fists and lassos.
* InvisiblePresident:
** He gets a small cameo towards the end of season two of ''Unlimited'' as the crisis approaches its climax, but the president's face is never seen and he is never named, only referred to as "Mr. President."
** The Justice Lords president does get some face time, and is pretty obviously an expy of George W. Bush, kowtowing to Superman by saying "elections are traditional, kind of like Thanksgiving".
* InvulnerableKnuckles:
** Averted in "For the Man Who Has Everything" and "Double Date". Franchise/WonderWoman and Comicbook/BlackCanary injure their hands punching Mongul and Steve Mandragora, respectively.
** Supergirl normally has them, but when [[BroughtDownToNormal she loses her powers in Skartaris]] her first attempt to punch one of the attacking dino-troopers causes her pain. Her hand has visible bruises/scratches afterwards.
* IronicEcho: in "Twilight," Superman opens his fight against Darkseid with a BadassBoast ending in "let's go." Three seasons later, in "Destroyer," Darkseid echoes the line (and one-ups the BadassBoast) before attacking Supes.
* IsThisThingStillOn: Happens to Linda Park in "Flash and Substance". Hilariously.
* ItGetsEasier: In "A Better World", Franchise/TheFlash states that killing him, a close friend whose parallel universe death was the motivation for his FaceHeelTurn in the first place, would be a line Lord!Superman would never cross. [[spoiler:Lord!Superman shrugs and says that he has done many things he once thought were over a line; one more will not hurt]].
* ItHasBeenAnHonor: Batman in "Starcrossed".
* ItOnlyWorksOnce: In his first appearance, the Shadow Thief can be disabled with bright lights. In his second appearance, he advises against trying this tactic, since it hasn't worked "in months".
* ItsALongStory - Superman after returning from the BadFuture in "Hereafter".
* ItsNotYouItsMyEnemies:
** Given by Batman to Wonder Woman as a reason they should not get together. Wonder Woman demurs... by crushing a stone gargoyle's head in her bare fist.
** Given to [[WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond Dana by Terry]] in the "finale" [[AllJustADream ... sort of... but sort of not...]]
* ItsWhatIDo: [[ManipulativeBastard Darkseid]] in "Twilight".
* ItWasHereISwear: The Cadmus facility which grew and managed the Ultimen was disassembled and moved after they discovered the truth, and when they returned to destroy it they only found empty offices.
* JabbaTableManners: Displayed by VillainousGlutton Steven Mandagora.
* JawDrop: You would, too, if you watched an entire planet get obliterated before your eyes in a matter of nanoseconds. And you would do it again when you have been shown it was still there all along and you have been royally had.
* JerkAss:
** Surprisingly, Superman in "Clash".
** Comicbook/{{Deadshot}}, [[ComicBook/SecretSix unsurprisingly]].
** Aquaman, even to people trying to help him.
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Batman
-->'''Amanda Waller:''' For all that fierce exterior I've never met anyone who cared as deeply about his fellow man as Bruce Wayne.
* JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope:
** The Justice Lords of "A Better World" all did it following their Flash's death, an event that eventually led to every member shrugging off ThouShaltNotKill and taking over the planet by force, but Superman was the one who really went full-tilt.
** After a history of friendship and cooperation with Superman and Supergirl, Emil Hamilton begins to question the trustworthiness and good intentions of superheroes after Superman is brainwashed and forced to attack Earth. [[FaceHeelTurn He begins to clone, kidnap, torture and kill them as part of a government conspiracy]].
* JustFollowingOrders:
** [[spoiler:Hawkgirl]] explains the years-long subterfuge as being a soldier under orders, and expects John Stewart to understand given his history as a Marine.
** In "Ultimatum", Maxwell Lord begins to tell the Ultimen that he was only following orders, but they interrupt him and scoff at the idea before he can even finish the sentence.
** Captain Atom explains his working for Cadmus because he has official orders from General Eiling as an officer in the US Air Force.
* JustFriends: Batman's description of his and Diana's relationship. Comicbook/{{Zatanna}} does not buy it for a second.
* JustIgnoreIt: In "Hawk and Dove", it turns out that JustIgnoreIt is the key to victory.
* JustInTime:
** The Flash manages to find the last TimeBomb that the Joker set up in "Wild Cards" with only a few seconds left before it explodes.... [[SubvertedTrope and cannot disarm it in time with the Joker distracting him]]. [[spoiler:[[DoubleSubversion So it is a good thing he can just use his super speed to move the bomb into a desolate area to let it explode harmlessly]]]].
** In "Starcrossed," [[spoiler: the League destroys the Hyperspace Bypass mere moments before it would have destroyed the planet]].
* JustPlaneWrong: The Green Guardsman tries to pop the villains' blimp with an arrow created by his power ring. Later Flash brings down the blimp by puncturing it. See this trope's page for why it shouldn't work, though [[spoiler:since it's all a mentally-generated image, it makes sense that things in that world would react the way the average person would ''expect'' them to, not the way they would in real life.]]
* KickTheDog: In "For The Man Who Has Everything", Mongul specifically uses the Black Mercy because he wants Superman to have to sacrifice his greatest desire in order to escape.
* KidFromTheFuture[=/=]LukeYouAreMyFather: [[spoiler: Rex Stewart aka Warhawk]], previously introduced in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond''.
* KilledOffForReal: Heroes in the show invariably turn out to be NotQuiteDead, as one would expect on a superhero cartoon, but villains die surprisingly frequently. Bystanders and sympathetic bit characters are ambiguously or explicitly killed off from time to time, to keep the villains appropriately threatening.
* KillerYoYo: Used by Toyman to defeat Killer Frost in "Alive".
* KillMeNowOrForeverStayYourHand: In "Fearful Symmetry", the Question tells [[spoiler:Galatea]] to kill him, but he believes she will not go through with it because she is beginning to feel guilt over her actions. [[spoiler: She does hesitate, but whether she would have gone through with it or not is ultimately unknown, [[CombatPragmatist as Supergirl attacks her when her back is turned]].]]
* KingArthur: Arthurian legend is mentioned and featured in three episodes, two of which involve his foe Morgaine le Fae and her role in the fall of Camelot, and the third features a retelling of his relationship with Sir Justin (Shining Knight), one of his vassals.
* KingIncognito: Villainous example. When Grodd's secret society broke in the headquarters of Crime Lord Morgan Edge, Edge tried to escape by disguising himself as a servant, but was detected because he forgot to put on shoes that weren't too fancy for a servant.
* KirkSummation: Supergirl to Galatea
* KissKissSlap: Big Barda is constantly at odds with her husband, Mister Miracle, over his increasingly dangerous Houdini-esque escape tricks
-->'''Barda (''elated''):''' Scott! I thought you were dead!
-->'''hugs'''
-->'''Barda (''angry''):''' You insufferable showboat! (''lifts off feet'') I thought you were dead!
* KlingonPromotion:
** Luthor takes over the LegionOfDoom by shooting Grodd and placing himself at the head of the table. [[JustifiedTrope It makes a lot of sense]], since Luthor is more or less as smart as Grodd, and the plan Grodd had been working towards for months proved both stupid and somewhat harmful to the rest of the Legion.
** Polaris tries to do the same after Luthor swaps bodies with Flash and back. Luthor quickly reminds everyone [[BetrayalInsurance why he's the one in charge]].
* KneelBeforeZod: Luthor to Grodd in "Alive".
* KnightInShiningArmor: [[CaptainObvious Shining Knight.]]
* KnightTemplar: The Justice Lords in "A Better World" and several Cadmus residents, particularly [[GeneralRipper Wade Eiling]].
* KryptoniteFactor: Kryptonite itself has a lasting impact throughout the series.
* KryptoniteRing: Batman carries around a piece of Kryptonite in the event that Superman ever [[FaceHeelTurn goes rogue]], and Superman is aware and glad that he does so.
* LadyLand: Themiscyra.
* LameComeback: Flash has a number of these.
--> '''Flash''' (to a hologram of Mirror Master): "Oh yeah well... you're not really all there!"
* LamePunReaction: In "Wild Cards," when the Flash briefly defeats King by wrapping him up in fake mummy bandages, he comments that it "wraps [him] up." Though the wrappings mean that King's subsequent comment is muffled and unintelligible, the Flash still apologizes, saying it was the only quip he could think of.
* LampshadeHanging: All the time, but one of the most direct ones was in the episode "Hereafter", when Wonder Woman stopped a lightning attack with her ''metal'' wrist bracers.
--> '''Flash''': "There are ''so'' many reasons why that shouldn't have worked."
* LaResistance: The alternate Batman runs one in "The Savage Time."
* LargeHam:
** Despero, Despero, Despero.
--> '''Despero''': "GOOOOO! THE CONQUEST BEGINS NNNOOOOWWW! EMBLAZON MY WORD AND WILL ACROSS THE COSMOS!"
** Most of the really big villains tend to have this quality, to a greater or lesser degree, which makes the ultimate BigBad, Darkseid, much more imposing because he ''doesn't'' act this way.
* LaserGuidedTykebomb: This version of Doomsday, a mutated clone of Superman whose creators conditioned him to hate the original. Interestingly, the original Doomsday was created on the Planet Krypton in its distant past (in the Comics,) so in both of these continuities, he is Kryptonian.
* LastSecondWordSwap: In the episode "Far From Home", when Supergirl was about to leave to attempt to stop the Legion of Superheroes, Brainiac 5 nearly said that he loves her, but swapped "love" for "lied to" at the last moment.
* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: In "Wild Cards", Joker's 22:51 time limit is an obvious reference to the runtime of a half-hour television program, although the episode itself is double-length.
* LeaveHimToMe: At the climax of "Starcrossed", Green Lantern fights his way into the Thanagarian command ship. Hro Talak countermands the order to send soldiers to stop him, and goes himself to fight one-on-one.
* LeftHanging: There are a number of plot threads left dangling. Including Green Lantern, Vixen, and Hawkgirl's LoveTriangle and the result of General Eiling's vendetta against Superman.
* LegionOfDoom: The Injustice Gang and both Secret Societies. [[ExecutiveMeddling The name "Legion of Doom" was not allowed to be spoken within the show]], but the producers have revealed that they consider the organization in season three of ''Unlimited'' to be the ''actual'' Legion.
* {{Leitmotif}}:
** Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, Green Lantern, and Green Arrow all have their own musical motifs (Batman and Superman retain their melody motifs from their respective solo shows). Green Arrow even hums his own theme while swinging forth into battle at one point.
** The ComicBook/{{Blackhawk}}s have their own theme in "The Savage Time," and it is ''their real song''. One of the classic comic teams from Golden Age, the Blackhawks had plenty of supplemental material released including, at one point, a song book. Though the music from this episode was composed by Lolita Ritmanis, she composed it to match the lyrics from the original Blackhawk Theme. An EasterEgg on the DVD plays the song as a music video, featuring it in its entirety over the aerial dogfight of the episode (It is '''''quite''''' epic).
** A.M.A.Z.O. got one in his introduction episode that played whenever he assimilates any of the heroes' powers.
* LeotardOfPower: All over the place, though most often seen, of course, on Franchise/WonderWoman.
* LetMeAtHim: Green Arrow lunges against the government agents interviewing Steven Mandragora when Mandragora continuously insults Black Canary, who is there with Arrow as special security. Arrow ends up pleading with them to leave him alone with Mandragora for just five minutes. [[spoiler: Ultimately, ''Canary'' ends up smacking him one... and nearly breaks her hand in the process!]]
* LetsGetDangerous: It is probably good to remember that Flash, as carefree and goofy as he is, can make you explode just by touching you.
* LetsYouAndHimFight: Occasionally, including the Metamorpho episode and also in "The Terror Beyond". Deconstructed in "Clash".
* LifeOrLimbDecision: For Aquaman.
* LighterAndSofter: "Flash and Substance" shows that Central City is a 'lighter and softer' corner of the DCAU. Even the Flash's enemies tend to be pretty mundane guys when they're not in CardCarryingVillain mode.
* LightheartedRematch: In "Grudge Match".
* LightningBruiser: Steven Mandragora. The guy is HUGE, but he moves just as fast as Black Canary when she attacks him. Foreshadowed earlier in the episode when, after she punches him, states that there is no fat, only muscle.
* LikeAnOldMarriedCouple: Franchise/TheFlash [[EveryoneCanSeeIt points out]] that Franchise/GreenLantern and Hawkgirl are bickering like an old married couple
* LikeBrotherAndSister: Flash and Hawkgirl.
* LimitedWardrobe: The Flash and Hawkgirl wear their same costumes in literally every single scene until the end of ''Justice League''. Hawkgirl does not remove her mask until the final scene of "Wild Cards" (Second-to-last episode), and the Flash does not take off his costume until Part 2 of "Starcrossed" (Last episode). The other League members are rarely out of costume, but it does happen on occasion when in disguise or "off duty".
* LivingProp: Many superheroes introduced during ''Unlimited'' (who, in the comics, belonged to teams ranging from the [[Comicbook/JusticeSocietyofAmerica JSA]] to JL Detroit) never progressed beyond this.
* LivingShadow: Shadow Thief.
* LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters: From the third season on, the Justice League has over three dozen members.
* LogicBomb: Bizarro is assisting Giganta because he has fallen in love with her, and in "Ultimatum" he is helping her break Gorilla Grodd out of jail. When Wonder Woman asks him [[AndThenWhat what will happen to his relationship with Giganta after they have rescued her boyfriend]], Bizarro freezes in confusion.
* LostWorld: Skartaris and Themiscyra.
* LotusEaterMachine: The Black Mercy in "For The Man Who has Everything".
* LoudOfWar: The Question once successfully tortured a man with the use of crappy, overproduced pop music. For added fun, he is later heard singing the same song softly as he is breaking into a secure facility!
* LovableAlphaBitch: Stargirl. She is [[GloryHound vain and fame seeking]], has a large sense of entitlement, and mocks and belittles those around her to ease her own feelings, but means well beneath it all. [[GenreSavvy She is aware of how her actions look]] and recognizes with frustration that her words make her "petty."
* LoveCannotOvercome: No matter how hard she tries, Franchise/WonderWoman cannot get grumpy, antisocial Batman to give a relationship a chance.
* LoveTriangle: Green Lantern and Hawkgirl get romantically involved right before it comes out that Hawkgirl is [[spoiler:a Thanagarian spy ''and'' engaged to another man]]. Although he does not quite lose his feelings for her, he does take up with Vixen before going into the future and learning that [[spoiler:he has a son by Hawkgirl]]. Meanwhile, Hawkgirl picks up a stalker in Hawkman who believes (with more than a little justification) that he and Hawkgirl are reincarnations of Thanagarian lovers from ancient Egypt. Later in the series, it comes out that [[spoiler:Green Lantern is (supposedly) ''also'' a reincarnation of one of the Egyptian Thanagarians' human friends who was having an affair with Hawkgirl's preincarnation which ended in the tragic death of all three of them.]] The series ends with Green Lantern and Vixen together, but with unresolved feelings between John and Shayera and the knowledge that they will somehow rekindle their relationship [[ForegoneConclusion sometime before Batman Beyond]].
* LovingAShadow:
--> '''Hawkman:''' "We are the reincarnations of Katar and Chayera Hol, and I love you."\\
'''Hawkgirl:''' "You can't love me, Carter. You don't even ''know'' me."
* LowerDeckEpisode: The ''Unlimited'' portion of the series focuses heavily on lesser-known members DC Comics, with many minor and supporting heroes receiving their own episodes throughout its three seasons. The episode "Patriot Act" starred seven of these characters, who had weapon- or gadget-based super powers: Green Arrow and Speedy, Stargirl and S.T.R.I.P.E., the Crimson Avenger, Vigilante, and the Shining Knight.
** Counts as a MythologyGag because they [[note]] with Stargirl substituting for Star-Spangled Kid, and Stripsey without a battlesuit[[/note]] starred in the comic ''SevenSoldiersOfVictory''.
* LowestCosmicDenominator: {{God}} makes no appearances in the show and gets no explicit references, but when Hawkgirl is in Tartarus [[HijackedByJesus the demons mistake her for]] [[WingedHumanoid an angel]] and flee when she makes reference to "the boss." Greek deities, however, are fair game.
* LukeIAmYourFather: For ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'' via [[FullyAbsorbedFinale "Epilogue."]] Hades also pulls this on Franchise/WonderWoman, only to have her shut him down by basically saying "Who cares?".
* LuxuryPrisonSuite: Enjoyed by the Ultra-Humanite and Lex Luthor (although it might be a bit much to say Luthor ''enjoyed'' it). In the parallel world of "A Better World", Comicbook/LoisLane is living in a lavishly furnished apartment, dating Superman and eating ''gazpacho''... and she cannot leave the premises, have visitors, make phone calls or even write a letter. A gilded cage, indeed.
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