Justice League Unlimited Cartoon Series

Deadman asks the Master of a Temple for advice, as he has not passed on despite catching the man who killed him. The Master says the destiny of Deadman is to avenge his death. On Grodd's orders, a team from the Legion of Doom attacks the temple of Nanda Parbat, to steal its Heart, containing the psychic remains of thousands of former monks. Deadman tries to stop them, but is helpless to prevent Devil Ray from killing the Master and is exorcised by Tala from Rampage. Tala takes the Heart of Nanda Parbat and transports the villains away. Deadman goes to the Watchtower and possesses Superman's body to tell them about the disaster. Batman vouches for Deadman, having met him before while helping to solve his murder; Batman is also one of the Master's former pupils. While puzzling over what Grodd is planning to do, Deadman/Superman says he can feel the psychic presence of the Heart, but can't narrow it down further than Africa. Realizing that Grodd has returned to Gorilla City, Batman radios Solovar, who tells them that he was just going to call them and that the city is under attack at that moment. Batman, Wonder Woman and the possessed Superman arrive outside the city. Deadman leaves Superman's body to slip through the protective shield and find someone to possess in order to shut it down. The Leaguers fight their way into the city. Deadman possesses Wonder Woman in order to attack Devil Ray but decides not to kill him. Inside, Grodd and Luthor places the Heart, which Grodd describes as an exotic power source, into the force field generator, creating a device powerful enough to send out a planet-wide energy field. Luthor assumes that Grodd plans to extend a mind-control signal over the Earth, but instead Grodd reveals that his master plan is to "re-write" human DNA and transform every person on Earth into apes. The signal reaches out and transforms the Justice Leaguers, but Superman manages to destroy the generator and the Heart, turning themselves back into humans. Devil Ray sneaks in and aims his weapon at Wonder Woman. Deadman takes over Batman's body, grabs Luthor's gun, and shoots Devil Ray, knocking him backward into an open panel and electrocuting him to death. When Batman regains control of his body, he is disgusted at having any part in killing someone with a gun because of his parents' murder and Superman explains to Batman, that Deadman did it. Deadman is then "recalled" by Rama Kushna, who says that he has upset the balance of life in the universe by killing Devil Ray. Deadman says Devil Ray committed a greater crime by slaughtering the monks at Nanda Parbat, but Rama Kushna takes him there, showing him how destroying the Soul has released the life energies stored within it and restored all the monks to life, including The Master. But The Master tells Deadman that he will be trapped on Earth until he atones for his sin. At the Legion of Doom's headquarters, Grodd insists that "their" master plan has suffered a temporary setback, no more; then Luthor stands and aims a gun at him, announcing that he's decided to take over leadership of the Legion a little earlier than he planned, since he's disgusted that Grodd's "master plan" (a) didn't work, and (b) was just plain ridiculous. Luthor incapacitates Grodd during a council meeting by shooting him with a non-lethal weapon and declares himself the new leader. The Legion are equally disgusted with Grodd, so no one objects. Tala, especially, is quick to transfer her affectionate attention to Luthor.

31-year-old Terry McGinnis breaks into the high-security home of Amanda Waller (now a very old woman). He confronts her and demands answers. She seems unsurprised to see him and insists on telling the story at her own pace. Months earlier, when Bruce Wayne (also now very old) was suffering kidney failure and needed a tissue donor to clone new organs, Terry was tested and found to be perfectly compatible. Surprised, Terry had his DNA checked and was found to be Bruce's genetic son. Terry is at first angry, believing that Bruce masterminded the whole thing in order to ensure that he had a successor. In his mind, Terry imagines himself storming into the Batcave and confronting Bruce not denying the accusation and insists that the world will always need a Batman. Terry is even more angry to learn that Bruce never told him that Warren McGinnis was not his real father. He also imagines himself breaking up with Dana Tan, whom he has continued dating since high school and now knows his secret identity, while withdrawing from the JLU. To prove he's wrong about Bruce, Waller tells Terry a story of a crisis that occurred before he was born: At some point, Ace began causing havoc when her powers developed beyond causing hallucinations to being able to alter the fabric of reality itself. She used this new skill to fashion herself an impregnable fortress and her own Royal Flush Gang to ward off interlopers. After the Justice League defeated them, Waller warned Batman that Ace was on the verge of dying from a brain aneurysm, and the resulting psychic backlash would cause massive destruction and loss of life. Cadmus had retrieved a special weapon to kill her and prevent the disaster, which Batman volunteered to use. However, when he reached her, Ace revealed that he never intended to use the weapon having read his mind. Instead, he asked Ace to reverse the changes she had made, as he related with her over her lost childhood. Ace was aware that she would die and asked Batman to stay with her, as he did just that holding the crying girl's hand. With him by her side, she died peacefully, and the world returned to normal. Terry scoffs at this, believing that Bruce didn't resort to lethal force by virtue of already having deduced that Ace would rather die quietly than doom reality itself. Waller didn't put it past Terry's suspicion, for Bruce was always "steps ahead of everybody". Waller then tells Terry the truth: she was the mastermind, not Bruce. After the Cadmus Crisis, Waller went from being the Justice League's chief antagonist to its ally. In her role as the Government Liaison to the League, she came to know Batman very well, gaining a great deal of respect for him. She also met a lot of interesting people but none of them were comparable to Batman as he saved the day using his wits, body and will, as opposed to others and their gained superpowers. The incident with Ace demonstrated to Waller that Batman's greatest attributes were his compassion, and his iron refusal to never take a life. But as time went on, Waller saw him age, and realized he wouldn't be around forever as he would have to eventually retire, if he wasn't killed first. However, in her mind, the world would always need a Batman. Waller used her old Project Cadmus contacts to launch Project Batman Beyond. Batman's DNA was obtained years previously during one of his exploits. He would sometimes be treated by emergency medical personnel; it was easy to retrieve the medical waste. She found a young couple, Warren and Mary McGinnis, that was almost an identical psychological match for Batman's father and mother. When Warren went in for what he thought was a flu shot, his reproductive DNA was overwritten by that of Batman's by nanobots. A year later, Terry was born, genetically the son of Mary McGinnis and Bruce Wayne. Genetics, however, do not alone make a Batman, so Waller hired an assassin to kill Terry's parents when he was eight years old as the three of them were leaving a movie theater showing The Grey Ghost Strikes hoping that the same tragedy would cause the same response. However, the assassin couldn't bring herself to kill them and confronted Waller afterwards, as Batman would never resort to murder because it would destroy everything he stood for. Waller was forced to agree, and the project was effectively scrapped. With Terry's parents spared, his brother would be born. However, eight years later, due to a cruel twist of fate, Terry's father was killed, which set a chain of events in motion that turned Terry into Batman. Terry is not soothed, believing that, whether Bruce or Waller was the real mastermind, he is still "cursed", in that his identity of Batman was written before he was even born. Waller implies that she believes it was a form of divine intervention which led to Terry’s path to Batman, along with his own free will. She assure Terry that he is Bruce's son, not his clone. In her assessment, Terry may not be as smart as the old Batman, but he is every bit as devoted to helping others, and, she adds, "for all that fierce exterior, I've never met anyone who cared as deeply about his fellow man as Bruce Wayne, except maybe you." In parting, she gives him some last advice: "You want to have a little better life than the old man's? Take care of the people who love you. Or don't. It's your choice." Taking this advice to heart, Terry returns to the Wayne Manor. After checking the time, Terry calls Dana to confirm their plans for later in the week while at the same time checking over his engagement ring, revealing he plans to propose to Dana. Once the call ends, Bruce appears and asks for Terry's whereabouts, he reveals he had "stuff" to take care of. Terry apologizes for worrying Bruce, but he dismisses his claim saying he was really worried about Gotham, while getting his medicine. However, to Bruce's surprise Terry instead helps him take his medicine and assures him that he has everything taken care of, thus sharing a moment of mostly unspoken reconciliation with Bruce. Bruce then changes the subject and mentions that Superman needs his help on a case, Terry prepares to leave to help where he shares a fatherly moment with Bruce, secretly referring to him as his "old man". In the skies of Gotham, something winged flies past a police hovercraft, causing one of the pilots to ask, "Did you see that?"

The Justice League are battling a group of criminals in a city and eventually manage to subdue them. As the police come to clean up, a man crosses the police line hoping to talk with Shayera Hol. He introduces himself as Carter Hall, an archaeologist who needs her help on a discovery he made — a Thanagarian blade, apparently on Earth since 6,000 BCE. He offers to talk to her over dinner, and she agrees. As the Justice League depart, Hall also leaves, but his shadow lingers ... At the Metro Tower, Shayera and Batman run tests on the blade, confirming that it is as old as Hall says and genuinely Thanagarian due to the presence of Nth metal. As John Stewart goes down an elevator, he spots Shayera in a very attractive dress, and Shayera offers to get one for Vixen. Just then, Batman shows up, saying that he's been researching Hall. His name was originally Joseph Gardener, but he legally changed it six months ago. His reputation declined five years ago after claiming that he discovered alien artifacts in Egypt. Additionally, he's been near Shayera before, and was present at several of her public battles. Batman concludes that he's a stalker, and John urges her to take someone with her as backup. Grabbing the Thanagarian blade, she tells them that she can take care of herself. John is upset, not only at her choice, but also that their journey into the future shows that he and Shayera are destined to be together. Batman informs him that if he really believed that, he wouldn't be with Vixen. The next day, Hall and Shayera are at the tomb where Hall discovered the blade. He warns that there are traps all over the tomb, but knows how to disarm them. Unknown to either of them, Batman is following them. When they reach a chamber with Thanagarian runes, Hall changes into a costume and introduces himself at Katar Hal, alias Hawkman. He claims that he and Shayera are Katar Hol and Chay-Ara Hol, the reincarnated souls of Thanagarian lovers who were stranded in Egypt millennia ago, and were worshiped as gods by the people. But jealous forces overthrew them, destroying the grand society the Thanagarians had set up for the people. Hawkman tells her that he learned all this through an Asbsorbacron, a device that stores ship logs and memories. As he tells her all this, Batman is confronted by a shadowy figure who subdues him. Shayera assumes that the Asbsorbacron malfunctioned and implanted the memories of Hal into Carter, but Hawkman insists on showing her the device. Taking her to another chamber, he shows her the ship that carried the Hols to Earth. Before he can show her the device, they are attacked by a pair of shadowy figures. After they are subdued, the figures merge into a single being. Waking up, Hawkman finds himself and Shayera captured by Shadow Thief, who has been following Carter for some time. He wants access to the treasure buried with the two Thanagarians, but he can't open it without Hawkman's help. When Shadow Thief threatens to kill Shayera, Hawkman submits, opening the tomb's final chamber. Inside are the Sarcophagus and the treasures. Before he can open the door, Batman attacks, causing Shadow Thief to hit the door and open it without disarming the traps. Robotic statues come to life, and Hawkman and Batman fight them off. During the battle, Shayera manages to free herself and goes after Shadow Thief. He is able to make himself intangible at will, meaning they can't touch him. However, Shayera activates her mace, while Hawkman grabs the torch and Batman activates a flare. Surrounded by light, Shadow Thief flees into the ground, causing it to collapse. Once he and Shayera get Batman out, Hawkman goes back for the Asbsorbacron, but Shayera subdues him. Outside, Hawkman laments the loss of the Asbsorbacron, but Shayera still insists that he's confused. Batman says that J'onn J'onzz could help him sort through the memories, but Hawkman insists that he and Shayera are the reincarnations of Katar and Chay-Ara Hol. Shayera says that they don't even know each other, and Hawkman replies that her favorite color is teal, she loves oysters even though they give her heartburn, and that she wakes up at the crack of dawn to see the sunrise — all of which are true, much to Shayera's shock. However, Hawkman says he's willing to wait for her, and flies off. When he's gone, Shayera reveals that she knew Batman was following her, pulling the tracer he planted on her mace. Batman insists that it was Hall he didn't trust, and that all he heard was reincarnation and destiny, both of which he dismisses as nonsense. Shayera, however, is not so sure. Unknown to all others, the Sarcophagus survived the cave in, opening to reveal its twin mummified occupants — still holding hands...

John Stewart is in communication with the Guardians of the Universe on Oa, who inform him that his recent request for a transfer away from Earth has been denied. Then the planetary defense system alerts them that something is approaching Oa at an incredible speed. Kyle Rayner and the other resident Green Lanterns fly into space to establish a shield, but the object breaks through it instantly, revealing itself to be the super-android Amazo. Before the Guardians can react, the android hurtles into the planet, there is a sudden flash of light, and Oa is gone. Amazo's trajectory shows that he is heading for Earth. The League mobilizes its full strength, determined to stop the android from reaching the planet's surface. In short order, they realize what Amazo is coming back for: revenge on Lex Luthor. On his estate, Luthor is giving a television interview explaining his reformation since he was diagnosed with Kryptonite poisoning. He has just finished expressing his hope that he and the Justice League can be friends when Supergirl and Steel suddenly appear and fly him away. As soon as he is told Amazo is coming, Luthor insists on going to a safe house of his own design — located in a barber shop. He soon gives the two heroes the slip and escapes down an underground tube which includes a number of defenses, including Kryptonite-lined walls. This proves too much for Supergirl and she and Steel return to counter the android. The League has set up three defensive lines to halt the android: the first, in orbit, consists of Superman, Green Lantern, Captain Atom, Orion, Doctor Light, S.T.R.I.P.E., Starman, and the League's entire fleet of Javelins. As the android approaches, he communicates with them telepathically, confirming that he has returned seeking for Luthor and warning them not to get in his way. When he refuses to turn back, the assembly unleashes a massive energy barrage, but Amazo shrugs it off, smashes through the entire line in moments and continues towards Earth. In the laboratory, Luthor and Atom are working flat out to complete the cannon before Amazo arrives. Flying above Metropolis, Amazo listens simultaneously to millions of conversations before pinpointing Luthor's and making his way to his location. He is challenged by the second defensive line — Supergirl, Fire, Red Tornado, and Rocket Red — but again beats them all. He then touches down outside the barber shop and, just as easily, disables the third and last defensive line — Wonder Woman, Flash, Steel, and Ice. Luthor and Atom complete the cannon just before Amazo enters the laboratory and blast him with it. It was supposed to alter his nanotech program but has no effect whatsoever. Mildly impressed, the Android tells the two men that he has in fact evolved beyond nanotechnology. In Earth's orbit, Kyle Rayner and other surviving Green Lanterns suddenly appear to assist the Leaguers defeated by Amazo. Rayner tells Stewart that Oa is no more and that their only option is to hit Amazo with a concentrated blast from all of their rings at once. Such an act could result in destroying half of Earth. On the bridge of the Watchtower, J'onn J'onzz reluctantly concedes that there is no other way to stop Amazo from destroying other worlds, but Doctor Fate is convinced that there is. In the laboratory, Amazo manhandles Luthor over the way he manipulated him during their original encounter. To get away from him, Atom shrinks both himself and Luthor down to subatomic size. Again, this proves futile: Amazo shrinks himself down as well, though he appears as a giant holding the two men in the palm of his hand. With Luthor at his mercy, Amazo then reveals that he has returned not so much for revenge as for guidance. Luthor is a man who has been blessed with wealth and power, but this never appears to be enough and Amazo wants to know what drives him. In fact, the android wants to know what is his own purpose in life — what is he for and what is his ultimate goal? Luthor describes how, for all his accomplishments, he is still mortal and everything he's done will be gone and forgotten after a few generations. Amazo, on the other hand, is immortal and nearly all-powerful: he will be able to see time through until its very end. Amazo is not satisfied with merely being a witness to events, to which Luthor says that every being must seek and create its own purpose in life. It is not something another person can just assign to them. Luthor then mocks the android as a powerful being who can destroy planets but is consumed by self-pity and lack of direction. Amazo appears to react angrily to this but instead restores himself, Luthor and Atom to their normal sizes. Back in Luthor's laboratory, they are suddenly surrounded by the Green Lanterns led by Stewart. The Lanterns are about to blast Amazo — and half of Earth — when Fate teleports beside Amazo, telling them the threat is over. Stewart is not moved by this, raising Amazo's destruction of Oa and its people. Amazo then calmly informs everyone that Oa was not destroyed, he simply moved it to another dimension as it was in his way. When Stewart asks for Oa to be restored to its normal place, Amazon does so — in the blink of an eye. Fate then offers to help Amazo find a goal in life, describing it as his "purpose". Amazo accepts and Fate teleports them to his tower. There they meet Fate's wife Inza and another guest, the exiled Shayera Hol.