YTV to air JLU 'Task Force X' (Aired, SPOILERS)

[John Cage]

As for the episode in question, I wanted to ask -- Do the villians spend the entire episode in disguise, or do they come out in full costume at one point? I want to see Deadshot in his gear...

Spoiler

Sorry, but it's street clothes and the support staff uniforms for TFX. The closest is Clock King, who appears in his trademark suit (but with none of his gimmick items), and Boomerang wears a blue suit that resembles his costume. It fits with the less-supervillain-more-real criminal feel throughout the episode.

Have a good day then.
John Cage
(Mystery Man)

 

[Trevor Balena]

You know, the more I think about it, the more sense it makes that J'onn would be angry. Yes, there are some implications of the Justice Lords, but he's already seen his first family taken away from him and I'm sure he'd be over-protective of his surrogate one. Basically, he doesn't want to go through the pain of loss again.

Not to mention that he's one up there in the Watchtower all the time -- he's the one that works with the support staff day in, day out. Not only would he be closer to them, and therefore feel more betrayed by that one guy's collaboration with Cadmus, but he'd also feel partly responsible (since he works beside them constantly, and is telepathic, so he would feel he should have detected some hint of their plans).

All of this adds up to J'onn feeling mighty angry.

 

[Knight]

This was truly a assume episode with great animation (I would say the same people behind The Cat and The Canary). In the speculation thread I said that since this was a Squad (Task Force X) episode that they would succeed in their mission and they did.

Everyone already knew that Deadshot was a must for any Suicide Squad along with Boomer. They were the main stays in the comics. The Clock King was a welcome surprise I have to say. His role as the guy who coordinates the teams Satellite infiltration was a fitting one. Plastique looked good too. I liked how they openly let her refer to Deadshot as "killer". Deadshot is known as one of the top assassins in the DCU along with Deathstorke (Slade).

Flagg is a good leader and a proud man serving his country much like his father who was refereed to in the ep. He is about not taking any unnecessary lives which is different from other military guys like General Eling. You couldn't have anyone but Flagg or The Bronze Tiger (who is off limits) lead this team. I like how they played up The Conel's fighting ability and him going in unarmed. In the comics Flagg once fought Batman to a standstill (well actually they were pulled apart and separated after exchanging numerous blows).

I enjoyed the mission prep and the breakdown of the 3 Major obstacles they could face...Captain Atom, Green Lantern and J'onn (who is refereed to as The Martian Manhunter for the first time I believe).

The fights were great. The Squad beating Atom Smasher, Shinning Knight and The Vigilante was interesting to see. The highlight for me though was when they had to try to get through J'onn and he really kicked butt. He even laid the smackdown on the Annihilator after initially being torn in half by him.

When the ep airs here in the US it will definitely get a high star grade from me.

 

[Supremus]

Not only does this make wildly inaccurate suppositions as to how our stories are done (giving both scripter and story writer credit and blame for things they didn't do), I actually find it personally insulting.

Perhaps at some point, if you have the time, you could share some insights about the story/writing process, in terms of who does what? Not so we can blame you personally, or anyone else for that matter, but it's an aspect of the production that isn't often covered and that fans don't know an awful lot about. It would also be interesting to know how closely the writers work with the director of a given episode. I seem to remember someone saying that Dos Santos isn't actually on site with the writers. Is that the case with all the directors? I thought you guys all lived in a big house with Genndy, McCracken, et al?

Personally, I have been giving you a bit of shtick for past episodes, but this one had your name in the credits, and it seemed to play to your writing strengths, so I am perfectly happy to put it down as an excellent McDuffie episode, but kudos to Cooke and Dos Santos too. With episodes like this, JLU has easily surpassed Batman Beyond now, and if we don't get too many stinkers this season, STAS better watch his back.

 

[Hero Supreme]

so, does that mean dove is on cadmus' hitlist as he seems to be the only passive enough to outwit the annihilator?

seriously though, since the JLU knows that the suit feeds on fury, is it really that big of a threat?

 

[PeterFries]

I just have a question about the previews. Was there a certain "big red cheese" shown by any chance?

 

[Knight]

seriously though, since the JLU knows that the suit feeds on fury, is it really that big of a threat?

Tell that to Atom Smasher who had his head knocked in. I dont think if he had suddenly decided not to fight that The Annihilator would have stopped beating him down.

I have to give it too Waller and company they are smart. They needed The Annihilator.It is the perfect Doomsday replacement. Just as powerful and a lot easier to control.

 

[PeterFries]

which is the look of Clock King?


EmaHalJordan

 

[Dwayne McDuffie]

I take no delight in being on your ****list.

You're not, whether you like "my" stuff isn't the issue at all. I just objected to some assumptions you made about who does what, and the idea that even a script with only one name on it only has one person working on it.

 

[Juu-kuchi]

Question, do Atom Smasher, Vigilante, and Shining Knight have speaking parts?

 

[Dwayne McDuffie]

Perhaps at some point, if you have the time, you could share some insights about the story/writing process, in terms of who does what? Not so we can blame you personally, or anyone else for that matter, but it's an aspect of the production that isn't often covered and that fans don't know an awful lot about. It would also be interesting to know how closely the writers work with the director of a given episode. I seem to remember someone saying that Dos Santos isn't actually on site with the writers. Is that the case with all the directors? I thought you guys all lived in a big house with Genndy, McCracken, et al?

Dos Santos is two doors down from me at Warner Animation. Genndy and McCraken work at a different studio. I've never met them but I assume they're over at Cartoon Network.

Personally, I have been giving you a bit of shtick for past episodes, but this one had your name in the credits, and it seemed to play to your writing strengths, so I am perfectly happy to put it down as an excellent McDuffie episode, but kudos to Cooke and Dos Santos too.

See, that's going too far the other way. Darwin Cooke was the scripter. In any case, I don't think there's such a thing as a "McDuffie" episode. All of the shows are a group effort. As always, four or five people worked closely on the story and script, contributing to varying degrees plot elements, structure and dialogue.

 

[PeterFries]

Question, do Atom Smasher, Vigilante, and Shining Knight have speaking parts?

No (unless you count grunts), yes and yes, respectively.

Is it just me, or does Shining Knight look a lot like Dirk the Daring on JLU?

 

[JLfan4life]

man...this episode was awesome!! it seemed more adult and i loved it. i love all those hard hits between the TFX, the Annihilator, atom smasher, viligante and shining knight...those fight scenes were awesome!! but i really really really loved seeing J'onn kick ass like that. i liked how he took out each member and then took on the Annihilator. oh man and that line at the end...J'onn was one pissed of martian. i'm dying to see the rest of the episodes now. definitely 5 stars for me!!!

 

[Supremus]

See, that's going too far the other way. Darwin Cooke was the scripter. In any case, I don't think there's such a thing as a "McDuffie" episode. All of the shows are a group effort. As always, four or five people worked closely on the story and script, contributing to varying degrees plot elements, structure and dialogue.

Alright, then maybe you save that little bit of excessive praise for the next time I throw a hissy-fit over a "McDuffie" episode.

Is it just me, or does Shining Knight look a lot like Dirk the Daring on JLU?

I thought for sure it was Dick The Daring when I first saw him.

 

[Wizard]

I've heard that Nathan Fillion is supposed to be the voice of Vigilante, and he did have a line in this episode, but I recorded the episode and I didn't see a credit for Vigilante, or Shining Knight for that matter. Some characters were uncredited- Juliet Landau voiced Plastique and Tala, and she was only credited as Plastique. Did some of the other actors voice those roles for this episode? If so, which ones?

 

[Revelator]

As always, four or five people worked closely on the story and script, contributing to varying degrees plot elements, structure and dialogue.

Would it be fair to presume those other regularly involved people are the producers (you, Timm and James Tucker) and the story editors (you and Stan Berkowitz), in addition to whoever happens to be the story writer and/or scripter for a given episode? I had previously thought that if someone had contributed a considerable amount of dialogue, structure or plot then their name would show up under the writing credits, but now I definitely have to adjust my way of thinking. I also wonder if previous DCAU shows like BTAS or Superman operated in the same way.

 

[Dwayne McDuffie]

Would it be fair to presume those other regularly involved people are the producers (you, Timm and James Tucker) and the story editors (you and Stan Berkowitz), in addition to whoever happens to be the story writer and/or scripter for a given episode? I had previously thought that if someone had contributed a considerable amount of dialogue, structure or plot then their name would show up under the writing credits, but now I definitely have to adjust my way of thinking.

That's correct. On shows with bigger budgets (like a live action sitcom or drama), you'd also have staff writers included in this process. This is roughly the way almost all of American fiction television is done. We *do* get credit for this work, by the way, as "Producer" or "Story Editor," it's part of the job.

 

[Kolbar]

In case anyone's interested, here are some screencaps from the episodes.

 

[Style]

seriously though, since the JLU knows that the suit feeds on fury, is it really that big of a threat?

I was thinking about this today. If the JLU had calmed downn and used there heads, they could have kept the anhilator from being stolen, possibly.

Basically, they would have had to try to dodge and ignore the suit while taking out the other members of the team. If Task Force X = unconcious, that's one source of rage not to have to worry about. At this point, the league would have to use Vulcan/Jedi levels of emotional discipline to stop feeling rage. With all sources of rage gone, the suit should shut down again.

Ofcourse, it was a charged situation, so it's hard to blame the JLU for loosing their heads and not adopting that strategy.

 

[Knight]

I dont know how many people are familiar with The Shining Knight but he seemed somewhat stronger than a normal guy should be which is all I thought he was. He wears enchanted armor than protects him but the guy was putting 10 inch dents in a metal wall with his fists. That seemed a little extreme. He also seemed to be going for the kill in battle. Im not up on his history so I dont know if that is normal for him or not.

Also did anyone else notice that his sword was back in its sleave when he was locked into that room even though the sword was previously knocked out of his hands. I usually dont notice a lot of animation mistakes but that one instantly jumped out at me.