A Parable of the Justice League

[Carborendum]

In 2005, an episode (episode 7: Clash) of Justice League Unlimited aired which introduced Shazam (aka Captain Marvel) to the Justice League.  Shazam, for those of you who don't know, is a 10 year-old boy (Billy Batson) who was given vast powers on par with Superman.  This was depicted in the recent movie of the same name.

While he magically has the "Wisdom of Solomon", there are times when the 10-year old boy's outlook overshadows that wisdom.  The excitement that he felt when inducted into the League was a prime example.  He showed a lot more eagerness than a mature, powerful superhero may have normally felt on such an occasion.  Further childlike eagerness was displayed when sent out on his first several assignments.

At some point, the Justice League noticed that Lex Luthor was doing some "humanitarian" work that was larger in scope and further out of his character than ever before.  They obviously get suspicious.  But Shazam looks at how much time and energy Lex has been spending on the good of the world around him and decides that he must have turned over a new leaf.  He decides to give him the benefit of the doubt.

The rest of the League, however, is not convinced.  They cannot stand the fact that, with all their combined resources and abilities, they cannot figure out what Lex's true plan is.  This festers and fumes until Superman decides to snoop a bit too much.  When he determines that there is a lead lined underground area, that must be the location of the "true" plot.  So he attempts to tear it apart.

Realizing that this is against the law, Shazam stops Superman from destroying Lex's project.  They eventually CLASH in a big way and end up tearing everything apart, partially due to Superman's rage and partially due to the fight they end up having.

After things are torn apart and the lead lined area is exposed, they discover... Nothing.  There was absolutely nothing wrong happening.  The reason for the lead lined chamber was that the generator which created "clean energy" was powered by Kryptonite.  And he didn't want it to harm Superman or anyone else.  (For those who don't know, Kryptonite can do some damage to humans over prolonged exposure.)

Lex takes it all on the chin with a "Well, no harm done.  This can be rebuilt" message for the cameras (the news was all over the fight between Superman and Shazam).

While the League is in the middle of a damage control meeting (publicity) Shazam shows up and declares that he's leaving the Justice League because "I wanted to join you because you were my heroes.  But you just don't act like heroes anymore."

All this is done to the point where, even the audience is wondering if Lex truly did change for the better. But then...

The big reveal is that Lex planned the whole thing.  He purposefully put on this huge charade where he truly was doing nothing wrong, just to enrage the Justice League to the point where they would not be able to contain themselves anymore.  And for Shazam to get into that fight with Superman was just icing on the cake.  Lex couldn't have planned for a better way for it to explode.

Later...

Shazam decides that if the Justice League are not heroes anymore, then he'll go work for the one guy who acted like a gentleman and a hero throughout the entire event... Lex Luthor.

[Traveler]

28 minutes ago, Carborendum said:

In 2005, an episode (episode 7: Clash) of Justice League Unlimited aired which introduced Shazam (aka Captain Marvel) to the Justice League.  Shazam, for those of you who don't know, is a 10 year-old boy (Billy Batson) who was given vast powers on par with Superman.  This was depicted in the recent movie of the same name.

While he magically has the "Wisdom of Solomon", there are times when the 10-year old boy's outlook overshadows that wisdom.  The excitement that he felt when inducted into the League was a prime example.  He showed a lot more eagerness than a mature, powerful superhero may have normally felt on such an occasion.  Further childlike eagerness was displayed when sent out on his first several assignments.

At some point, the Justice League noticed that Lex Luthor was doing some "humanitarian" work that was larger in scope and further out of his character than ever before.  They obviously get suspicious.  But Shazam looks at how much time and energy Lex has been spending on the good of the world around him and decides that he must have turned over a new leaf.  He decides to give him the benefit of the doubt.

The rest of the League, however, is not convinced.  They cannot stand the fact that, with all their combined resources and abilities, they cannot figure out what Lex's true plan is.  This festers and fumes until Superman decides to snoop a bit too much.  When he determines that there is a lead lined underground area, that must be the location of the "true" plot.  So he attempts to tear it apart.

Realizing that this is against the law, Shazam stops Superman from destroying Lex's project.  They eventually CLASH in a big way and end up tearing everything apart, partially due to Superman's rage and partially due to the fight they end up having.

After things are torn apart and the lead lined area is exposed, they discover... Nothing.  There was absolutely nothing wrong happening.  The reason for the lead lined chamber was that the generator which created "clean energy" was powered by Kryptonite.  And he didn't want it to harm Superman or anyone else.  (For those who don't know, Kryptonite can do some damage to humans over prolonged exposure.)

Lex takes it all on the chin with a "Well, no harm done.  This can be rebuilt" message for the cameras (the news was all over the fight between Superman and Shazam).

While the League is in the middle of a damage control meeting (publicity) Shazam shows up and declares that he's leaving the Justice League because "I wanted to join you because you were my heroes.  But you just don't act like heroes anymore."

All this is done to the point where, even the audience is wondering if Lex truly did change for the better. But then...

The big reveal is that Lex planned the whole thing.  He purposefully put on this huge charade where he truly was doing nothing wrong, just to enrage the Justice League to the point where they would not be able to contain themselves anymore.  And for Shazam to get into that fight with Superman was just icing on the cake.  Lex couldn't have planned for a better way for it to explode.

Later...

Shazam decides that if the Justice League are not heroes anymore, then he'll go work for the one guy who acted like a gentleman and a hero throughout the entire event... Lex Luthor.

How do you think this plays with the parable of Jesus and the idea that a corrupt tree cannot produce good fruit or a good tree produce corrupt fruit - that by their fruits you shall know them?

 

The Traveler

[NeuroTypical]

1 hour ago, Carborendum said:

All this is done to the point where, even the audience is wondering if Lex truly did change for the better.

This member of the audience isn't wondering.  Lex is bright enough to know he should have shown folks the kryptonite, rather than keep it a secret.  Of course it was all done to sow dissention.

Makes sense that Shazam, still an impressionable child, isn't yet well versed in how insidious evil can be, and falls for it.

[Carborendum]

50 minutes ago, NeuroTypical said:

 Lex is bright enough to know he should have shown folks the kryptonite, rather than keep it a secret.

Superman never asked.  He just went barreling in without any permission or questions.  It was only after the melee that Lex had the opportunity to explain anything.  My fuzzy memory says that there was a brief moment where Lex even tried explaining, but Superman chose to ignore him.

You also had to see the previous episodes that gave a HUGE backstory to his "change".  But it was ALL a show.

Yes, Shazam was impressionable.  And even though the JLA was wrong about how they went about it, they were right about Lex being up to something. There was a longer term goal that went beyond disgracing the JLA.  It was quite complex for a kids' show.

Edited January 18, 2021 by Carborendum

[Carborendum]

The Moral: No matter how justified the "good guys" may believe they are in doing something wrong, they are always held to a higher standard.

Edited January 18, 2021 by Carborendum

[dprh]

On 1/18/2021 at 3:22 PM, Carborendum said:

The Moral: No matter how justified the "good guys" may believe they are in doing something wrong, they are always held to a higher standard.

I'm not sure how I missed this thread.  A lot of interesting insights.

I wonder about "the higher standard." 

Lex Luthor should be able to do as much good as Superman, with his intelligence and wealth, right?  Could that be the standard we set for him?

Maybe the heroes aren't held to a higher standard, they are just closer than others to the standard that everyone should live up to, so when they fall short it is more disappointing.

Another thought....I'm not a huge DC fan, so take this with a grain of salt, but that doesn't sound like my impression of Superman, committing B&E with no proof. 

[NeuroTypical]

35 minutes ago, dprh said:

Another thought....I'm not a huge DC fan, so take this with a grain of salt, but that doesn't sound like my impression of Superman, committing B&E with no proof. 

Well, DC went woke with Superman turning against truth, justice, and the American way, over a decade ago.

Who knows Marvel enough to tell us when Captain America put down his mighty shield out of disgust for what America was becoming?