As we join our heroes this week for part two of A Knight of Shadows, a familiar scene takes place. Once again Batman is in sickbay with J’onn tending to him. The Manhunter unknowingly puts his foot in his mouth when he says that Batman doesn’t know what it’s like to lose loved ones. That Martian is one smooth talker. Meanwhile, Flash and Wonder Woman are still touring the Playboyish mansion to see if millionaire Harv Hackman has the Philosopher’s Stone. Morgaine LeFay shows up to jumpstart the inevitable fight scene. In what has to be the most transparent attempt at phallisy to ever grace the Cartoon Network, Morgaine transforms the Hugh Hefner look-a-like, Harv (voiced by Dave Thomas), into an enormous penis-shaped worm with teeth that chases Wonder Woman around. Subtlety, thy name is Bruce Timm.
Etrigan shows up in time to save everyone from a PG-13 rating while Wonder Woman and Flash take the stone back to the Watchtower. Still steaming, Etrigan warns the JL members that Martian Manhunter is not to be trusted because Morgaine still has her claws in him from last week’s escapades. Turns out he’s right and the rest of the tale unfolds.
Overall, this was the least interesting of all the JL episodes. While it was probably meant to be a character episode for Martian Manhunter, it was actually just a flimsy excuse for an Etrigan cameo appearance. I’d be all right with that if Etrigan did something other than brood and snarl his way through the story. At least throw me a few rhymes, for Rao’s sake.
The writing team has fallen into the trap of dumbing down J’onn’s powers when they need a patsy. It’s always J’onn that gets sucker punched, despite the fact that he can become intangible. It isn’t until the final battle scene in this episode that we see J’onn using his powers to their full extent, but that only makes us wonder why he didn’t use them in the first place. Also, the only real power Etirgan had displayed was the ability to shoot hellfire from his hands. Ironically, he never does that during his climactic battle with Martian Manhunter, despite it being the surest way to stop a Martian.
I will give credit that the writers did show us that the Flash is actually fast this week. Too often, Superman and some of the other Justice League members look equally as fast as Wally.
No Hawkgirl or Green Lantern this week. Instead, their shoes were filled by Etrigan, Harv Hackman, some guy doing the Batusi, and a gold chain wearing, jive talking black man who just wanted to get some sleep. I hope the next flimsy excuse for a DC Universe cameo appearance is better than this one. We will know soon enough.
