Characters that should have been in JLU
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These are not just random picks. I tried to choose accordingly to the years the show was produced and which characters were synonimous with the JL around that time in the general public and the comics. And secondly, how and if these characters could fit in the DCAU as it was established.
First of all, characters that needed to at least appear in my opinion as being close to the classic rosters by that point in time :
- Firestorm. To be honest, the character alone deserved a two parter episode in the first or second season like Metamorpho.
- Blue Beetle
- Plasticman
I know the reasons are tangled with broadcasting rights and licensing but still, it's silly that those were either absent or mentioned by names only. I'll say this for Firestorm that he was supposed to be the main protagonist for "The Greatest Story Never Told" episode and was switched with Booster (for the better !). Yet, this was season 1 of JLU. He should have been at least a background character in the second season.
- Adam Strange. This one's a mystery because it feels like a two parter Princess of Mars type storyline would have been in their little papers from the get go in the early seasons. I would have rather have an episode dedicated to his story with the JL taking part of his journey than simply a background cameo, but Adam Strange should always be welcomed to hang around the Watchtower. Plus, he's got laser guns and a jetpack. They wanted to sell toys with their kid show. This one's a no brainer.
Other JL members proeminent in the 80s (if not before !) and all the way to the 90s :
- Amazingman, cool design and he brings a golden age quality (not to mention diversity) to the cast. Mostly remembered on the Jl in its infamous "Extreme" days (don't read that. Drying out your eyes with salt is a better expeience.). But he has a cool power set that would have been fun to use in background actions.
- Harbinger, I know she's not really a JL member in the comics and she is tied to the Anti-Monitor. But that would have been a cool nod and a tease for audience that maybe a crisis could happen in the future (even if it wasn't the case). Other character are linked exclusively to famous storylines and yet were integrated in the show. Plus, she's got a cool George Perez design and has all the generic powers a hero has (flight and Energy blasts) so again, in crowded actions and background fight, she can do it all.
- Silver Sorceress, she was long dead in the comics but is forever associated with the 80s JLI era and is a cherished D-list character that again, looks good in a group shot. And also another magic user. Her presence alone would have been enough. But I wouldn't have objected to have Wandjina or Bluejay show up as long as she was on screen.
- Nightshade, not a JL member per say but another Charlton character that was since then a spy and Suicide Squad agent (just like Nemesis who was with the league in JL season 1). She's supposed to have history with Captain Atom. Apparently they were planning to introduce her somewhen back in the Superman TAS days and even had a design for her. So why not, drop her here ? Plus, portal powers that could have made great actions even for a background fight.
- Bloodwynd. Hey, if Waverider made the cut, so could he, okay ? Plus, he was an actual JL member (kind of) for a while and was even there during the Death of Superman. He's a cool looking necromancer with red eyes, a voodoo Doctor Strange. He makes any group shot looks meaner.
- Jade. A member of the Infinity Inc and later JSA that is known for being linked to two lanterns : Alan Scott, her father and Kyle Rayner, her boyfriend. Sure, her origin story wouldn't fit with this universe canon, but the show featured her brother Obsidian. So, Jade should have been there too. Again, you have a cool looking female character that makes any group shot or action scene better. You don't even need to give her the same sound effect as John Stewart.
- Will Payton Starman. I have nothing against the one that appeared instead in the show, except that he's much more generic looking. Either of Starman 4 looks (the black suit or the yellow/purple one) are better in my opinion. And agin, he was an actual member of the JL, or was at least considered.
- Zauriel. They might have thought that it would be too confusing to have another hero with wings on the team considering the events after season 2, which is fair. But by that point, Zauriel was a well established leaguer from the late 90s era. And he's got a flame sword.
- Tasmanian Devil. An early 90s era team member that's essentially a giant wolf man. He would have been great. And this one's not a Looney Tunes.
- Guy Gardner as Warrior. Back in the early 2000s that's who Guy was. And even if he wasn't in the JL as Warrior, he was on the short list and had been a promeninent leaguer as a Lantern. Plus, visually, it's an intersting design.
- Tomorrow Woman. A fan favorite with the ability to fly that could have fitted in any group fight.
- Hitman. Still in the 90s and one of the most memorable (I think ?) small character written in that era. He was the antithesis of your regulard superhero. Basically a telepathic hitman with x-ray vision. For the record, he was interviewd by the JL when they reformed in the Morrison-Waid-Porter era. If Nemesis, a litteral spy and killer who was never in any JL team in the comics can get in, so does Tommy.
Again, keep in mind that they had half the JSA on that satellite. And they let in guys like Blue Devil, Sandy the Golden Boy, Stripes and Crimson Avenger. These are great, but hardly popular or memorable characters. And I would have had any or most of the characters listed above instead.