1997 was a truly pivotal year for pop culture. It was the year that gave us Buffy the Vampire SlayerOpens in a new tab series and DC Comics’ JLA #1, a new version of the Justice League of AmericaOpens in a new tab, but with writer Grant MorrisonOpens in a new tab at the helm. But it wouldn’t be for another 20 years that these two seminal classics would unite.
Buffy not only gave us Sarah Michelle GellarOpens in a new tab as an ass-kicking icon for the ages, but would forever influence nerd culture for the better. In addition to providing the blueprint for every superhero show you currently love on the CW, Buffy creator Joss Whedon would go on to shape the MCU, and, most recently, to help bring the new Justice League movie to life. This got us to thinking about what Justice League might look like if Whedon had handled the project back in his WB heyday in 1997, and thus was born our latest Nerdist Presents!
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For years, Justice League had been a moribund franchise, with various different titles that no one cared about anymore. Then Morrison brought back the “Big Guns” to the team—SupermanOpens in a new tab, BatmanOpens in a new tab, Wonder WomanOpens in a new tab, FlashOpens in a new tab, Green LanternOpens in a new tab, AquamanOpens in a new tab and the Martian ManhunterOpens in a new tab—and gave their adventures some high-octane big screen flavor, with just a dash of surrealism. The immense popularity of JLA eventually led to the Justice League UnlimitedOpens in a new tab cartoon, and eventually, to the Justice League movie currently headed our way.
Though Justice League isn’t exactly going to take the form of a 1997 WB series, it will undoubtedly have the Joss Whedon touch, as he co-wrote and co-directed the film in company with Zack Snyder. The film hits theaters on November 17, so enjoy our Buffy-fied take in the meantime.
What do you think of our ’90s homage to the world’s greatest superheroes? Be sure to tell us down below in the comments!
Images: Warner Bros
