I.VI JUSTICE LEAGUE

JUSTICE LEAGUE (2012)

Logline
When a malicious alien force invades planet Earth, the world’s greatest heroes must unite against this otherworldly threat or face the possible demise of the human race.

Source Material

JLA: Terror Incognita

Plot Summary
Detectives John Jones and Larry Lance are off duty having a drink in a quiet bar when they are approached by a man. He introduces himself as Ma’alefa’ak, John’s brother, before shapeshifting into his natural martian form. He kills Lance and informs his brother he’s come to Earth to rid the planet of humanity and make way for the coming ‘Apokolips’. He offers John the chance to join him but he refuses, vowing to protect Earth after what he did to their home world of Mars. Disappointed in John’s decision, Ma’alefa’ak teleports away via boom tube. John holds Larry as he draws his final breath.

Police scientist Barry Allen arrives at the scene and John tells him what happened and how they need to prepare for a full-scale invasion. Dinah Lances arrives shortly after. She overpowers several police officers on scene, pushing past them to get to her father’s body. She breaks down in tears and is held tightly by her father’s partner. He explains the situation regarding Ma’alefa’ak's impending invasion, and reveals that he knows her secret identity as Black Canary. Once John, Dinah and Barry are all acquainted, Dinah mentions someone else who could be useful.

Meanwhile in Gotham City, Batman investigates a fire that breaks out in a warehouse down by the docks. He assumes known criminal Garfield Lynns aka Firefly is be behind it. However, he finds that the fire rapidly stopped because the air itself had been manipulated on a molecular level. This lines up with the strange atmospheric occurrences that have been happening around the world where fires have been put out due to seemingly natural phenomenons.

In Atlantis, Vulko begins to notice the water’s climate and temperature drastically change which must be influenced by the going’s on above the surface. Aquaman journeys to the surface to investigate, as the changing temperature threatens not just Atlantis, but all sea life. Atlanna rules Atlantis in his stead. In Metropolis, Rudy Jones, a disgruntled employee of S.T.A.R. Labs has gotten himself doused in radioactive chemicals, turning him into a parasite that absorbs the life energy of beings around him. Clark arrives as Superman and subdues him.

Bruce sits in the cave trying to deduce what’s causing the atmospheric phenomena. As he’s leaving the cave as Batman, he's telepathically contacted by John Jones, telling him to meet at the Georgetown Observatory. Superman and Aquaman receive the same telepathic message.On the planet Apokolips, Ma’alefa’ak is briefed by DeSaad on the terms of his servitude following his conquering of Earth. Ma’alefa’ak agrees, assembling an army of white martians.

Superman arrives at the observatory and is greeted by The Flash who is in awe of him. Aquaman arrives shortly after. John Jones enters with Black Canary by his side. He introduces himself and begins to tell them why they’re here. The Flash interrupts, saying they’re still missing one. Black Canary smiles and says otherwise. Batman makes himself known.

With everyone now present, John reveals his true identity as J’onn J'onzz, a shapeshifting martian from the planet Mars. Batman’s hand tightens around a batarang, Aquaman’s around his trident. He reveals to them that he was part of his planet’s law enforcement as a Manhunter. He had a wife, M’yri’ah, daughter, K’hym, and brother, Ma’alefa’ak. Ma’alefa’ak was stripped of his martian ability of telepathy by the Council of Mars for crimes he committed.

Seeking revenge, Ma’alefa’ak engineered a virus known as H'ronmeer's Curse to commit full-scale genocide against his own people. The virus reacts to the telepathic energy martians use to communicate with one another. It consumed the entire martian race causing them psychosomatic stress so intense their minds couldn't cope. Being a highly trained and disciplined Manhunter, J'onn is was able to resist his natural telepathic ability, but could only watch as his entire race succumbed to the virus, including his family. The trauma of the event nearly shattered his psych. J’onn wondered across his desolate home planet for years before he was transported to Earth by Dr. Saul Erdel, a scientist who developed a machine to probe the galaxy for extraterrestrial life. A beam of energy transported him to Earth. Once on Earth, he created the human identity of Detective John Jones.

He explains the threat Ma’alefa’ak poses to Earth, and that he alone can’t hope to stop the invasion. Superman offers his condolences to J’onn. He knows what it’s like to feel alone as his home planet was destroyed. He agrees to help. Aquaman also agrees to help, knowing that if Ma’alefa’ak isn’t stopped then Atlantis would be threatened. He says he knows someone else who could help. The Flash, Black Canary, Superman and Aquaman are all on board, but Batman remains skeptical. With J’onn and Superman being from other planets, Batman isn’t particularly trusting of them, especially J’onn, as it’s his own brother leading the invasion, and for all he knows J’onn could be a scout. Black Canary tries to convince Batman to trust J’onn as he’s been her father’s partner for 25 years. She's known him most of her life. They argue about his unwillingness to trust anybody. She uses his relationship with Dick Grayson as an example and Batman leaves.

Aquaman goes to Themyscira to recruit Diana Prince. She dons her battle armour, along with a sword, shield, and lasso, and leaves the island with Aquaman. They don’t go by sea though. They leave in Themyscira’s invisible jet.

Batman returns to his cave and continues to study the weather anomalies. He deduces that Ma’alefa’ak must have a cloaked ship orbiting the Earth, manipulating the atmosphere to assist in a swift invasion. Recalling the warehouse fire that occurred a few days earlier, Batman concludes that the martians must have a weakness to fire..

Aquaman and Wonder Woman meet back up with Superman, Martian Manhunter, Black Canary and The Flash at the observatory. Using his abilities, Martian Manhunter telepathically links their minds with each other so they can effectively communicate over vast distances. The six of them split up as boom tubes begin opening all around the world, unleashing waves of martians.

The Flash and Black Canary team up, whilst Superman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and Martian Manhunter fight off waves of martians individually. Superman is able combat them effectively. Wonder Woman’s prowess as a fierce warrior has her prevail against the martian forces. Aquaman uses his telepathic connection to sea life to assist with taking down martians. J’onn confronts his brother, and after being emotionally manipulated by him, is captured. One by one, each of the heroes are captured and detained by Ma’alefa’ak’s overwhelming forces, except for Black Canary and The Flash. Black Canary’s hand to hand combat, and The Flash’s super-speed make for an effective combination against the martians, though even they begin to get overwhelmed. When the pair get telepathic messages from the others that they’ve been captured, they retreat to Wayne Manor on Black Canary’s advice.

They are greeted by Alfred, shotgun in hand, at the front door. He gestures them inside and they head for the Batcave. Black Canary and The Flash, who’s now aware of Bruce’s identity as Batman, tell Bruce what happened to the others. Bruce informs them of the martians vulnerability to fire and the ship that’s orbiting the planet. They devise a plan to stop the invasion. Dinah suggests she and Bruce use his Batplane to fly into orbit and destroy Ma’alefa’ak’s ship, but Batman shoots down the idea as being too risky, they’ll be spotted. The Flash suggests using Diana’s invisible jet which is still at the observatory however she’s the only person able to pilot it.

Batman and Black Canary create a diversion which gets Ma’alefa’ak’s attention. With Ma’alefa’ak distracted, The Flash is able to free Wonder Woman, who quickly makes her way back to the observatory, and Superman, who is able to fight off several martians and free Aquaman and J’onn in the process. Wonder Woman flies her jet up to Ma’alefa’ak’s orbiting ship and destroys it. With the ship destroyed, the martian’s vulnerability to fire can be exploited. Superman informs Lana Lang about the martians weakness to fire and she broadcasts the information worldwide via The Daily Planet informing the general populace of the martians. People are able to protect themselves.

Ma’alefa’ak confronts J’onn. His martian army try to escape the fire by heading towards coastal areas but are attacked by Atlanteans. Enraged, Ma’alefa’ak accuses J’onn of betraying him. J’onn reminds him of what he did on Mars all those years ago. Refusing to be captured, he tries to use a boom tube to escape. J’onn is able to physically detain him but can’t bring himself to kill the last of his kind, let alone his brother. The heroes use their skills and abilities to destroy the last of the martians and put out any remaining fires. The Flash using his super speed and Superman with his freeze breath.

With the threat subdued, the seven heroes have a vote on what to do with Ma’alefa’ak. Wonder Woman, Aquaman and Black Canary believe he should be put to death. Superman, Batman, and The Flash say he should be locked up. Compromising, they agree to J’onn performing a psychic lobotomy on him, erasing his memories and having him take on a humanoid form. He reprograms his brain with false memories, and has him join the human race to make a positive contribution to society. The heroes all go their seperate ways. Superman returns to Metropolis after visiting his folks in Kansas. Batman and Black Canary to Gotham. Aquaman to Atlantis. Wonder Woman to Themyscira. The Flash to Keystone City. J’onn back to Mars. But they all agree if Earth faces another colossal threat they’ll reunite. They’ll reunite as The Justice League.

Post Credits
DeSaad informs Darkseid that Ma’alefa’ak’s attack on Earth proved unsuccessful, Darkseid’s eyes glow red..

Cast
Josh Brolin (Avengers: Infinity War) … Bruce Wayne aka Batman
Lee Pace (Guardians of the Galaxy) … Clark Kent / Kal-El aka Superman
Chris Evans (Captain America: The First Avenger) … Barry Allen aka The Flash
Scarlett Johansson (Iron Man 2) … Dinah Drake aka Black Canary

Chris Hemsworth (Thor) ... Arthur Curry / Orin aka Aquaman
Jaimie Alexander (Thor) … Diana Prince aka Wonder Woman
Djimon Hounsou (Guardians of the Galaxy) … J’onn J’onzz / John Jones aka Martian Manhunter
Peter Mensah (The Incredible Hulk) … Ma’alefa’ak J'onzz

Anthony Hopkins (Thor) … Alfred Pennyworth
Gwyneth Paltrow (Iron Man) … Lana Lang
Forest Whittaker (Black Panther) … Nuidis Vulko
Stanley Tucci (Captain America: The First Avenger) … Dr. Saul Erdel

Alexis Denisoff (The Avengers) … Det. Lance
Ariana Greenblatt (Avengers: Infinity War) … K'hym J’onzz
Ameenah Kaplan (Avengers: Infinity War) … M'yri'ah J’onzz
Michael Cerveris (Ant-Man and the Wasp) … Rudy Jones aka Parasite
Jenny Agutter (Captain America: The Winter Soldier) … Martha Kent
Robert Redford (Captain America: The Winter Soldier) … Jonathan Kent