Justice League: Legends Return

Justice League: Legends Return is an American animated film produced by Warner Bros. Animation and distributed by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. The film is directed by Sam Liu, with scripting by Alan Burnett. It is the 34th film in the DC Universe Animated Original Movies series, and the 13th installment of the DC Animated Movie Universe. It is based on the Smallville Episode (Absolute justice). The film was released for downloading on January 21, 2020 and was released on Blu-ray and DVD formats on February 4, 2020.

The film depicts The Justice League Meeting a team of superheroes, called the Justice Society of America, who operated during the 1980's. The Justice Society is being hunted by an assassin  known as the Icicle,  Icicle was recruited by the organization Checkmate, which is being headed by Agent Maxwell Lord. The Justice League team up with the Justice Society members to battle Icicle and Maxwell Lord.

Plot
As Steve Trevor tries to get in touch with Diana Prince, He finds Himself cornered in an alleyway by a man named Sylvester Pemberton, who is wielding a staff that has the ability to control light. As Sylvester attempts to inform Steve that he is a friend, an assassin known as Icicle attacks and Sylvester is ultimately killed. Batman and Superman go to the hospital to investigate the truth behind Sylvester, which ultimately leads them to the Daily Planet archive room. There, Clark and the Rest of the league discover documents and an old 16 mm film that identifies Sylvester as part of a team of "criminals", which includes: Carter Hall, Kent Nelson, Jay Garrick, Alan Scott, Ted Grant, Rex Tyler, Charles McNider, Wesley Dodds, and Al Pratt. In the documentary footage, Sylvester and the rest of his team are systematically arrested, but because of allegations of jury tampering, falsified evidence, and lack of connection all of the individuals are released.

While The league is looking into the criminal group, Icicle tracks down and kills Wesley Dodds. Following Dodds' death, Clark tracks down Carter Hall, believing him to be Icicle's next target. Clark finds Hall at a museum; he also finds Kent Nelson, who is mumbling incoherently to himself and clutching onto a small bag. Using his X-ray vision, Clark sees a helmet inside the bag, which turns on its own and looks back at Clark. Having enough of Clark's questions, Carter sends Clark on his way. Meanwhile, Cyborg sends Green Lantern and Flash after Sylvester's staff. Unfortunately, high school sophomore Courtney Whitmore has already taken the staff. Before They can get the staff from her, Kent shows up and uses the staff to teleport both him and Courtney back to the museum. Here, it is revealed that Sylvester's team was actually a group of superheroes led by Carter Hall, who went by the codename "Hawkman". The group called themselves the "Justice Society of America". Courtney, who was Sylvester's protégé, Kent and Carter band together to find Sylvester's killer. As such, Kent places the Helmet of Nabu back on and transforms into "Doctor Fate".

After investigating Dodds and Pemberton's deaths, Clark, Bruce, and Dinan believe they have located the killer at the psychiatric ward of Metropolis General Hospital. When they arrive, they find the individual, Joar Mahkent, in a vegetative state and Doctor Fate reading his mind. Doctor Fate then sees the league's fate and teleports Them and himself to the museum. Meanwhile, the real assassin is revealed to be Joar's son, who is killing the Justice Society members for putting his father in that vegetative state decades earlier. Hired by an organization known as Checkmate, and instructed by Agent Maxwell Lord, Icicle sets his sights on Courtney. Shazam tracks down Courtney—who calls herself "Stargirl"—and realizes that she is setting herself up as bait to lure Icicle out. Icicle arrives, but Shazam interrupts Courtney's plan. As a result, Hawkman grabs Shazam, throws him through the Hall of Justice roof, and then threatens to do worse if The League interferes again.

Meanwhile, Checkmate sends Lois Lane an anonymous package that provides her with the truth about the Justice Society. Clark, Bruce and Diana awakens at the museum, where Doctor Fate informs them that their fate is to lead a new generation of superheroes, and that they will one day conquer there greastest enemies. Green Lantern, Flash, cyborg, Shazam, Aquaman, Hawkman (Katar Hol), and Martian Manhunter show up at the museum to rescue the others, unaware that Hawkman, Doctor Fate, and Stargirl are actually heroes. Banding together, the group splits up into pairs to locate Icicle. While on patrol, Doctor Fate and John Jones are attacked by Icicle. Doctor Fate is Killed, and While John lies unconscious, Icicle steals Doctor Fate's helmet, But is double-crossed by Maxwell Lord who Kills Icicle and  acquires the Helmet's Powers.

The heroes regroup at the hall of Justice, Where Maxwell arrives to kill the rest of the Justice Society and take over the world. At first, The League and The society are having trouble taking down Maxwell and and his new abilities. When John arrives, the group is finally able to defeat maxwell. Afterward, Carter tells Clark that he and Courtney have located the surviving members of the Justice Society, their children, and their protégés in order to build a new team of superheroes for today's generation. Back at the Daily Planet, Lois publishes her article on the Justice Society, revealing them to be a team of superheroes who were lambasted by the government, and falsely imprisoned.

In a post-credits scene, maxwell is transported back to Checkmate, where lex Luthor subsequently kills him after informing Icicle that he was a part of the new Legion of Doom.