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Justice League International

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Justice League International
Cover to Justice League #1. Art by Kevin Maguire
Group publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceJustice League #1 (May 1987)
Created byKeith Giffen
J.M. DeMatteis
In-story information
Type of organizationTeam
Roster
See: List of Justice League members
Justice League International
Series publication information
ScheduleMonthly
FormatOngoing series
Genre
Publication date(Justice League)
May – October 1987
(Justice League International (vol. 1))
November 1987 – April 1989
(Justice League America)
May 1989 – August 1996
(Justice League International (vol. 2))
June 1993 – September 1994
Number of issuesJustice League:
6
Justice League International (vol. 1):
19
Justice League America:
94
Justice League International (vol. 2):
17
Creative team
Writer(s)Keith Giffen
J.M. DeMatteis
Artist(s)Kevin Maguire
Creator(s)Keith Giffen
J.M. DeMatteis
Collected editions
Volume 1ISBN 1-4012-1666-8
Volume 2ISBN 1-4012-1826-1
Volume 3ISBN 1-4012-1941-1
Volume 4ISBN 1-4012-2196-3

Justice League International (or JLI for short) is a DC Comics superhero team written by Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis, with art by Kevin Maguire, created in 1987.

Publication history

Writer J.M. DeMatteis was given the Justice League title after finishing out Justice League Detroit. Paired with Keith Giffen and Kevin Maguire he set out to create a "big seven" title similar to the original line up and Grant Morrison's subsequent title. However, Superman was being revamped by John Byrne's reboot while George Perez was handling the relaunched Wonder Woman and Mike Baron was handling his relaunch of The Flash. Aquaman was off limits as well due to the character being in creative limbo for sometime. According to the introduction to the trade paperback of the series, Denny O'Neil took pity on the team and gave them Batman to be used in the series. Editor Andy Helfer (also editor of Green Lantern at the time) suggested using the newer Guy Gardner instead of Hal Jordan. The resulting comedic tone was Giffen's idea and industry-wise, served as heavy competition compared to Marvel's grim and gritty titles. The title would introduce new characterizations to old characters. Guy Gardner was now a loutish hothead and Captain Marvel was no longer a separate personality but retains Billy's personality. Dan Jurgens' Booster Gold series had a more earnest and less greedy and inept character and Black Canary's costume was redesigned and her personality was written as a strong feminist. Dr. Fate's inclusion coincided with DeMatteis and Giffen writing a Dr. Fate series.

Justice League International was created after the 1987 company-wide crossover limited series, Legends, when a new Justice League was formed and given a less America-centric mandate than before. Although the first six issues of the title were simply titled Justice League, they, together with the latter issues when the book is again renamed to Justice League America are counted as well. Another spin-off title Justice League Europe was later renamed to Justice League International (vol. 2) for the last issues of the run.

During this period of time, the membership of the Justice League consisted primarily of then-lesser known heroes such as Blue Beetle, Booster Gold, Mister Miracle, and Guy Gardner. Because of the humorous nature of the series, these characters are still primarily known for being comical in nature, but are extremely identifiable and have a loyal fanbase to the present day. Many of the characters made popular during this era of the Justice League have also regained prominence, particularly Maxwell Lord and Blue Beetle, because of their roles in the limited series The OMAC Project. Guy Gardner co-stars in Green Lantern Corps, Booster Gold stars in Booster Gold and a new Blue Beetle starred in his own self-titled book that lasted 36 issues. Wally West (Flash) continues to star in The Flash. Fire is a regular in Checkmate, Metamorpho is in Batman and the Outsiders (vol. 2), and Power Girl is the chair-person of the Justice Society of America.

Justice League: Breakdowns

"Breakdowns" was a 15-issue crossover between the Justice League America and Justice League Europe titles, changing the tone of both series from a humorous one to a more serious one, and introducing new creative teams to both books. The major events that occurred were the following:

  • Maxwell Lord is initially in a coma from a failed assassination attempt. He is later possessed by JLE foe Dreamslayer of the Extremists. Following the end of the "Breakdowns" saga, Maxwell Lord has no more mental powers, apparently drained completely when possessed by Dreamslayer.
  • The Queen Bee, ruler of the country Bialya, is killed in a coup d'état led by Sumaan Harjavti, the twin brother of the original dictator, Rumaan.
  • Despero awakens and escapes Manga Khan's starship to wreak havoc on New York City, seeking vengeance against the Justice League. A force of the Justice League's best (Martian Manhunter, Power Girl, Fire, Rocket Red, Metamorpho, Flash, Guy Gardner, Major Disaster), along with the Conglomerate (led by Booster Gold) and Lobo, were unable to stop him. Ultimately, it was Kilowog and L-Ron who subdued Despero by transferring L-Ron's consciousness into the cybernetic control collar that remained around Despero's neck.
  • While possessing Maxwell Lord's body, Dreamslayer kidnaps and later murders Mitch Wacky on the island of KooeyKooeyKooey, where the Blue Beetle and Booster Gold previously attempted to open a resort called "Club JLI." Using Lord's persona, Dreamslayer lures a large portion of the Justice League to the island and takes mental control of them, making them the "new Extremists."
  • The Silver Sorceress, one of the former Champions of Angor and Justice League member, dies defeating Dreamslayer. Her gravesite is on the island of KooeyKooeyKooey.
  • The U.N. withdraws its support from the Justice League and it disbands. The Martian Manhunter seemingly takes a leave of absence, although he later re-emerges under the persona of Bloodwynd.

Expansion

The Justice League gets a larger roster as seen in Justice League International #24. Art by Kevin Maguire.

The release of Justice League Spectacular launched the revised Justice League titles under new writers and artists. The Justice League titles expanded to a total of four by the early to mid 1990s: Justice League America (formerly Justice League International), Justice League Europe, Justice League Task Force, and Extreme Justice. Justice League Europe was later retitled to become the second volume of Justice League International.

However, with new writers and artists coming and going into the Justice League titles, there was very little consistency in continuity. The more powerful and recognizable characters such as Superman, Green Lantern (Hal Jordan), Aquaman and Batman came and went in the various titles, replaced by lesser known characters such as Bloodwynd, Maya, Maxima, Nuklon, Obsidian, Tasmanian Devil, and Triumph. Longtime JLI-era characters such as Captain Atom, Martian Manhunter, and Power Girl were revised and revamped repeatedly, with mixed responses from fans.

By the mid to late 1990s, with the commercial success of the series fading, each of the titles were eventually cancelled.

Miniseries

Formerly Known as the Justice League #1 (2003).

In 2003, Giffen, DeMatteis, and Maguire reunited for the six issue miniseries Formerly Known as the Justice League. This depicted Maxwell Lord trying to get the gang back together as The Super Buddies - a Hero-For-Hire group that operated out of a strip mall. 2005 saw second miniseries, I Can't Believe It's Not the Justice League, by the same creative team published in the pages of Justice League Confidential. This one told a story of the characters attempt to rescue Ice from Hell.


Return

Cover art for Justice League: Generation Lost #1. Art by Tony Harris.

Following Blackest Night, DC launched two alternating 26-issue biweekly comic book limited series, one stemming directly from the storyline, Brightest Day and the other being Justice League: Generation Lost, written by Keith Giffen and Judd Winick. This second series features Captain Atom, Booster Gold, Blue Beetle, Fire, Ice and Rocket Red and will, essentially, see the return of Justice League International, as explained by Giffen:[1]

In all of my years in comics, I have never experienced anything like the complete 180 this project took once the brainstorming kicked off. Like I said, when we started the writers' summit, the Justice League... hell, why mince words... Justice League International was not on the table. Then someone, and I really wish I remembered exactly who, stirred the JLI into the mix.

Collected editions

In 1989, the first seven issues of this series were collected in a trade paperback called Justice League: A New Beginning (ISBN 0930289404) and issues #8-12 in the follow up Justice League International: The Secret Gospel of Maxwell Lord in 1992 (ISBN 1563890399).

In 2008, DC announced plans to collect the early years of the JLI as individual volumes, as hardcovers and later on as trade paperbacks:

  • Justice League International: Volume 1 (collects Justice League International #1-7, 192 pages, hardcover, March 2008, DC Comics, ISBN 1401216668,[2] Titan Books, ISBN 184576787X; softcover, DC Comics, March 2009,[3] Titan Books, May 2009, ISBN 1845767888)
  • Justice League International: Volume 2 (collects Justice League International #8-13, Justice League Annual #1, and Suicide Squad #13, 192 pages, hardcover, DC Comics, August 2008, ISBN 1401218261,[4] Titan Books, September 2008, ISBN 1845768868; softcover, DC Comics, July 2009, ISBN # 9781401220204[5])
  • Justice League International: Volume 3 (collects Justice League International #14-22, 224 pages, hardcover, DC Comics, November 2008, ISBN 1401219411,[6] Titan Books, January 2009, ISBN 1845769880; softcover, DC Comics, November 2009, ISBN 9781401219413[7])
  • Justice League International: Volume 4 (collects Justice League International #23-25 & Justice League America #26-30, 192 pages, hardcover, DC Comics, March 2009, ISBN 1401221963,[8] Titan Books, May 2009, ISBN 1848561830; softcover, DC Comics, expected March 2010[9])

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Rogers, Vaneta (January 12, 2010). "JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL Returns in "GENERATION LOST"". Newsarama. Retrieved January 12, 2010.
  2. ^ Volume 1 hardcover at DC
  3. ^ Volume 1 softcover at DC
  4. ^ Volume 2 hardcover at DC
  5. ^ Volume 2 softcover at DC
  6. ^ Volume 3 hardcover at DC
  7. ^ Volume 3 softcover at DC
  8. ^ Volume 4 hardcover at DC
  9. ^ Volume 4 softcover at DC

References


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