skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Watch where you're going, Superman! Think first, fly and punch later!
The Story: "Indestructible Creatures of Nightmare Island!" by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky, and Bernard Sachs. Ambitious--but woefully misguided--philosopher Andrew Helm creates a machine which will affect the conscience of every person on Earth to insure World Peace.
Of course, it all goes wrong, and it creates chaos instead! The JLA, also of course, gets involved.
Roll Call: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Flash, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, Green Arrow, Atom, Hawkman
Notable Moments: Features historical cameos by Moses, Christ, Confucius, Mohammed, and Buddha, who were briefly considered to get their own Showcase tryout.
Some classic DC villains show up, like Captain Cold, The Shark, Mirror Master, and the Penguin. And the letters page informs us that Hawkman "has all earthly knowledge implanted in his brain." Good to know!
Ah, the classic 80-Page Giants...
The stories: "Starro the Conqueror!"(B&B #28), "Case of the Stolen Super-Powers"(B&B #30), and "When Gravity Went Wild!"(JLA #5) by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky, and Bernard Sachs.
Roll Call: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Flash, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, Green Arrow
Notable Moments: When I first came across these all-reprint issues, I assumed they were placeholders in the regular series to give Fox, Sekowsky, et al, time to catch up. But closer examination reveals these 80-Page Giants came out the same month as one of the regular issues--kids got two issues of the JLA in one month! Sa-weet!
This ad ran in JLA #40, promoting JLA #39, which will show up tomorrow. This is the rare ad that promotes a previous issue of the title the ad ran in.
Like all DC ads of the time, it was produced--beautifully--by in-house designer Ira Schnapp.
All I know is, there better be some damn JLAers in this issue...
The story: "Crisis on Earth-A!" by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky, and Bernard Sachs. The JSAers defeat the evil JLA rather easily, so Johnny Thunder from Earth-Jackass has the Thunderbolt create several creatures to try and beat the JSA, which doesn't work either!
Johnny Thunder concedes defeat and has the T-Bolt turn time back so he never even heard of him! So, basically, the whole thing never happened. Sorry you wasted your twenty-four cents, kids!
Roll Call: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Flash, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, Green Arrow, Atom, and Hawkman all appear in one panel at the end of the story
Notable Moments: What a strange two issues! Maybe they were testing the sellability of a new JSA comic. And apparently, Johnny Thunder's T-Bolt can do anything, at any time, at least according to Gardner Fox.
By the way, I love Sekowsky's Evil Flash...
Where the heck is my Justice League?!?
The story: "Earth--Without a Justice League!" by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky, and Bernard Sachs. The Earth-One Johnny Thunder--who's even a bigger jerk than Snapper Carr--commands the Thunderbolt to rid Earth-One of superheroes, so he goes back and time and does just that. Done and done!
The JSA tries to impersonate the JLA and defeat Johnny and his Thunderbolt, but it doesn't work and the evil Johnny creates a new JLA, made up of bad guys! To be continued!
Roll Call: No JLAers appear in this issue at all, only JSA members Atom, Dr.Fate, Flash, Green Lantern, Hawkman, and Mr. Terrific!
Notable Moments: The sequence where the Thunderbolt prevents the creation of the various Justice Leaguers is classic--why didn't half the supervillains of the world think of this? And the Batman sequence is especially wild:
...I love Sekowsky's gloss on the Bob Kane Batman, and Bats' thought-balloon in the second panel is so hysterically deadpan I can't tell whether Fox was trying to be funny or playing it totally straight.
One of my all-time favorite issues of the JLA!
The story: "The Case of the Disabled Justice League!" by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky, and Bernard Sachs. Some of the JLAers stage a mock battle with a giant alien to entertain some handicapped children.
While battling, they find themselves handicapped--Superman goes blind, Hawkman develops asthma, etc. They learn to overcome their handicaps to face several other attacks. Turns out its all a plot of the evil Brainstorm, who ends up controlling them with his mind powers. The other Leaguers show up and help defeat them and then Brainstorm.
Roll Call: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Flash, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, Green Arrow, Atom, Hawkman
Notable Moments: This issue ends, of course, with the handicapped kids learning that since the JLA overcame their handicaps, they can too! Flash then tells them that this case was very similar to an adventure the JSA had(in All-Star Comics #27), and they make the same pledge the JSAers did:
...sure, this story is about as subtle as getting whacked by a two by four, but its heart is so firmly in the right place that it doesn't matter.
This story was reprinted in the classic Super Friends treasury comic, and that's where I first read it--a perfect story to represent the inherent goodness and decency of the Justice League of America.
Having spent some time in my life having to learn to draw accurate folds in clothes so they look like real garments, I feel for Sekowsky having to draw a cover like this--Fold City!
The story: "Battle Against the Bodiless Uniforms" by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky, and Bernard Sachs. The Demons Three--Abenegazar, Rath, and Ghast are back!
To get themselves free from the prison they were left in(JLA #11), they mystically take control of some of the JLA's costumes and use them to create duplicates of some of the JLA's villains(what??).
Roll Call: Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Flash, Green Lantern
Notable Moments: There's a really dynamic sequence with Aquaman fighting a creature named Dagon, ending with this striking panel:
...wham-o!
Of all the various Batman villains the Demons Three had to choose from, they pick Killer Moth?
You generally didn't--and still don't--see a lot of white on comic covers, and I always thought it frequently made for a nice cover.
The story: "Deadly Dreams of Doctor Destiny!" by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky, and Bernard Sachs. Several JLAers have strange dreams where they are stuck with odd accessories, like a metal face mask or a mysterious ring--and then they are defeated by some of their foes. I wonder if this is a plot by the nefarious Dr.Destiny?
Roll Call: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Atom, Hawkman
Notable Moments: The first time the Joker showed up in the pages of the JLA; Sekowsky makes him look paunchy and old--not exactly terrifying.
I always liked Dr.Destiny; he seemed like a great villain for the all-powerful JLA, even if he still is just a regular guy in prison greys.
Once again, Superman and Hawkman get the lion's share of the cover. Hmm...
The story: "Enemy From the Timeless World!" by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky, and Bernard Sachs. Some of the JLA are unable to get into the Secret Sanctuary because a strange barrier is blocking the entrance!
That barrier was made by a man from the future, who puts the remaining JLAers through a series of death-traps to test them. When they succeed in beating the traps, they are told that a group of future men have gone into the past to have them fight the Alien-Ator, who is trying to take them over!
Roll Call: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Flash, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, Green Arrow, Atom, Hawkman
Notable Moments: I've only explained about a third of this issue's plot, I bet Fox and Schwartz needed a flow chart to follow it all.
As I've said before, Sekowsky drew great aliens. It must have been tough coming up with new designs for the approximately fifteen-hundred new alien races Fox came up with during their run.
Hawkman and Superman learn a lot about each other in this issue. Welcome to the JLA, Carter!
The story: "Attack of the Star-Bolt Warrior!" by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky, and Bernard Sachs. The debut of a new villain, the goofily-attired Brainstorm, who forces the JLA--or some of it, at least--to watch as he executes Green Lantern for the murder of this brother!
Roll Call: Superman, Batman, Flash, Green Lantern, Atom, Hawkman
Notable Moments: Brainstorm debuts in what will be the first of many appearances in the DCU.
I think Fox felt a lot more comfortable writing Hawkman, since he appeared a lot in subsequent issues, much moreso than a lot of the older members.
The letters page header changes again. Atom is still not re-drawn, but Hawkman has been added, by what looks like Murphy Anderson:
...it's getting crowded in there!
Hawkman joins the JLA!
The story: "Riddle of the Runaway Room!" by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky, and Bernard Sachs. Two-bit crook Joe Parry finds a device that came from outer space which pretty much creates anything one asks of it. He tries to commit crimes with it which gets the JLA involved. Luckily new member Hawkman saves the day!
Roll Call: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Flash, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, Green Arrow, Atom, and new member Hawkman!
Notable Moments: The JLA has already decided to induct Hawkman by the time the issue opens, so we are spared Flash's tiresome proposal of Adam Strange as the new member.
There's a charming-in-its-out-of-date-ness scene where the Atom has to carefully explain to Hawkgirl why Hawkman is being invited to join, but not her. She cheerfully says its ok because, since Hawkman is the leader of their team, it counts as a honor for both of them. Now go home and bake some cookies, Shayera! You know what they say--tie a woman to the bed with just enough room to get to the Absorbascon.
I would argue that with this issue, the JLA really was the cream of the crop of the DCU--each member had his own book(s) or strip, and each of them were iconic in their own way. The membership at this point would stay consistent for the next forty issues or so.
Nothing against future members Black Canary, Elongated Man, Red Tornado, Hawkgirl, Zatanna, and Firestorm, but I think by the time the JLA got to them, the JLA itself was legendary in the DCU, and by adding a new member, the team bestowed prestige upon the newly-chosen hero, not the other way around.
Part Two of the second JLA/JSA crossover!
The story: "The Most Dangerous Earth of All!" by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky, and Bernard Sachs. The JSA fights the Crime Syndicate, but is tricked by them and they get transported to Earth-Three. So the JLA then goes to Earth-Two, and defeats them there.
Realizing they can't return them to their homeworld, Green Lantern uses his ring to place them in an inter-dimensional prison bubble, all alone, covered in warnings to potential visitors(?). When last we see them, they have no water, no food, no beds...the five of them are just in a small bubble. This would inspire the later Marvel series Crime Syndicate Zombies.
Roll Call: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern
Notable Moments: The JLA and JSA barely interact in this story; in fact they only share a few panels together, and most of those are on view-screens, ala Kirk and Khan in Star Trek II.
The JSA is back!
The story: "Crisis on Earth-Three!" by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky, and Bernard Sachs. We are introduced to the Crime Syndicate and the concept of Earth-Three, a world where all the major events of our Earth are different--Abe Lincoln shot Pres. John Wilkes Booth, England won freedom from the United States, etc.--and there are no superheroes, only villains!
The Crime Syndicate and the JLA square off twice, once on Earth-One, where the JLA wins, and once on Earth-Three, where the Crime Syndicate wins. Since they are evenly matched, they decided to fight on neutral ground--Earth-Two! When the bad guys discover that world has superheroes, they decide to take them on instead!
Roll Call: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern
Notable Moments: The JSA returns in what will be a yearly event--the JLA/JSA team-up, one of Fox and Schwartz's most ingenious plot devices.
The Crime Syndicate was another neat idea, though I never understood why there wasn't an evil duplicate of Aquaman. Hmmph.
One of the best, goofiest JLA covers, ever. I saw Hembeck do a repro of this in one of his books long before I saw the actual comic, and it made me want it so bad.
The story: "The Case of the Forbidden Super-Powers!" by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky, and Bernard Sachs. The villainous (and unfortunately-named) Headmaster Mind creates a device causes natural disasters whenever the JLA uses their powers.
He enlists the Top, Matter Master, and the Tattooed Man(who now has his own show on TLC, I think), and when Batman and Green Arrow--who of course have no super powers--try to defeat them, it inspires the rest of the JLA to do the same, just without using their powers.
The cover is inspired by the moment in the story when the U.N. issues an injunction against the JLA from using their powers, so the JLA does what any group of masked heroes would do--form a picket-line outside the building!
Roll Call: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Flash, Green Lantern, Green Arrow, The Atom
Notable Moments: Martian Manhunter does not appear, or is even mentioned, at all in this story.
Again, Aquaman takes a fairly substantial role. Nice.
Great, 50s sci-fi movie poster-ish cover!
The story: "The 'I' Who Defeated the Justice League!" by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky, and Bernard Sachs. An inter-galactic being simply named "I" sends anonymous letters to members of the JLA to draw them out and defeat them, since he discovers their success as a team is draining his life force(huh?).
Snapper Carr figures out(yeah, ahead of Batman) that if they use the handy Amazo, residing in their sanctuary's trophy room, they can overload "I" and defeat him. Ginchy!
Roll Call: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Flash, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, Green Arrow, The Atom
Notable Moments: There's a giant full-page illustration(which Sekowsky didn't do much) of the JLA beating the circuits out of Amazo, which is fun.
Aquaman gets a fairly big role in this story. I'm always happy about that.
Despero is back!
The story: "Four Worlds to Conquer!" by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky, and Bernard Sachs. Despero is Back! Oh, wait, I said that...
Despero escapes the prison he was put in(at the end of JLA #1) and uses a ray to accelerate the age of some JLA members, while trapping the rest in some deathtraps. He then poses as an aged Superman and sneaks into the Secret Sanctuary, but Wonder Woman sees through that and captures him.
Roll Call: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Flash, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, Green Arrow, The Atom
Notable Moments: Sekowsky excelled at drawing older people, so seeing old versions of some of the JLA is fun.
The story ends with Despero standing off to the side as the JLA decides what to do with him. How humiliating.
One of the earliest JLA back issues I ever bought--as you can see, this book is Near Mint. Ok, Near Mint-minus.
The story: "Outcasts of Infinity!" by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky, and Bernard Sachs. The JLA(well, some of them) get involved with a fight on the alien planet known as Sfarl. There, a bad guy with a lot of weapons named Kraad uses a beam to disintigrate the JLAers(!!), but Atom uses GL's ring to reconsitute them, albeit all mixed together. And Ray is the scientist on the team?
Roll Call: Superman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, The Atom
Notable Moments: This is the first issue to feature just a small fraction of the JLA's membership, something that would continue to grow as did the team's roster.
Like I said at the top, I bought this copy simply because I could afford it--but even though it was already pretty beat up, I had to make things worse by letting a piece of tape rip off the cover(see by Diana's lasso), marker-color some pages, and fill out a form for a collector's book of stamps. Huh?
The three little Sfarlians who start the ball rolling are some of Sekowsky's best-designed aliens. Since they're not the bad guys in the story, they're given a cute look, as distinctive as any big Hollywood movie:
...somebody call Rankin-Bass!
One of my favorite covers. Even though they're under a bad-guy's control, I always like the Heroes Running At The Reader covers.
The story: "Decoy Missions of the Justice League!" by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky, and Bernard Sachs. Kanjar Ro and his pointy face is back, in some crazy scheme involving his aural form, and trapping the JLA's aural forms, which traps their real bodies...luckily, always-a-bridesmaid Adam Strange guest-stars and helps the JLA defeat Ro.
Roll Call: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Flash, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, Green Arrow, The Atom
Notable Moments: Even though I understood why Adam Strange never joined, I always enjoyed his guest-appearances in the JLA.
The letters page features missives from Roy Thomas(him again!) and one Dave Cockrum, who suggests a new character named "Nightcrawler" joins the JLA. No, I made that up.
Even though she's sorta goofy looking, I always liked the Queen Bee. Super-villainesses were rare enough, but one powerful enough to take on the whole JLA?
Plus she was kinda hot. Have I said too much?
The story: "Drones of the Queen Bee!" by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky, and Bernard Sachs. The Queen Bee uses her powers to force the JLA to procure elements that when combined will produce an immortality serum for her!
Roll Call: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Flash, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, Green Arrow, The Atom
Notable Moments: Even though Superman, Batman, and Aquaman are listed in the Roll Call, they play no part in this story and show up only as the very end.
Also, the Atom misses the story entirely, because he was off having another adventure in his own book(appearing in The Atom #8, Julius Schwartz helpfully informs us), so the issue ends with Atom about to regale the JLA with the story. Weird!
Part Two of the exciting first JLA/JSA crossover!
The story: "Crisis on Earth-Two!" by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky, and Bernard Sachs. The JLA and the JSA break up into teams and take on the villains of two worlds, but when they capture them all, a magical trap sprung by Felix Faust ensnares them all in jail cells floating in space!
With the help of the two Flashes and Green Lanterns, they escape and dole out another around of super-team butt-kicking, this time defeating the bad guys for good. As they stand around six beaten, unconcious bad guys, the two teams promise to stay in touch.
Roll Call: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Flash, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, Green Arrow, The Atom
Notable Moments: After the JLA and JSA break free, they get the drop on the bad guys and all the fighting is condensed into two beautifully crafted, clean pages:
...some of Mike Sekowsky's best work, I think. Simple yet exciting as heck.
I bought this back issue at the aforementioned "El Dorado" comic book store, sometime around 1983 or so. Yet I still went ahead and filled out the coupon for the "Task Force" toy soliders kit(only 69 cents!), as if the offer was still valid twenty years later. Kids are so literal.
