The team's first appearance in The Brave and the Bold in 1960 neglected to include an origin, something issue #9 of the Justice League of America (in 1962) finally resolved - or did it?
Jump all the way to 1977 for the team's real origin, in one of my all-time favorite issues of the JLA.
Writer Steve Englehart's stay at DC Comics was short but stunning as he crafted some of the all-time best stories for both the JLA and Batman (in Detective Comics).
This issue was a love letter to fans of DC's Silver Age, because it managed to guest star almost every hero in DC's comics at the time.
One must assume that artist Dick Dillin (a vastly-underrated work horse who turned in an amazing 12 years drawing the JLA) must've fainted when he read the script, loaded with every hero under the sun circa 1959!
The story has the Martian Manhunter revealing the true origin of the team - and the reason why it was kept a secret. It follows an alien attack on the Earth that draws the attention of - well, everyone.
To be specific: Superman, Batman, Robin, Wonder Woman, the Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman, the Martian Manhunter, the Blackhawks, the Challengers of the Unknown, Congorilla, Robotman, Plastic Man, the Vigilante, Rex the Wonder Dog, Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen!
They split into teams to search for the menace - and the story that unfolds is both surprising and touching (and we'll not spoil it here).
Doing a retcon like this is a tricky bit of business, but Englehart was a master of such tales - and the whole issue is just a delight for long-time fans.
And here we'll stop with the origins of the JLA. There would be more updates in the future, spinning out of the Crisis on Infinite Earths series and later reality-changing events, until the "New 52" tossed it all out for yet another fresh start.
But this is "my" origin for the JLA - a story with heart and humor and heroes aplenty!
Grade: A+
-----------------
4 comments:
I'm enjoying these old Justice League reviews. I didn't read them back then. Did you happen to catch the Steve Bissette's interview on YT?
https://youtu.be/1yt860Ow10M
Man I LOVED Steve Engelhart's run on JLA. He brought to the team a hefty amount of adventure, drama, characterization,and fun. I especially enjoyed his take on Superman (and his place within the League).
Any chance you can do a review on the Englehart Detective and Green Lantern runs? Love to read them!
El Vox - I missed it - thanks for the link!
Mr. Brooks - Glad to review those issues, though I have a few others in line. Bear with me!
I love that issue. The only way it could have been better is if it has been subtitled "The Secret Origin of the World's Greatest Team!".
Post a Comment