Read Ebook {PDF EPUB} JLA #47 by The Library. NOTE: With the advent of the New 52, Cosmic Teams as ceased covering the Justice League. The site continues to cover the JSA and Legion, primarily. Eras in Publishing and Continuity. Original/Pre-Crisis (1960–1987) The original Justice League was engineered by editor Julius Schwartz and Golden Age writer Gardner Fox. Schwartz had recently envisioned the new Green Lantern and , and this “Silver Age” of heroes were brought together in the same spirit as their Golden Age counterparts, the Justice Society of America. In 196?, the JLA would meet the JSA. They resided on Earths-One and -Two, respectively. In this era, the team added members only sporadically. Key creators: Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky, Dick Dillin, Denny O’Neil, Gerry Conway, George Pérez. » SERIES: Justice League of America v.1, 261 issues (1960–87) Post-Crisis/New Earth (1986–1996) With the conclusion of Crisis on Infinite Earths , DC's "infinite Earths" were collapsed into one, and the histories for DC's "Big Three"—, , and —was significantly rewritten. Although Superman and Batman were still around at the time of the JLA’s formation, they were no longer founding members. For years, writers struggled to explain these circumstances. Eventually, Batman and Superman were reinserted into continuity (as sort of reserve members). Wonder Woman's post-Crisis history began many years after the formation of the JLA. The post-Crisis boom in popularity led to a broadening of Justice League family to include Justice League Europe and Task Force , and the corresponding swell in membership. Key creators: Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis, Kevin Maguire, Bart Sears, Adam Hughes, Dan Jurgens, Gerard Jones, Chuck Wojtkiewicz. » SERIES: Justice League/Justice League International v.1/Justice League America, 113 issues (1987–96) Justice League Europe/Justice League International v.2 , 68 issues (1989–94) Justice League Quarterly , 17 issues (1990–94) Justice League Task Force , 37 issues (1993–96) Extreme Justice , 18 issues (1995–96) The Big Seven (1997–2006) Many years after the post-Crisis formula began to fail, DC greenlit a fundamental revival of the team based on the original seven members, by Grant Morrison. This was not a reboot, but a re-assembling of the original seven members (two of them now successors to the roles). It was a runaway success and spawned endless mini-series and specials, though no other ongoing series. With each new creative team, new first-time members joined. During this time, the Justice League and Justice League Unlimited cartoons aired, and there were animated-style comics to go with them. With some controversy, the cartoon's founding members were altered to represent better diversity: John Stewart was Green Lantern, and Hawkgirl replaced . Key creators: Grant Morrison, Howard Porter, , Mark Waid, Joe Kelly, Dough Mahnke. » SERIES: JLA , 125 issues (1997–2006) Justice League Adventures , 34 issues (2002–04). Based on the animated series. Justice League Unlimited, 46 issues (2004–08). Based on the animated series. Post-Infinite Crisis (2006-2011) This era rather completed a sort of “mirrored history” of the Justice League. As with Morrison's revival, it was not a total reboot but this Crisis altered the DCU timeline again and restored Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman as founding members. The rebuilt team featured a roster that harkened somewhat back to the 1970s. This concept quickly devolved as DC editors once again mandated that the main three heroes could not appear in JLA due to the circumstances in their solo titles. Regardless, some great storytelling ensued, involving some novel membership rosters. Key creators: Brad Meltzer, Ed Benes, Dwayne McDuffie, James Robinson, Mark Bagley. » SERIES: Justice League of America v.2, 60 issues (2006–11) New 52. In late 2011, the Justice League was chosen to anchor "New 52" reboot of the entire DC Universe. Creators Geoff Johns and Jim Lee introduced a roster designed to maximize attention on certain characters in the DCU, most notably Aquaman, whom Johns revived to much fanfare. The addition of Cyborg instead of the is an example of DC's continuing efforts to include heroes of color across its line. Key creators: Geoff Johns, Jim Lee. » SERIES: Justice League v.2, current (2011) Justice League International v.2, 12 issues (2011) Justice League Dark , current (2011) Justice League United , current (2014) Justice League Comics. Ongoing and Limited Series. Justice League of America, 261 issues + 3 Annuals (1960-1987) Super Friends, 47 issues (1976-81) Justice League (#1-6), becomes Justice League International , v.1 (#7-25), becomes Justice League America (#26-113) + 7 Annuals + 2 Specials (1987-96) + 1 Spectacular Justice League Europe (#1-50), becomes Justice League International v.2 (#51-68) + 5 Annuals (1989-94) Justice League Quarterly , 17 issues (1990- 94) Justice League Task Force , 37 issues (1993-96) Extreme Justice , 18 issues (1995-96) Total Justice , 3-issue limited series (1996) Justice League: Midsummer's Nightmare , 3-issue limited series (1996) JLA , 125 issues (1997–2006) + 4 Annuals + 3 80-Page Giants + 3 Secret Files & Origins JLA: Year One , 12-issue limited series (1998) Justice Leagues , 6-issue limited series (2001) JLA: Black Baptism , 4-issue limited series (2001) JLA: Incarnations , 7-issue limited series (2001-02) Justice League Adventures , 34 issues (2002-04). Based on the animated series. Formerly Known as the Justice League , 6-issue limited series (2003-04) Justice League Unlimited , 46 issues (2004-08). Based on the animated series. Justice League Elite , 12-issue limited series (2004-05) JLA: Classified, 54 issues (2005-08) Justice League of America v.2 (2006-present) Justice League: Cry for Justice, 6-issue limited series (2009) Justice League v.2 (2011–present) Justice League Dark (2011– present) Justice League International v.3, issues (2011–12) Prestige Format Limited Series and One-Shots. These series are printed on thicker, brighter paper. If they are multiple-issue stories, they are sometimes re-released in collected form. Most of these are covered in the Chronology. JLA: A League of One, hard- and softcover graphic novel (2000) JLA/Avengers , 4-issue limited series (2003) JLA: Earth 2 (2000). 96-page hard- and softcover book. Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely. JLA: Foreign Bodies (1999). One-shot. Len Kaminski and Val Semeiks. JLA: Gatekeeper (2001). 3-issue limited series. Timothy Truman. JLA: Gods And Monsters (2001). One-shot. Dan Jolley, Josh Krach & Scott Benefiel. JLA/Haven: Arrival (2001). One-shot. Ashley-Jane Nicolaus & Ariel Olivetti. JLA/Haven: Anathema (2002). One-shot. Ashley-Jane Nicolaus & Ariel Olivetti. JLA: Heaven's Ladder (2000). Oversized one-shot. Mark Waid and Bryan Hitch. JLA/JSA: Virtue & Vice (2002). 96- page hard- and softcover book. David S. Goyer, Geoff Johns and Carlos Pacheco. JLA: Paradise Lost , 3-issue limited series (1998) JLA: Primeval (1999). One-shot. JLA Secret Origins (2002). Oversized softcover, painted book. Paul Dini and Alex Ross. JLA: Seven Caskets (2001). One-shot. JLA/Spectre: Soul War (2003). 2-issue limited series. J.M. DeMatteis & Darryl Banks. JLA: Superpower (1999). One-shot. John Arcudi and Scot Eaton. JLA/Titans, 3-issue limited series (1999). Phil Jiminez JLA vs. Predator (2001). One-shot. JLA: Welcome to the Working Week (2003). One-Shot. JLA/WildC.A.T.S (1997). One-shot. Grant Morrison & Val Semeiks. JLA/Witchblade (2000). One-shot. JLA: World Without Grown-Ups , 2-issue limited series (1998) Justice League of America Wedding Special (Nov. 2007) Elseworld Series and One-Shots. "Elseworlds" stories are considered "imaginary" — they do not take place in the mainstream DC Universe. Most of these are summarized in the Elseworlds section; click a title to read a review. (2000). 3-Issue Limited Series. J LA: Age of Wonder (2003) 2-Issue Limited Series (2000). 2-Issue Limited Series. (2002). 4-issue limited series. John Arcudi and Tom Mandrake. JLA: Island Of Dr. Moreau (2002). One-shot. JLÅ: The Nail (1998). 3-issue limited series. Elseworlds. Alan Davis and Mark Farmer. JLA: Liberty and Justice (2003). Paul Dini and Alex Ross. 90 pages. Oversized Softcover. $9.95. Considered Elseworlds because it uses the pre-Crisis JLA. JLA: Riddle Of The Beast (2001). Hardcover, 104-page painted book. Alan Grant, Michael Wm. Kaluta and others. JLA: Secret Origins (2002). Paul Dini and Alex Ross. 48 pages. Oversized Softcover. $7.95. This edition reprints the origin sequences from Dini and Ross' Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman books, and adds those for the other Leaguers. It's considered Elseworlds because it defines the pre-Crisis JLA. (2000). 2-issue limited series. (2002). (2005). 12-issue limited series. (2004). 3-issue limited series. Elseworlds. Alan Davis and Mark Farmer. (1997). One-shot. Just Imagine: JLA (2001). One-shot. Stan Lee with Jerry Ordway (1996). 2-Issue Limited Series. DC: The New Frontier, 6-issue limited series (2004) Justice League: The New Frontier Special , one-shot (2008) (2002). One- shot. Elseworlds. Warren Ellis and Jerry Ordway. . One-shot. Son of Superman, graphic novel (1999) Archives. These hardcover editions reprint the entire original Justice League of America series. Reprints Brave & Bold #28-30 & Justice League of America #1-6 Reprints Justice League of America #7-14 Reprints Justice League of America #15-22 Reprints Justice League of America #23-30 Reprints Justice League of America #31-40 Reprints Justice League of America #41-47 and #49-50. (Issue #48 was a reprint-only issue) Reprints Justice League of America #51-60 Reprints Justice League of America #61-66 and #68- 70. (Issue #67 was a reprint annual) Reprints Justice League of America #71-80 (1969-1970) Collected Editions/Trade Paperbacks. Trade paperbacks are softcover books which collect the single issues of other series. » Collecting the original Justice League of America series—in black and white only: Showcase Presents: Justice League of America (vol. 1). Brave and the Bold #28-30, Justice League of America #1-16 & Mystery in Space #75. Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky, Carmine Infantino, Murphy Anderson Showcase Presents: Justice League of America (vol. 2). JLofA #17-36 Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky Showcase Presents: Justice League of America (vol. 3). JLofA #37-60. Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky, Carmine Infantino. » Collecting the Justice League International series: Justice League International: The Secret Gospel of Maxwell Lord. Keith Giffen, J. M. Dematteis and Kevin Maguire. Reprints JLI #8-12 and Justice League Annual #1 Justice League International (vol. 1). Justice League #1-6 and Justice League Int'l #7. Keith Giffen & J.M. DeMatteis; art by Kevin Maguire Justice League Internation al. (vol. 2). Justice League Annual #1, JLI #8-13 & Suicide Squad #13Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis and John Ostrander; art by Kevin Maguire, Bill Willingham, Luke McDonnell Justice League Internation al. (vol. 3). JLI #14-22. Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis; art by Kevin Maguire. » Collecting the JLA series: JLA (vol. 1): New World Order . Reprints JLA #1-4. Grant Morrison and John Dell. The new JLA unites against the threat of the White Martians. J LA (vol. 2): Am erican Dreams . Reprints JLA #5-9. Grant Morrison and John Dell. JLA (vol. 3): Rock of Ages . Reprints JLA #10- 15. Grant Morrison and John Dell. JLA (vol. 4): Strength In Numbers . Reprints JLA #16-23, New Year's Evil: Prometheus #1 "Heroes" from JLA Secret Files #2. Grant Morrison and John Dell. JL A (vol. 5): Jus tice for All . Reprints JLA #24-33. Grant Morrison and John Dell. JLA (vol. 6): World War III . Reprints JLA #34-41. Grant Morrison and John Dell. JLA (vol. 7): Tower Of Babel (2001). Reprints JLA #42-46, "Blame" from JLA Secret Files #2, "The Green Bullet" from JLA 80 Page Giant #1 & "Revelations" from JLA 80 Page Giant #1. Mark Waid, John Dell and Bryan Hitch. JL A (vol. 8): Divided W e Fall (2002). Reprints issues #47-54 Mark Waid and Bryan Hitch. JL A (vol. 9): Terror Incognita (2002). Reprints issues #55-60. Mark Waid and Bryan Hitch. JL A (vol. 10): Golden Pe rfect (200?). Reprints issues #61-65. Joe Kelly and Doug Mahnke. JLA (vol. 11): The Obsidian Age Book 1 (200?). Reprints issues #66-71. Joe Kelly and Doug Mahnke. JLA (vol. 12): The Obsidian Age Book 2. Reprints JLA #72-76. Joe Kelly and Doug Mahnke. JLA (vol. 13) Rules of Engagement. Joe Kelly, Rick Veitch, Doug Mahnke and others. Reprints JLA #77-82. Should the JLA involve themselves in the political matters of an alien planet? JLA (vol. 14) Trial by Fire. Reprints JLA #84-89. Joe Kelly and Doug Mahnke. JLA (vol. 15) The 10th Circle. Reprints JLA #94-99. John Byrne, Chris Claremont and Jerry Ordway. JLA (vol. 16) Pain of the Gods. JLA #101-106. Written by Chuck Austen; Art and cover by Ron Garney. JLA (vol. 17) Syndicate Rules. JLA #107-114 and a story from JLA Secret Files 2004. Kurt Busiek and Ron Garney JLA (vol. 18) Crisis of Conscience. JLA #115-119. Geoff Johns, Allan Heinberg and Chris Batista JLA (vol. 19) World without a Justice League. JLA #120-125. Bob Harras and Tom Derenick. » Collecting the JLA: Classified series: JLA: Ultramarine Corps. Classified #1-3, and JLA//WILDCATS . Grant Morrison and Ed McGuinness I Can't Believe It's Not the Justice League. Classified #4-9. Keith Giffen & J.M. DeMatteis JLA Classified: New maps of Hell. Classified #10-15. Warren Ellis and Butch Guice JLA: The Hypothetical Woman. Classified #16-21. Gail Simone and José Luís García-López JLA: Kid Amazo. Classified #37-41. Peter Milligan and Carlos D'Anda JLA: That was Now This is Then. Classified #50-54. Roger Stern and John Byrne. » Collecting the Justice League of America v.2 series: Justice League of America (vol. 1) The Tornado's Path. JLofA v.2 #1-6. Brad Meltzer and Ed Benes. Justice League of America (vol. 2) The Lightning Saga. JLofA v.2 #0, 8-12 & JSA #5-6. Written by Brad Meltzer and Geoff Johns; art by Ed Benes, and Dale Eaglasham. Justice League of America (vol. 3) The Injustice League. JLA Wedding Special #1 and JLofA #13-16. Dwayne McDuffie and Alan Burnett with Ed Benes, Mike McKone and Joe Benitez. Justice League of America (vol. 4) Sanctuary. JLofA #17-21. Dwayne McDuffie and Alan Burnett with Ed Benes. Justice League of America (vol. 5) The Second Coming. JLofA v.2 #22-26. Dwayne McDuffie and Ed Benes. » Others: Crisis on Multiple Earths vol. 1. Reprints the first four JLA/JSA team-ups from Justice League of America #21-22, 29-30, 37-38, 46-47. Crisis on Multiple Earths vol. 2. Reprints JLA/JSA team-ups from Justice League of America ##55-56, 64-65, 72-73, 83-84. Crisis on Multiple Earths vol. 3 . Reprints JLA/JSA team-ups from Justice League of America #91-92, 100-102, 107-108, and 113. Crisis on Multiple Earths vol. 4 . Reprints JLA/JSA team-ups from Justice League of America #122-124, #135-137 and #147-148 JLA/Titans: The Technis Imperative . Reprints issues #1-3. Devyn Grayson and Phil Jimenez. JLA: World Without Grownups . Reprints issues #1-2. JLA: Year One . Reprints issues #1-12. Mark Waid and Barry Kitson. JLA: Zatanna's Search (2004). Reprints The Atom #19, Hawkman #4, Green Lantern #42, Detective Comics #335 and 355 and Justice League of America #51. Also, a 10-page Zatanna origin. Justice League: A New Beginning. Reprints Justice League #1-6 and Justice League International #7. J.M. DeMatteis, Mark Waid, Keith Giffen and Kevin Maguire. Justice League Elite, vol. 1 . Reprints Action #775, JLA #100, JLA Secret Files 2004 and Justice League Elite #1-4. Joe Kelly and Doug Mahnke Justice League Elite, vol. 2 . Reprints Justice League Elite #5-12. Joe Kelly and Doug Mahnke The Justice League of America Hereby Elects… JLofA #4, 75, 105-106, 146, 161 and 173-174 Secret Origins featuring JLA . Reprints "Star-seed" from JLA Secret Files #1, "Gazing Back" from Batman Secret Files #1, "Guy Talk" from Green Lantern Secret Files #1, "A Run of Luck" from Flash Secret Files #1, "Vunerability" from Wonder Woman Secret Files #1, "Left for Dead" from Aquaman Secret Files #1, "Who is . Superman?" from Superman Secret Files #1. Justice League: Cry for Justice (#1-7) By James Robinson and Mauro Cascioli. Digest-Size Collections. » Collecting Justice League Adventures : Justice League Adventures: The Magnificent Seven - Volume 1 . Reprints issues #3, 6, 10, 11, 12. $6.95. 112 pages (February 1, 2004) Justice League Adventures: Friends and Foes - Volume 2 . Reprints issues 13, 14, 16, 19 and 20. $6.95. 112 pages (February 1, 2004) » Collecting Justice League Unlimited : Justice League Unlimitied (vol. 1) United They Stand. Issues #1-5. (May 2005) Justice League Unlimitied (vol. 2) World's Greatest Heroes . Issues #6-10. Adam Beechen and Carlo Barberi, Ethen Beavers and Walden Wong Justice League Unlimitied (vol. 3) Champions of Justice. Issues #11-15. Adam Beechen and Carlo Barberi and Walden Wong Justice League Unlimitied (vol. 4 ) Ties that Bind. Issues #16-22. Adam Beechen and Paul Storrie; art by Carlo Barberi, Rick Burchett Justice League Unlimitied (vol. 5 ) Heroes . Issues #23-29. Justice League Unlimitied: Jam-Packed Action. Adapting the television episodes "Initiation" and "For the Man Who Has Everything" » SEE ALSO: Cosmic Teams is a non-commercial site and the product of fan research. All characters and low resolution images © DC Comics. All text is © 1996- Michael Kooiman, unless otherwise noted. Mark Waid's Justice League. In the mid-1990s, the Justice League of America titles had dropped in sales and quality and DC looked to reinvigorate the line by canceling the existing titles and restarting with a classic line-up of their most recognizable heroes. The change started with Mark Waid's Justice League: A Midsummer's Nightmare (Volume 1) (co-written with Fabian Nicieza), leading to Grant Morrison's run on JLA (Volume 1). When Morrison departed, Waid took over, initially with Morrison's preferred artist Howard Porter but followed in most of his run by Bryan Hitch. Early Justice League writing Waid's first forays into writing for Justice League titles began in the period between the Keith Giffen and J. M. DeMatteis Justice League run and the mid-1990s reboot, including a short stint on Justice League Task Force (Volume 1), a title that had a rotating cast of heroes who performed covert superhero missions. These early Justice League comics have not been collected but can be easily found in back issue bins. A fun diversion from this time is the Amalgam Comics one-shot JLX #1 that blends elements of the Justice League with characters from Marvel's X-Men franchise and pairs Waid with Howard Porter. Additionally, the Underworld Unleashed crossover event in 1995 also features Waid and Porter with Waid assembling many of the heroes who would appear in the rebooted Justice League several months later. Finally, 1996's Kingdom Come (Volume 1) imagines an alternate future for the DC Universe that is Superman-centered but stars several JLA characters and will be of interest to JLA or Waid fans. : "Be Careful What Your Wish For!" : "Take My Wife--Please!" : "Double Trouble!" : "Frenzy" : "Time and Chance", "Half and Inch", "When Titans Date" : "Negative Feedback" : "Judgment Day, Part Two: Split Decision" : "Judgment Day, Part Five: The Longest Yard" : "Silver Ages" : "The Gathering" : "Savage Legacy" : "The Frog and the Scorpion" : "Inquisition" : "Down Count" : "A League of Their Own!" "Underworld Unleashed" Underworld Unleashed : "Underworld Unleashed" : "The Devil to Pay" : "Seduction of the Innocent" Kingdom Come : "Strange Visitor" : "Truth and Justice : "Up in the Sky" : "Never-Ending Battle" Justice League: A Midsummer's Nightmare and Justice League: A Midsummer's Nightmare—The Deluxe Edition : This comic draws together the classic founding line-up of the Justice League to face off against the dream-invading Doctor Destiny and introduces the new Green Lantern as well as Waid's long-time subject the Flash. "A Midsummer's Nightmare" : "True Lies" : "To Know a Veil" : "Daze and Knights" JLA: Year One : "Justice League of America: Year One" : "Group Dynamic" : "Guess Who?" : "While You Were Out. " : "A League Divided" : "Sum of Their Parts" : "The American Way" : "Loose Ends" : "Change the World" : "Heaven and Earth" : "Stalag Earth" : "Justice for All" : "Those Who Worship Evil's Might" : "Lightspeed" : "A World of Hurt" : "How Many Times Can a Man Turn His Head?" : "The Man Without Fearlessness" : "Running on Empty" During Morrison's run, Waid became the go-to back-up writer, penning three two-issue storylines before Morrison's departure from the title: JLA #47. Synopsis: A mother and child open an ancient book of fairy tales they have inherited from a distant German relative and unleash the Queen of Fables, the archetype of all the wicked stepmothers and fairies in ancient literature. The Queen spots Wonder Woman and thinks she recognizes her, then proceeds to transform Manhattan into an enchanted forest. At the same time, depictions of fictional and legendary characters seem to evaporate from the page and from television screens. The JLA gather to investigate, but the Queen of Fables finds them first, and takes Wonder Woman away from them, referring to their past antagonisms. Green Lantern realizes that the Queen thinks Wonder Woman is Snow White, and the League muse on the dark origins of the modern fairy tales. They split up to try and find Wonder Woman. J'onn and come upon a house made of cake, and as Plastic Man recounts the story of Hansel and Gretel, he realizes that J'onn is in serious danger: the witch in that story liked to put her victims into a hot furnace-like oven. Flash and Green Lantern meanwhile discover Wonder Woman dead in a crystal casket. On Mark Waid and Bryan Hitch’s JLA. With Grant Morrison’s departure from JLA in 2000, DC made the absolute best decisions possible for the title’s new creative team. As writer, DC chose Mark Waid. Waid had written Kingdom Come (which had inspired Morrison’s JLA ), co-written Justice League of America: A Midsummer’s Nightmare (which led into Morrison’s run), co-written JLA: Year One , and written several fill-ins during Morrison’s run. Waid had also helped pioneer Morrison’s reconstructionist take through his work on Flash . Morrison’s penciler Howard Porter would remain on the title for Waid’s first storyline, helping to bridge the gap. For a permanent penciler, DC tapped Bryan Hitch, hot off helping to turn WildStorm’s The Authority into a major title. Hitch’s realistic artwork, while very different than Howard Porter’s, catered even more than Porter’s to exactly the sort of big-scale super-hero action that had made JLA such a success. Hitch was also a big name, whereas Porter hadn’t been when assuming his job on JLA – and didn’t really become one from his work on that title. A more perfect team to follow Morrison and Porter could hardly have been imagined. To launch the two as a team, DC would offer a treasury-sized, softcover graphic novel by the two, entitled JLA: Heaven’s Ladder and released at the end of Waid’s issues with Porter. Its oversized format would allow Hitch’s detailed artwork room to shine as never before. Moreover, whereas Morrison had deviated from the League’s original seven members, this new run would restore that line-up. One could hardly imagine a more perfect publishing plan, and the pair seemed poised to take on Morrison and Porter’s as the definitive run on JLA . Unfortunately, things seldom work out as planned. From the moon, the Justice League watches an enormous spacecraft flying away with the Earth. From JLA: Heaven’s Ladder (Oct 2000). Art by Bryan Hitch and Paul Neary. After a single fill-in issue ( JLA #42, June 2000, scripted by D. Curtis Johnson), Waid began his run with the four-issue “Tower of Babel” ( JLA #43-46, July-Oct 2000), mostly penciled by Porter (who bowed out for the final issue). The startling story saw Batman villain Ra’s al Ghul take out the League one member at a time, doing so inventively and intelligently – a plot worthy of Morrison’s run. But in a twist, the villain’s ideas for doing so came from none other than Batman, who was revealed to have kept files on how to defeat his powerful colleagues, were they ever to go rogue – a perfectly logical move, typical of Batman’s controlling, slightly paranoid personality. Of course, the League rallied and defeated Ra’s, but it took Batman’s plans as a betrayal, not least of the League’s trust, and kicked him out. Waid thus offered a perfectly Morrisonian plot, fitting the characters as his predecessor had depicted them, while also offering real change. Ironically, while this was planned only as the prelude to Waid’s run, it would prove his finest and most fondly-remembered story. The treasury-sized JLA: Heaven’s Ladder (Oct 2000) began audaciously enough, with an enormous spacecraft that dwarfs the Earth simply flying past and stealing it. The story seemed designed to provide Bryan Hitch ample opportunity to illustrate super-hero action on a huge scale, but Waid filled it with so many crazy, vivid ideas that it felt cluttered, rather than copying the expansive, “decompressed” feel of The Authority . But Waid at least demonstrated that he knew how to play to Hitch’s strengths – and that doing so would be part of his job, if his JLA were to succeed. Hitch took over the regular title with #47 (Nov 2000), which began a story pitting the League against the Queen of Fables, who transformed Manhattan into a fairy-tale forest. The fairy-tale elements seemed out-of-place with the League, and instead of Morrisonian twists, readers got Wonder Woman placed in glass like Snow White, only to be awakened by Aquaman’s kiss. After this three-issue fiasco, JLA #50 (Feb 2001) told a lackluster story revolving around Dr. Destiny and characters’ dream selves. The fifth week event “Justice Leagues” took place next (all issues Mar 2001), without Waid or Hitch. Issues #51-54 (Apr-July 2001) told a story in which the Leaguers were separated from their civilian alter egos. The villains were new inventions named the Cathexis and the Id. In the story’s conclusion, the League merged again with its alter egos… by acknowledging that they’re only parts of a whole. After these disappointing villains, “Terror Incognita” (#55-58, Aug-Nov 2001) saw the return of the White Martians from Morrison’s first storyline (“New World Order”), seemingly upping the ante and refocusing on wide-scale super-hero action. But by then, it was already too late. Almost from the beginning, Bryan Hitch reportedly found himself at odds with Waid over the series’s tone. While Heaven’s Ladder had exploited Hitch’s strengths, subsequent storylines had been more silly than melodramatic, clashing with Hitch’s realistic style. It didn’t help that every story after “Tower of Babel” involved either illusions or characters meeting portions of themselves, which lowered the stakes. After penciling #47 (his first issue), Hitch only partially illustrated #48-49, only a few pages of #50, and none of #51 – and this despite the title running a month late, partially to give him more time. Hitch returned to illustrate #52-55, then quit the title completely, having fully penciled a mere five issues and not a single complete story, outside of Heaven’s Ladder . What had been designed as a lead-in to Waid and Hitch’s League had actually proven its high point. Sales had plummeted, and Waid didn’t last much longer than Hitch. He stepped away for issue #59, a fill-in tying into the “Joker: Last Laugh” crossover. Waid’s final issue, #60 (Jan 2002), was a Christmas issue. Thus, what should have been a great run came to an inglorious end. In the history of great runs that should have been, Waid on Hitch’s JLA ranks high. It should have been great. All the ingredients were there. It even started well. But in the complexity of creative chemistry and the vagaries of monthly super-hero books, it was simply not to be. The preceding is included in its final and revised form in Classics on Infinite Earths: The Justice League and DC Crossover Canon . If you want to support work like this or would like to read more, please consider purchasing it. Thank you! Mark Waid. Mark Waid has written for every major comic publisher, including DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Archie, Dark Horse, Image and Top Cow. His credits include JLA, 52, THE BRAVE & THE BOLD and LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES for DC Comics as well as X-Men and Fantastic Four for Marvel Comics. He is best-known for his long run as writer on the monthly adventures of THE FLASH and for his work with artist Alex Ross on the best-selling KINGDOM COME. Writer. Introduction. RECENT ACTIVITY. All Comics Movies TV Games News. In these tales from JLA #47-60 and JLA: HEAVEN’S LADDER, Batman’s betrayal and expulsion from the group leads to a loss of trust in the team! How can Superman, Wonder Woman, Green. A new team of heroes – Green Lantern, Green Arrow, Supergirl, Atom, Shazam, Congorilla and Starman – unite to take a proactive approach to fighting crime! Following the deaths of JLA heroes Batman and Martian Manhunter, this new team stands determined to stop evil from ever striking so drastically again. But when Prometheus plans his revenge on the heroes, will this new team be ready to pay the cost for the justice they seek? In the second LEGIONNAIRES book, Saturn Girl, Cosmic Boy and Live Wire recruit teen heroes from different worlds to form the Legion of Super-Heroes, with the financial backing of. In this latest trade paperback collecting JLA #36-46, the team is up against a new, deadly Injustice Gang led by Lex . Continue to explore the DCU's lost year in the second volume of a 4-book collection featuring death, danger, romance, terror and the never- ending search for heroism! This 304-page volume — sporting a new cover by J.G. Jones — contains the lead stories from 52 WEEKS 14-26, plus commentary on each issue by creators and editors, conceptual drawings, sketch material, thumbnails and more!52: A year without Superman; a year without Batman; a year without Wonder Woman…but not a year without heroes. Following the deaths of Batman and Martian Manhunter – both charter members of the Justice League of America – a new team of heroes arises, determined to stop evil from ever striking. But when the JLA's foe Prometheus plans his revenge on the heroes, will this new team be ready to pay the cost for the justice they seek? Collected from the 7-issue miniseries! LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES: THE BEGINNING OF TOMORROW chronicles the most recent origin of the 30th Century's greatest teenage heroes. When Saturn Girl, Cosmic Boy, and Live Wire meet while rescuing the world's wealthiest man, the trio of super-powered teens decides to form a group of tomorrow's greatest super-heroes. Bankrolled by their rich benefactor, the youths recruit an assortment of teenaged heroes from the many different worlds of the future and form the Legion of Super-Heroes. DC Comics. Sites. All Site Content TM and © 2020 DC Entertainment, unless otherwise noted here. All rights reserved.