2006-03-01 - TIME TO BUY MORE CHAIRS FOR THE TABLE: JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA, PART XVII

Previously, in COMICS 101: With a minor interruption for some shameless self-promotion, we’ve been discussing the Grant Morrison era of JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA from the late 1990s, in retrospect one of the strongest runs the book has had since the 1970s Satellite Era. When we left off, on the heels of the epic “Rock of Ages” storyline, Superman had unexpectedly announced the disbanding of the Justice League. What did this mean? Well, big changes were afoot, as we’d all soon discover…

With issue #16 of JLA, things got even bigger, as the team membership doubled to 14. (And in keeping with Morrison’s customary breakneck plotting speed, we wouldn’t find out for months the details of their recruitment, in JLA SECRET FILES & ORIGINS #2.)

Why the change? In the context of the book, their encounter with Metron in “Rock of Ages” had included a warning to “prepare for the fortification of the Earth,” leading the team’s elder statesmen to restructure the group in preparation for the oncoming threat, with both raw power and a variety of skills and disciplines. But from a creative standpoint, why did Morrison do it? In the months leading up to the debut of the new team, Morrison discussed his idea of treating the Justice League like the pantheon of Greek gods, watching over mankind from Olympus, i.e., the Watchtower, to extend the metaphor. While he never expressly delineated which character lined up with which deity (not that fandom didn’t bend over backwards trying to make the connections themselves, particularly before the new membership was announced), it was an interesting tack to take. There were also undoubtedly some simple narrative reasons for expanding the team, since the full membership didn’t have to be used in every issue, it allowed for the use of specific Leaguers for specific missions, as well as a greater variety of characterization, much as in the team’s heyday in the 1970s. Let’s take a specific look at who was in the new lineup, and explain and/or speculate as to why they made the cut.

Superman, Batman, J’onn J’onzz, Flash, Green Lantern and Aquaman naturally retained their spots in the new League. After all, the series was a big hit commercially and critically – no point in rocking the boat too much. Also stepping in as the new Wonder Woman was Hippolyta, Princess Diana’s mother, who had assumed the role in the WONDER WOMAN solo series after Diana’s “death” and ascension to godhood.

The use of Hippolyta as Wonder Woman was one of my favorite aspects about John Byrne’s WONDER WOMAN run, particularly the way he sent her on a trip into the past to take up membership in the Justice Society during World War II, finally closing up the pesky hole in the continuity regarding Wonder Woman’s status in the JSA post-CRISIS. So the Big Seven remained set firmly in place, but who else received the call?

Zauriel, Morrison’s heavenly creation from earlier in the run, was inducted, in a move most fans considered made as a placeholder for Hawkman, who was at the time considered “radioactive” by DC editors due to the countless continuity reboots and declared off limits. Other than the wings, though, Zauriel and Hawkman don’t really have that much in common, and Zauriel’s addition to the team instead brought with it more of a much-needed sense of innocence and naivete to the group dynamic.

Zauriel was also given a snazzy new set of armor, which gave him a bit more of a “superhero-y” look, as opposed to the loincloth and neckerchief he was sporting in his first appearance. In a nice bit of characterization, Zauriel was also given responsibility for the JLA Trophy Room, citing angels’ inherent “appreciation for documentation” in a sweet little 4-page story by Mark Millar and Christopher Jones that appeared in JLA SECRET FILES & ORIGINS #2, in which Zauriel gives a walking tour of the some of the League’s mementoes from the various JLA eras.

A controversial choice at the time was Plastic Man, given the nod for membership over longtime JLA member Ralph Dibny, a.k.a. the Elongated Man. While in the context of the story it was explained by Superman that Plastic Man “had more versatility,” the real truth of Plas’ inclusion is a bit more capricious. Grant Morrison liked him better, thinking that Ralph Dibny was just a copy of the original stretching superhero, Quality Comics’ Plastic Man, and now that Plas was owned by DC, there was no reason why he shouldn’t displace his doppelganger in the Justice League. It was also very apparent that, from a narrative perspective, Plas’ role on the team was pretty clear: comic relief, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

I’m just such an old-school JLA fan that it always seems weird to me to see a stretchy dude in a JLA shot and see that it’s Plastic Man and not Ralph. I’ll also admit that Plastic Man’s ability to completely change his form into everyday objects (albeit red and black-and-yellow-striped everyday objects) added a lot of visual flair to the book, as well as an overall novelty that didn’t quickly wear out its welcome.

Probably the best of Morrison’s new recruits was Steel, the armored inventor John Henry Irons who found himself stepping in for Superman when the Man of Steel was temporarily deceased. The reason for Steel’s inclusion was illuminated by Morrison himself one year at a panel at the San Diego Comic-Con. As he was comparing the JLA to Marvel’s Avengers, he explained, he realized that there was one thing the Avengers had the JLA didn’t and never had: Iron Man. And not specifically Iron Man, but that kind of character archetype, the fighting scientist, the armored hero. So, he continued, he looked at the DC catalog of characters – does DC have any character that fits that description? And there was Steel. Even better, with his being partially based on Superman, the character had enough of that “legendary” status that you could buy him being important enough to be a member of the JLA, but wasn’t so much like Superman from a conceptual standpoint that it felt redundant having them both on the team.

I also found it refreshing that the Justice League finally had a Black character in a significant (and occasionally leadership) role, and mention of his race was, to my knowledge, never even made. Unlike the days of Black Lightning calling the Leaguers “jive turkeys,” Steel was treated with respect and came across as a member who belonged almost immediately. In fact, in later issues, even without much fanfare, Steel was treated as the de facto leader of the League in Superman’s absence, I think partly due to the strength of character Morrison imbued him with. And partly because, as one of the other junior Leaguers remarked “You wear the ‘S’.” Morrison’s approach to handling Steel gave me a much greater appreciation of the character, and it’s been sad to see how he’s been so ill used since.

Another unusual choice for league membership was the Huntress, a.k.a. Helena Bertinelli, the Gotham City vigilante often on the receiving end of Batman’s disapproval and scorn. Taking the place of the departed Green Arrow Connor Hawke, the Huntress was added to the team for several reasons, it seems to me. First off, it’s always a good idea to get more women on the team, yet DC doesn’t have that many truly “iconic” female characters.

Also, introducing the cynical, suspicious and sarcastic Huntress lent the team a little bite as she occasionally rubbed her fellow Leaguers the wrong way, particularly Plastic Man. Batman, who had up to this point allowed Huntress to operate in Gotham despite his disapproval of her methods and doubt in her abilities, inducted the Huntress in the hopes that training and working alongside the more experienced Leaguers might teach her the value of restraint. And there may have been another reason as well, as revealed in a later JLA issue, as Bruce Wayne discusses League business with Clark Kent and a disguised J’onn J’onzz – to serve as Batman’s eyes within the Justice League.

The last of the initial new recruits was another selection by Batman, Oracle, the virtual identity of ex-Batgirl Barbara Gordon, still fighting evil and corruption despite having been paralyzed by the Joker’s bullet. In her role as computer whiz without parallel, Oracle had already carved out a crimefighting career for herself as researcher and online advisor for Batman and his crew, as well as sending her own agent Black Canary on clandestine missions, as chronicled in their solo series BIRDS OF PREY.

In her new role with the JLA, Oracle serves as “Data Central” for the Justice League, coordinating their missions and providing necessary background data and counsel. To protect her identity even from the team, all communications are conducted through a holographic mask.

The new members are introduced to the team at a gala press conference at the Watchtower in JLA #16-17, an event sadly interrupted by the JLA’s newest enemy Prometheus, a kind of anti-Batman whose criminal parents were killed by policemen, and who has dedicated his own life to avenging their deaths, with the help of decades of physical training, as well as a computerized helmet and costume that links directly to his nervous system and allow him to preprogram specific defenses for any foe. Prometheus infiltrates the Watchtower along with the slew of reporters for the press conference, and does a pretty good job of taking apart the new League, including temporarily taking control of Steel’s armor and actually defeating the Batman in hand-to-hand combat, which a chagrined Batman can only describe as “a humbling experience.”

Before long, Leaguers old and new regroup and turn the tide, forcing Prometheus to retreat.

And even before the new Justice League can catch its breath, they’re met with more unexpected visitors: the New Gods Orion and Big Barda, who have been assigned by Highfather to take up membership in the Justice League to assist in the forthcoming catastrophe that Metron had earlier warned them of. Despite some misgivings, Superman accepts them on the team, particularly with former Leaguer Barda’s assurances that she’ll keep the famously temperamental Orion (son of Darkseid, don’t you know) civil.

So now we know who the new team is.

Come on back next week to see what they were up against.

Scott Tipton is still waiting for DC Direct to bust out the “Zauriel’ action figure, but isn’t holding out much hope. If you have a question about the Justice League or comics in general, send it to stipton99x@comics101.com.

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