Justice League of America #258: Kubert School Edition

"Ok, what the hell is this?" I can sense you wondering.

Well, back in 1987, I was busy preparing as much portfolio-level art material as I could, since late in 1988 I would be showing my book to *the* Joe Kubert, and see if I could get into the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art.

So while I had lots and lots of single-page illustrations that I deemed worthy of inclusion, I wanted something special...something impressive.

So I decided I would draw my own version of a comic book--the entire book--and ink it, color it, and bind it, virtually guaranteeing my admission. No way would Joe Kubert be able to turn someone one down who had this much passion for the art of comic book storytelling!

So let's take a look at few pages of this masterpiece:

...how Joe, upon seeing this, didn't call DC and tell them he was sending this prodigy over right then and there, I don't know.

Many of you must be wondering, how the hell did I get into the Kubert School with this level of work in my portfolio? Well, first off, there was a sharp improvement between the material I was putting together in 1987/1988 and when I finally arrived at the school, in September 1989.

Also, the rumor about the school was they would take nearly anyone, as long they seemed to have the passion to do the work, since the workload would be so heavy. So while I didn't have very much natural drawing ability (I still don't), I certainly did have the passion.

(Its kind of funny, considering how much I loved the JLA, that I chose this issue to draw, not one featuring Superman, Batman, and of course Aquaman--I'm guessing it was because it was easier to draw this story, which centers around a tiny group of people. I was no Dick Dillin.)

Clearly, I couldn't do a better job than original artist Luke McDonnell, but I thought maybe I could find a way to tell the story in a different way. Looking over it, there are a couple of sequences that I think are well laid out. Designing has always been my main artistic passion, much more so than drawing. It was like that in 1988, its like that now.

So while I can goof on this book all I want, it did get me into the school, so I guess it wasn't a wasted effort.

Ok, so after ten months, around 300 posts, a few fascinating talks with JLA writers and artists, and a lot of fun, JLA Satellite has come to end.

When I first came up with the idea for this blog, I rejected it because I knew the blog would have to come to an end--this wasn't Action Comics: The Blog, or anything, so why start a blog that I knew would end less than a year later?

But over time, the thing I thought was the blog's main weakness started looking like a strength to me--I wouldn't have to desperately contrive material to have something to post, it would focus solely on the book--it would be a "limited series" blog. I liked that idea--let's do 'er!

I deeply appreciate all of you who stuck with me during this blog's run, especially during its rough first month or two, where my general lack of passion for those early issues I think came through in the summaries. I think it wasn't until we hit one of my favorites eras of the book--the mid-1960s--that I think the blog really took off.

If I was to participate in a little armchair psychology, I would say, as a kid, I was attracted to comics--and specifically superhero comics--because of the adolescent power fantasies contained therein, like most little boys who discover comics, I'm sure.

But it was the Justice League of America--the concept and the book--that really became the center of my comic book world, because it seemed like a group of people I would want to hang out with--brave and courageous, but also a nice, friendly group of people. And they get to hang out in outer space! What's not to love?

I hope that anyone in the future who wants to find out more about the original JLA can use my blog, and it will certainly stay here on the internets in perpetuity. I wanted to pay tribute to my childhood heroes, and I like to think I did a pretty good job.

Thanks, everyone!

Your Favorite Issues

Over the course of this blog, we've covered what were my favorite issues, so now let's talk about yours! After all, this blog wouldn't have amounted to much if so many of you didn't feel about the JLA the way I do.

Here are some of the answers I received from you JLA fans:

Randy M: "My #1 pick would have to go to JLA 100-102. It's where the JLA and the JSA team up to rescue the Seven Soldiers of Victory. The digest that reprinted it was the very first comic book ever bought with my own money. I was ten years old, and my life-long obsession with the JLA and the JSA and the Law's Legionnaires was born from this.

Next, would have to be JLA #200. The two-month long quest I went on to find this sucker and to have the good pay-off that it WAS totally worth the wait, makes this one a no-brainer.

Next is going to be another JLA/JSA crossover. This one involves the All-Star Squadron. Both books were my favorite reads way back when. So to see a story that involved all three teams and time travel, to boot? Another no-brainer."

Butch R: "The Manhunters issues--Dick Dillin at the top of his game, galactic scale, good storyline and we see some DC History revealed (always wondered what the GL writer at the time thought of this, I'm guessing it was ran by the GL Editor(s) at the least).

JLA Origin Minus 1--The fact the actual publishing date was considered the heroes debut was interesting and we got to see so many "forgotten" heroes. It really did feel like a "secret" we were seeing.

JLA/JSA/Legion of SuperHeroes team-up--Probably my favorite "big" team up, and part of why I liked Pre-Crisis DC so much. How many corners of the DCU did this touch? And again, Dillin art still looking good.

The Ultraa storyline--Being born in 1969, I was too late for the Earth-2 to Earth-1 change over and there weren't too many new heroes being created. I felt like I was there when Earth Prime's Superman was "born". Even though the later introduced an Earth Prime Superman, we were there for the first "native" hero.

JLA/JSA team up against Jonah Hex & Co.--I never cared for Elongated Man but this story told me anyone could be a hero, even people/characters you didn't think could."

Vince Bartilucci: "You knew you’d be hearing from me, didn’t you?

Here are my favorite issues of the Justice League of America. I made it an even (?) 5.

5. #193. As a kid, I always had a soft spot in my heart for Red Tornado, a fondness that I couldn't explain then and can't really explain now. Perhaps there was a part of me that related to his feelings of inferiority. Regardless, I love this issue featuring Reddy's untold origin.

There is something strangely satisfying about the new recruit, Firestorm, being the only person privy to the whole story. Again, I can't really explain it but it just felt right that Ronnie should be the one to know Reddy's secret.

And I can't mention this issue without bringing up the remarkable opening sequence. Aquaman attacking T.O. Morrow in his lair is capital "C" cool! The George Perez artwork depicting Aquaman smashing through that window is absolutely stunning.

4. #142. Unlike most team books, the classic satellite-era JLA almost never ran stories spotlighting individual members. This issue, focusing on three of the more under-used Leaguers, was about as close as the book got.

Arthur and Ralph counseling the engaged Ray to be open and honest with his wife-to-be Jean Loring, Ray's insecurity about his effectiveness in the League, and his subsequent defeat of the Construct are all handled wonderfully.

Plus we get one of my top 10 favorite Aqua-moments when Ralph momentarily considers assisting the Sea King with a pack of robot henchmen (henchrobots?) then decides, nah, he's Aquaman. His muscles are designed to survive the ocean's depths. He can handle it. Damn right, he can handle it!

3. #200. A great, action-packed story harkening back to the League's origin coupled with fantastic art by some of the best artists to ever work in comics. This issue is so very nearly perfect. It could have been honest-to-gosh, no qualifiers perfect, too. But, unfortunately, "get over it" is simply not an option when you're talking about a slight, unintentionally or not, to my boy, Aquaman!

2. #144. I wasn't born when The Brave and the Bold #28 hit the stands. Ditto for JLA #1. And JLA #21? That celebrated first JLA/JSA meeting was pre-Vinnie, too.

But I was around for this issue with the untold "real" origin of the JLA and, being ten years old at the time, it seemed incredibly historic to me. Sure, I had missed those other seminal League events but now those older JLA readers had nothing on me! I was in on the secret, too!

Little did I know that this tale within a tale would never be referred to again. Oh well, it was still cool seeing all those characters that I had never been exposed to before like the Blackhawks and Rex the Wonder Dog and Congorilla. How awesome was Congorilla?!?! Plus, I can"t possibly express how much I love Green Arrow's reaction to discovering this untold tale in the JLA log books. It's so out of proportion, so over the top. It's like he just found out Hal was sleeping with his mom. Jeez Ollie, try decaf!

1. #139. The JLA's first double-size issue and the issue that started my unbroken run on the title. In later years, I tracked down back issues and completed a JLA run that reached back to #98, the first ish of the League that I ever bought.

But there's something special about those collections that grow month after month, issue by issue, you know what I mean? That's why this will always remain my favorite single issue of JLA. With a fantastic cover by Neal Adams cover and Dick Dillin at the top of his game on the interior art, how can you go wrong?

And the lead story? This is exactly the kind of tale that illustrates the difference between the DC and Marvel comics of my youth. Marvel stories were basically soap operas with slugfests while DC stories always seemed to feature some sort of weird obstacle or condition that the hero had to overcome in place of, or sometimes in addition to, the villain of the piece.

Sure, you can argue whether or not Marvel heroes battled more powerful menaces than their DC counterparts. But there is no doubt that DC heroes faced more interesting predicaments. Marvel heroes worried about the rent when they weren't worried about being killed by Dr. Doom or Kraven the Hunter. DC heroes worried about being turned into puppets, or infants, or, as in this case, Zeta-beam phantoms."

Russell Burbage: "Okay, I've been thinking about it, and I'm not sure if I should list "issues" or stories, so I'm going with stories. In no particular order: JLA 13 "Riddle of the Robot Justice League"--Gardner Fox tried very hard to show that every member was useful, and in this one he proved that "they also serve who also stand and wait." Besides, Aquaman saves the galaxy. Awesome.

JLA 103 "A Stranger Walks Amongst Us"--Is he or isn't he? Phantom Stranger, Felix Faust, and sorcery in JLA were never used better. JLA 111 "Balance of Power" and JLA 112, "War With the One Man Justice League"--First appearance of Injustice Gang, beautiful Dillin-Giordano art, re-appearance of Amazo, all members featured. What's not to like???

JLA 139 "The Ice Age Cometh" --All the JLAers (huge plus) actually doing things, cool villains, great personalities. Probably my all-time favorite JLA story. Either that or...

JLA 146--The Return of the Red Tornado and the Induction of Hawkgirl/Woman. The JLAers' personalities ring through, and the two most maligned members both get their moments to shine. If every JLAer had been present, this would be my number one.

How's that??? :-)"

One of the more unusual lists came from Chunky B: "Okay I'm going to attack this assignment in a different manor then probably the rest of your readership, so sit down as you learn the truth of having never read an issue of JLA! Bum, bum, buuuumm!

That's right I've never read an of the classic run of JLA, sure I've picked up a few of the modern versions of the team, but none of the classics. (I think I asked you at one time if they made compilation reprints). So how am I going to pick my top ten must read/have/favorites? Like any kid would, the cover. I'm going to pick them like they were all on the news stand.

1) Brave and the Bold #28 - there's a reason why this is such an iconic image, earth's mightiest heroes doing battle against an overwhelming beast, Starro!
2) JLA #7 - This one is just an eye catcher, cosmic fun house, what has happened to the Flash!
3) JLA #14 - Why are our heroes watching as that tiny man in the bubble is suffering?

4) JLA #25 - Has Superman turned evil, is he training the league, has the comic world turned upside down?
5) JLA #81 - I know, I know it's crazy, but aren't you just a little curious as to what happened to them?
6) JLA #87 - Batman has always been king of the world, right? Plus look at that cool kryptonite looking robot!

7) JLA # 94 - It looks like Aquaman is done for, it can't be...even Superman looks worried, here's my quarter, let's see what happens!
8) JLA #110 - I'm a sucker for Christmas super hero stories, and I can't believe Santa is dead! Lucky the League is on the case and Batman can put those detective skills to good use!
9) JLA #136 - Okay maybe my adult mind is having an influence on this one, but the white space of this cover is so appealing, I think younger Charles would appreciate, plus he likes Batman and the Joker!
10) JLA #217 - Just because it's got a lot of heroes on it! Seriously though it doesn't speak of any event, they just look iconic running at you!"

John Trumbull: "Here you are, Rob, my favorite JLA issues!

Justice League of America #140--March 1977--Steve Englehart's first full issue as JLA writer, and what an issue it was! Englehart's clever story ties together Jack Kirby's Manhunters with the Green Lantern mythos.

Englehart also includes some refreshing characterizations among the team. I love the easy camaraderie the JLAers have here --it reminds you that they're not just teammates --they're friends! Too many writers these days forget that. This storyline is so good it served as the basis for the first regular episode of the Justice League cartoon.

Justice League of America #192--July 1981--A wonderfully atmospheric opening, a look at a "typical" meeting of the JLA, 6 of the 7 original members (plus "new kid" Firestorm), tremendous artwork and the beginning of new revelations about the Red Tornado's origins. All wrapped up with one of George Perez's strongest covers. What more could you ask for?

Justice League of America #195--October 1981--This was the very first issue of my subscription to JLA in 1981. My very first exposure to the concept of "Earth-2." My very first exposure to the Justice Society of America. AND my very first exposure to George Perez, still one of my artistic faves. And that gorgeous JLA/JSA pinup in the center of the book!

Justice League of America #200--March 1982--Like you, Rob, I think this issue is just about the greatest thing since the invention of the Gutenberg press. This is the very first place I ever learned the origin of the JLA. A great story filled with wonderful moments throughout.

The collection of amazing artists in this issue still gives me tingles when I think about it: George Perez, Brett Breeding, Pat Broderick, Terry Austin, Jim Aparo, Dick Giordano, Gil Kane, Carmine Infantino, Frank Giacoia, Brian Bolland and Joe Kubert! I'm proud to say that over the years I've gotten 6 of the 11 artists to sign my copy.

Honorable mentions go to The Seven Soldiers of Victory story from #100-102, The Freedom Fighters story from #107-108, "Takeover of the Earth-Masters" from #118-119, the Atom's wedding from #157, the Fourth World story from #183-185, the Starro story from #189-190 and the Paragon story from #224."


Thanks to everybody who sent in their lists--and some interesting choices too!

Notice how all but one of you picked at least one story from Steve Englehart's run--a damn good batting average for a guy who only wrote the book for a year.


Tomorrow: One Last Thing.

JLA Mail Room: 1960 - 1987

One of the things that inadvertently became a running theme with this blog was the evolution of the JLA Mail Room header. I guess it was neat to ponder because, at any given moment, it gave you in one shot who was in, who was out.

Of course, after the League grew to thirteen members, someone at DC realized it was getting so crowded it went to the generic Satellite shot, which I never thought was as fun--I was glad to see it make a belated return with the JLA Detroit era.

So here's a quick rundown of the JLA Mail Room headers through the ages:

Usually, DC was on top of changing these the minute someone came or went; except for this last one, which hung around long after Aquaman had quit the team. Maybe by then the writing was on the wall, and no one really wanted to bother.

I miss DC's letter pages; I understand with the internets the notion of waiting two or three months to comment on an issue seems like something from the Paleozoic Era, but I think they were a vital part of comic books, and I think DC's books are missing something from their absence.

Tomorrow: Your favorite issues!

Hey Kids, JLA!

Early on in the blog's run, I would devote a whole day's post to any and all house ads DC ran for Justice League, since I have a love for those old ads that knows no bounds.

Over time, I didn't like how the ads "broke" the momentum of the blog as it went from issue to issue, so eventually I downgraded them to being at the end of a regular post.

But I still love them, so here are all the ones I collected since last November, including a few I found since:

...it was a fun ride, wasn't it?

JLA Who's Who Entries - 1986/1987

The Classic JLA got two listings over the first two volumes of Who's Who, a series I never missed.

The first appeared in the Feb. 1986 issue, drawn by then-penciler Luke McDonnell:

...a nice shot.

The Classic JLA got one last bite at that Who's Who apple, in Oct. 1987, drawn by then-Justice League penciler Kevin Maguire:

...I love how he got everybody's personality in this crowded shot. Arrow and Canary's PDA, Vibe's attitude, Superman's pride, the Hawks' quiet dignity.

And even though by this time the original JLA--team and book--were gone, they all got lumped together in this "class photo." The next JLA listing in WW would concentrate solely on the JL team, and its then-current membership, which was a totally different animal.

Secret Origins #32 - Dec. 1988

The secret origin of the JLA!

The Story: "All Together Now" by Keith Giffen, Peter David, Gardner Fox, and Eric Shanower. On the distant planet Appellax, we see seven would-be leaders--all of whom claim to have assassinated the previous leader--being sent off to Earth to fight to the death.

Whoever is the winner of this battle royale will return to Appellax and claim the throne. Simple, no?

One of them has the temerity to ask, but what if they are overcome by someone, say, from Earth?

The judge says this is absurd: "You are the best Appellax has to offer. If they defeated all seven of you, we'd never go near Earth again."

And so it begins:

The first hero who will meet these would-be Appellax conquerors is the Martian Manhunter:

He faces the giant stone creature, but in the melee his power of invisibility turns off, revealing him to the local citizens. They think he's a special effect from a movie.

Next up is the King of the Seven Seas:

...he encounters the Mercury creature, and with the help of his finny friends, keeps it from turning him permanently into a blob of mercury.

He then hears of a strange meteor that landed in the Florida Everglades, and heads there. Once he arrives, he sees someone else...

But before we find out who, we see the next hero up to bat is Black Canary:

She takes on the Glass Creature, and a well-place Sonic Cry reduces him to bits.

She also hears the story about Florida, and heads there, too. She meets others who have arrived there ahead of her.

Next up is Green Lantern:

He takes on the Golden Roc (of course its yellow!), and then heads to Florida. He gets too close before he can be told he stay away, so...

Last is The Flash:

He fights the Fire Creature, defeats him, and likewise heads to Florida.

He is the last to arrive, and suffers the same fate as the other heroes:

...of course, you all know the story form here...sort of. The heroes use teamwork to defeat the Wood Creature, and the head for Antarctica, where there were reports of one last meteor.

Except when they get there, Superman is already mopping up. He takes no notice of the star-struck heroes, and flies off.

Flash liked how they worked together, and proposes forming a club, or a society? Howabout calling it The Avengers, after that TV show?

No, wait, howabout The Justice League:

...not the end!

Roll Call: Aquaman, Flash, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, Black Canary

Notable Moments: There were a couple of reasons not to include this book on the blog: one, it was published outside of the run of the original JLA book, and two, it features the dreaded ret-conning, where classic stories are rewritten to match current storyline concerns.

Normally that stuff make me roll my eyes, since I think a lot of damage can be done to great, classic concepts for the sake of momentary necessity.

This is such a case--the JLA was and is the big seven of the DCU circa 1960, and suggesting the Big Three weren't part of that seems so silly.

Complicating that even further, was replacing Wonder Woman with a later member, Black Canary, which disrupts even more classic JLA stories--every one for the first eight years, actually. I understand the need to have at least five members, and one of them be a woman, and DC had a real lack of heroines from this era--who else was available--Miss America? Firebrand? Phantom Lady? But having Black Canary in here just seems...wrong.

All that said, I included this because this retelling--changes and all--is so darn fun. Its got a good sense of humor, the heroes are real people, and Giffen and David wisely don't mess with the basics of Gardner Fox's immortal story. Plus, the art is gorgeous--Eric Shanower wasn't someone who you saw do a lot of superhero work, so his take on the World's Greatest Superheroes is a real treat.

JLA Satellite Interview with J.M. DeMatteis

I couldn't let this blog wrap-up without a talk from the man who, after 261 issues and 27 years of continuous publication, wrote the final chapters in the story of the original Justice League of America, J.M. DeMatteis:

JLA Satellite: How did you end up writing JLA?

J.M. DeMatteis: DC editor Andy Helfer, one of the best editors I've ever worked with, said, "Hey, Gerry Conway just left Justice League and I need a writer. Want to help me out?" As I recall, I'd just left Marvel after being under contract there for a number of years and was happy to have the work.

JLA Satellite: When you took over the book, did DC already have its cancellation scheduled, and it was just a matter of getting to that point?

JMD: I believe the cancellation was already in the works. My job was to finish up the Conway story that was in progress, then go in and write the final storyline.

JLA Satellite: To me, one of the hallmarks of your writing is an inherent gentleness, even when there's lots of super hero fisticuffs going on (there have been some exceptions of course, like the "Kraven's Last Hunt" storyline). Was it difficult writing stories that were so grim and violent, like when Vibe and Steel were murdered?

JMD: Violence in super hero comics has always been a problem for me. I love the characters, I love the genre, I love the metaphorical power of the super hero; but there are times I've been incredibly uncomfortable with the "smash and punch and kill" aspects of the genre. (In fact I've got a new series coming out next year from IDW, The Life and Times of Savior 28, that faces the Super Hero Violence issue head on. It's a piece of work I'm very proud of.)

As for JLA: I suspect, although, honestly, I don't remember, that the discomfort was a little less so with that final storyline because I had very little connection to those characters. I never quite made an emotional link with Vibe and Steel. As I recall, the characters I was emotionally hooked into were J'onn (this was my first time writing him and he immediately became an all-time favorite) and Gypsy (primarily because of J'onn's emotional connection to her). Happily, they both came out alive.

JLA Satellite: Was it your choice as to which of the new characters got bumped off, or did DC say "Save Vixen and Gypsy, kill off the other two"?

JMD: My memory is that I was told which characters had to go and which would stay.

JLA Satellite: Was it difficult writing a book that featured mostly new characters, none that you created, that didn't have a lot of history behind them?

JMD: I suspect that, if I'd had more time to get to know the characters, I could have found the emotional hooks I was talking about earlier; but jumping in just to wrap things up made it much harder for me. So, yes, it was difficult.

That story was much more about my technical skill than emotional investment. Not my favorite way to write. That said, I tried my best to put as much genuine emotion into the story as I could.

JLA Satellite: As a writer, did writing the final issue of JLA have any impact on you (in terms of making comic book history--"Wow, I'm writing the very last issue of Justice League!") or were you mostly concerned with just getting to the end so the new book could be started?

JMD: I never thought of it as the "final issue" because, by then, I knew the relaunch was in the pipeline. What I didn't know was that I'd be an integral part of that relaunch and that it would be the beginning of a partnership with the great Keith Giffen that would still be going strong more than twenty years later. If there's one great thing that came out of the JLA assignment for me, it's that.


As a teenager, buying the final issues of my all-time favorite comic, I wondered just what the behind-the-scenes stuff was, so I'm jazzed that I got to finally find out from the man who was at the helm for the final case of the Justice League of America.

Of course, J.M. DeMatteis would go on to make an even greater contribution to the history of the team, but that's for another day and another blog. Thanks J.M.!