JLA (comic book)

Last updated
JLA
JLA1.jpg
Cover for JLA #1, art by Howard Porter and John Dell. From left to right: Batman, Aquaman, Wonder Woman, the Martian Manhunter, Superman, the Kyle Rayner Green Lantern, and the Wally West Flash.
Publication information
Publisher DC Comics
ScheduleMonthly
Format Ongoing series
Genre
Publication dateNovember 1996 – February 2006
No. of issues126 (#1–125, plus an issue numbered #1,000,000)
Main character(s) Justice League of America
Creative team
Created byGrant Morrison
Howard Porter
Written by Grant Morrison (1-17, 22-31, 34-41, 1,000,000), Mark Waid (18-21, 32-33, 43-58, 60), Chuck Dixon (59), Joe Kelly (61-76, 78-90, 100), Denny O'Neil (91-93), Chris Claremont (94-99), Chuck Austen (101–106), Kurt Busiek (61, 107–114), Geoff Johns (115–119), Allan Heinberg (115–119), Bob Harras (120–125)
Penciller(s) Howard Porter
Bryan Hitch
Doug Mahnke
Inker(s) John Dell
Paul Neary
Collected editions
New World Order ISBN   1-56389-369-X

JLA was a monthly comic book published by DC Comics from January 1997 to April 2006 featuring the Justice League of America (JLA, Justice League). [1] The series restarted DC's approach to the Justice League, which had initially featured most of the company's top-tier superheroes but shifted in the 1980s to featuring a rotating cast of established characters alongside newer ones and also saw that franchise expand to several spin-off series, diluting the prestige of the name brand. When relaunched by writer Grant Morrison, the team again focused on the most recognizable, powerful, and long-lasting heroes in DC's library.

Contents

Publication history

The low sales of the various Justice League spin-off books by the mid-1990s [2] prompted DC to revamp the League as a single team (all the various branch teams were disbanded) on a single title. A Justice League of America formed in the September 1996 limited series Justice League: A Midsummer's Nightmare by Mark Waid and Fabian Nicieza. In 1997, DC Comics launched a new Justice League series titled JLA, written by Grant Morrison with art by Howard Porter and inker John Dell. Morrison stayed as writer for the series through issue #41, though several issues had fill-in writers. JLA #18-#21 and #33 were written by Mark Waid. Mark Millar, Devin Grayson and Mark Waid, and J.M. DeMatteis wrote issues #27, 32 and 35, respectively.

This series, in an attempt at a "back-to-basics" approach, used as its core the team's original and most famous seven members (or their successors): Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, the Flash (Wally West), Green Lantern (Kyle Rayner), and the Martian Manhunter. [3] Additionally, the team received a new headquarters, the "Watchtower", based on the Moon. JLA quickly became DC's best-selling title, [4] a position it enjoyed on and off for several years. [5]

Morrison introduced the idea of the JLA allegorically representing a pantheon of gods, with their different powers and personalities, incorporating such characters as Zauriel, Big Barda, Orion, the Huntress, Barbara Gordon (the Oracle), Steel (John Henry Irons), and Plastic Man. They also had Aztek, the Tomorrow Woman, and the Green Arrow (Connor Hawke) as temporaries. [6]

Under Morrison, the series pitted the League against a variety of enemies including the White Martians, renegade angels, a new incarnation of the Injustice Gang led by Lex Luthor, and the Key. Other foes were the new villain Prometheus, the existing JLA villain Starro the Conqueror, "the Ultra-Marines", and a futuristic Darkseid. Morrison's run culminated in an arc titled "World War III", which involves the New Gods preparing the Earth for battle against a creature known as "Mageddon", a super-sentient weapon of mass destruction.

Since this new League included most of DC's most powerful heroes, the focus of the stories changed. The League now dealt only with Earth-shattering, highest-priority threats which could challenge their tremendous combined power. Enemies faced by this new JLA included an invading army of aliens, a malfunctioning war machine from the future, a horde of renegade angels, a newly reformed coalition of villains as a counter-league, mercenaries armed with individualized take-down strategies for each superhero, various cosmic threats, and the enraged spirit of the Earth itself. In addition, because almost all of the members had their own comics, the stories were almost always self-contained, with all chapters occurring within JLA itself and very rarely affecting events outside of that series. Developments from a hero's own title (such as the new costume and electric-based powers temporarily adopted by Superman in 1997–1998) were reflected in the League's comic book, however.

Morrison departed with issue #41, after which the book saw runs by Mark Waid and Joe Kelly. Subsequent to this, the series switched to a series of rotating writers with issue #91 while Kelly (via JLA #100) was given the miniseries Justice League Elite #1-12, which featured the Green Arrow, the Flash, and several other characters. The new format saw stories by John Byrne, Chuck Austen, and Kurt Busiek. Geoff Johns and Allan Heinberg would take over the book with #115, which saw a multi-part storyline dealing with the aftermath of Identity Crisis , and served as a lead-in to the events of "Infinite Crisis", as Superboy-Prime destroyed the Watchtower at the end of issue #119. Bob Harras wrote the book's final storyline (JLA #120–125) as the Green Arrow struggled in vain to keep the League afloat.

Storylines

Despite all of this, DC did not create continuing spin-off series as it had done before. Instead, a large number of miniseries and one-shots featuring the team were released. One spin-off team, the Justice League Elite was created following the events of JLA #100, but their miniseries was limited to 12 issues, and the team appeared only once after the miniseries ended its run. JLA's popularity was also able to launch the critically acclaimed JSA series, which was relaunched as Justice Society of America to coincide with the new Justice League of America book.

In 2005, a story arc by Geoff Johns and Alan Heinberg called "Crisis of Conscience" (JLA #115–119) depicted the dissolution of the Justice League of America as the breakdown of trust shown in the 2004 limited series Identity Crisis reached its zenith. At the end of the arc, Superboy-Prime destroyed the Justice League Watchtower. JLA, one of several titles to be cancelled at the conclusion of the Infinite Crisis storyline, ended with issue #125.

As depicted in the Villains United: Infinite Crisis Special and the final issue of Infinite Crisis itself, preparations for the defense of Metropolis against an army of organized supervillains required a brief and temporary expansion of the Justice League to its largest roster to date. The main defensive teams of the JLA, JSA, Teen Titans and Outsiders already being occupied elsewhere by the Crisis, it fell on the Oracle and the Martian Manhunter to contact and deputize seemingly every active or once active hero in the DC Universe as Justice League members, effective immediately, to form a last line of defense for the city.

Reception

The new approach worked, and JLA quickly became DC's best-selling title, a position it enjoyed on and off for several years, as reflected in the following advance sales figures for months in which JLA was DC's best-selling title:

Collected editions

JLA was collected in a series of trade paperbacks:

There is also a Deluxe Edition series:

See also

Notes

  1. Beatty, Scott, and Roger Stewart. JLA: The Ultimate Guide to the Justice League of America. Grand Rapids: Dorling Kindersley, Incorporated, 2002.
  2. Miller, John J. "JANUARY 1997 Comic Book Preorders from Heroes World and Diamond Comic Distributors" Archived 2009-05-01 at the Wayback Machine . Comics Buyer's Guide. 2007.
  3. Kirk, Jason. "(1997) " Yahoo! GeoCities, December 2000[ dead link ]
  4. Miller, John Jackson (2007). "North American Comics Market Estimates for January 1997". Comics Buyer's Guide. Archived from the original on May 1, 2009. Retrieved April 8, 2012.
  5. Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 278: "Renewed as one of DC's most popular titles, JLA ran for 125 issues before its next relaunch. Earning countless spin-off miniseries and specials, the Justice League reclaimed its place atop DC's hit titles list".
  6. "Sequart Organization – advancing comics as art since 1996". Sequart Organization.
  7. "Comics Sales Charts, Jan. 1997". CBGXtra.com. Archived from the original on 2009-05-01. Retrieved 2009-01-12.
  8. "Comics Sales Charts, Feb. 1997". CBGXtra.com. Archived from the original on 2008-06-03. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  9. "Comics Sales Charts, May 1997". CBGXtra.com. Archived from the original on 2008-06-03. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  10. "Comics Sales Charts, June 1997". CBGXtra.com. Archived from the original on 2008-06-03. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  11. "Comics Sales Charts, July 1997". CBGXtra.com.
  12. "Comics Sales Charts, Aug. 1997". CBGXtra.com. Archived from the original on 2008-06-03. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  13. "Comics Sales Charts, Sept. 1997". CBGXtra.com.
  14. "Comics Sales Charts, Oct. 1997". CBGXtra.com. Archived from the original on 2008-06-03. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  15. "Comics Sales Charts, Nov. 1997". CBGXtra.com. Archived from the original on 2008-06-03. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  16. "Comics Sales Charts, Dec. 1997". CBGXtra.com. Archived from the original on 2008-06-03. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  17. "Comics Sales Charts, Jan. 1998". CBGXtra.com. Archived from the original on 2008-06-03. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  18. "Comics Sales Charts, Feb. 1998". CBGXtra.com. Archived from the original on 2008-06-03. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  19. "Comics Sales Charts, March 1998". CBGXtra.com. Archived from the original on 2008-06-03. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  20. "Comics Sales Charts, May 1998". CBGXtra.com. Archived from the original on 2008-06-03. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  21. "Comics Sales Charts, June 1998". CBGXtra.com. Archived from the original on 2007-02-04. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  22. "Comics Sales Charts, July 1998". CBGXtra.com. Archived from the original on 2008-06-03. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  23. "Comics Sales Charts, Aug. 1998". CBGXtra.com. Archived from the original on 2008-06-03. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  24. "Comics Sales Charts, Sept. 1998". CBGXtra.com. Archived from the original on 2008-06-03. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  25. "Comics Sales Charts, Oct. 1998". CBGXtra.com.[ permanent dead link ]
  26. "Comics Sales Charts, Nov. 1998". CBGXtra.com. Archived from the original on 2008-06-03. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  27. "Comics Sales Charts, Jan. 1999". CBGXtra.com. Archived from the original on 2008-06-03. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  28. "Comics Sales Charts, March 1999". CBGXtra.com. Archived from the original on 2008-06-03. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  29. "Comics Sales Charts, May 1999". CBGXtra.com. Archived from the original on 2008-06-03. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  30. "Comics Sales Charts, June 1999". CBGXtra.com. Archived from the original on 2008-06-03. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  31. "Comics Sales Charts, July 1999". CBGXtra.com. Archived from the original on 2008-06-03. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  32. "Comics Sales Charts, Aug. 1999". CBGXtra.com. Archived from the original on 2008-06-03. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  33. "Comics Sales Charts, Sept. 1999". CBGXtra.com. Archived from the original on 2008-06-21. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  34. "Comics Sales Charts, Nov. 1999". CBGXtra.com. Archived from the original on 2008-06-03. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  35. "Comics Sales Charts, Dec. 1999". CBGXtra.com. Archived from the original on 2008-06-03. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  36. "Comics Sales Charts, Jan. 2000". CBGXtra.com. Archived from the original on 2007-10-23. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  37. "Comics Sales Charts, Feb. 2000". CBGXtra.com. Archived from the original on 2007-10-22. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  38. "Comics Sales Charts, March 2000". CBGXtra.com. Archived from the original on 2007-10-23. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  39. "Comics Sales Charts, April 2000". CBGXtra.com. Archived from the original on 2007-10-22. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  40. "Comics Sales Charts, May 2000". CBGXtra.com. Archived from the original on 2007-10-22. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  41. "Comics Sales Charts, June 2000". CBGXtra.com. Archived from the original on 2007-10-22. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  42. "Comics Sales Charts, July 2000". CBGXtra.com. Archived from the original on 2007-10-22. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  43. JLA Deluxe Edition: Vol. 1, DC Comics.com
  44. JLA Deluxe Edition: Vol. 2, DC Comics.com

Related Research Articles

<i>Action Comics</i> American comic book

Action Comics is an American comic book/magazine series that introduced Superman, one of the first major superhero characters. The publisher was originally known as Detective Comics Inc., which later merged into National Comics Publications, before taking on its current name of DC Comics. Its original incarnation ran from 1938 to 2011 and stands as one of the longest-running comic books with consecutively numbered issues. The second volume of Action Comics beginning with issue #1 ran from 2011 to 2016. Action Comics returned to its original numbering beginning with issue #957.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green Lantern Corps</span> Fictional intergalactic military/police force appearing in comics published by DC Comics

The Green Lantern Corps is a fictional intergalactic law enforcement agency and superhero team appearing in comics published by DC Comics. They patrol the farthest reaches of the DC Universe at the behest of the Guardians, a race of immortals residing on the planet Oa. According to DC continuity, the Green Lantern Corps have been in existence for three billion years. Currently operating amongst the 3600 "sectors" of the universe, there are 7204 members. Each Green Lantern is given a power ring, a weapon granting the use of incredible abilities that are directed by the wearer's own willpower.

<i>Planetary</i> (comics) American comic book series

Planetary is an American comic book series created by writer Warren Ellis and artist John Cassaday, and published by the Wildstorm imprint of DC Comics. After an initial preview issue in September 1998, the series ran for 27 issues from April 1999 to October 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aztek (character)</span> Name of two DC comics superheroes

Aztek is the name of two superheroes appearing in DC Comics. Both versions are based out of the fictional Vanity City, and are champions of the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl. The first Aztek first appeared in Aztek, The Ultimate Man #1 in August 1996, and was created by Grant Morrison, Mark Millar, and N. Steven Harris. Following the short run series, Aztek appeared in several issues of JLA also written by Morrison. The second Aztek, this one being a female version, appeared in Justice League of America vol. 5 #20 in December 2017, created by Steve Orlando and Ivan Reis, as the rival and later partner of the Ray.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Robinson (writer)</span> British writer of comic books and screenplays

James Dale Robinson is a British writer of American comic books and screenplays best known for co-creating the character of Starman with Tony Harris and reviving the Justice Society of America in the late 1990s. His other notable works include the screenplay for the film adaptation of the Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill's comic book series The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and the multi-year crossover storyline "Superman: New Krypton".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gail Simone</span> American comic book writer

Gail Simone is an American writer best known for her work in comics on DC's Birds of Prey, Batgirl, Dynamite Entertainment's Red Sonja, and for being the longest running female writer on Wonder Woman to date. Other notable works include Clean Room, Secret Six, Welcome to Tranquility, The All-New Atom, and Deadpool.

<i>Justice League Elite</i> Comic book

Justice League Elite was a twelve-issue comic book limited series published monthly by DC Comics in 2004 and 2005. The title was created by writer Joe Kelly and penciller Doug Mahnke. The limited series is a spin-off from the JSA title.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Kelly (comics writer)</span> American writer, penciler, and editor

Joseph Kelly is an American comic book writer, penciler and editor who has written such titles as Deadpool, Uncanny X-Men, Action Comics, and JLA, as well as award-winning work on The Amazing Spider-Man and Superman. As part of the comics creator group Man of Action Studios, Kelly is one of the creators of the animated series Ben 10.

The International Ultramarine Corps, formerly the Ultramarine Corps, is a fictional team of superheroes published by DC Comics. They first appeared in DC One Million #2, and were created by Grant Morrison and Howard Porter.

<i>All-Star Superman</i> 2005–2008 DC Comics miniseries featuring Superman

All-Star Superman is a twelve-issue American comic book series featuring Superman that was published by DC Comics. The series ran from November 2005 to October 2008. The series was written by Grant Morrison, drawn by Frank Quitely, and digitally inked by Jamie Grant. The series revolves around Superman, who is dying due to overexposure to the Sun, as he accomplishes many heroic feats and attempts to make peace with the world before his imminent death.

<i>Superman</i> (comic book) Comic book series featuring Superman

Superman is an ongoing American comic book series featuring the DC Comics superhero Superman as its protagonist. Superman began as one of several anthology features in the National Periodical Publications comic book Action Comics #1 in June 1938. The strip proved so popular that National launched Superman into his own self-titled comic book, the first for any superhero, premiering with the cover date summer 1939. Between 1986 and 2006 it was retitled, The Adventures of Superman, while a new series used the title Superman. In May 2006, it was returned to its original title and numbering. The title was canceled with issue #714 in 2011, and was relaunched with issue #1 the following month which ended its run in 2016. A fourth series was released in June 2016 and ended in April 2018, while the fifth series was launched in July 2018 and ended in June 2021. The series was replaced by Superman: Son of Kal-El in July 2021, featuring adventures of Superman's son, Jon Kent. A sixth Superman series was released in February 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nebula Man</span> Comics character

Nebula Man is a fictional character in DC Comics. He first appeared in Justice League of America #100–101 (1972).

<i>DC Comics Absolute Edition</i> Series of archival quality printings of graphic novels

DC Comics Absolute Edition is a series of archival quality printings of graphic novels published by DC Comics and its imprints WildStorm Productions and Vertigo. Each is presented in a hardcover and slipcased edition with cloth bookmark consisting of one or more books which include restored, corrected and recolored versions of the original work, reprinted at 8 by 12 inches. Also included are supplemental materials regarding the creation of the work, including sketches, comic scripts and memos.

<i>For Tomorrow</i> (comics)

"For Tomorrow" is a 2004–2005 American comic book story arc published in Superman #204–215 by DC Comics. Written by Brian Azzarello and penciled by Jim Lee, with inks by Scott Williams, the story begins a year after a million people mysteriously vanish from the face of the earth. As the Man of Steel tries to solve the puzzle while dealing with his personal loss - as well as guilt over failing to prevent the disaster - a parallel story line concerns a priest questioning his faith and serving as Superman's confessor. This eventually gives way to a plot in which a megalomaniac bent on interplanetary conquest begins his attempt to capture his targets, and fighting through a heavy heart, Superman must stop him.

<i>Sinestro Corps War</i> DC Comics crossover event

"Sinestro Corps War" is an American comic book crossover event published by DC Comics in its Green Lantern and Green Lantern Corps titles. Written by Geoff Johns and Dave Gibbons and drawn by Ivan Reis, Patrick Gleason, and Ethan Van Sciver, the 11-part saga was originally published between June and December 2007. In addition to the main storyline, four supplemental "Tales of the Sinestro Corps" one-shot specials and a Blue Beetle tie-in issue were concurrently released.

<i>Trinity</i> (comic book) American comic book series

Trinity is an American comic book series published by DC Comics featuring the superheroes Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman. The first series was published weekly from 2008 to 2009. In 2016, a second monthly comic book series was launched by DC Comics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grant Morrison bibliography</span>

This is a bibliography of the Scottish comic book writer Grant Morrison.

<i>Brightest Day</i> 2010–11 crossover storyline published by DC Comics

Brightest Day is a 2010–11 crossover storyline published by DC Comics, consisting of a year-long comic book maxiseries that began in April 2010, and a number of tie-in books. The story is a direct follow-up to the Blackest Night storyline that depicts the aftermath of the events of that storyline on the DC Universe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wonder Woman in other media</span>

Since her debut in All Star Comics #8, Diana Prince/Wonder Woman has appeared in a number of formats besides comic books. Genres include animated television shows, direct-to-DVD animated films, video games, the 1970s live action television series, Wonder Woman, The Lego Movie and The Lego Batman Movie, and the live-action DCEU films Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), Wonder Woman (2017), Justice League (2017), Wonder Woman 1984 (2020), Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021), Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023), and The Flash (2023).

References