JLA - Looking for new members?

The Superfly · **Posted:** Sat Dec 27, 2008 8:04 pm

I thought superfriend's blog was a great topic for discussion...

superfriend wrote:

http://www.newsarama.com/comics/120817-JLA-McDuffieB.html

Looks like time for a new lineup.

This reminds me of two other JL eras.
1. Detroit, after the Satellite era disbanded.
2. International, which brought us out of the Detroit disaster.

Writer Grant Morrison showed us how good a JLA based on the founding team could be. Joe Kelly reminded us that if the story focused too much on the lesser heroes, the feeling was lost. Brad Meltzer came in and showed us that the team could be great with most of the founders and a few others thrown in for character development, similar to the Satellite era.

While I love the secondary characters, a Justice League without Superman, Batman, and Green Lantern really makes no sense. I know its been done before, but I bet any issue of JLA with those 3 on the cover outsells any other grouping on the cover.

So, if its time to pick new members, who would I, a fan since the mid 70â€™s put on the team? Wow, my first several picks are not available. In fact many are currently dead. Maybe the Justice League Unlimited cartoon is a place to look for ideas. Old line ups certainly are too.

Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman gone.
Aquaman, Martian Manhunter, Elongated Man, Blue Beetle, Rocket Red, Aztek, the New Gods - all dead.
Hal, Ollie, Ray Palmer, Batwoman, Supergirl, Shazam in the other JL book. - Iâ€™d just put Barry and Dinah here as well.
Black Lightning, GeoForce, Metamorpho in Outsiders.
Flash Wally and Red Arrow are in The Titans. Kyle logically goes in this group.
Hawkgirl goes back to Hawkman and the JSA.
Red Tornado has quit.
Booster is out in time.
Captain Atom is now a villain.

That leaves us with:
Green Lantern - Stewart.
Vixen
Firestorm
Zatanna
Plastic Man
Steel
Fire
Ice

Wow. Not much star power there.

Not enough star power means low sales. Batman was pulled in to salvage the Detroit team. The JLI got Batman, a GL (Guy) and Captain Marvel to start. The Outsiders makes sense when Batman leads them and Superman leads the League. To me, No Superman and No Batman makes no sense. (Then again, a Young Titans without Tim, Bart, and Connor makes no sense either.)

The Superfly · **Posted:** Sat Dec 27, 2008 8:17 pm

I don't see why Barry Allen and Dinah can't be in the current League book. Still, not much "star power", right? I'm pretty sure Aquaman is returning, but he didn't do much for the Detroit days. Reddy can return, no reason Hawkgirl should leave, and maybe bring in Conner Hawke.

Aquaman
Black Canary
Flash Barry Allen
Green Lantern John Stewart
Green Arrow Connor Hawke
Firestorm Jason Rusch
Red Tornado
Plastic Man
Zatanna
Vixen
Dr. Light
Icon

Not a terrible lineup...but without the 'big three' in some form, it will be tough to keep sales up. Maybe bring in some new blood, like Firehawk or Resurrection Man. Or rebuild Tomorrow Woman. Or give Moon Maiden a call.

Or they could bring back someone from waaay back...Triumph! I always loved that guy. Could make for some interesting stories...

Glenn2000 · **Joined:** Sun Nov 04, 2007 6:30 pm **Posts:** 3210

For what it's worth, I think that the Justice League works best with the Trinity BUT, I don't know why the same premise that was used for the animated comic Justice League Unlimited couldn't be used successfully in the mainstream comic.

Have the JL built around Bats, Supes and WW, but have a revolving door of all the other characters of the DC Universe to be used at the writer's option. Some stories revolve around the big guns. Some feature second (or third) string characters. Some have a mixture. Even long running subplots could be constructed this way.

Just a thought... :wink:

superfriend · **Posted:** Mon Dec 29, 2008 5:03 pm

The Superfly wrote:

I thought superfriend's blog was a great topic for discussion...

or, you could just post your thoughts as a response to the blog.

superfriend · **Posted:** Mon Dec 29, 2008 5:09 pm

The Superfly wrote:

Green Arrow Connor Hawke
Dr. Light
Icon
...Triumph! I always loved that guy.

Connor Hawke is no longer a Green Arrow, in fact he cannot eve shoot a bow anymore. As of JLA 27, neither Dr Light nor Icon are members of the team. Triumph? Not liked him since he was introduced. Did not like the way he was shoehorned into JLA history, basically given credit for forming the team. Tomorrow Woman and Aztek are probably only available for use at Morrison's disgression.

The Superfly · **Posted:** Mon Dec 29, 2008 5:16 pm

Ah Conner's story I haven't caught up with. I'm pretty sure Icon & Dr Light will be joining.

Triumph could have made for some cool stories. Look how Marvel copied the concept with Sentry.

superfriend · **Posted:** Mon Dec 29, 2008 5:40 pm

The Superfly wrote:

Look how Marvel copied the concept with Sentry.

One of the worst concieved characters ever in my opinion. It was like Marvel admitting they needed a Superman in their universe. They could have just put Thor back in the Avengers.

The Superfly · **Posted:** Tue Jan 06, 2009 3:58 pm

I dunno if it was the worst, but it certainly wasn't the best.

PS - Triumph RULEZ.

robiwan · **Joined:** Sun Nov 04, 2007 6:30 pm **Posts:** 1071

In the preview for Final Crisis #6, Dinah makes the Tatooed Man an honorary member. It really seems like they are trying to make him a hero in that series. I wonder if he will join post FC.

-R

Lt. Clutch · **Posted:** Wed Feb 11, 2009 12:48 am

If the Trinity is being split up again, I'll wager that Barry Allen rejoins the team at some point in the future. Maybe he'll be the next chairman, being a founding member and all. That would be cool, seeing how it's been nearly 25 years since he was last a League member.

JLA - Looking for new members?

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