Who is the "true" Justice League?

[Count Vertigo]

I had gotten into a conversation with someone about the JLA and their first attack on Doomsday and he wondered about those heroes and where the real JL might be.

Which brings me to this posting...

Who do you think is the "true" league?

[Gozwald73]

Wow this could spark one of those "IMO..." battles. Love it. Can't wait!

For me, each incarnation becomes the 'right one' at the time, with all previous Leagues in fond nostalgic mode.

;)

[Matt]

The JLA should emcompass the best that the DCU Earth has to offer; therefore it is the heroes that represent the values and ideals of Earth that should constitute the teams roster.

Supermn, Batman, Wonder Woman - 100% givens.
Hal Jordan, Martian Manhunter, Aquaman, Ray Palmer - Rest of the core team.

Then other heroes are brought in as missions/circumstances call for.

[Count Vertigo]

Btw, the first posting does not reflect my thoughts. I for one, liked ALL the incarnations of the JL.

[Phoney Bone]

Satellite era, specifically right after #200 when Green Arrow rejoined. Martian Manhunter's appearances semmed more special when he wasn't an active member and more of a Sci-Fi countepart guest-star to Phantom Stranger.

[jaguarshark]

For me, each incarnation becomes the 'right one' at the time, with all previous Leagues in fond nostalgic mode.

;)

That sounds about right to me. Although I guess, in my heart of hearts, I see the 'true' League as the original Big Seven, along with Hawkman, Green Arrow and The Atom. Of course, the Giffen era didn't have many of those guys, and I love the hell out of it anyway.

[Haunt]

1. Superman
2. Wonderwoman
3. Batman
4. Green Lantern
5. Martian Manhunter
6. the Flash
7. Hawkman
8. Hawkwoman
9. Aquaman
10. the Atom
11. Black Canary
12. Green Arrow

[shyguy]

I'm not sure what that even means.

A lot of people seem to like the big seven, but I've always thought that the Superfriends in any incarnation were pretty boring - even when written by Grant Morrison, whose work I generally like.

The only Justice League to ever really interest me was the JLI/E.

[Count Vertigo]

I asked because he was complaining about Booster Gold, Fire, Ice, Beetle, Gardner and Bloodwynd which kind of bothered me a bit because he's not read any JLI issues save for that set when Doomsday had arrived. To me, the opinion of someone who hadn't read ANYTHING about a specific subject is absolutely useless.

[Deadpooligan]

Alex Ross' Justice. That's the true JLA.

If not:

Superman
Batman
Wonder Woman
Green Lantern- Jordan
Flash- West
Martian Manhunter
Green Arrow
Aquaman- Superfriends

[Christopher O]

I'm going with Meltzer on this one: Wonder Woman, Superman, and Batman. With that foundation, there are many character combinations that can be used to create a "true" Justice League.

[Cayman]

Only Amazo knows for sure.

Cay

[Babylon23]

I first encountered the JLA during the satellite era, so I've always seen that team as the "true" team. A JLA team just doesn't seem the same to me without Hawkman, GA, Zatanna, Elongated Man, Firestorm etc.

However, I've loved other periods of JLA as well, most notably the JLI/E days and Morrison's big 7.

[Jack Zodiac]

Whenever the League is at its greatest, Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, and The Flash are all in it. These five have the best balance of powers and personalities, especially when Wally was Flash and Kyle was Green Lantern, though I'm sure Hal will be welcomed right back.

The two additions I always liked the most to this core was Aquaman and Martian Manhunter, because they both have even more unique powers that complete the team, and represent specific realms that the other members don't.

[foxfire]

1. Superman
2. Wonderwoman
3. Batman
4. Green Lantern
5. Martian Manhunter
6. the Flash
7. Hawkman
8. Hawkwoman
9. Aquaman
10. the Atom
11. Black Canary
12. Green Arrow
pretty much

[caats19]

i go with the magnificent 7..the 3, aquaman, flash, lantern, and j'onn. but then green arrow, black canary and hawkman are well suited for me too.

[Josh S]

The JLA should emcompass the best that the DCU Earth has to offer; therefore it is the heroes that represent the values and ideals of Earth that should constitute the teams roster.

Supermn, Batman, Wonder Woman - 100% givens.
Hal Jordan, Martian Manhunter, Aquaman, Ray Palmer - Rest of the core team.

Then other heroes are brought in as missions/circumstances call for.

I agree with that, but would say Flash should be there too.

[Jack Zodiac]

I guess Ray's a good one, too. The Atom has powers no one else can come close to simulating.

[phantom1592]

Alex Ross' Justice. That's the true JLA.

If not:

Superman
Batman
Wonder Woman
Green Lantern- Jordan
Flash- West
Martian Manhunter
Green Arrow
Aquaman- Superfriends


AGREED. Ross Nails it :)

[EZMOHR]

To be honest with you.....The Timm Universe of the Justice League. It just seems right.

[dazzler_slave]

I think that there is no real answer to this one. Some could say the original line up (Barry, Hal, J'onn, Aquaman & Diana) because they started it. Some would say the Satellite years because it seemed to endure the longest. Some will say the big seven because they are the most iconic. I think a lot of people will define the true league as the lineup that was around when they discovered the JLA. So for me, the true League will always be the Giffen Era. Justice League/JLI/JLE was when I started reading DC superhero comics and so they will always be special to me. Though I have to say that I have enjoyed every era of the JLA so far from the very beginning (at least, the back issues I have anyway) to the current stuff.

Do you think there is someone out there who thinks of JLDetroit as the true League? :D

[SINALOA]

Superman
Wonder Woman
Batman
Aquaman
Hal Jordan
Martian Manhunter
Black canary

[meethraa]

The Giffen/De Matteis era is the only one I really, really enjoyed.

[Lorendiac]

For me, each incarnation becomes the 'right one' at the time, with all previous Leagues in fond nostalgic mode.

;)

I can't go along with that. To me, the Detroit Era Justice League of the mid-1980s was never "right" in any way, shape, or form, and I don't notice myself getting all nostalgic about it even though I own the full run of that era.

And the subsequent Giffen/DeMatteis version was sometimes quite funny and entertaining, but never fit the proud tradition (as it had been established prior to the Detroit Era) of the name "Justice League." So I had ambiguous feelings about that run. Some good storytelling, but done under entirely the wrong title. Sort of like the way I would feel if the Batman titles spent the next five or six years with stories written in the light-hearted style of an Archie Andrews comic book. It might be incredibly entertaining in its own peculiar way if it had a unique title and character names, but it would not deserve to be called "the current official version of Batman."

If the late 80s/early 90s group had used some entirely different title, such as "Guardians of Justice," I would have found it easier to "accept" it on its own merits.

[K'Nort]

I've enjoyed too many versions (although not all of them) to be able to pick a definitive line-up. As soon as someone says JLA, the Silver Age and the Morrison line-ups pop into my head pretty much simultaneously. And the Superfriends are jumping around back there pretty closely as well.

[Buried Alien]

I don't know about "true" Justice League, but my favorite is the full lineup of the Satellite-era JLA, which featured the Earth-One versions of:

1. Superman
2. Batman
3. Wonder Woman
4. Flash (Barry Allen)
5. Green Lantern (Hal Jordan)
6. Aquaman
7. Martian Manhunter
8. Green Arrow
9. Atom
10. Hawkman (Katar Hol)
11. Hawkwoman (Shayera Hol)
12. Red Tornado
13. Elongated Man
14. Zatanna
15. Black Canary
16. Firestorm

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[Gozwald73]

I can't go along with that.


Nobody asked you to. Hence the "for me" opener in my comment.
:rolleyes:

[Samurai]

I don't know about "true" Justice League, but my favorite is the full lineup of the Satellite-era JLA, which featured the Earth-One versions of:

1. Superman
2. Batman
3. Wonder Woman
4. Flash (Barry Allen)
5. Green Lantern (Hal Jordan)
6. Aquaman
7. Martian Manhunter
8. Green Arrow
9. Atom
10. Hawkman (Katar Hol)
11. Hawkwoman (Shayera Hol)
12. Red Tornado
13. Elongated Man
14. Zatanna
15. Black Canary
16. Firestorm

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)
Seconded! I really enjoyed having EM, Red Tornado, Firestorm, and Zatanna in the group along with all the icons. Man, those years were the greatest.

[Forefinger]

I had gotten into a conversation with someone about the JLA and their first attack on Doomsday and he wondered about those heroes and where the real JL might be.

Which brings me to this posting...

Who do you think is the "true" league?
I'm going with Morrison's "Big 7" JLA. And I liked it when he expanded the roster to 14 with the big 7 there, but stories could focus in on another group.

[Frankie Dennis]

1. Superman
2. Batman
3. Wonder Woman
4. Martian Manhunter
5. The Flash (Barry)
6. The Green Lantern (Hal)
7. Zatanna

[stealthwise]

The Giffen/De Matteis era is the only one I really, really enjoyed.

Same with me.

[TheCrisisKid]

Whoever is still alive....

[Lorendiac]

Nobody asked you to. Hence the "for me" opener in my comment.
:rolleyes:

Dare I point out that I never actually accused you of trying to make me go along with it? I only explained, on my own initiative, why I couldn't. :rolleyes:

(Gosh, this is a really profound and mature conversation we're having now, isn't it? ;))

[titanfan]

To the general adult, "Justice League" was the Superfriends they grew up watching.

To me, the JLI is the team I grew up with the longest, and that's the team that will always be the Justice League to me.

The Jurgens League that went up against Doomsday was pretty powerful. Superman, Bloodwynd (J'Onn), Maxima and Guy were all heavy hitters. Doomsday later beat the Morrison JLA as well, so I don't think know if a "Big Gun" JLA would have been able to do that much better.

[kentonindy]

I think a great JLA would be versions of the 12 Silver Age members who have Golden Age counterparts:

Superman
Batman
Wonder Woman
Aquaman
Flash
Green Lantern
Green Arrow
Black Canary
Atom
Hawkman
Hawkwoman
Red Tornado

I would stick with the classic versions of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and Aquaman. The Hawks would be Thanagarian, Tornado would be the android, and Arrow would be the angry liberal. For some diversity I'd go with the new Asian Atom, and I like the idea of Black Canary being black. Finish off with new versions of the Flash (female) and Green Lantern (visibly alien).

Since Alex Ross keeps trying to insert Captain Marvel and Plastic Man into JLA retroactively, I think they and Mary Marvel would fit nicely into this group.

The Teen Titans for this group would include Supergirl, Robin, Wonder Girl, Aqualad, Captain Marvel Jr., and a new Kid Flash (male). The Hawk's son would be Golden Eagle, Speedy would be Arrow and Canary's daughter, and Red Tornado's adopted daughter Traya would be the Cyclone Kid.

[mswood]

I first encountered the JLA during the satellite era, so I've always seen that team as the "true" team. A JLA team just doesn't seem the same to me without Hawkman, GA, Zatanna, Elongated Man, Firestorm etc.

However, I've loved other periods of JLA as well, most notably the JLI/E days and Morrison's big 7.

I really couldn't agree more. The Satelite years to me IS the Justice League. There have been other versions that have been good, and other stories that have certainly been better. But to me that group is the justice league.

The Big Guns plus the Hawks, Green Arrow, Black Canary, Red Tornado, Elongated Man (miss him), Atom, Zatanna, and to a lesser degree Firestorm (my least favorite of the Satelite years.

Of course that a big team, but its a damn fine team.

[Suzanne]

I don't know about "true" Justice League, but my favorite is the full lineup of the Satellite-era JLA, which featured the Earth-One versions of:

1. Superman
2. Batman
3. Wonder Woman
4. Flash (Barry Allen)
5. Green Lantern (Hal Jordan)
6. Aquaman
7. Martian Manhunter
8. Green Arrow
9. Atom
10. Hawkman (Katar Hol)
11. Hawkwoman (Shayera Hol)
12. Red Tornado
13. Elongated Man
14. Zatanna
15. Black Canary
16. Firestorm

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)I'll drink to that :cool:

[kcaJ drawkcaB]

Every hero in the DCU who have proven themselves in combat should be considered members.

[TCJohnson]

To me, the JLI is the team I grew up with the longest, and that's the team that will always be the Justice League to me.


Same here. Brad Meltzer said that people's favorite Justice League are the first one they read and that is deffinitely true with me.

[mswood]

See thats not the case for me at all. I was reading JLA in the 80's (the issue number not the year). And hell my favorite group is 100 episoes after that.

Nor are those the best written stories, but to me that group truely represents the Justice League.

I have enjoyed other runs quite a bit, and love the Giffen years, but those don't feel like the Justice League to me at all (just a well written and dialogued book).

[bobbydrake50]

Definately the Giffen era:

Martian Manhunter
Blue Beetle
Booster Gold
Fire
Ice
Mister Miracle
Guy Gardner
Max Lord & Oberon

I've never enjoyed the league since this grouping finished.