If the JLA were a popularity contest

[Ian J.N.]

According the poll (http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2008/01/18/top-499-dc-characters-1-499/) done by Comics Should Be Good (with the order rearranged, and the Joker excluded), a twelve member team would consist of Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman and Robin, Nightwing, Flash, Green Lantern, Green Arrow, Booster Gold, Oracle, Martian Manhunter, and the Question (Vic Sage).

It'd be impossible to do given the current status quo, but that's actually a pretty impressive lineup. In contrast, half of the current members aren't even in the top fifty. Red Arrow is at 55; Red Tornado, 83; Hawkgirl, 99-100; Vixen, 114; Black Lightning, 217-225; Jason Rusch, 268-285.

Since the JLA is the flagship team of the DCU, should the lineup be more popularity based?

[Alex Smith]

It does a good job of hitting the obscure characters as well as the popular ones. It always has.

[BYC]

JLA should have the big 7, and around 3-5 lesser characters. Rotate the appearances of the big 3, and use good combos to build characters (like Batman showing Red Arrow a few things, or Wonder Woman mentorng Vixen a bit, and etc.)

The only one on that list I semi have a problem with is Robin. He's just way out of his league. I'd replace Robin with Steel or another thinker. Too bad Ted Kord and Ray Palmer are dead/missing. Not having Aquaman around feels odd as well. Nightwing feels odd as well, since Batman is around.

[Eumenides]

Hey, you call everyone by their codenames, but then you say Jason Rusch and not Firestorm. Are we still sore over Ronny's death :D

Nice line-up indeed, more deserving of the "World's Greatest Heroes" title than the current rooster with Hawkgirl and Red Arrow. A JLA without the ridiculously powerful Martin Manhunter will always be short of one of the DC Big Guns.

[dupersuper]

Add Aquaman and Black Canary (and maybe Plas and Capt Marvel (Billy)), and I'd buy that happily. Does it say which GL?

[Shellhead]

I don't think that Robin, Oracle or Vic Sage belong on the list. They are all great characters, but I just don't see them handling JLA-level threats.

[Ian J.N.]

Hey, you call everyone by their codenames, but then you say Jason Rusch and not Firestorm. Are we still sore over Ronny's death :D
Heh. Purely a slip-up, I assure you. I actually like the character.

[nuclearman]

Sensor Girl (pre-ZH), Alanna Strange, The Enigma, Composite Superman
Vext, The Heckler, Ferro Lad

...the z list reserve of the justice league?? I wonder who the leader would be?

[Umberto]

It's important for me to have popular heroes combined with unpopular ones....look at the beautiful work done in the JSA.
Don't you think it should be done the same with the JSA?

[Eumenides]

It's important for me to have popular heroes combined with unpopular ones....look at the beautiful work done in the JSA.
Don't you think it should be done the same with the JSA?

Hm, well JSA is a team composed of veteran super-heroes and younger ones who carry on the legacy of fallen or retired heroes. As such it's intrinsic to its concept that the team will always have some lesser-known heroes like Liberty Belle, Cyclone and Citizen Steel.

But the JLA is about the greatest and most recognizable DC heroes coming together to stop global threats. Witht he exception of Giffen and DeMatteis' JLI, every time the JLA has been composed of second-tiers (remember the Detroit League; remember the JLA in the early '90s with Ray, Despero, Maxima, Amazing Man), it has always been mediocre.

[Grazzt]

But the JLA is about the greatest and most recognizable DC heroes coming together to stop global threats. Witht he exception of Giffen and DeMatteis' JLI, every time the JLA has been composed of second-tiers (remember the Detroit League; remember the JLA in the early '90s with Ray, Despero, Maxima, Amazing Man), it has always been mediocre.

I'd hardly even call the JLI as being composed of second-tiers. They had Batman, Martian Manhunter, and a Green Lantern, as well as Black Canary and Doctor Fate for a while. Blue Beetle was second-tier, but the fact that the Charlton heroes hadn't interacted that much with the main DC universe before that helped a bit.

[Alan2099]

You need a few second stringer when you're dealing with the A-list simply because they are less protected which means there's more stuff you can do with them. It also tends to add more of a perspective on the team if there's some guy that isn't a god hanging out with the Gods.

[newscott]

I love the inclusion of both "and Robin" and Oracle, and I'd take them both over Vixen or GeoForce or Black Lightning any day of the week.

I think that since Batman is in everything all the time, a little bit of the dynamic duo would really add some fun to a big book like the Justice League.

Red Arrow and Hawkgirl have enough of a ... pedigree to merit their inclusion, I could do without Hal Jordan, but I would take either Kyle or Guy onto the team.

[Sam Scudder]

You need a few second stringer when you're dealing with the A-list simply because they are less protected which means there's more stuff you can do with them. It also tends to add more of a perspective on the team if there's some guy that isn't a god hanging out with the Gods.

I firmly agree. And every once in a while I like to hear about the lesser known DCU heroes. Just because they aren't as popular doesn't mean they can't provide something for the team and the story. I think it allows the writers some room to breathe as well. I mean the whole first story arc was about Red Tornado, and it was amazing. I think that shows that unpopular characters don't always lead to a bad story, and at the end of the day that's what I'm more concerned with.