Should JLA be the flagship title?

[daredevil1990]

I've seen this question floating around in many different places. I know there's jsut been a thread started about the recent JLA volume, but I wanna know what you think about the book over the 90's, 80's and so on - as well as the present.

I've only read about half of Grant Morrison's run - I'm still working through them - and a few Meltzer and McDuffie issues. Their quality aside, although I know that's going to come up since it's pretty much what the thread is about - so by all means, I wanna know what you think on that level - should JLA be the core title of the DCU books? I mean, all the bigger heroes can be found there so does that mean they should deal with the bigger story lines and themes running in the DCU? Should JLA be the book where it happens before it happens anywhere else? By that I mean should it be the book that has the most recent and 'biggest' events being told in it?

[Hypestyle]

Yes.. make it a flagship title, and give Dwayne McDuffie lots more editorial leeway to use the characters he wants...

[Wilder Midnight]

I think it should be but it only works when it's done "right".

The current JL of A run hasn't been bad. It managed to breathe some life back into the concept. It fell way after Morrison and Waid left...but it also feels like things aren't as great as they should be.

Personally it "feels" like the League does need to change direction for a little while and let some of the lesser tiered characters step up for awhile and mix it up with some more traditional Leaguers.

My least favorite era of the League was the "Giffen" era...I didn't hate it but felt a lot of potential was wasted early on and the jokes weren't funny enough to stecth them out for as many years as it went on.

[Paiute 1]

I always felt that the Batman and Superman titles were the flagship books, but there is no reason why JLA should not be in the top five to three.

[$5 Milkshake]

Probably. Maybe. I want to say Action Comics, but I dunno if Supes is that guy anymore. Or any solo book really.

Either way, JLA should be bigger and better.

[Raker616]

Yes if anything JLA should be the book that all DC fans have to get regardless of their favorite hero, it needs a high profile artist that understands what makes the book work and an artist that can deliver those stories in a timely and effective way.

[The Xenos]

Yes, yes, a million times YES. How is Justice League -not- a flagship title. To me, DC has watered it down with Trinity, Batman/Superman, and not to mention tons of crossovers and events. I want to read about huge events in Justice League, but it gets trumps because it is overshadowed by the crossover of the quarter or doesn't match up with all the other books. Wasn't that the whole point of the Justice League? They're the big guns and the big events take place there.

[fb1990]

Personally I'd prefer for JLofA to be run like Amazing Spider-Man. About 5 writers and 7-8 artists rotating on a book that ships 3 times a month. No more 6 issue arcs - focus on done-in-one stories and 2-3 issue self-contained stories with two or three big 4-5 part stories every year.
I'd have these writers on the book:

1. Paul Cornell
2. Geoff Johns
3. Joe Kelly
4. Sterling Gates
5. James Robinson/Alex Ross

And these artists:

1. Carlos Pacheco
2. Gary Frank
3. Marco Rudy
4. Doug Mahnke
5. Philip Tan
6. Phil Jiminez
7. Ryan Sook

I'd probably also make a core team of 9 which would feature Aquaman (chairperson), Flash (preferably Wally), Green Lantern (preferably John or Guy), Zatanna, Black Canary, Green Arrow, Captain Marvel, Plastic Man and Frankenstein with Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman on the periphery.

We can all dream, can't we?

[daredevil1990]

It's probably 'cause I've just finished the third 52 trade - gonna finish the 4th this week, can't wait, haha - that I started this thread. I just love the 'community' feel of 52, if you know what I mean. I know JLA and 52 are two completely different titles, with completely different purposes but I can't help but think that JLA would benifit from a pool of writers and artists - much like 52 did. The previous poster who said the title should be run like ASM hits the nail on the head for me. Yeah it'd be pretty expensive/offputting that it shipped more often, but if it had hte pooled creative team, it could draw in a lot more favour from people. I can't help but feel I'm saying McDuffie is doing a bad job on the book but I'm really not, I'd hate to say that about any writer. That said, I think the JLA needs something new injected into it. I'm not reading it month to month atm, so I'm probably not very fit to comment but what I have read didn't really jump out at me.

[Ari Gold]

My preference would be that JLA is not the flagship title, especially not as you describe.

My vision would be a JLA featuring lesser used characters (not B or C-List necessarily, just heroes that aren't over-exposed) + Big 7 not currently in their own books (like Aquaman).

I don't like when characters appear in 3-5 books a month and therefore would prefer not to see a lot of cross-over. I think DC lacks teams books, and that JLA can stand on its own and build its own fan-base without tapping other story-lines/characters.
I think we would see the JLA reach out to certain characters as is necessary. Like, if they need a certain skill set or if they are facing an opponent that someone else has good intel on.

[celticguy]

It is a Flagship book it is just presently with a b-c list lineup.

I don't mind the Big 3 not being there but it needs a Flash and if not Hal they it should be Kyle, No disrespect to John Stewart I just prefer Kyle.

I hope things get better after Flash Rebirth and at least Aquaman come back.

[JamesJesse]

I think Grant Morrison had the right idea.

The JLA should be THE team of the DCU. The first line of defense.
I don't mind a few supporting cast heroes but the key is support cast. It should be the best and brightest.

I'm all for second and third tier characters mind you. Booster Gold is currently my favorite book. But until they earn it, I'd rather see them in either a) supporting roles as far as the JLA is concerned, or b) in their own books or other team books where they can really shine. Booster for instance, was ok on JLI but his own book shows he's doing better on his own. As before, anyone who steps up can be invited to join the JLA ranks.

With Aquaman and Martian Manhunter possibly due back (we all know they wiill return sooner or later) I think the JLA should be:

Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Hal Jordan GL, Barry Allen Flash, Martian Manhunter, Aquaman, as the main stars.

I also like the thought of having one member from every incarnation of the league present so they could choose their support crew from the following: Hawkman, Vixen, Atom, Steel (Irons), Black Canary, Zatanna, Firestorm, Green Arrow, Captain Atom, Plastic Man and maybe whoever steps up from the Milestone or Red Circle heroes.

[lonewolf23k]

Only if it's the Grant Morisson league, or at least the Mark Waid league. And it's not just because I want my Magnificent Seven/Twelve leaguers.

It's the fact I just don't feel any solid team dynamic in the current league, other then "it's a bunch of DC Heroes working together." The Morisson league, meanwhile, had a great dynamic, with lots of chemistry going on between the characters. And they weren't just heroic, either. They were Epic.

Edit: Oh, and on the subject of Green Lantern, I think that position should rotate on a regular basis; maybe Hal, Kyle, John and Guy trade "shifts" on the League...

[ZachSensei]

Giffen did an amazing job with the b-c list but you can't count on that.

I would have JLA be the big guns with a few b listers to help round it out and bring them to the forefront.

Or go the way Justice league unlimited went and have everyone part of the League and construct arcs however.

[paulski]

It absolutely SHOULD be the flagship title of the DCU. It just isn't doing a very good job of it right now. :frown:

[celticguy]

I think Grant Morrison had the right idea.

The JLA should be THE team of the DCU. The first line of defense.
I don't mind a few supporting cast heroes but the key is support cast. It should be the best and brightest.

I'm all for second and third tier characters mind you. Booster Gold is currently my favorite book. But until they earn it, I'd rather see them in either a) supporting roles as far as the JLA is concerned, or b) in their own books or other team books where they can really shine. Booster for instance, was ok on JLI but his own book shows he's doing better on his own. As before, anyone who steps up can be invited to join the JLA ranks.

With Aquaman and Martian Manhunter possibly due back (we all know they wiill return sooner or later) I think the JLA should be:

Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Hal Jordan GL, Barry Allen Flash, Martian Manhunter, Aquaman, as the main stars.

I also like the thought of having one member from every incarnation of the league present so they could choose their support crew from the following: Hawkman, Vixen, Atom, Steel (Irons), Black Canary, Zatanna, Firestorm, Green Arrow, Captain Atom, Plastic Man and maybe whoever steps up from the Milestone or Red Circle heroes.


I agree the JSA and JLA are backward. The JSA should be a tight team and the JLA which has so many characters with their own books should havethe deeper roster.

You can use the popularity of the big 7 well big 5 to bring some c and d listers to at least b list status.

[Sizzle]

While I have enjoyed the stories on Vixen, Roy, and Hawkgirl, it should be the Big 7.

I have a feeling Roy and Wally are getting strict Titans duty. Barry will be the Flahs in the JLA and Ollie is going to be in the JL maxi.

[celticguy]

I have a feeling Roy and Wally are getting strict Titans duty. Barry will be the Flahs in the JLA and Ollie is going to be in the JL maxi.


Other then Barry that has all already happened.

[daredevil1990]

With Supes on New Krypton, a new Batman on the way, Barry coming back, Aquaman returning - hopefully soon - where do you guys see the JLA title 1 year from now?

[Mundungus]

Yes it should be the "flagship" DC book.

It doesn't need to comprise only the big guns, but it should balance between event-level epics and the interpersonal relationships of the cast.

A book that could, hypothetically, have a story about sentinent meteors turning into humanoid constructs and bombarding Earth should still, at it's core, be able to resonate with the reader and give us an illusion of personal connection with the characters.

[celticguy]

With Supes on New Krypton, a new Batman on the way, Barry coming back, Aquaman returning - hopefully soon - where do you guys see the JLA title 1 year from now?


I expect Barry on the JLA Since JL is now a limited series I expect some of them as well.

I think once the Bat temp is chosen he should get offered membership, assuming it is Nightwing he has already earned ito n his own. I can see BC wanting a Batman to giver team more weight and it would help give status to the new Batman as well.

[babybro]

My preference would be that JLA is not the flagship title, especially not as you describe.

My vision would be a JLA featuring lesser used characters (not B or C-List necessarily, just heroes that aren't over-exposed) + Big 7 not currently in their own books (like Aquaman).

I don't like when characters appear in 3-5 books a month and therefore would prefer not to see a lot of cross-over. I think DC lacks teams books, and that JLA can stand on its own and build its own fan-base without tapping other story-lines/characters.
I think we would see the JLA reach out to certain characters as is necessary. Like, if they need a certain skill set or if they are facing an opponent that someone else has good intel on.


I agree 110%. It's the big 3 ideal or big 7 concept where new characters are not given their share in the spotlight. This is a key difference between DC, where superman or batman always have to save the day, and marvel where either spider man, wolverine, incredible hulk, luke cage, even someone like moon knight can be a major part of the universe and perform the big save. So for me, I wouldn't mind seeing a few major players in it. Like superman, don't really care for batman and don't really like wonder woman. Perhaps a flash, and maybe a GL, but the rest should be dedicated towards other heroes. So they also can get their time to shine and perform the big saves.

Bring in captain marvel, steel, Donna, it's time for the old to past the torch to the new.

[synthetikdemon]

the flagships of DC should be Action and Detective , these are the icon titles

JL is THE premier team of the DC Universe, and should be afforded the best writers and artists

when Morrison wrote it , the title had the weight of the big seven , and now it has a more balanced team , I like the use of Vixen and Hawkgirl and even Roy getting promoted above Ollie, but the quality of the stories has dived , maybe because of the proximity of the launch to Final Crisis etc and all the upheavals of the Bat and Superman familes of titles, and although good that this is reflected it has detracted from what was a flagship title.

[earl]

[QUOTE=fb1990;8687837]Personally I'd prefer for JLofA to be run like Amazing Spider-Man. About 5 writers and 7-8 artists rotating on a book that ships 3 times a month. No more 6 issue arcs - focus on done-in-one stories and 2-3 issue self-contained stories with two or three big 4-5 part stories every year.
/QUOTE]


I've posted something similar, but I think this would be the way to go. With the extended issues you could have the big guns like Superman and Batman come in and out of the title in a more natural way and have ample space to try and make stars out of the second rung characters. You would have plenty of issues to have a big annual JLA/JSA story without taking up a half year of issues. You would also have some space to maybe bring in a bit of the the ha ha stuff dealing with having to be on monitor duty.

I just look at 52 and what Marvel has done with Amazing Spider-man and I think you could do something like that with JLA and it could be huge.