Justice League DETROIT returns!

[Sean Walsh]

From yesterday's ATR column:

I’ve heard that the artist attached to Steve Englehart’s upcoming JLA Classified arc will be Tom Derenick, who is currently penciling the closing issues of the current JLA series. As Englehart has alluded to before, his story will feature Steel, Vixen, Gypsy, and Vibe during the infamous “Justice League Detroit” era, in a four issue story before picking up in the present day in JSA Classified for a three issue arc teaming Vixen and Gypsy with Wildcat, Green Lantern, Stargirl and Flash. I’m told that Derenick will be providing the art for all seven issues.

http://www.silverbulletcomicbooks.com/rage/index1.htm

[The Shadow]

I'm sorry but I find it hard to get excited about a low point in the JLA's history.

The Shadow shall pass on this one.

[Lex]

Steve actually told us about it in this chat here at CBR. It sounds like a cool story.

While the Detroit Era is widely regarded as one of the worst parts of League history, it doesn't mean that a competant writer can't get a good story from those characters. I'm very ineterested to see what comes of it.

[Agentum]

Yeah, bring back Justice League Antarctis instead :-D

When was this Detroit era?

[Bat-Mite]

Not sure, but I think it was some time around and between Crisis and Legends in the mid eighties.

[Babylon23]

JL Detroit began pre-Crisis, and continued up until the Legends miniseries (the team can be seen in issue 1 of Legends). The issues in question are 233-261. The Crisis issues are around 245.

Aside from the members mentioned above, Aquaman, the Martian Manhunter, Zatanna and the Elongated Man were also members at different times during this period.

Although a low point, the team's final fatal story by JM Dematteis and Luke McDonnell is a good one (issues 258-261).

[Gingold]

It's Steve Englehart writing the JLA! It could feature Blue Jay, Maya and Bloodywnd and I'd be there.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

I'm getting it. Ostrander used JLA: Detriot in a story in JLA:Incarnations 5# that really was good. It was set during Crisis and it really did a good job on the team.

[Robin3]

Steve actually told us about it in this chat here at CBR. It sounds like a cool story.

While the Detroit Era is widely regarded as one of the worst parts of League history, it doesn't mean that a competant writer can't get a good story from those characters. I'm very ineterested to see what comes of it.


I understand what you're saying Lex, although it seems to me that it's better business to try to get good stories from good parts of the League's history. Part of why JLA was such a popular book when Morrison took over is that he demanded the top characters. It's the publishing equivalent of not learning from past mistakes.

[Lex]

I'm getting it. Ostrander used JLA: Detriot in a story in JLA:Incarnations 5# that really was good. It was set during Crisis and it really did a good job on the team.Yeah, it's not like these characters can't be written well. One of the recent Justice League Unlimited issues featured Vibe and I thought it was extremely good.

[Bat-Mite]

I understand what you're saying Lex, although it seems to me that it's better business to try to get good stories from good parts of the League's history.

I agree that it would be better business, but who cares? We are not DC's accountants so who cares about the business if it's fun?

[megladon8]

Does anyone else find the sound of "Justice League Detroit" to be kind of funny?


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v496/megladon8/jladetroit.jpg


JUSTICE LEAGUE DETROIT

[SUPERECWFAN1]

Does anyone else find the sound of "Justice League Detroit" to be kind of funny?


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v496/megladon8/jladetroit.jpg


JUSTICE LEAGUE DETROIT


Eddie Murphy as ? : " Heh heh Hahhhhh."

[megladon8]

Eddie Murphy as ? : " Heh heh Hahhhhh."

Please tell me you did understand the reference, and that yours was a sarcastic comment.

[SuperManny]

Does anyone else find the sound of "Justice League Detroit" to be kind of funny?


Good one, loved it :)

*wants to see Axel Foley in Infinite Crisis*

[Cash Lone]

Although a low point, the team's final fatal story by JM Dematteis and Luke McDonnell is a good one (issues 258-261).

Those final issues w/ Ivo were pretty disturbing - the story and art created a real dark mood.

[glennsim]

This may not be necessary, but I just want to point out that the book wasn't called "Justice League Detroit". It was Justice League of America still, it just happened that the team was based in Detroit at the time.

I remember really really liking it, mainly because it was a chance to get in on the ground floor for a new version of the team (I was like 14 at the time).

And I liked really getting to know more about the characters, rather than it being completely action-oriented.

I didn't like Luke McDonnell's art on the later issues, though. And the whole Adam/Zatanna thing was pretty confusing.

Whatever happened to Chuck Patton? I thought he had a great, clean style.

[dazzler_slave]

I am so glad to hear that they will be doing a Detroit era arc! Anything with Vixen in it is a good thing. I also was a little worried that JLA Classified was going to be yet another anthology series focusing on big 7. First arc: big 7. Second Arc: Super Buddies (yay! Thank god!) Ellis Arc: big 7, Simone arc: big 7. The big 7 get really boring after awhile. I am a sucker for the smaller characters. And nothing gets smaller than JLA Detroit! :D

With so much history with the JLA, it is nice when they go back and look at other eras, or else Classified just becomes another JLA title with nothing really distinguishing it.

[Lex]

I also was a little worried that JLA Classified was going to be yet another anthology series focusing on big 7. First arc: big 7. Second Arc: Super Buddies (yay! Thank god!) Ellis Arc: big 7, Simone arc: big 7. The big 7 get really boring after awhile. I am a sucker for the smaller characters. And nothing gets smaller than JLA Detroit! :DWell, to be fair, some of these stories were originally either JLA minis or short arcs prepared for when the main JLA book was doing rotating creative teams. And all those were folded into this new book. So, I can imagine that several will be Big 7 oriented. But once that dies down I think we'll get much more variety in the stories.With so much history with the JLA, it is nice when they go back and look at other eras, or else Classified just becomes another JLA title with nothing really distinguishing it.I totally agree. There are a lot of fun non-Big 7 characters that would be great to see in more stories. Like Vixen, Zauriel, Elongated Man, Zatanna, Captain Atom, Captain Marvel, Dr. Light, Crimson Fox, Metamorpho, Animal Man, Blue Devil, Triumph, Tomorrow Woman, Jason Blood and on and on. There are tons of possibilities that aren't present day/Big 7 JLA stories, so I'm looking forward to what this book can do.

And, hey, wouldn't a Justice League Antarctica story be really fun?

[dazzler_slave]

Well, to be fair, some of these stories were originally either JLA minis or short arcs prepared for when the main JLA book was doing rotating creative teams. And all those were folded into this new book. So, I can imagine that several will be Big 7 oriented. But once that dies down I think we'll get much more variety in the stories.I totally agree. There are a lot of fun non-Big 7 characters that would be great to see in more stories. Like Vixen, Zauriel, Elongated Man, Zatanna, Captain Atom, Captain Marvel, Dr. Light, Crimson Fox, Metamorpho, Animal Man, Blue Devil, Triumph, Tomorrow Woman, Jason Blood and on and on. There are tons of possibilities that aren't present day/Big 7 JLA stories, so I'm looking forward to what this book can do.

And, hey, wouldn't a Justice League Antarctica story be really fun?

I would LOVE a JLAnt story! Bring me some G'Nort and Scarlet Skier! I agree with all the characters you mentioned. It would be nice to see some of them. I guess you're right about the Big 7 arcs. Let's hope that after the Gail Simone arc, they will have used up all the minis and abandoned JLA stories that they folded in to Classified and will now be able to focus on more diverse lineups. I would love to see a Justice League Europe story with Capt. Atom, Rocket Red (RIP), Animal Man, Elongated Man, Sue (RIP), Flash (Wally), Power Girl (RIP Atlantean origin!) Crimson Fox (RIP) and Metamorpho. I really miss that team... :(

[TheOnlyXTremeFan]

Those final issues w/ Ivo were pretty disturbing - the story and art created a real dark mood.

What happened? I think I remember hearing about the story from Wizard a couple years ago, but they didn't go into details.

[matewan1990]

What happened? I think I remember hearing about the story from Wizard a couple years ago, but they didn't go into details.

JLA-Detroit was slated for cancellation what with the new, Keith Giffen-JM DeMatteis-Kevin Maguire series ready to go, so, as part of the Legends series and its tie-ins, DC decided to kill off the JLA-Detroit in the last four issues of the original run of JLA.
Professor Ivo sent an army of robots to kill the members of the JLA and succeeded in offing Steel and Vibe, with Gypsy and Vixen getting away. Martian Manhunter and Vixen walk out of the JLA headquarters and, as they leave, the JLA emergency signal goes off, signaling the new group, simply called Justice League.
After a few issues, JL because JLI and then Justice League America, Europe, Antarctica, Task Force and Extreme and whatever other JL-groups DC could come up with. Finally, it went back to Justice League of America. Then, it was cancelled and DC gave Grant Morrison free reign to do with the JLA as he pleased and we had one of the best series in comics. But, good writers only stay a little while and when Grant left, JLA started its downhill slide and now, it's at its worst with Bob Harras and Tom Derenick giving us a storyline worse than anything ever imagined in previous runs. You think Gerard Jones' JLA was bad, try the terrible World Without a Justice League story arc that will, thankfully, put this title to rest.
JLA-Detroit members have popped up several times throughout the DCU, with Vixen being a part of the Suicide Squad and Gypsy being a member of JL-Task Force.
For my money, Luke McDonnell's art on JLA-Detroit was right up there on my list of favorites with Dick Dillin. McDonnell wanted to draw the original JLA characters, but it wasn't in the cards. He only got to draw a few issues with guest appearances by the original JLA, as most of his issues were all JLA-Detroit.
For a look at several JLA-Detroit covers, go to:
http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryRoom.asp?GSub=12513
Mike B.

[titanfan]

it's at its worst with Bob Harras and Tom Derenick giving us a storyline worse than anything ever imagined in previous runs.

Actually this Bob Harras arc is very JL-Detroit like in the way it's being written. It totall reminds me of that era. The problem (for me) wasn't the roster of JLDetroit, it was the crappy stories. Given a good writer, I'm sure they could tell good stories about that team. Many writers have had a good handle on Gypsy, who I've begun to appreciate more over the years.

I'm just surprised DC is willing to give that era 4-issues. I was getting tired of JLA Classified being almost exclusively Big-7 stories anyway.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

Actually this Bob Harras arc is very JL-Detroit like in the way it's being written. It totall reminds me of that era. The problem (for me) wasn't the roster of JLDetroit, it was the crappy stories. Given a good writer, I'm sure they could tell good stories about that team. Many writers have had a good handle on Gypsy, who I've begun to appreciate more over the years.

I'm just surprised DC is willing to give that era 4-issues. I was getting tired of JLA Classified being almost exclusively Big-7 stories anyway.


This arc is pretty much the current League dissolving in a close tie to the old 80's arc. Its just that theres 1 villain left from the start of this series that needs to be dealt with.

We'll see something good reborn outta the current JLA next year. I can't wait.

[Deathlok]

that break dancing superhero needs to end himself.

[dazzler_slave]

that break dancing superhero needs to end himself.
Prof. Ivo already took care of that