This JLI is pretty close to the Eighties lineup.
Entry number two regarding the DC reboot of their core 52 titles: two of my favorites from the Eighties getting another attempt. Actually, they’ve reappeared periodically as miniseries or in the dreadful Blackest Night crossover (the only impressive element was how they numbered the cancelled comics, e.g. Suicide Squad has 67 on it because it ended at 66 back in the Nineties).
First up is Justice League International, a rather odd move in my opinion. Why? I think my personal politics are atypical of most comic fans, especially in Texas, so a modern-day multi-national group working with the UN feels like a short-lived publication. You continue to hear Right-Wing idiots ramble on constantly about the following fictional conspiracies: black helicopters, the UN taking away guns, Sharia law in the courts and how much debt the Chinese hold. Since entertainment often reflects popular sentiment, right or wrong, why would DC waste the paper? Then again, the UN was a favorite whipping boy of Phaorah Reagan 25 years ago and yet the Justice League becoming an international force had no negative effect. It had the opposite effect as Marvel’s Avengers charter changed to something similar and the Justice League launched a European branch based in Paris by 1988-9.
Where this new team fits in the larger DC Universe remains a mystery because the parent title Justice League opened five years before the events happening in JLI. Ergo, there’s no strong explanation why heavy hitters Wonder Woman, Superman and the Green Lantern Hal Jordan were excluded from the Security Council’s consideration, all three heroes don’t hold any national allegiance. They do go with a decent mix but I’m confident Booster Gold is the leader due to him being author-artist Dan Jurgens’ creation. It’s not a complaint, I dig the character, I just never found BG to be the in-charge type nor is the UN handler’s rationalization credible: BG loves publicity which makes him easily manipulated. Batman is unofficially onboard to help Booster and to represent American skepticism/paranoia. Rounding out the planet are Vixen (fake African country yet really American), Fire (Brazil), Ice (Norway), Rocket Red (Russia), Godiva (UK, third character to use this name in DC), August General in Iron (China, he needs a better name) and Green Lantern Guy Gardner (comic relief). I was disappointed that Rocket Red isn’t the cheerful Dmitri from the past (an OMAC killed him), it’s a different guy who seems to antagonize the Chinese character.
With the group formed in a hurry, JLI is off to its first mission…investigate the disappearance of a UN survey team in Peru. Meanwhile, some Americans take matters into their own hands by blowing up the League’s HQ to express their anger at the UN. This definitely needs more issues to see where it’s going. I have confidence in Dan Jurgens though and I’m very grateful DC didn’t give this to hack Judd Winick.
Suicide Squad only has one original member.
Suicide Squad‘s return is the bigger mystery since it was definitely a product of its time expressing the cynicism I remembered then. Sadly, DC chose not to involve its original co-creator John Ostrander (the other, Kim Yale, passed away which sucks, I actually met her, got her advice on becoming a comic book writer, a story for another day). The premise appears to be the same as it was 25 years ago: all the villains the superheroes put away are recruited by the American government for covert-black ops missions. It’s not clear if they’re turned lose afterwards but I assume they will be, three members are in Batman’s rogues gallery: Harley Quinn, Deadshot and Black Spider. The remaining three are El Diablo, King Shark and Voltaic. Traditionally, at least one character is killed during a mission. The smart money says Voltaic, I’ve never heard of him. They also gave the team’s de facto boss, Amanda Waller, a makeover if that was indeed her on the final page. She’s no longer a middle-aged obese black woman but a younger, svelte black woman. I’m confident Rush Limbaugh will say it’s supposed to be Michelle Obama.
Squad devotes the entire issue to exposition on why the team exists, how they ended up in prison, how they’re kept in line (explosives are planted in their bodies, no more wristbands) and why the villains were selected…they didn’t crack when tortured. I think Harley would’ve snapped if Dick Cheney were there to read excerpts of his fictional memoirs. Then it ends with a cliffhanger, the team is dropped from a plane and ordered to kill thousands trapped in a stadium a la New Orleans-Katrina.
I’m willing to see how this goes. However, a major reason why I loved the Eighties version was the superheroes with bad reputations being members: Bronze Tiger, Nightshade, Shade the Changing Man, Major Victory and Nemesis. They went along to keep the villains in line and ensure the mission’s chances of success. Maybe someone like them will be added should this title survive.
Stay tuned (or is it tooned?). I hope to revisit these like Justice League at issues three or four to re-assess.
Next up? The Teen Titans reboot and the introduction of Justice League Dark, the focus is on DC’s magic-based characters: Zatanna, Madame Xanadu, John Constantine, Deadman and Shade the Changing Man.