Finally, thirteen issues in, Justice League International has truly begun. With Maxwell Lord’s android storyline seemingly over and the JLI’s United Nations approval, Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis launch the next storyline of their run. For these issues, the writers throw our great characters into a quest, a search. Essentially, it’s all one big story with some smaller ones along the way, but perhaps these issues are far more memorable for introducing some new characters. Although they appeared very briefly in a previous issue, Fire and Ice are properly introduced here as two new heroes looking for a home. They were once part of the Global Guardians along with Jack-O-Lantern and the others, but now they see Justice League International as their future. Perhaps most hilariously of all, Giffen and DeMatteis introduce a villain who is surely going to make the world hell for the new Justice League…
Justice League International (vol 1) 14-21 was published from June to December 1988.
This storyline was written once again by Keith Giffen and J.M DeMatteis, with art by Steve Leialoha, Al Gordon, Kevin Maguire, Ty Templeton, and Joe Rubinstein.
Now, remember what I said about this new villain? Well, Justice League International (vol 1) 14 begins on a world torn apart, a wasteland. The planet’s resources are eaten up by a huge intergalactic ship, belonging to one Manga Khan. In essence, Manga Khan has all the power in the world to make him a truly formidable and evil foe. But the problem is that he is hugely incompetent. Manga’s vast empire of robots, androids, and machines may destroy planets for their resources, but this isn’t to build an empire. Instead, Manga Khan destroys planets in order to collect their resources and trade with other planets. He has a big ego and reminds me somehow of a less-evil Doctor Robotnik. He isn’t really a malicious villain as such, but of course it isn’t much surprise when his planet-destroying plans lead him to Earth. Giffen and DeMatteis introduce us to Manga Khan and his android fleet immediately, but it is great because it sets up the scene for a story with humour but also huge stakes at the same time. Meanwhile on Earth, Fire and Ice attempt to join the Justice League, but Oberon isn’t exactly impressed. At this time, most of the league are out relaxing or doing very little. For a change, Mister Miracle is the focus of this story as we witness his life of stargazing while his butch wife Big Barda bosses him around. As ever, Booster Gold and Blue Beetle are fooling around, and nobody takes much notice of the invasion fleet approaching Earth. One of the best moments from this issue has to be when L-Ron, Manga’s most trusted servant who features commonly later in the run, teaches the villain about Earth and its superbeings. Although Manga Khan is no threat alone, because he has this huge fleet of destructive forces, there is a genuine threat here. That becomes even more apparent when L-Ron broadcasts to the people of Earth about the oncoming destruction. However, the Justice League are certainly glad to have Gnort on their team once again! As ever the useless but lovable Green Lantern, is the first to learn about Manga Khan’s plans. The villain basically orders the United Nations to surrender, but since the politicians debate endlessly, Manga grows bored and decides to destroy Earth. They may be hideously unprepared, but with the help of Fire and Ice, and of course, Gnort, Manga Khan is as good as defeated.
Justice League International (vol 1) 15 is mainly an outer-space romp that would usually bore me. However, the Justice League may be out in space fighting against Manga’s forces, but Giffen and DeMatteis add the humanity and humour to make it a hugely enjoyable scene. Plus, Gnort is there. What more could you ask for! While much of this issue is a big fight, it is broken up very well by Manga Khan’s rants at L-Ron which are hilarious, and it really does feel like the first true fight for this new Justice League. They may have been involved in Millennium, but this is bigger because they are the only characters involved. This issue also gives some much-needed attention to Fire and Ice, both of whom are actually far more interesting characters than anyone would expect. They don’t feel dated or particularly annoying and they contribute to the league’s international status. In short, they are memorable, but they do not win the prize for the most memorable character here. Although I quite frankly find Mister Miracle to be something of a boring, if likable, character, his inclusion here makes for a great ending. Basically, Manga Khan realises that he cannot defeat the Justice League and he has to retreat in order to save his own life. However, they accidently abduct Mister Miracle, and he is transported far across space. His disappearance makes as a really powerful moment. It’s not because of who the character is, but what it means to all the others. It feels like a member of the family has gone, and it also helps how Big Barda’s dominating presence after this event is included. The Justice League is thrown into a quest to bring back one of their own. The intensity of the plot may cease after the events of this issue, but Giffen and DeMatteis tease the following issues well. In essence, Justice League International (vol 1) 14 and 15 could be considered one separate story because of Manga Khan’s plans. If (continued)
that were so, then this is definitely a very enjoyable and funny read. Like I said, the story is entertaining and humorous, but there is a genuine and consistent threat here. The writers portray just how powerful Manga Khan’s weapons can be and therefore he becomes a memorable cosmic menace.
Just from looking at the cover, Justice League International (vol 1) 16 looks like a very different story indeed. It features Bruce Wayne as an almost-James Bond-like figure, with no mention of the search for Mister Miracle. In fact, Giffen and DeMatteis basically split the next few issues into two different stories. While one group of heroes tag along with Batman to Bialya to meet everyone’s favourite dictator Rumaan Harjarvti, the others go on a quest for Mister Miracle. Perhaps it’s best to cover them separately.
First of all, Batman’s story takes up much of Justice League International (vol 1) 16 and 17 on his quest to Bialya. The Dark Knight may have broken with the league during that Suicide Squad crossover, but he has unfinished business. This story proves that Giffen and DeMatteis can write Batman in his same old broody self. During the whole Mister Miracle saga, Batman visits Maxwell Lord (who has only just left hospital after his hectic storyline in the run’s first year) who tells him that Harjarvti is up to something. With Fire, Booster Gold, and Blue Beetle, the Dark Knight heads to Bialya as Bruce Wayne (with the other JLI members believing that Batman’s Bruce Wayne guise is only a mask). Much of the story is simply the heroes waiting around for Harjarvti’s grand reveal, but its nicely padded out by an interesting, if slightly forced, romance between Batman and Fire. However, the really interesting storyline in the background has to Harjarvti’s new ally, none other than the Queen Bee. She is an old JLA foe from back-in-the-day, but she is working with Jack-O-Lantern. This is interesting because Giffen and DeMatteis obviously have been building that character’s story for many issues and it’s good to see he hasn’t been forgotten about. Anyway, at Harjarvti’s great reveal at the end of Justice League International (vol 1) 17, the world is witness to Wandjina the Thunderer. This is a
brilliant shock because when he last appeared in Justice League (vol 1) 3 as an anti-nuclear superhero, he appeared to die saving the world from destruction. However, Giffen and DeMatteis provide a cruel but wonderful twist here, exampling how the two writers can flawlessly capture different moods in a single story. However, this shock is quickly overshadowed by another. With his blistering and burning touch, Wandjina burns Harjarvti to ashes, and Queen Bee is revealed to be the true villain. An absolutely wonderful end to this issue, made even better by the slow development of Harjarvti since the start of the run. He may have been cruel and evil, but he was an entertaining and strangely real character. After that brilliant shock, the following issue is generally much quieter and slightly more uneventful, except the ending. Batman and Fire plan out another strategy while on the run from Queen Bee’s forces, while Blue Beetle and Booster Gold are in prison for their crimes against the Bialyan state. For some odd reason, Batman disguises himself as Maxwell Lord. It’s not exactly a grand idea, especially since doing so would naturally result in an international crisis. However, Batman uses the guise to break out his buddies from prison and finally confront Queen Bee and Jack-O-Lantern. This fairly rudimentary issue concludes this story very nicely; the people of Bialya rush to Queen Bee’s aid. After years of abuse and suffering under Harjarvti, they finally feel safe under this new leader. Not only does this inclusion raise the potential for future stories featuring the Queen Bee, but it adds some hugely memorable drama between Fire and her ex-cohort Jack-O-Lantern. The two characters have taken very different paths since their days in the Global Guardians, and to see this rift is very interesting indeed. Overall, Batman’s Bialyan adventure (which really should be the canonical title of this story) is a great, amusing, but also shocking distraction from the main story. While Wandjina’s story may not be featured anywhere near as much as it should have been, it’s great to see such a twisted and dark return for a former hero. Overall, the first issue is top-notch, and the second has its merits.
As for the Mister Miracle story, it takes something of a back-burner for much of these two issues. Martian Manhunter, Big Barda, Rocket Red, and Gnort head out into space to follow Manga Khan’s ship. This unlikely cast of characters is only made great by the Green Lantern’s inadequacy and fear of confrontation. However, the heroes appear to lose any trace of Mister Miracle when the villainous ship jumps into hyperspace. As for Manga and L-Ron, they quickly learn of their captive’s origin and formulate a plan to sell Mister Miracle back to the evildoers on Apokolips, the home world of Darkseid. From here again, the story takes two different routes but both paths lead to the conclusion and one is far more prevalent than the other.
Justice League International (vol 1) 18 and 19 are perhaps famous for featuring Lobo fighting Guy Gardner, with the two covers reversing the two characters in their duel. As the four heroes head into hyperspace and confront Manga’s spacecraft to find their ally, Giffen and DeMatteis write a humorous stand-off where both sides are fearful that the other moves. Words can’t do justice to Manga Khan as a villain here. He may no longer be a direct threat, but he is kept entertaining by characters like L-Ron and his other machines which are forced to listen to his rambling. Anyway, to break the silence, Manga Khan calls in the help of Lobo, a character whose fame is far in the future in the late eighties as he was more known for featuring in The Omega Men. In effect, Lobo is a brute who feels little pain. Much of this issue is a big fight between Lobo and the JLI heroes, but the star is definitely Guy Gardner. The writers radically changed the Green Lantern’s personality after his scrap with Batman and some mysterious rewiring thanks to Hal Jordan, but Lobo finally breaks the mould as the malicious and egotistic Guy Gardner returns. No hero can defeat Lobo. Can Guy?
The battle between the giants shifts to Earth through teleportation, where Blue Beetle, Booster Gold, and Fire have arrived home from their mission with Batman. Justice League International (vol 1) 19 reveals that, no matter how hard they try, Guy and Lobo cannot defeat each other. The heroes are forced to separate them before any more destruction is unleashed. From here until the end of the story, the two characters are split like angry children. It was only a matter of time before the real Guy Gardner came back, but I guess I was surprised by just how long it took. His happy and cheery persona only vanished when it was growing tired, and some angst is welcome. These two issues really are the distraction between the huge action on Apokolips, but Giffen and DeMatteis conclude with some JLI admin. While Batman leaves, Hawkman and Hawkwoman join the team, but other heroes like Superman still aren’t too keen on joining. Also, it’s kind of forgotten about, but Black Canary leaves the team. Oberon mentions it in one scene as she heads away with Oliver Queen to Seattle, but she won’t be coming back. It’s clear that Giffen and DeMatteis are moving things forward with JLI as Maxwell Lord wants it to expand further. But in what form remains to be seen…
On the grim world of Apokolips, Manga Khan presents Vermin Vundabar and Granny Goodness with Mister Miracle, the lost son of this tortured world. Justice League International (vol 1) 20 throws us straight into the action as Manga Khan asks for technology, a Boom Tube, for a reward for his achievement. Think of this story being very similar to Justice League of America (vol 1) 183-185, where the JLA and JSA help to free the enslaved people of New Genesis. If you’re like me, you’ll find the whole New Gods experience pretty cliched and uninspiring, but because of a strong cast of mainstream characters with a solid goal, this story works well enough. Sure, there may be some references to Jack Kirby’s pretty dreadful Hunger Dogs graphic novel from 1985, but it’s basically a fight for Mister Miracle’s freedom. As ever, Gnort has some great scenes and much of the plot progression takes place with Manga Khan, who is basically treated like a joke by titans such as Granny Goodness, and when the Justice League arrive only to fight a legion of Para-Demons, Manga Khan escapes in such a way that is hugely surprising. It turns out that Manga Khan is simply a spirit of sorts who possesses robotic bodies. Sensing danger nearby, Manga leaves his robot body and finds another in his ship, giving him ample time to escape. It’s very characteristic of Manga to escape but it’s part of what makes him a memorable and entertaining character. When possessed with great power, he can be a tyrant. But when he has delusions of strength, he is a good laugh. Justice League International (vol 1) 21 begins with the whole league (apart from an oblivious Captain Atom arriving on Apokolips at Barda’s request. Again, its another fight, but the story is made interesting by the background events. For instance, Oberon isn’t kitted out for a fight, so he goes off in hiding only to bump into Darkseid. Yeah, it’s not everyday you see the most evil and powerful dictator in the universe sitting down in a comfy chair reading a book. But it is Mein Kampf, a bestseller among dictators. Anyway, it turns out that the heroes are fighting for no reason as Oberon negotiates Mister Miracle’s freedom and the conflict is over. It’s never quite clear why Darkseid just lets them all go, especially since he has the one perfect chance to annihilate the whole Justice League and Lobo, another a threat in himself. However, the story ends brilliantly when Darkseid receives a final phone call from Manga Khan. He is keen to open trading routes to Apokolips. With a nice ending to the Mister Miracle saga, did we really need seven issues to tell this story? Probably not, but Giffen and DeMatteis manage to pad the Mister Miracle/Manga Khan plot out very nicely with other stories. The actual conclusion to the other may lack much plot to be honest as it just a big brawl, it wraps up this run nicely and it seems that, along way, every character gets their fair share of the spotlight. A great new villain and some interesting subplots (which may often be more interesting and eventful than the core story) make this a good Justice League International story.
As ever, Kevin Maguire shines as the prime artist. His human and attractive art style works brilliantly here with Al Gordon as he continues to define JLI at its height. As for new artists like Steve Leialoha and Ty Templeton, it’s something of a mixed bag. Leialoha’s style isn’t hugely suited to a multi-cast title such as this, and while his finishes may be interesting and memorable, it’s too scratchy and almost abstract for a Justice League title. On the other hand, Templeton fits right at home. His pencils may be a more simplistic version of the visuals once supplied by Maguire, but it has a sense of charm that reminds me of an animated and energetic style. His layouts too are grand.
Hit or Miss
While very much detached from the main plot, Justice League International Annual 2
was released in July 1988, written by the regulars but with art by Bill Willingham and Joe Rubinstein. I’ve read these stories in their original issues. This annual has something of a continuity problem. For starters, Fire and Ice are members of the league, but Mister Miracle is still present on Earth. Not only that, but everybody’s favourite third-world dictator, Rumaan Harjarvti, is still alive. Therefore, this story can’t really fit anywhere. Fortunately (or perhaps unfortunately as I’ll explain) continuity is not the only problem with this annual. Harjarvti, still annoyed at how the Soviet Union and the USA disregard him as a crackpot, is one day visited by none other than the Joker. In a very verbose dialogue scene to commence the plot which really is unessential, Harjarvti decides in his infinite wisdom to team up with the Clown Prince of Crime to kill the Justice League. In exchange, Harjarvti will give the Joker some information about Batman’s identity. Why the Joker really cares about Batman’s identity isn’t ever really stated, but I guess it is sufficient enough here. Much of the rest of the story really isn’t anything to write home about. It may have the humour and great characterisation that Giffen and DeMatteis never fail to provide, but since the confusion over the continuity essentially makes this story pointless in the grand scheme of things, there is little weight to anything that happens here. For instance, there are a few moments when Booster Gold and Blue Beetle basically mess around for fun while the Joker fails to assassinate them. This is all well and good, but since this annual is never mentioned again, I feel like a lot of what happens here is pointless. Not only that, but the second annual really isn’t much fun to read. It definitely has a wonderful hook, with the idea of the Joker fighting the Justice League a truly interesting concept. However, I don’t think the story does much justice to the villain’s character. You’ve got to remember that in 1988, the same year which this annul was published, perhaps the most famous Joker story ever written was published. The Killing Joke by Alan Moore and Brian Bolland portrayed the Joker at his most terrifying, sinister, and cunning. Justice League International (vol 1 Annual 2 paints him to be slightly dark, but mainly incompetent and something of a joke. Even though I really like the ending to this story, where the defeated Joker attempts to chase the Batmobile driven by a Batman who really can’t be bothered to fight his arch-nemesis today, it just hits home how inconsistently writers portray the Joker. As for Harjarvti, his plan obviously fails, and he has no choice but to cut ties with the Joker. But since this story isn’t mentioned ever again, it just proves how pointless this annual is. The first annual had a similar problem, but at least that developed Martian Manhunter’s character and was given a solid place in the continuity. Justice League International (vol 1) Annual 2 may look like a classic, but it is pretty forgettable and irrelevant.
Bill Willingham and Joe Rubinstein provide fairly good art for this annual. The storytelling isn’t bad, and they have a good eye for detail. However, I think their depiction of the Joker is a bit too regular and it lacks that long and creepy face he is usually remembered for. At times he really does look like a man with white makeup and a green wig. Also, some of Rubinstein’s inks are surprisingly rushed and a bit sloppy. It’s clear that this annual was never really high-up on the creative team’s priorities, but overall, the art is never offensive or downright terrible.
Story: 4/10
Art: 6.5/10
Raising the Roof
Well, isn’t this a surprise. Slap-bang in the middle of Justice League International (vol 1) 18 lies a Bonus Book. DC published an extra story every so often in the late eighties without the issue being any more expensive. In most cases, the Bonus Book was usually a cheaply knocked-out story with little redeeming qualities. However, writer Mark Asquith with artists James Webb and Mark Pennington tell an entertaining Giffen-like tale where Mister Miracle and Big Barda’s house is destroyed by their own New Genesis-technology. From there, the Justice League help out by building a new house for the couple (and Oberon). Think of this story being similar to Hurricane Neddy from The Simpsons, but without the anger disorders. The heroes build the house, but very shoddily; it collapses, and the couple are forced to live in the JLI headquarters. It may be a predictable plot, but it is surprisingly memorable and entertaining, albeit with pretty regular art.
Story: 7.5/10
Art: 7/10
VERDICT
Overall, Justice League International: The Search for Mister Miracle (as I have unofficially named it) is a good story that would, due to its length and lack of mainstream plot, fail to fill seven issues. However, because of the fantastic subplots that Giffen and DeMatteis supply, readers are supplied with a fuller and more satisfying set of issues. In fact, the main story is often overshadowed by Batman’s exploits in Bialya, and Guy Gardner’s fight with Lobo. That’s certainly not a compliant, however. As for the Annual and Bonus Book, I suppose they complement this large story and break it down a bit, but you won’t miss much if you gave them a miss…
Stories: 7.5/10
Art: 7.5/10
Next Week: Justice League International: Around the World (Justice League International (vol 1) 22-25, Annual 3, Justice League Europe 1-4). Written by Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis, with art by Kevin Maguire, Joe Rubinstein, Ty Templeton, Mike McKone, Bart Sears, Pablo Marcos, Keith Giffen, and Bruce. D. Patterson.
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