After their Justice League International run ended in 1993, Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis had cemented themselves as two of the greatest Justice League writers. Not only had they produced over 100 issues for the league’s titles, but they made their stint unique with humour, character, and drama. The years following their departure were bleak for Justice League International. As Justice League America fell into the hands of Dan Jurgens and Justice League Europe into Gerard Jones’s, JLI lacked the energy and popularity that made it into a hit. The longer it went on, the more boring things seemed to become, and readers were tired. In 1996, less than a decade after the JLI’s launch, the era came to an end with the cancellation of Justice League America 113. But what next? Was this the end of the joviality of Justice League International? Sadly, yes. In January 1997, JLA was launched by Grant Morrison, who transformed the league back to how it was before the Detroit days in the early-1980s. The hard-hitters – Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the rest – returned and the team was popular again. However, there was still much love and nostalgia for the humour of Giffen and DeMatteis. To celebrate one of the most successful periods in Justice League history, DC gave Justice League International more than another chance, but a full-hearted celebration…
Formerly Known as the Justice League – a great self-deprecating title – was a six-issue miniseries published from September 2003 to February 2004. It was obviously written by both Giffen and DeMatteis, but it is also drawn by Kevin Maguire and Joe Rubinstein, two of the greatest artists during the JLI era. I’ve read the miniseries in its trade paperback, which I believe has some exclusive features – one of them being an entertaining set of profiles to reintroduce some of the star characters to us.
Nostalgia is a great thing. Perhaps I am similar to others when I say that Justice League International was one of the first comic book runs I ever read. Giffen and DeMatteis constructed a title that wasn’t just great, but also memorable. I look back on my first reading of the run with huge envy – I didn’t know how impactful that run was going to be on me and how I want comics to be. But often, that nostalgia can be confused or even misplaced. The memory cheats, and how we view moments from the past are based on our moods at the time. What’s the point of this psychoanalytical rant? The point is that this miniseries could either be great or terrible due to the amount of excitement die-hard fans of the run must have enjoyed it. It must live up to expectations. It needs to recreate that great mood, but it needs to offer something different.
You know things are off to a good start when everyone’s lovable favourite businessman Maxwell Lord arrives at a fast-food restaurant to find his old pal L-Ron working taking orders. Giffen and DeMatteis hit the nail on the head when it comes to the mood. It feels silly, but mysterious. It also feels like we’ve spent time away from these characters and a lot has happened since we last saw them. For example, since when did L-Ron get a job? Also, I thought his L-Ron now inhabited Despero’s body. I guess the writers are assuming that you’ve read the issues after their departure, but since that isn’t the case, some explanations would have been nice. Regardless, you don’t really need too much backstory to explain things here. In short, Maxwell Lord is on a journey with a begging bowl – attempting to convince ex-JLI members to join his new Super Buddies team. Like before, he sees this is a financial opportunity. As ever, Giffen and DeMatteis capture the personalities of these heroes well. We’re treated to a mixture of Justice League America and Justice League Europe characters, with Blue Beetle, Booster Gold, Captain Atom, Elongated Man, his wife Sue, and Fire present. However, the writers also re-energise things by introducing Mary Marvel into the mix. Think of her like Captain Marvel – a teenager who can transform into a superhero – but less annoying and more interesting. The incorporation of new heroes makes Super Buddies into more than a simple JLI continuity team. The first issue sets the miniseries up nicely as a new team is created, and we’ve been reintroduced to a strong cast of characters well.
What makes the Super Buddies team different from the previous JLI is scale. While the first issue hints at greatness, power and fame to woo heroes back into the international cause, the second crushes their hopes. Very Maxwell Lord. Unlike before, the Super Buddies now occupy a small damp base on one of the roughest streets in America. This radical change is a good one as it presents the heroes with new urban challenges such as robbery and gangsters. This was territory that wasn’t really explored much in the main run. There are some great scenes featuring civilians visiting Maxwell Lord and wondering how he can help with their dilapidated society, but they don’t trust him much due to his love of money. However, the Super Buddies win over the trust of the people by defending them from a random gangster with superpowers. I’m not sure how he got those, but I guess Giffen and DeMatteis will put it down to the Gene-Bomb as ever. It becomes clear with this issue that Formerly Known as The Justice League can’t be renowned for this plot. If anything, it lacks a deep story. What makes it enjoyable is the characters engaging with one another. Mary Marvel is a great addition as – with the mind of a child – she is a paranoid character who excites the status quo. For instance, she is scared of Captain Atom for being nuclear, and constantly worried about whether or not Fire likes her. Her incorporation shakes things up, while the friendship between Booster Gold and Blue Beetle feels different. Clearly, their friendship is still there, but it feels like they have grown up. Like the first issue, the second continues to set things up – but where is the story?
Issue three seems to begin with more comedy and jokes as Maxwell Lord launches a promotional video for the Super Buddies (which is based heavily on the 1980s Super Friends animated TV show). But finally, something really interesting occurs when all our heroes – bar Maxwell Lord and Sue Dibny – vanish and wake up in some kind of prison. At first, it appears that this is just another opportunity for Giffen and DeMatteis to write some more character dialogue. While there is some of that, it’s time for action as the villain behind their kidnappings is Roulette. At first, I had no idea who Roulette was, but it turns out that she is a JSA villain. Her plan is to basically control the superheroes and have them fight against each other in the boxing ring – attracting huge crowds and money from the event. This idea is effective for this tale because it breaks the positive mood of the story with something dark. Mary Marvel is forced to beat Captain Atom to near-death, and it makes for a wonderful cliff-hanger ending as Mary Marvel holds her former ally’s broken body as it oozes radiation.
With issue four, the bloodshed pretty much ends and frankly, nothing happens. Blue Beetle, Booster Gold, Fire, and Elongated Man break out of their cells to rebel against Roulette – who is forced to release Mary Marvel and Captain Atom from her influence. However, Roulette just escapes, never to be seen again. Okay, the story may shift to another focus from here on out, but this plot just feels unresolved. The motives of Roulette are clearly money – but that just feels too simple. Regardless, I do like the aftermath and how Mary Marvel has to come to terms with her power. But this also gets thrown slightly under the rug. What happens next? Aliens.
With issue five, it’s almost like a different story begins. Throughout, the interstellar planet-dealer known as Manga Khan has been watching his former enemies on Earth. Here, he arrives in a huge spaceship as if ready to invade the planet. But actually, his demands are simpler than that. It turns out that Manga Khan – somehow after the end of Breakdowns when L-Ron joined his former master once again – lost L-Ron and found him on Earth with Maxwell Lord. He has come to take back his lovable robotic companion and, in return, Earth can have G’Nort – the fluffy failed Green Lantern who is a total joke figure. The return of both Manga Khan and G’Nort completes the JLI experience – they weren’t hugely important figures in the run, but when they appeared, they were memorable. Of course, Maxwell Lord isn’t happy with this deal, and it has the potential to escalate into a fully-fledged war between Earth and Manga Khan’s army. Meanwhile, the heroes aren’t around as they are looking for ways to heal Captain Atom, but when the heroes unite for the final issue, an epic battle is surely certain.
Issue six hits home how useless the Super Buddies team is. With war a possibility, the second-rate team of heroes is forced to let the first raters come in. The JLA – Batman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, Plastic Man, and Martian Manhunter arrive to take control of the situation. However, tensions rise when Booster and Beetle – arguing about how their friendship has changed – accidentally damage some of Manga Khan’s robot soldiers. Martian Manhunter watches knowing that any trouble would have been caused by those two. His inclusion here may be brief, but his laxed attitude towards the failure of his former allies is hilarious. Also, Maxwell Lord doesn’t help things after he punches Manga Khan in an attempt to appear strong.
However, the heroes win after Mary Marvel takes out Manga Khan’s army and the JLA intervene. In the end, Manga Khan is forced to leave Earth without L-Ron, and he is also forced to give G’Nort – otherwise nicknamed the ‘merchandise’ – to the Super Buddies. This ending obviously concludes the drama, but I like it because you have to remember who it is all about. In the end, they are all fighting over L-Ron, originally conceived as a joke figure. But through the run, we’ve seen all the characters warm to him and his humour has always been a highlight of the title. Therefore, fighting over a little droid while risking the planet perfectly sums up the amateur yet human appealing of the JLI and the Super Buddies. It makes for a sweet ending. However, it doesn’t feel like the miniseries should end here. Sure, there is a sequel, but it feels as if we are still getting to know these characters again in this new team. The biggest problem with Formerly Known as The Justice League is that it lacks the structure of your usual miniseries. Whether it be the lack of a plot in the first two issues, a clear one in the middle issues, and then a complete change in direction for the final two, this miniseries lacks an overall plot which makes the story memorable. However, it stands out because of the excellent character writing and the incorporation of new characters. Relationships has always been a key aspect of the JLI run, and Giffen and DeMatteis reignite my interest in the cast. I just think it could have gone further if there were more issues. It also feels like the first two issues are slightly wasted. The writers could have set everything up in the first issue and begin the plot in the second. Overall, Formerly Known as the Justice League feels like part of an ongoing series. When the stories get going, things are fine. But when you have a miniseries that is only six issues long, you need to take advantage of every single page. Formerly Known as the Justice League is strong on character, but bad on pacing.
For the return of Giffen and DeMatteis it was only fitting that Kevin Maguire and Joe Rubinstein return. Their art and storytelling here mesh perfectly with the colourful writing. The clean style of the art and vivacious sense of drama blend incredibly smoothly with Giffen and DeMatteis’s character writing and dialogue. It seems that Maguire’s art has become more stylised in his later career, and this story certainly benefits from an artist at his peak with a great inker.
VERDICT
So, was Formerly Known as The Justice League different? It certainly honoured the original run by bringing back older characters, but it explored new territory in terms of new members and different stories. The Super Buddies in a more urban setting is welcome, and the sense of character placed in the plots is fantastic. Pacing is where it may fall down, but I have to come back to that theme of nostalgia. Does this miniseries pander to die-hard fans like myself who love the original run? Yes, but not to the point where it is swamped by its own past. This miniseries does well to not just reinvigorate a run that was – towards the end of its time – growing tired, but it shakes up the relationships between characters. The biggest problem is its length, but fear not, there’s another miniseries coming!
Story: 7.5/10
Art: 9.5/10
Next Week: I Can’t Believe It’s Not The Justice League (JLA Classified 4-9). Written by Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis with art by Kevin Maguire and Joe Rubinstein.
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