Justice League Vol 1 1

Justice League #1

Born Again

"There's a lot we have to learn -- about each other and about ourselves -- before we can present ourselves to the public in any major fashion."

--Batman

Summary

Volume: 1
Issue: 1
Month: May
Year: 1987

Credits

Editor in Chief: Jenette Kahn
Head Writer: Keith Giffen
Writers: J.M. DeMatteis
Cover Artists: Kevin Maguire and Terry Austin
Pencilers: Kevin Maguire
Inkers: Terry Austin
Colourists: Gene D'Angelo
Editors: Andrew Helfer

Synopsis

Cast of Characters:

Justice League

John Charles Collins
Gypsy (in a photograph)
Maxwell Lord
Ms. Wootenhoffer
Oberon
Pat Sajak (behind the scenes)
Ronald Reagan (cameo)
Rudy Giuliani
Schrick
Steel (Hank Heywood III) (in a photograph)
Tom Brokaw (cameo)
Vibe (in a photograph)
Vixen (in a photograph)

Locations:

United Nations Building

Items:

Bat-line
Blue Beetle's Bug
Green Lantern Ring
Justice League signal device

First Appearances: John Charles Collins (a terrorist); Maxwell Lord IV (an entrepreneur); Ms. Wootenhoffer (Maxwell Lord's secretary); Schrick
Final Appearances: John Charles Collins (dies in this issue); Schrick

Synopsis: Guy Gardner is the first member of the latest incarnation of the Justice League to arrive for work. As each of the new members file in to their headquarters, Guy snaps off offensive and smarmy remarks to each of them. A brawl breaks out between them until Batman enters the room and tells everyone to settle down. He calls their first official meeting and tells them of his desire to keep a low profile until they establish themselves as a more cohesive team, but fate (not the Doctor) has other plans.

A group of terrorists takes control of the United Nations general assembly and holds them hostage. One of the people in the assemblage is Kimiyo Hoshi, the new Doctor Light. She uses her recently acquired Justice League signal device to send an S.O.S.

Batman receives the call and mobilizes the team. They take Blue Beetle's bug to the UN and surreptitiously sneak into the building. Batman immediately realizes that something is wrong with these so-called terrorists. The League easily defeats them and leaves the leader to fend for himself.

The terrorists are actually low-rent thugs hired by entrepreneur Maxwell Lord IV, knowing that they would be easily defeated by the Justice League. As Max watches the television footage of the affair, he gloats while holding the firing pin to the terrorist's suicide bomb.

Notes

This issue is reprinted in the Justice League: A New Beginning trade paperback.

With issue #7, the series changes its title to Justice League International.

Batman appeared last in Detective Comics #574.

Black Canary appeared last in Legends #6.

Blue Beetle appeared last in Blue Beetle (Volume 1) #15.

Captain Marvel appeared last in Legends #6.

Doctor Fate appeared last in Legends #6.

Doctor Light appeared last in Crisis On Infinite Earths #12.

Guy Gardner appeared last in Green Lantern (Volume 2) #210.

Martian Manhunter appeared last in Legends #6.

With this issue, Maxwell Lord becomes a regular supporting character throughout the remainder of the series.

Mister Miracle appeared last in Mister Miracle Special #1.

Oberon appeared last in Mister Miracle Special #1. He appears next in Firestorm (Volume 2) #63.

Trivia

The cover to this issue is re-imagined in several other comic books including Justice League Europe #1, Justice League Quarterly #1 and Formerly Known as the Justice League #1.

A version of Guy Gardner's internal monologue from page 1 is paraphrased in the opening scene in Justice League America #61.

One of the journalists featured in this issue bears a slight resemblance to an actual reporter named Connie Chung. Her name (which is only partially provided) is revealed as "Lonnie Chu...", an obvious respelling of Connie Chung.

New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani makes a cameo appearance in this issue.

Pat Sajak, host of the daytime game show The Wheel of Fortune makes a behind-the-scenes cameo appearance on a television screen.

NBC anchorman Tom Brokaw makes a cameo appearance in this issue.

Although it is never revealed, Maxwell Lord may have used his metahuman psionic capabilities to force John Charles Collins to take his own life. Max's ability to affect the minds of others will not be revealed until Justice League International #12.

External Links

References

Justice League series index at the Unofficial Guide to the DC Universe (character chronologies)

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