What has gone before...

It all began in the winter of 1940 with the third issue of ALL-STAR COMICS. That issue contained a simple story by today's standards - a group of heroes meeting together to discuss and swap stories. However that was the genesis of the superhero teams that form the foundation of DC, Marvel, Image and a dozen smaller publishers universes. ALL-STAR COMICS #3 opened the way for teams made up of characters from different titles, it also showed us the original archetype for those teams - the Justice Society of America (JSA).

The adventure comic declined after the war as cowboys, science fiction and horror replaced the costumed heroes. After a story titled "The Mystery of the Vanishing Detectives" the JSA joined their brightly coloured friends in comic book limbo. It was the end of the Golden Age...

Wheels turned and the first appearance of Barry Allen heralded the dawn of a new age, the Silver Age. Less that a decade after the Justice Society had disappeared their legacy was realized by one of their original creators, Gardner F. Fox, as he introduced the world to the revamped heroes of DC/National, together as the Justice League of America (JLA).

Since their first appearance in BRAVE AND THE BOLD #28 the JLA has spawned three series of comics, five spin-off series and over a dozen specials and mini-series. Also the JLA has appeared in a live action TV pilot, a classic animated TV series (the Superfriends and Aquaman), guest starred on the BBC Superman Radio Play, had its own toyline (Total Justice) and for a time its own computer game.

Now forty years after their first appearance the Justice League is reborn. A cabal of transatlantic talent including Scottish writer Grant Morrison (Animal Man, Invisibles) and his successor, the US's own Mark Waid (The Flash, Kingdom Come), have breathed new life into the League. The main JLA title has gone from zero to be DC's best selling title. The indications are that they've only just started!

[Return to The JLA Ages]

The Captain's Unofficial JLA Homepage X. December 2000. WEBMASTER: Jason Kirk (jmkprime@yahoo.co.uk). The Justice League, the Justice Society, related icons and images are copyright DC Comics or their original creators/artists and are used without permission. This site is non-profit making and in no way exists to defraud the original artist/writers/owners of the discussed material - it is a work in homage and it is hoped that it is seen as such. Displayed on a reusable monitor.