Justice League Europe
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Justice League Europe was a DC Comics book run that was a spin-off of Justice League International (which was renamed Justice League America at the time). It ran for a total of 68 issues (plus five annuals) from 1989 to 1994. At issue #51 the title was renamed to Justice League International (vol. 2). Like Justice League America, the series featured a lot of tongue in cheek humor but was a much more action-centric series than Justice League America. The action themed nature of the series was most overt with the series's most famous arc "The Extremists". The arc featured the JLE fighting a cadre of psychopathic villains patterned after Marvel Comics villains; Doctor Doom, Magneto, Doctor Octupus, Sabretooth and Dormammu.
The team was originally centered out of Paris, France but later moved to an abandoned castle in Great Britain.
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] The Old World Team
The League had grown in sufficient size that the decision was made to split it in two. JLE was originally based out of Paris and the original lineup consisted of the following:
- Captain Atom (field commander)
- The Elongated Man (with his wife Sue assisting)
- Power Girl
- Flash (Wally West)
- Rocket Red
- Animal Man
- Metamorpho
- Wonder Woman (left after only one mission)
[edit] Justice League: Breakdowns
"Breakdowns" was a 15-issue crossover between the Justice League America and Justice League Europe titles, revising the organization that signalled the change from the humorous tone to the more serious tone. The major events that occurred were the following:
Maxwell Lord is initially in a coma from a failed assassination attempt. He is later possessed by JLE foe Dreamslayer of the Extremists. Following the end of the Breakdowns saga, Maxwell Lord has no more mental powers, apparently drained completely when possessed by Dreamslayer.
The Queen Bee, ruler of the country Bialya, is killed in a coup d'etat led by Sumaan Harjavti, the twin brother of the original dictator ruler, Rumaan.
Despero awakens and escapes Manga Khan's starship to wreak havoc on New York City, seeking vengeance against the Justice League. A force of the Justice League's best (Martian Manhunter, Power Girl, Fire, Rocket Red, Metamorpho, Flash, Guy Gardner, Major Disaster) with the Conglomerate (led by Booster Gold) and Lobo were unable to stop him. Ultimately, it was Kilowog and L-Ron who subdued Despero by transferring L-Ron's consciousness into the cybernetic control collar that remained around his neck.
While possessing Maxwell Lord's body, Dreamslayer kidnaps and later murders Mitch Wacky on the island of KooeyKooeyKooey, where the Blue Beetle and Booster Gold previously attempted to open a resort there called "Club JLI". Using Lord's personna, Dreamslayer lures a large portion of the Justice League to the island and takes mental control of them, making them the "new Extremists".
The Silver Sorceress, one of the former Champions of Angor and Justice League member, dies defeating Dreamslayer. Her gravesite is on the island of KooeyKooeyKooey.
The U.N. withdraws its support from the Justice League and it disbands. The Martian Manhunter seemingly takes a leave of absence, although later re-emerges under the persona of Bloodwynd.
Also, the Breakdowns storyline reorganized JLE. The team relocated to London and several characters left or were replaced. The new lineup (as of issue #37) consisted of
- Flash (Wally West)
- Aquaman
- Dr. Light
- Power Girl
- Crimson Fox
- Elongated Man (and Sue)
[edit] Expansion
The release of Justice League Spectacular launched the revised Justice League titles under new writers and artists. The Justice League titles expanded to a total of four by the early to mid 1990s: Justice League America (formerly Justice League International), Justice League Europe, Justice League Task Force, and Extreme Justice. Justice League Europe was later retitled to become the second volume of Justice League International.
However, with the influx of new writers and artists in the various Justice League titles coming and going, there was very little consistency in continuity. The more powerful and recognizable characters such as Superman, Green Lantern (Hal Jordan), and Batman came and went out of the various Justice League titles, replaced by lesser known characters such as Bloodwynd, Maya, Maxima, Nuklon, Obsidian, Tasmanian Devil and Triumph. Longtime JLI-era characters such as Captain Atom, Martian Manhunter and Power Girl were revised and revamped repeatedly, with mixed results from fans.
By the mid to late 1990s, with the commercial success of the series fading, each of the titles were eventually cancelled.
[edit] Recurring characters
- Catherine Cobert
- Sue Dibny
- Power Girl's cat
- Batman
- Inspector Camus
- Mitch Wacky
- Beefeater
- Duke Donald
- Godfrey a.k.a. Gaius
- Erewhon
- Lionheart
- Seneca
- Osiris
[edit] After Justice League Europe
[edit] La Fraternité de Justice et Liberté
Some time after the cancellation of the series, it was revealed in an issue of Starman that Justice League Europe was being reformed (as La Fraternité de Justice et Liberté). The new team consisted of Crimson Fox, Amazing Man, Blue Devil, Firestorm, and Icemaiden. Icemaiden turned out to be Nash, daughter of The Mist (the fate of the real Icemaiden is unknown) who destroyed the team forever when she murdered Crimson Fox, Blue Devil, and Amazing Man (Blue Devil was later restored to life by Faust).
- Crimson Fox (Constance D'Aramis)
- Firestorm (Ronnie Raymond)
- Blue Devil
- Icemaiden (never actually appeared)
- Amazing Man (Will Everett III)
[edit] Formerly Known as the Justice League/I Can't Believe It's Not the Justice League
Several members of this incarnation of the Justice League later formed the Super Buddies, whose humorous adventures were featured in the mini-series Formerly Known as the Justice League and later again in the title JLA: Classified with a story called I Can't Believe It's Not the Justice League.
Since then, most of the JLI cast have suffered horrible fates, causing many fans to accuse DC (and specifically at Dan Didio, Mark Waid and Greg Rucka) that the company is specifically trying to destroy the "fun" era of the League, or the characters from that era. More information can be found in the Justice League International article.
[edit] See also
| Justice League | |
|---|---|
| Creators | Gardner Fox |
| Characters | List of Justice League members |
| Related teams | Justice League Elite | Justice Society of America | Outsiders | Super Buddies | Teen Titans | Young Justice |
| Headquarters | Secret Sanctuary | Justice League Satellite | Justice League Watchtower |
| Ongoing series | Justice League of America (vol. 2) | JLA: Classified | Justice | Justice League Adventures / Justice League Unlimited |
| Previous series | Justice League of America | Justice League International | Justice League Europe | Justice League Quarterly | Justice League Task Force | Extreme Justice | JLA |
| Other media | Cartoons: The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure | Super Friends | Justice League | Justice League Unlimited Live Action: Legends of the Superheroes | 1997 TV Pilot |
