My guess? Well, assuming that the geopolitics of the DCU are similar enough to the geopolitics of the real world, Japan itself isn't really supposed to have a military and the Japanese constitution denounces their right to wage war or aggression as a nation. They have the Japanese Self-Defense Forces (JSDF), which is basically a fully functioning military, but that's just it: they can ONLY respond to aggression in self-defense, not instigate it. So, them entering a metahuman arms race might be deemed as aggressive behavior.
Plus, Japan is a major US ally, so maybe their government just assumes that the U.S. superhero teams (and whatever heroes they have) will protect them and doesn't see the need to create their own government-sanctioned team?
United Kingdom is also a close ally and it's not stopping them. Also Japan would want its own force in case of attack to defend there country so i don't think they would exclude themselves so easily. No leader of a country is gonna set back and wait for another nation to defend them.
Well, again, like I said, Japan's constitution actually FORBIDS them from being aggressors. A program aimed at developing metahumans might be deemed illegal, actually. The UK constitution doesn't have that limitation.
Plus, in real life, Japan kinda does rely on the U.S. military to help defend them. A lot of JSDF operations are carried out jointly with U.S. armed forces or the UN and there are several U.S. military bases on the Japanese islands. A lot of countries actually rely on a U.S. military presence for protection from other regional powers.
The real reason we're not seeing Japan represented here, though? They probably just didn't think to include it. Plus, this is all assuming that the Supermen Theory turns out to be true as opposed to just a crackpot theory in the DCU.
Last edited by Green Goblin of Sector 2814; 05-31-2018 at 08:27 PM.
The reactions are based on the book in context. It's hard to get upset about continuity if you're reading the book because it's set in the future and it was intended to synch up at some much earlier point and, if you're reading it, you're likely swept up in it. The concepts are exciting because of their context, not because of any particular thing they mean for the future. I'm not being articulate and maybe someone else can explain better but the only thing I can figure out to say is you'd understand if you were reading (and enjoying) the book.
Not saying you should. That's up to you and obviously you don't want to. I'm only trying to answer your question above.
As a reader (and lover) of the series I am loving the detail, the complexity, the mystery, and the finesse with which it's told. I couldn't pull out any one page and say, "Here, this is why." These teams are a detail in a super intricate story. My excitement (at least) is impossible to understand out of the context of the rest of it.
The UK has a pretty big military that's waged wars on its own, so it makes sense that the arms race allegory would include an entry for them. Doubly so since they were an important part of the actual arms race, being a prominent nuclear power in Europe allied with the US.
Japan, on the other hand, wasn't allowed to have anything resembling a military until a few years ago. The JSDF is closer to a UN peacekeeping force than a traditional military. That, combined with the lack of role Japan played in the Cold War arms race or current political turmoil, pretty easily explains why they're absent here.
India having a role here is what really clenches it as based on Cold War era nuclear powers, IMO.
This is GREAT! I loved the post-Crisis 80's when DC seemed to notice that the world was getting more globalized and showed this in their books, especially in the Ostrander, Giffen and Barr's Outsider's corner of DC, with guys like the Global Guardians, New Guardians, People's Heroes, Rocket Red, JLI, etc... filled with heroes of other nationalities. Then, the late 90's/early 2000's brought DC back to the US centric focus (With few exceptions, Marvel never left the New York centric focus). I applaud if this brings more global adventures and characters into the forefront. That's the kind of diversity I find really interesting.
Peace
CBR home page comes through twice today:
https://www.cbr.com/doomsday-clocks-...ace-explained/
https://www.cbr.com/doomsday-clock-5...h-of-superman/
If you want more on the teams of international heroes, a lot of your answers are in one or the other story.
It's good to see these developments in these characters. It was one of the plots I liked more in 52 (the weekly).
About the map, we could say the lack of Japan representation is because the map is talking about the govemenents founded superteams. Japan still could had their own superheroes (as the Super Young Team and Big Hero Science), but they couldn't be "drafted" or receive public finance, but work as private institutions. In the DCU, Japan doesn't lack his populance of superhumans: Dr. Light, Goraiko, Ultimon, Most Excellent Superbat, Mr Nobody, Hammersuit-X, etc).
That could be the why others team are not mentioned, because they work not as goverment backed. They can be sancioned but not financed or promoted, which is here, the motive to be mentioned.
"Never assign to malice what is adequately explained by stupidity or ignorance."
"Great stories will always return to their original forms"
"Nobody is more dangerous than he who imagines himself pure in heart; for his purity, by definition, is unassailable." James Baldwin
Imagine being proud to have negative traits. I can’t relate.
DC: Justice League, The Flash, Justice League Dark, Superman, Action Comics, Green Arrow, Justice League Odyssey, The Terrifics, Teen Titans, Titans, Brimstone, Female Furies, Damage, Heroes In Crisis
Marvel: The Punisher, Cosmic Ghost Rider, Venom, X-23, Cloak and Dagger, Jessica Jones, Sentry
Indies: Unnatural, Jeepers Creepers, Project Superpowers, Black Hammer, Ninja-K
Some members i would have liked to seen on the teams.
People's Heroes:
Anya Savenlovich (Green Lantern) - Russian cosmonaut and friend of Kyle Rayner.
Bear - Young bear like hero from Batman Confidential. Love to see the interactions between him an Outsider's Wylde and Hero Group's Zoolog who are also bear related characters.
Rostov - Werewolf from the Warlord series.
Great Twenty:
Angry Wizard, Barefoot Tiger and Dragonfire - from the Outsiders series.
Atom (Ryan Choi)
Claw (John Chan) - Primal Force member
Peacock Batman (Dick Grayson)'s ally.
Suzie Ming - Green Arrow ally.
Outsiders:
Scream Queen - Scare Tactics member and Markovian vampire.
Doomed:
"Emerald Bowman" - Green Arrows of the World
Justice League Europe
Phantom - Green Arrows of the World
Knights Inc.
Bowman - Green Arrows of the World
Other teams:
Argentina:
Super-Malon
El Bagual
Cachiru
Cimarrón
El Lobizón
Pampero
La Salamanca
Vizacacha
El Yaguareté
El Gaucho
Lower Pluxa:
Hero Group - Global Guardians rivals from Justice League Quarterly
Compass
Desensitizer
Evolvo
Good Time
Mover n’ Shaker
Particle Man
Wrapper
Zoolog
Australia:
Tasmanian Devil
Betty Clawman
Dark Ranger
Diablo Blacksmith
Argonaut
Canada:
Dark-Crow
Sparx
Equinox
Centrix
Frostbite (Snow elf from Young Heroes in Love)
Freight Train
Greece:
Fury
Olympian
Manticore
Gorgon
Harpi
Klepto
Italy:
Alpha Centurion
Catapult
Legionary
Diva - from Wildstorm's Stormwatch
Spain:
Jolt
La Sangre
"Troubador" - Green Arrows of the World
Some to pick from for a Japanese team.
Big Science Action:
Boss Bishonen
Cosmo Racer
Goraiko
Hammersuit Zero-X
Nazo Baluda
Rising Sun
Senior Waveman Kimura
Ultimon
Super Young Team:
Big Atomic Lantern Boy
Crazy Shy Lolita Canary
Most Excellent Superbat/Batman
Shiny Happy Aquazon
Well-Spoken Sonic Lightning Flash
Others:
Ace Archer
Arashi
Byakko
Doctor Light
Fuji
Katana
Mister Unknown/Batman
Naiad
Ram
Samurai
Shado
Sunburst II
Toyman
Last edited by Lonewolf36; 06-01-2018 at 02:08 AM. Reason: adds