Justice League of America [SILVER to BRONZE Ages] Appreciation 2019!

[Comic-Reader Lad]

This is the thread to discuss all of your favorite memories of the original, classic Justice League of America -- the center of the pre-Crisis DC Universe!

This thread is ONLY for the pre-Crisis Justice League of America.

Here's the ad that came out in 1960 to promote the team's first appearance in Brave and the Bold 28.

As Superman and Batman were very much protected by their editors, Mort Weisinger and Jack Shiff, they were only grudgingly allowed on the team. Notice how they weren't even on the cover! Yes, their names are prominently displayed in the ad, but if you saw the comic on the newsstand without first seeing the ad, you might have passed the comic by because you thought it didn't have Supes and Bats.

[Comic-Reader Lad]

Here's a pic of the team by its original artist Mike Sekowsky. I started reading the JLA with Dick Dillin as a kid, but there was something about Sekowsky's art that really appealed to me -- in spite of how he made Superman and Batman look fat.




Here's an image of basically the whole team in the late 1970s by Dick Dillin.



The JLA was unique in comics in that it had only 2 pencilers for its first 183 issues. Sekowsky drew B&B 28-30 and JLA 1-63. Dillin drew JLA 64-183, missing only 153, which introduced Earth-Prime's first superhero, Ultraa.

[Comic-Reader Lad]

Here's a pic of the Satellite-era team from 1976's Limited Collector's Edition C-46. It's drawn by Dick Giordano and features the JLA plus a few friends.

[Comic-Reader Lad]

So, what was YOUR first issue of pre-Crisis JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA?

I somehow got my hands on a couple of the 100-Page Super-Spectaculars from 1974 -- JLA 111-112 -- the ones that featured Libra forming the Injustice Gang of the World.

However, I think those were bought for me or I traded for them with a friend.

The first Justice League of America comic that I actually know for sure that I bought with my own money was JLA 120, dated July 1975. It guest-starred Adam Strange in a 2 part story. JLA 121 had the wedding of Adam and Alanna.

[The Darknight Detective]

So, what was YOUR first issue of pre-Crisis JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA?

The first one I ever read or bought was this:



The first Happy Harbor stories I ever read or bought were in this collection:

[Güicho]

Great images, but are we really just posting mostly the exact images from the other thread?

sorry... i can't remember what's been posted already in the previews thread.

how about this?

]

https://community.cbr.com/showthread...justice-league
Well the previous thread was specifically Satellite Era (bronze Age) , so no that would not have been posted, since it's Secret Sanctuary era (Silver age)
As far as what to post, no, I apologize, I was grumpy the previous thread which was quit rich with imagery and info, had been closed and replaced with this one. If anything I'm going to start re-posting several I already posted in the other thread too. By all means don't hesitate about posting anything new or that has been posted.
This is the place for it, and thanks C-R Lad for starting the new (now Silver and Bronze Age) thread.

[caj]

These 8 heroes were probably considered THE faces of DC Comics back in the 70s. Does this still hold true today? If not, who goes away and who replaces them?

[BatmanJones]

These 8 heroes were probably considered THE faces of DC Comics back in the 70s. Does this still hold true today? If not, who goes away and who replaces them?

They also felt like the most essential JLA members in the 70s. For the last few decades JL(A/U) fans have called J'onn the heart of the League but he was gone and mostly forgotten for most of the 70s.

The main thing that strikes me about historically significant JL(A) membership is that Green Arrow has really been left out in the cold wrt JL since the New 52. He just missed founding member/Big 7 status, joining the team in JLA #4. From then to the end of the original run when the team disbanded to form JL Detroit he was on almost every mission and his relationship with Dinah and bickering with Katar were the most prominent relationships during the Bronze Age. If there were a Big 8 he would be in it and in the 70s he'd have taken J'onn's place in the Big 7.

[Comic-Reader Lad]

Here's an interesting tidbit. Marvel & Stan Lee get due credit for their stories that tried to bridge the divide between the races during the 1960s. One of the more famous ones at Marvel was "Brother, Take My Hand" from Daredevil 47, dated December 1968.

However, DC did a "brotherhood" themed story a full year BEFORE Marvel's! It was in the pages of Justice League of America 57, dated November 1967 and features a great cover by Carmine Infantino and Murphy Anderson.

It was written by the JLA's original writer, Gardner Fox, and appeared a few years before DC's so-called "relevant-era" that began in 1970.

[Güicho]

For reference Link to the original Classic Satellite era Justice League appreciation (which pretty much tangentially celebrated the bronze-age JL):
- https://community.cbr.com/showthread...justice-league
Some milestones through the eras (still editing:-


1960 (Silver-Age) - Wonder Woman, Aquaman, The Flash (Barry Allen), Green Lantern (Hal Jordan), J'nn J'onzz, Superman, Batman
Founders (Snapper Carr honorary member): The Brave and the Bold #28

1961- Green Arrow (Oliver Queen) joined: Justice League of America #4

1962- Atom (Ray Palmer) joined: Justice League of America #14

1963- Adam Strange (Flash sugests him for membership) Justice League of America #24

1964- Crime Syndicate of America: Justice League of America #29

1964- Hawkman joined: Justice League of America #31
- Hawkgirl although she joins for several adventures does not become official member: Justice League of America #31

1966- Metamorpho (Rex Mason) offered membership chose to be stand-by member: Justice League of America #42

1966- The Royal Flush Gang: Justice League of America #43

1968- Dennis O'Neil begins as altwriter (potential start of bronze-age JL): Justice League of America #66

1969- Black Canary (Dinah Laurel Lance) joined: Justice League of America #74
- Sonic Scream/Canary Cry introduced: Justice League of America #75
- and Green Arrow's New Look: costume, gear and vandyke-beard (as per Neal Adams new design The Brave and the Bold #85 ) and with it a new personality after losing his fortune and becoming champion of the underprivileged by O'Neil (possible start of Bronze/relevance age)) And start of the Arrow Canary relationship)

1969- Snapper Carr betrayal Secret Sanctuary compromised- Justice League of America #77
-Silver age era ends:
-Satellite Era (roughly start of Bronze age) begins:
1970-Satalite HQ introduced: - Justice League of America #78

1972- Phantom Stranger. Allie : Justice League of America #103

1973- Elongated Man (Ralph Dibny: Justice League of America #105

1973- Red Tornado: Justice League of America #106

1974- Green Lantern (John Stewart): backup GL: Justice League of America #110

1974- Libra and the Injustice Gang first introduced: Justice League of America #111

1977- Hawkgirl ( Shiera Hall) although already active becomes official member: Justice League of America #146

1978- Zatanna: Justice League of America #161

1979- Black Lightning (offered membership turns it down): Justice League of America #173

1983- Black Canary who stayed behind in #74 retroactively revealed to have always been the Daughter of Golden Age Canary) - Justice League of America Vol 1 #219 #220

1984- Martian Manhunter returns Justice League of America #228
Satellite destroyed, Justice League of America #229 - Justice League of America #230
(End of JL Satellite Era)

[Comic-Reader Lad]

By the way, all JLA comics from 1960-1987 before the Justice League International relaunch are fair game. Since this is a Silver to Bronze Age Pre-Crisis JLA appreciation thread, we also can discuss the Detroit Era here.

After the original 7 members, the JLA admitted many members over the years as shown in Guicho's post above.

It became a semi-regular tradition to give a new member a certificate when he or she joined, and a big to-do was made about it. Let's take a look at these special JLA cases.

GREEN ARROW JOINS THE JUSTICE LEAGUE! (JLA 4, Apr-May 1961)

[Comic-Reader Lad]

HAWKMAN JOINS THE JUSTICE LEAGUE! (JLA 31, November 1964)

[Comic-Reader Lad]

ELONGATED MAN JOINS THE JUSTICE LEAGUE! (JLA 105, Apr-May 1973)

[Comic-Reader Lad]

ZATANNA JOINS THE JUSTICE LEAGUE! (JLA 161, Dec 1978)

[silly]

Here's a pic of the Satellite-era team from 1976's Limited Collector's Edition C-46. It's drawn by Dick Giordano and features the JLA plus a few friends.

I love the satellite era. Great roster and great friendship.