Why Did JLI Succeed When Justice League Detroit Failed?

[Timothy Hunter]

The early 80's weren't a great time for the Justice League of America saleswise, so the decision was made to give a new spin on the Justice League concept. The heavy hitters were sacrificed in favor of preexisting c-listers (Vixen and Steel) and outright original characters (Vibe and Gypsy). There were remnants of the original Justice League still in tact such as Zatanna, Elongated Man, and Martian Manhunter, but they were never the League's most popular members.

Famously, the new Justice League that had started with JLofA Annual 2 was even more ill received than the Justice League stories that preceded them. Amidst the Legends crossover, the 'Detroit' era of the Justice League ended with issue 261.

Soon afterwored the Justice League title was relaunched with a new #1 under the helm of Keith Giffen, J.M Dematteis and Kevin Maguire. This more humerous Justice League ended the franchise's streak of misfortune as it became a huge hit, becoming one of DC's top selling titles and for the first time made the Justice League a family of titles, spinning off to Justice League Europe, Justice League Quarterly, Justice League Task Force, and Extreme Justice.

This has always perplexed me because the JLI had much more in common with Justice League Detroit than you might think: Both Justice Leagues tackled smaller scale threats than the Justice League of the Silver Age and Bronze Age, and both favored lesser known characters in favor of B-listers and C-listers. Sure JLI had Batman, but so did Justice League Detroit in it's latter half.

[Lee Stone]

I think it was a great mix of talent for one.
I remember it being such a contrast to JLD when it started.

I also think DeMatteis was a bit more excited for JLI than he was for JLD. He came into JLD after Conway and it was really Conway’s baby with characters that Conway created.

Then there was Maguire’s art. Those expressions brought the characters to life.
And Giffen helping DeMatties with plots really improved his writing.

I think JLD under these creators would’ve been a bit more successful.
I also remember not really liking McDonnell on JLA as I felt his style was too dark. I really liked Patton on the book.

It also helped that JLI had a much better start coming out of Legends.

Something else I recall was that JLD was always treated like replacements that had to prove themselves.
One cover had Gypsy running from a fight, the team was always shown on the losing end of fights and dialogue on the covers supported this.
JLI appeared to be treated as being more competent.

More of the members had their own solo books.
JLD had no solo books until Batman rejoined.
JLI has Batman, Blue Beetle, Booster Gold... Minis for Captain Marvel and Doctor Fate...
Then Captain Atom and Mister Miracle.

And JLI was prominent in the line-wide events than JLD.
Granted, there were only two.
But JLD went to the sidelines for Crisis on Infinite Earths.
And were disbanded for Legends.
Not to mention, the one JLA/JSA crossover they had was JLD and Infinity, Inc., not the JSA.

So basically, I don’t think DC pushed JLD as hard as they did JLI, and also shaped opinions on the team by always showing them having an inferiority complex.

[kingaliencracker]

DC had a lull leading up to, during, and after COIE and JL Detroit was caught up in that. The original intent following Crisis was for the JL to be reformed with premiere members like Morrison wound up doing in the 90's but then several of the intended members became unavailable.

[Holt]

Despite the mostly B-list (charitably) cast that DeMatteis and Giffen were saddled with, the crucial difference between JLI and JL Detroit is they were able to actually build compelling and entertaining character interactions out of that.

[Sutekh]

Lee Stone covered most of it already but I thought;

1) JLI had a lot of pre-established characters like Captain Marvel, Dr. Fate, Black Canary, etc. while JLDetroit had some newbies, Gypsy, Steel, Vibe, who didn't have much in the way of a pre-built fanbase rooting for them.

2) The characters were a bit more dynamic, even to the point of caricature (particularly with Guy, but Martian Manhunter and Captain Marvel and Fire & Ice and Booster & Beetle were written a bit over the top at times), which made for more memorable interactions than 'Steel is a dick, Gypsy is unsure of herself and Vibe breakdances and busts out some horrible cliched 'street' dialogue.'

3) I read both series. I remember mostly jokey interactions that didn't really work for me, from JLI (I am NOT a fan of Keith Giffen's sense of humor, at all). But I also remember Maxwell Lord, and he went on to big things (he's even gonna be the big bad in the new Wonder Woman movie, I hear). As for JLDetroit? I remember nothing, for good or ill. Did they introduce any new villains who have gone on to big things? No idea. I am pleased that Vixen has appeared in Legends of Tomorrow and Arrow and various cartoons, and amused that Vibe and Gypsy have appeared in the Flash (as significantly different characters, but still, cool). But in the comics? That whole run seems to have been forgotten.

4) One book had Batman. The other did not.

[Restingvoice]

Haven't read both but people who talked to me about JLI or keep uploading panels love it because it was funny. No one talked Detroit, so I assume it's not funny. Incidentally, the people I talked who dislike New 52 JLI is because it's angsty instead of funny.

[Dr. Poison]

I think it was due to a few things.

The roster had better known heroes for the most part. The JLDetroit had Aquaman(only for about a year), Martian Manhunter, Zatanna, Elongated Man, Vixen, Vibe, Gypsy, Steel, and Batman towards the end. the JL/JLI had Batman, Black Canary, Dr. Fate, Captain Marvel, Martian Manhunter, Mr. Miracle, Green Lantern Guy Gardner, Captain Atom, Rocket Red, Fire, Ice, and others.

The creative team for the JLI was much more desirable and consistent, especially after the final year or two of JLDetroit.

[Lee Stone]

Haven't read both but people who talked to me about JLI or keep uploading panels love it because it was funny. No one talked Detroit, so I assume it's not funny. Incidentally, the people I talked who dislike New 52 JLI is because it's angsty instead of funny.

Something I wish they did when reprinting comics in trades, is also including the first letter column page.
Back then it was very common for the first issue or two to have the editor welcome the readers to the book and then explain who the creators are and how the title came to be.

JLI had a very informative editorial in its intro letter column and it really helped explain the thinking behind the team.
Basically, the approach to this era of the League was to treat them like real people that work together.
How you have to sometimes get along with somebody you may not like, or how natural friendships form, because you really have no choice but be there together and do your job.
That’s what clicked with that team. They just felt like normal people at work, except they wore costumes and ‘work‘ usually meant saving the world from some megalomaniac.

[kcekada]

Right off the bat, JLI looked great thanks to Kevin Maguire (and Terry Austin in issue one). I didn't like how the series became more and more about humor -- and I think that was what brought the run crashing down eventually. Once Maguire and Hughes (and all of the heavy hitters like Dr. Fate, Captain Marvel -- even Black Canary) were gone, the book was mostly a jokefest with occasional dramatic turns).

Justice League Detroit had so-so art, so-so characters and just didn't look that great.

[achilles]

Right off the bat, JLI looked great thanks to Kevin Maguire (and Terry Austin in issue one). I didn't like how the series became more and more about humor -- and I think that was what brought the run crashing down eventually. Once Maguire and Hughes (and all of the heavy hitters like Dr. Fate, Captain Marvel -- even Black Canary) were gone, the book was mostly a jokefest with occasional dramatic turns).

Justice League Detroit had so-so art, so-so characters and just didn't look that great.

Yeah, I don't think Kevin Maguire gets the credit he deserves; he was just about the best at making great and funny facial expressions...he visually told those stories better than anyone else could have. He's still the best at that today IMO, with perhaps Connor coming close for humorous facial expressions. But his selected use of decompression to sell a visual gag is still unmatched IMO.

[Lee Stone]

Yeah, I don't think Kevin Maguire gets the credit he deserves; he was just about the best at making great and funny facial expressions...he visually told those stories better than anyone else could have. He's still the best at that today IMO, with perhaps Connor coming close for humorous facial expressions. But his selected use of decompression to sell a visual gag is still unmatched IMO.

Something I dislike is the over rendered coloring they do to his art now days.
To me, it ruins his line work and distracts me from the story.
His art is perfect without it.