DC Announces Death of the Justice League

[Holt]

https://ew.com/books/inside-dcs-plan...ustice-league/

For most of the past year, Justice League has been written by Brian Michael Bendis. But Williamson, who penned last year's Infinite Frontier event and the follow-up series Justice League Incarnate, is swooping in to bring this iteration of the comic to an explosive end that will take the epic over-story he's been building into its next chapter.

"Ever since Infinite Frontier #0, we've been building to this story," Williamson says. "Last year was a lot of fun and games, but when this story starts, it's the beginning of the third act. We're going to see things get darkest before the dawn. The Justice League gets called in to fight this Dark Army that's been building on the edge of the multiverse. They go up against this Dark Army and they lose."

The DC superhero universe has changed a lot in recent years, with several new, younger, more diverse heroes and sidekicks taking up the good fight. But while a veteran like Nightwing has seen crises come and go, what effect will the destruction of the Justice League have on newer recruits like Wonder Girl Yara Flor or Green Lantern Jessica Cruz?

"We'll get to see what the ramifications are of losing the Justice League," Williamson says. "You'll get to see how the new heroes react, how some of the heroes that have been around for a while react, you'll see how people on the ground react to this idea of the Justice League dying, and then you'll get to see how all the villains react. What happens when they know the Justice League is gone?"

That's all for the future, though. In and of itself, Justice League #75 will focus on the apocalyptic battle between the Justice League and the Dark Army in a dead multiverse. Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern (John Stewart), Martian Manhunter, Hawkgirl, Aquaman, Green Arrow, Black Canary, and Zatanna will embark on this mission — and only one will return to tell the rest of the universe what has happened.

Though Williamson is writing the scenes, it falls to artist Rafa Sandoval to actually depict these beloved superheroes dying in battle.

"My first reaction when I read this script was, 'Wow! This is going to be huge!' Right after that, I started thinking, 'how do I approach drawing this?' " Sandoval tells EW. "There is a big battle with lots of characters and also a very critical and sad moment, so I thought of some movies that I could use as a reference for this book. The Lord of the Rings helped me plan shots and how I could show the battle, as well as how to transition from the battle to the most critical moment, the death of the Justice League. I escalate the action by going from distant shots to close-ups and then suddenly do the opposite to force the reader to stop and take in what is happening on the page. Drawing such a painful death for these characters after they fought so hard was tough. As an artist, though, drawing such epic and emotional moments was a big challenge, and I love these challenges!"

Justice League #75 hits comic stores on April 19. Below, check out a host of variant covers.

Surely this will stick!

[Vordan]

I saw an interesting theory that Black Adam will be the sole survivor and DC will put out a JSA book finally while the League is off the table. Also given Yara is mentioned specifically I think this is the event that will push her to take the WW title. Otherwise I think the JL will “die” and all be trapped in the same prison reality as Barry.

[Morgoth]

I saw an interesting theory that Black Adam will be the sole survivor and DC will put out a JSA book finally while the League is off the table. Also given Yara is mentioned specifically I think this is the event that will push her to take the WW title. Otherwise I think the JL will “die” and all be trapped in the same prison reality as Barry.

It's not Adam. He's not there at all.

As announced via Entertainment Weekly, Justice League #75 from writer Josh Williamson and artist Rafa Sandoval will pit Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, John Stewart (Green Lantern), Martian Manhunter, Hawkgirl, Aquaman, Green Arrow, Black Canary, and Zatanna against a foe known as the Dark Army - and only one member of the League will return to tell the tale.

It's probably Bruce.

[Primal Slayer]

.....WW was just brought back to life though

[Holt]

.....WW was just brought back to life though

So her pass still has one transfer to use. Lucky her.

[SanityOrMadness]

I mean, it really doesn't make any sense with what's happening in the solo books - a bunch of reset buttons will have to be hit just for them to be in a position to be wiped out - but it wouldn't be the first time a stunt took precedence over everything else. Just because it's daft doesn't make it impossible.

I presume Action Comics will just ignore this and keep running with a "this takes place before JL #75" note, John S will be cycled out of being the co-lead in GL, and editors will make vague reference to things taking place before and after in other places (Batman and Deathstroke Inc - where Black Canary is a cast member - are the most interesting in that respect, since they're written by Williamson himself).

If they are angling for a Future State-esque lineup... well, on the "funeral" cover alone, you have a whole bunch of ex-Leaguers who are not currently on any other team (Wally, all the Green Lanterns, Black Adam, Dr Light, Blue Beetle [Ted], Booster Gold,... is Supergirl being on the JL for a while back in continuity? I forget.). It gets a bit silly to claim that all the Leaguers are dead or whatever, the only ones who can defend the Earth are a bunch of newbies.

[Frontier]

Is that funeral image the first time we've seen Dr. Light recently outside that timelines story?

.....WW was just brought back to life though

And Aquaman just got a book again, albeit co-starring with Jackson Hyde.

[Vakanai]

Seeing the title, my first thought was that Death of the Endless was joining the Justice League.

[El_Gato]

https://ew.com/books/inside-dcs-plan...ustice-league/






Surely this will stick!

So we finally get the perfect Justice League lineup, seriously look how amazing that lineup is(!), and they kill them off in one issue. Lol oh well the story sounds interesting and I’m curious where it’ll go! Consider me intrigued, just wish we could get a book with that lineup

[Zero Hunter]

DC is so in the weeds these days. They want these legacy characters to be front and center so bad when time after time people have said no we don't want this. All this everything is real nonsense has done nothing but make things a sloppy mess. At this point I am ready for them to just Crisis the whole damn thing again and start over day one for every character.

[SJNeal]

*Yawn*

Eh, saves me $4.99 a month for the time being...

[Rakzo]

So, if they kill Ollie (again) it will make me realize that the guy hasn't starred in a title worth a damn since Lemire's run ended.

Jesus.

[Hypo]

So, if they kill Ollie (again) it will make me realize that the guy hasn't starred in a title worth a damn since Lemire's run ended.

Jesus.

I mean that's fairly subjective - I enjoyed the Rebirth run.

[superduperman]

DC is so in the weeds these days. They want these legacy characters to be front and center so bad when time after time people have said no we don't want this. All this everything is real nonsense has done nothing but make things a sloppy mess. At this point I am ready for them to just Crisis the whole damn thing again and start over day one for every character.

This is what makes me think this is a public domain issue. The severe pushing of the "legacy" characters makes me wonder if there really is a replacement push going on.

[D.Z]

Lot of the Golden Age versions are hitting public domain soon in the future. With no expectations of renewal of copyright this time around.