The JLI appeared, with Dr Fate, in a couple of issues of Booster Gold around this time, I think.
* Edit: my mistake, it was actually just one issue, #22.

I haven't read Millennium #1 recently, but I don't think that panel represents Firestorm being jaded. Over in his own book, Firestorm was undergoing changes. A Russian military officer had been add to the mix of Firestorm's secret identities. Instead of having the personality of Ronnie Raymond, Firestorm now had some sort of strange, naive alien persona. According to Wikipedia, that's because he was being controlled by the disembodied mind of Dr. Stein suffering from amnesia, but I think I missed the specific explanation of Firestorm's new personality when I was reading issues around that time.

Justice League International #9



"Seeing Red"

plot and breakdowns: Keith Giffen
script: J.M. DeMatteis
pencils: Kevin Maguire
inks: Al Gordon
letters: Bob Lappan
colors: Gene D'Angelo
editor: Andrew Helfer

grade: C+

The inevitable battle with Manhunter Rocket Red 7 doesn't do much beyond the obligatory. No, it's never explained how in the world the Manhunter put in place as a sleeper agent all those years back for no specific mission just happened to end up a member of Justice League International at exactly the moment when he was needed by his masters, but, worse yet, Giffen and DeMatteis struggle once again when attempting to a deliver a story that is so plot-oriented. We saw this happen with the Gray Man storyline, and here again the conflict holds no particular emotional investment for the characters (beyond some deep talk at the very beginning, they don't seem particularly concerned with the larger threat), and without being given a lengthy amount of time to just have the characters interact and obsess over pointless trivialities, the jokes feel a lot more forced and stale this time around too. Boring conflict devoid of any true dramatic tension, and bad comic relief to boot. Ho hum.

I think the most awkward part of all this might be the characterization of Black Canary. At the start of this run, she was just tough and put off by Guy hitting on her. Then, in the last few issues, we saw some hints that she prided herself on her toughness and resented being saved by others. Now, out of nowhere, she's a rabid feminist. At first, it's done well:



but it quickly becomes too much:





Of course, having a member of the team obsess over a minor detail while completely missing the larger gravity of the situation is pretty much in keeping with how the rest of The League has been characterized all along. I guess the difference here is that I don't think she's joking.

And, speaking of joking, at least we've got Batman cracking a few more this time around. Maybe he isn't going part-time after all, as he plays a prominent role in this issue, all while delivering multiple gags, showing his acceptance of the group.




But it's generally a less than entertaining story, the plot is more obligatory than anything, and (once again) someone else needs to save the day for this highly ineffective team. Really, the only true positive of this issue was Maguire's art, which continues to impress, whether depicting dynamic action:



or super-realistic gestures and expressions:





Important Details:

1) Apparently, even after the crash last issue, The JLI's new air vehicle is sticking around, though it is still unnamed at this point.



Not sure why Guy, Booster, and J'onn had to fly outside of it though, beyond serving the plot of the story (which wouldn't have worked had they been inside).


2) Rumaan Harjavti is back for the third time, and ready to cause some real trouble for the JLI now (though his plan doesn't take shape until we get to the B story in this issue):




3) Maxwell Lord knows more than we were led to suspect, including Superman's secret identity:




4) Going along with that, the other entity that has been working with Lord, responsible for the armed satellite from JLI #7 and appearing to be machine in nature, does not work for Lord, but rather appears to have partnered with him, as Lord does not know its abilities and instead depends upon "...what you told me."

It also proves to be pretty darn capable and terrifying when a Manhunter attempts to assassinate Lord:





Plot Synopsis:

Rocket Red 7 reveals himself to be a Manhunter and engages The JLI, but Oberon somehow figures out from an unexpected course adjustment that the team must be in danger and so sends in the Rocket Reds and Captain Atom to intervene, ultimately resulting in the destruction of Rocket Red 7 on Colonel Harjavti's soil, which ruffles his feathers considerably. Meanwhile, Maxwell Lord is concerned about the Manhunter infiltrations when one shoots and nearly kills him, causing his shadowy mechanical partner to enact revenge upon the assailant.




"Brief Encounter"

plot and pencils: Keith Giffen
script: J.M. DeMatteis
inks: Al Gordon
letters: Augustin Mas
colors: Gene D'Angelo
editor: Andrew Helfer

grade: B


The bridge between last issue's B-story and this issue's A-story, as Jack O'Lantern meets with Colonel Harjavti (only moments before The JLI arrives on his soil) in order to discuss assembling a superhero team to take The League down. As is always the case with heroes drawn in contrast to The JLI, Jack O'Lantern is not fooled by Harjavti's smooth-talk, but instead agrees to work with him to suit his own needs. He is a hero with more information and wisdom than the team he seeks to take down, which (Batman aside) never once questions what it is, who is supporting/directing it, and what it's directives are.

Jack O'Lantern nails it right here:




Once again, we're reminded that the team we've been rooting for doesn't deserve to be rooted for. In fact, they reflect poorly upon our society and, perhaps, us by extension. It will be interesting when Jack O'Lantern finally clashes with them.

COMMENTS ON #9 ('cause I'm not reading Millennium again)


My favorite part of the cover is the bottom of Guy's boots laying down on the left.

Beetle's "call for help" was great.

J'onn isn't the constant "team radio" he was in later incarnations with his mental powers.

Has any other DC character ever referred to Batman as "cowled idiot?" Rocket Red 7 may be the only one.

Mr. Miracle makes that Star Wars/ New Gods connection a little stronger by uttering "I've got a bad feeling about this."

The letter column mentions that next issue will see the return of the ORIGINAL JUSTICE LEAGUE. (or as many as they could rummage up)

Millennium #2



"Under"

writer: Steve Englehart
layouts: Joe Staton
finishes: Ian Gibson
letters: Bob Lappan
colors: Carl Gafford
editor: Andy Helfer


Oh joy. I do believe I just spent 22 pages watching Herupa Hando Hu and Nadia Safir go door to door, asking folks if they'd heard the good news and wanted to be a part of it.

From a JLI perspective, the team only gets mentioned once in passing in this issue, and yet that reference is problematic:



Clark must be following a different Justice League book than we are.


Yep. Whereas the first issue was so deliberate and careful in watching the continuity of the books weaving through it, this one comes off as more careless. In fact, things get even stranger when we catch up with Blue Beetle in this issue:



It may well be that his own title had been carefully building up to this moment, but it's completely incongruous with his characterization as of just last issue, when he tried to dispel the tension everyone was feeling about Manhunters with a lame joke. We haven't yet seen any hint of this kind of depth nor strength in 9 issues and an annual.



So this was a pretty damn skippable issue, and considering how thoroughly bad it was to boot, that's pretty disappointing.

You take the good, you take the bad; you take them both and there you have the comic industry. The comic industry.

When DC never seems to be living up your dream, then suddenly you're finding out the industry was never about you. You.



(a no-prize for the first old-timer to get the reference )

Mmmm, Jo