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Post by Deleted on Dec 3, 2021 8:57:47 GMT -5
Years ago, I was chatting with a friend who reads comics (probably fewer comics than most), and we got discussing the Justice League, specifically whether “of America” works - or whether it’s just best to be the Justice League. Or Justice League International.
It wasn’t a serious, deep conversation. He joked that he expects the JLA would ignore any threats to Canada, but as the comics have shown over time, the JLA will defend the world - and beyond. That said, I think the acronym JLI has quite a ring to it, and simply calling them the Justice League is easy enough, I suppose.
I don’t know if this has been debated anywhere in great detail, but I thought I’d throw it open here. I never intend for these debates to be divisive or deadly serious.
For me, “of America” works. We have the United States Navy. And the British Army. To name two. Yet I would expect both forces to work beyond their borders. I wouldn’t expect the U.S. Navy to exclusively work in American waters, nor would I expect British Army soldiers to remain entirely in the UK, waiting to be invaded. I expect them to be global.
So, for me, the Justice League *of* America works because they are based in America, but are ready to respond to global threats. I’m sure they’d head to Suriname or Latvia if something kicked off.
I hope this doesn’t sound like a political topic. Not that I expect *anyone* here thinks that, but the toxic arena that is social media has had debates about, say, the American Way terminology and the like - and social media being social media, debates often deteriorate. Definitely not looking to probe into politics here, it’s intended as a light-hearted topic about terminology.
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Post by Dizzy D on Dec 3, 2021 9:21:50 GMT -5
Are they based in America? They often are, but they also are based on the moon or in a spaceship or satellite or some other weird location.
I don't think the "Of America" adds much to the whole thing (but then again, I'm not an American): The United States Navy answers directly to the US government, the British Army directly to the British government. The Justice League generally does not answer to the US government; they will cooperate with them (most of the time), but they don't seem to have any allegiance to a single country. I think the JLA only added something when there were several branches, like the JLE (though it was really weird that the Justice League Europe had like 1 European member (Crimson Fox) and like 5? Americans .. Maybe 2 Europeans depending if you count geographically or poltically/culturally (Siberia))
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Post by badwolf on Dec 3, 2021 10:11:06 GMT -5
JLA was what I grew up with, so I just accepted it and didn't think about it. Nowadays it seems a little extraneous, like it doesn't need to be designated. So just Justice League is what I prefer now.
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Post by brutalis on Dec 3, 2021 10:56:33 GMT -5
In the day as a comic book of American heroes based in the USA and homaging while updating the earlier war time based Justice Society of America it was natural to highlight the "America" as a title and selling point to kids. As of the 1980's it was already seeming a bit outdated and awkward as less children were buying comics and adults took over. Justice League is really all that is necessary to evoke their team concept these days. Do we really need to further title extend as International or Earth or World or Galaxy or Universe(s) to being inclusive?
With a core team featuring alien's from Krypton, Mars and Thanagar, alongside a technically Greek/Amazon Princess and a half-breed Atlantean King, calling them of America isn't really accurate is it?
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Post by Deleted on Dec 3, 2021 11:13:03 GMT -5
Do we really need to further title extend as International or Earth or World or Galaxy or Universe(s) to being inclusive? Completely random, but your sentence got me thinking about World Championship Wrestling, circa 1994. We had the WCW World Heavyweight Championship, but also another belt called the WCW International World Heavyweight Championship. Talk about redundancy!
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Post by brutalis on Dec 3, 2021 11:39:39 GMT -5
Do we really need to further title extend as International or Earth or World or Galaxy or Universe(s) to being inclusive? Completely random, but your sentence got me thinking about World Championship Wrestling, circa 1994. We had the WCW World Heavyweight Championship, but also another belt called the WCW International World Heavyweight Championship. Talk about redundancy! Exactly in essence what I was referencing! Comics and wrestling have been connected forever it seems! 2 great tastes that taste great together!
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Post by mikelmidnight on Dec 3, 2021 12:19:21 GMT -5
I think the JLA only added something when there were several branches, like the JLE (though it was really weird that the Justice League Europe had like 1 European member (Crimson Fox) and like 5? Americans .. Maybe 2 Europeans depending if you count geographically or poltically/culturally (Siberia))
That was a huge pet peeve of mine when JLE came out. And it's not as if the overarching team didn't have members (Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Martian Manhunter) who weren't necessarily 'American,' who could have comprised the team. I found the whole thing offensive and refused to buy any issues of it.
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Post by profh0011 on Dec 3, 2021 15:35:25 GMT -5
Don't forget Justice League Antarctica!
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Post by majestic on Dec 3, 2021 16:00:04 GMT -5
For me:
It will ALWAYS be the Justice Society of America.
But...
It should be just the Justice League.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 3, 2021 16:01:31 GMT -5
For me: It will ALWAYS be the Justice Society of America.But... It should be just the Justice League.Growing up, I always thought of a society as being something small-town, devoted to, say, stamp collecting, coin collection, a tenant’s meeeting, etc. Whereas a league was something different and special. Just my view, of course.
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Post by brutalis on Dec 3, 2021 16:46:18 GMT -5
For me: It will ALWAYS be the Justice Society of America.But... It should be just the Justice League.Justice League Bowlers of America with their league shirts and shoes!
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Post by jason on Dec 3, 2021 20:08:58 GMT -5
Do we really need to further title extend as International or Earth or World or Galaxy or Universe(s) to being inclusive? Completely random, but your sentence got me thinking about World Championship Wrestling, circa 1994. We had the WCW World Heavyweight Championship, but also another belt called the WCW International World Heavyweight Championship. Talk about redundancy! There's actually a LONG covoluted history with that WCW International Championship: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Gold_Belt
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Post by Deleted on Dec 3, 2021 20:33:37 GMT -5
Oh, I know the story of it, the NWA links, its history, etc. I was following wrestling back then.
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Post by berkley on Dec 3, 2021 21:13:15 GMT -5
I prefer the Avengers.
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Post by tartanphantom on Dec 3, 2021 22:45:09 GMT -5
It's pretty irrelevant in the scheme of things, because The Inferior Five is the G.O.A.T. of all super hero teams.
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