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Justice League Europe
Justice League Europe (JLE) is a comic book series published by DC Comics that was a spin-off of the comic book Justice League America (which was then named Justice League International (vol. 1) for issues #7 to #25).[1] Justice League Europe was published for 68 issues (plus five Annuals) from 1989 to 1994. Starting with issue #51 the title was renamed Justice League International (vol. 2). Like Justice League America, the series featured tongue-in-cheek humor but was a much more action-centric series than Justice League America. The action-themed nature of the series was most overt with the series' most famous arc "The Extremists". The arc featured the Justice League Europe fighting The Extremists, a cadre of psychopathic villains patterned after Marvel Comics villains Doctor Doom, Magneto, Doctor Octopus, Sabretooth and Dormammu.[2] The team was originally headquartered in Paris, France but later moved to an abandoned castle in Great Britain. Publication historyThe Old World TeamAfter the membership of the Justice League had grown to an unwieldy number of characters, DC split it into two teams. The original Justice League Europe consists of:
Later members of the original team include:
Justice League: Breakdowns"Breakdowns" was a 15-issue crossover between the Justice League America and Justice League Europe titles, revising the organization. Maxwell Lord is initially in a coma from a failed assassination attempt. He is later possessed by JLE foe Dreamslayer of the Extremists and loses his mental abilities. Queen Bee, ruler of the country Bialya, is killed in a coup led by Sumaan Harjavti, the twin brother of the original ruler, Rumaan. Despero awakens and escapes Manga Khan's starship to wreak havoc on New York City, seeking vengeance against the League. L-Ron, Khan's robot servant, subdues Despero by using a control collar to swap their bodies. Dreamslayer later possesses Maxwell Lord's body and moves to Kooey Kooey Kooey, an island where Blue Beetle and Booster Gold previously attempted to open a resort called "Club JLI". He lures the League to the island and mind-controls them, making them the "new Extremists". The Silver Sorceress, one of the former Champions of Angor and Justice League member, is killed in battle with Dreamslayer and buried on Kooey Kooey Kooey. The United Nations withdraws its support from the Justice League and it disbands. Martian Manhunter seemingly takes a leave of absence, but re-emerges as Bloodwynd. Also, the Breakdowns storyline reorganized the JLE. The team relocated to London and several characters left or were replaced. The new lineup starting in issue #37, led by Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) consisted of:
ExpansionThe release of Justice League Spectacular launched the revised Justice League titles with new writers and artists.[3] The Justice League titles expanded to four by June 1993: Justice League America (formerly Justice League International), Justice League Europe (retitled as the second volume of Justice League International), Justice League Quarterly, and Justice League Task Force. In late 1994 Justice League International and Justice League Quarterly were cancelled and replaced by a new monthly title in January 1995, Extreme Justice. With new writers and artists in the various titles coming and going, there was little consistency in continuity and quality. The more powerful and recognizable characters such as Superman, Green Lantern (Hal Jordan), and Batman came and went out of the various Justice League titles, replaced by new or lesser known characters such as Bloodwynd, Maya, Maxima, Nuklon, Obsidian, Tasmanian Devil and Triumph. Longtime JLI-era characters such as Captain Atom, Martian Manhunter and Power Girl were revised and revamped repeatedly, with mixed reviews by the readers. In the summer of 1996, with sales fading, all three remaining monthly series were cancelled and replaced by JLA. Doomsday ClockIn Doomsday Clock, a French version of Justice League Europe is founded, consisting of Crimson Fox, Fleur-de-Lis, Hunchback, Musketeer, Nightrunner, and Thief of Arts.[4] Recurring characters
After Justice League EuropeLa Fraternité de Justice et LibertéSome time after the cancellation of the series, it was revealed in an issue of Starman that Justice League Europe was being reformed (as La Fraternité de Justice et Liberté). The new team consisted of Crimson Fox, Amazing-Man, Blue Devil, Firestorm, and Icemaiden. Icemaiden turned out to be Nash, daughter of The Mist who destroyed the team forever when she murdered Crimson Fox, Blue Devil, and Amazing Man (Blue Devil was later restored to life by Sebastian Faust). It was revealed that Mist covertly contacted Icemaiden and informed her of a supposed threat facing her homeland of Norway, and she must defeat the threat without informing anyone until afterwards. Icemaiden left during the middle of the night, and Mist replaced her within the JLE by the next morning. The JLE did not know that Mist replaced Icemaiden until Mist began her attacks against them. Mist informed Crimson Fox that the threat she informed Icemaiden about was not real, and that she had sent Icemaiden on an ultimately fruitless search so that she could disguise herself as Icemaiden and replace her on the team.
JLA Showcase #1In 1999, Greg Weisman wrote a story for DC Comics' JLA Showcase #1, cover-dated February 2000. The one-shot consists of various Justice League stories; Weisman's was set during the time of the Justice League Europe and titled "Flashback Of Notre Dame". The story has Captain Atom, the JLE and Plastique meeting a group of gargoyles at Notre Dame Cathedral. After the usual misunderstanding/battle, the JLE help the gargoyles return to their home island of Brigadoon. Formerly Known as the Justice League / I Can't Believe It's Not the Justice LeagueSeveral members of this incarnation of the Justice League later formed the Super Buddies, whose humorous adventures were featured in the mini-series Formerly Known as the Justice League and later again in the title JLA: Classified with a story called I Can't Believe It's Not the Justice League. Writers
Collected editions
See alsoReferences
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