My Favorite Team Book Titles

The Justice League of America (JLA), The Justice Society of America (JSA), and the Avengers are the best of all team books in my opinion. There was nothing like getting that one comic that had all of the best and favorite heroes in it, filled with action! DC comics went further in the Silver Age by teaming up the JSA and JLA many times. How can two teams from two eras join-up? Easy, have them exists on different Earths and come together when they are in peril!

The Justice Society was created by Sheldon Mayer and Gardner Fox in 1940 and first appeared in All-Star Comics #3. The first appearance was basically just a meeting with members telling individual stories. Those first members were Green Lantern, Flash, Hawkman, Atom, the Spectre, Sandman, Dr. Fate, Hourman, and Johnny Thunder. It wasn't until issue #4 that they actually teamed up to fight. As members such as Flash and Green Lantern got thier own titles, they retired from the JSA and were honorary members only. The exception was Wonder Woman, who joined in issue # 11. With DC buying publisher National, even Superman made appearances in issues #6 and 36. Batman appeared in #7 and 36. Other members included Starman, Mr. Terrific, Wildcat, and Black Canary. The series ended with issue #57 in 1951. It had been one of the best selling titles in the Golden Age.

Superheroes became hot again in the Silver Age and DC's heroes teamed up to form the Justice League of America in Brave and the Bold #28 (1960). Gardner Fox, a co-creator of the Justice Society, decided upon the word "league" influenced by the National Football League and Major League Baseball. The very first members were Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Martian Manhunter, Flash, Aquaman, Batman, Superman, and Black Canary. There have been many members over the years, too many to list them all. Noteables include Green Arrow, Captain Marvel, Blue Beetle and Plastic Man. The Silver Age team also had a sidekick, Snapper Carr. He eventually resigned in shame after being tricked into revealing the JLA's cave hideout to the Joker. With the popularity of the teams first appearance, it was obvious to give them thier own title. Justice Leage of America #1 was published the same year. As mentioned earlier, they also teamed with the Golden Age's JSA. The first team-up was in Justice League of America #21 and the introduction of Earth 2. This "multi-verse" may be a topic of a later article, as it's too complicated for this one. The final issue was #261, published in the spring of 1987. The JLA is back with current publications, and it's one of only 2 books I currently read. It's still good, but there's just something untouchable about the old stuff.

Now we come to my favorite team, The Avengers, published by Marvel Comics. Silver Age Marvel is probably my favorite to read. Avengers #1 was published in 1963 and included Iron Man, Thor, Ant-Man, Wasp, and Hulk. The Hulk left in the second issue and Ant-Man became Giant Man. This was just the beginning of roster and character changes. Captain America was discovered frozen in suspended animation and revived in issue #4, and became the tactical commander of the Avengers in the field almost immediately. He was given Founding Member status years later in Avengers Vol. 3 #1, February 1998. Marvel, not afraid of taking chances, shook up the roster for the first time with issue #16. All members left except Captain America, and Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver joined. The constant roster changes became a hallmar of the series and kept everything fresh. Avengers #57 (1968) introduced one of my favorite Avengers, Vision. He was an android created by Ultron to destroy the Avengers, but turned on his creator and joined the team. The Vision's origin revealed that his body was created from the original Human Torch. This tie-in with the Golden Age, as well as Captain America's revival, is what makes these two characters my favorite Avengers and one of the reasons that make Silver Age Marvel my favorite overall characters. I mean, the Avengers all lived in Avengers Mansion together, they had internal squabbles but came together with the battlecry "Avengers Assemble!" How could one not love this stuff!

More info on these teams can be found at Wikipedia's site for the JSA, JLA, and Avengers.