“He’s just so cute when he’s sleeping!”
Justice League America Annual #5
DC Comics (1991)
“Tomorrow’s League Today!” PLOT/BREAKDOWNS: Keith Giffen SCRIPT: J. M. DeMatteis PENCILERS: Steve Carr. Chris Sprouse, Darick Robertson, Marshall Rogers, Kevin Maguire, Dan Jurgens, Joe Phillips, Ty Templeton, & Linda Medley (copy/pasted from Comics.org because they were credited on the section they drew. INKERS: Joe Marzan & Bruce Patterson COLORIST: Gene D’Angelo LETTERER: Bob Lappan ASSISTANT EDITOR: Kevin Dooley EDITOR: Andy Helfer (I’m guessing because the last two credits were the stupid gag credits)
Waverider picked a bad time to drop in the Justice League. Max Lord is in the hospital having been shot outside of the headquarters. Still, Waverider must put that and his fanboyism of the JL aside in order to make sure none of them will become Monarch, disguising himself as Captain Atom. In what he pieces together, after Max recovers he will disband the League and retire to an island. Booster, Mister Miracle, and Blue Beetle sell their likenesses. Booster and Ted’s idea falls apart but Scott is making headway with his “Miracle Squad” escape artist team. Booster and Ted, however, are barred from using their superhero identities. Booster returns to the future until he finds out Ted learned Fire’s company was the one who bought the rights, and sued Ted when his new identity was considered copyright infringement.
Meanwhile, Guy started his own cult but a blow to the head releases his less-jerk side and they abandon him. Ice, however, sees the Guy she fell in love with is back (this isn’t the first time this happened and I kind of want to see those stories) and rushes to his side. They’re soon married, but Ted attacks Bea at the wedding just after Oberon proposes to her. Booster sneaks into a new experimental time machine to get Max to come out of retirement long enough to persuade Fire to drop the charges, but this also rekindles his spirit and he reforms the Justice League, starting with getting a bed-ridden Major Glory to rejoin…but he insists everyone gets haircuts like his old sidekick, Ernie (which of course Guy thinks are based on his, which he based on Ernie.) Back in the present, Waverider’s attempt to complete the story through the comatose Max actually makes his condition worse, which he isn’t happy about but it still doesn’t stop him from finding the hero who will become Monarch!
What they got right: In the present day story the team is shaken up over Max’s shooting (I don’t know the specifics of the event) but as Waverider notes they all care for each other in their own way, grieving as they can separately and together. Booster and Mister Miracle aren’t there initially but stop by to see how their friends are doing just as they think Captain Atom is. It’s good character development, which is different from fridging a character.
What they got wrong: The future stuff, however, is just a bit silly even for my tastes, maybe because it’s all played for laughs, while Martian Manhunter (who isn’t called in to the 2001 League) may be getting the worst of it, being considered a “Green Guru”. All we see of is some nitwit who gave up family and career and gets mad that the meaning of life gets compared to a Oreo. Also, we never learn who dropped that sandbag on Guy’s head. In light of both what’s happening in the present and Waverider’s quest to hunt down Monarch, it feels out-of-place. Plus, I don’t think their would stop being a Justice League because this group went their own ways. There was a Justice League before them and I’m sure there would be one after them.
Recommendation: Since none of these futures will ever happen most of these stories aren’t must-have but this is just isn’t that great a story. It’s easily skippable unless you want the full event or like this version of the Justice League. I can defend the 60s comics but this just doesn’t feel right to me.
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