From 2004, DC Comics Presents Justice League of America #1, featuring "Secret Behind the Stolen Super Weapons" Written by Harlan Ellison and Peter David, art by Joe Giella; and "Mayhem of the Mysterious Marauders!" Written by Marv Wolfman, pencils by Dustin Nguyen, inks by Richard Friend. I had a beat-up old copy of the original sitting around and waiting to be blogged: From 1967, Justice League of America #53, "Secret Behind the Stolen Super-Weapons!" Written by Gardner Fox, pencils by Mike Sekowsky, inks by Sid Greene. Yeah, turns out I already blogged it in 2015!
In "Secret Behind the Stolen Super Weapons," in 1967 Julius Schwartz is working another late night, feeling like a "bigamist leading two separate lives" split between his family, and his other family "with red capes and green lanterns and super-speed and magic lassos." The Justice League of America appears to him, accusing him of being a bit ungrateful. Julie fights them, turning their weapons against them, even turning Superman's blood into liquid Kryptonite, before realizing it was a bad dream. The JLA gives him the okay to take a couple days, maybe punt the deadline a little bit, since they love him. Even if they fight sometimes.
As traditional for the Julius Schwartz tribute issues I've read so far, one story goes more fanciful, the other more traditional, and "Mayhem of the Mysterious Marauders!" is the traditional one; albeit with a time-travel spin. Flash, Batman, Green Arrow, and Wonder Woman are getting dressed up for an awards ceremony; when they're attacked in their headquarters with their own weapons. Flash is tied up by someone seemingly as fast as he was, and the League was seemingly defeated by another JLA, the team from the future. The Time Lord was going to attack the young, inexperienced team at their public appearance; but having somehow gotten word in advance the JLA subs in the current guys and kick the crap out of him. The past-JLA wonders what they missed, while the future Flash, Wally, is grateful for the chance to see Barry. Geez, it's at least the second time I can think of off the top of my head--JLQ #3 for one.
In the sixteen years since this one came out, Schwartz's legacy has been reassessed a bit; or more accurately tarnished; with multiple accusations of inappropriate behavior. I don't know if the JLA would think of him as fondly now; but that wouldn't be the last time DC turned a blind eye to that sort of thing.
2 comments:
So schwartz did some shady shit huh? News to me, but then again these nothing much surprises me as far as that goes.
This is the only one of these that I don't have yet- looks good, from what I can see.
I find that the best way to deal with these sort of things is to separate the art from the man. Almost everyone is problematic in one way or another so you have to find a way to enjoy it. And in this case, Julius Schwartz is also a character in the DC Universe so he becomes part of the art itself.
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