The response to my previous article was positive, so let's try this again...

Many of us have found ourselves at one time or another staring at figures of characters we (perhaps not so) fondly remember and considering whether these representations are comic accurate. Seldom though do these conversations seem to consider the role of that figure on their natural team or the accuracy of that team as a whole though, even as further members are previewed. Oh sure, there might be some passing mention, but the notion that a team might manage to be more than the sum of its parts and actually capture a comic book gets little attention.

Today I turn my attention to the new Justice League International. Commentary on the figures on this roster might be a bit confusing for the uninitiated, as the original series of that name has a very loyal and vocal following, but this new title bears only a superficial resemblance to the old. So let's recap. The new JLI was conceived as an alternative to the haughty Justice League, a team of superheroic operatives operating globally under the auspices and control of the United Nations Security Council. It was sanctioned, but only with reservations, and its roster filled out with political appointees. Now, many of the members have not seen a new clix incarnation in some time. Today I'm only interested in the core team, those who had meaningful dialogue, developed as individuals and actually drove the plot. So apologies to Vixen, Fire and Ice while they convalesce in the hospital and so long to Guy, Omac, Firestorm and Batwing who never really wanted to be there in the first place.

From this roster we have the following clix...

bm052 V Booster Gold
Team: Justice League
Range: 7
Points: 98
Keywords: Celebrity, Future, Justice League International

10 10 17 3

10 10 17 3

8 9 17 3

8 9 16 2

8 9 16 2

7 8 16 2

7 8 15 2

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

(Attack) Skeets: Booster Gold has "Duo Attack Symbol".

(Damage) The Advantage of Time Travel: Booster Gold can use Probability Control. When he uses it for his own attack roll, he may use it again as long as the rerolled value is higher than the previous ignored value.


bm038 E August General in Iron
Team: Justice League
Range: 0
Points: 142
Keywords: Great Ten, Justice League International, Soldier

8 10 18 3

7 10 18 3

7 10 17 3

7 9 17 3

8 9 16 2

8 9 16 2

7 8 16 2

7 8 15 2

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

(Attack) As the Party Requires: August General in Iron can use Quake. When he does, choose a hit opposing character; damage dealt to the chosen character is penetrating damage.

bm035 E Rocket Red
Team: Justice League
Range: 7
Points: 102
Keywords: Armor, Justice League International

8 11 18 3

8 10 17 3

7 10 17 2

6 9 16 2

6 9 16 2

6 8 15 2

6 9 15 2

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

(Attack) Battlesuit: Rocket Red can use Energy Explosion and Super Strength.

bm029 E Godiva
Team: Justice League
Range: 0
Points: 43
Keywords: Global Guardians, Justice League International

7 10 16 2

7 9 16 2

6 9 16 2

6 8 15 1

5 8 15 1

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

(Attack) Entangling Hair: Godiva can use Incapacitate. When she does, she can use the Giant Reach ability and may target all opposing characters she can attack with a close combat attack.

bm001 Batman
Team: Batman Ally
Range: 6
Points: 200
Keywords: Batman Family, Gotham City, Justice League, Justice League International, Outsiders

9 12 18 3

10 11 17 3

9 10 17 2

10 10 16 2

9 11 18 3

8 10 16 3

8 10 16 2

8 10 17 3

8 9 16 2

8 9 16 2

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

(Improved) Swingline: Improved Movement: Ignores Elevated Terrain, Ignores Hindering Terrain, Ignores Outdoor Blocking Terrain, Ignores Characters

(Special) Team Leader: At the beginning of the game, choose a keyword Batman possesses. All friendly characters with that keyword and a lower point value can use the Batman Ally team ability while Batman is on the map.

(Attack) I Will Not Fail Gotham: When Batman is marked with one action token, modify his attack value by +1.

Hey look! With the addition of the JLI ATA this comes out to an even 600! It's almost like someone intended it that way...

Unlike the WildC.A.T.S. reviewed in the prior article, some of these characters are downright impressive on their own. Once again we will break their dials down into three parts and equate these to the stages of a game to see how much it resembles the book.

Booster opens aggressively, taking to the skies and trusting his force field to deflect a counter assault. Sounds good, but Booster isn't especially good at that sort of thing and he's already outdistancing his team. Fortunately the steady August General follows him in, supplementing Booster's firepower before he dives in to scatter formations on the ground. Rocket Red is a little slow to mobilize, as his suit has far too many toys and he isn't quite sure what to do with them all, but he does manage to provide some suppressive fire. If she's lucky, Godiva got a lift somewhere in all this, but mostly she's trying to stay back and avoid contact with the enemy. And Batman is... well... Batman, everywhere at once, making up for the shortcomings of the rest of the team and generally making it seem like they aren't even there.

As the battle wears on a bit, Booster is coming into his own. It seems he really might have some insight into the future that's helping his shots count, but he's getting a bit sloppy and leaving himself exposed. The August General is no longer much help to him; he's off on his own, wading through the remnants of the ground support or catching his breath for another big push. Fortunately Rocket Red seems a bit more on the ball, providing a tactical boost to his friends as he continues with the suppression fire. Godiva is also ready to play now, and her wild hair starts throwing grown men about like ten-pins. Batman is still Batman, though he's letting the rest of the team carry a bit more water.

As the end nears, Booster has moved in close, which is not where he belongs at all. It's a mistake and it will probably get him knocked on the head no matter how much he thinks his brilliant plan will help out. The August General warriors on, as invulnerable as ever, but he's getting tired, his swings sloppy. With the heavy hitters losing steam, it would be nice to see Rocket Red show some energy, but instead he goes on the defensive and loses all efficacy. That puts a lot of pressure on Godiva and she responds by trying to actually hurt the bad guys instead of using fancy tricks. Unfortunately that's not really her forte. There's still Batman of course and even at his worst his better than many of them. He'll bail them out at the last.

What I have just described is not quite how any issue of JLI reads, but it's a fair summary of the series as a whole. Rocket Red usually shines late in the game when a bit of technical wizardry saves the day, but he could not stand on his own against the enemy that killed him. The August General never gets tired, but he does seem to care a lot less after Red's death. Batman takes more of a backseat in the title, trying to encourage Booster to take charge. We see no hint of Godiva's flirtatiousness, which is all we see of her in the first six issues. Booster is indeed a competent leader... but only late in the series, and the Skeets has no relevance to the title.

I cannot look at this team and picture a specific issue in my head, so I'll have to rate this one a B for title accuracy. There's room for improvement, but it's a worthwhile effort and the failings of the individual figures seem more subdued in the context of their team. All in all, it plays like a group of inexperienced solo heroes trying to come together, slowly learning to cover one another's weaknesses, and relying heavily on a more experienced hero. That is the book in a nutshell. And like the title, the team will easily flounder without Batman.

Nice article to read. Based on the descriptions and the fight breakdown I really feel these pieces capture the feel of the new JLI book, if not any one specific issue.

They were a team of heroes put together as a UN PR move and thrown into the deep end from the word "go". They flounder and barely carry the victory, but they develop close ties and depend on each other.

I'm still bummed JLI was canned in favor of JLA, I suspect it was because JLI broke their ties to a government agency too soon and that messes with the narrative of "World Government VS the Justice League" that has been building.

These 5 were part of a team that was featured in the recent DCnU title of that name. To me, the title seemed tied to the old universe and lacked a direction. I was not surprised when it ended.

The other members were:
Fire
Ice
Vixen
Guy Gardner Green Lantern

post issue 6,
Fire, Ice, Vixen, and Rocket Red were injured and left behind. To fill out the cast,
Omac (the new 52 one) was added
Firestorm was visited, but not added.
Batwing joined.
Blue Beetle (Jamie) stopped by
Olympian came on board, but just for the Annual in which the team disbanded.

Right about the end of the series, the team crosses over into Batwing's book for 1 issue.

Overall, these 5 make a very nice showing of the depth of the team. We can hope that some of the others appear in SOG.

Edit: Not sure why the original poster left Batwing off the list of dialed figures. Did WK forget to give him the keyword?

Batwing does not have the JLI keyword.

These figures are amazing for their price points and will be great on various JLI teams. Hopefully we can get a few more mentioned, like new versions of Ice and Vixen and maybe even a Non-Red Lantern Guy Gardner in Streets of Gotham.

I doubt we'll ever see OMAC unless we get another new 52 inspired set and we already have two great versions of Ice from DC75th.

That's exactly why. Batwing didn't get the keyword (unless the Units section is wrong; always a possibility at this stage of a release). I could have added him in, but rather liked how the highlighted five worked out to a nice, even team build and thought it might have been intentional on a designer's part. Also, if I included that latecomer, I'd have to address Firestorm (who did get the keyword). Since I didn't read either crossover I'd have been writing blind and probably doing the subject matter a disservice.

Your observation that the team felt like a carry over interests me. The initial roster certainly felt that way, but from the first issue it was clear that the focus of the book would be on the relative new blood (Godiva and August General In Iron) and on establishing a different relationship between the Batman and Booster of the Nu52. Then a first mission that was completely out of their league (A Galactus homage, really?) got rid of most of the old blood in one fell swoop. My disappointment with the book (aside from it ending) was with their failure to so much as discuss whether this Booster remembers the events of Flashpoint or the prior DCU and what impact that has on him.

I'd like to see the hospitalized trio appear in a team pack in SOG. Unfortunately none is particularly meaningfully developed in the Nu 52 and as you said, we already have a good Ice, so that seems unlikely.

All DC writers were ORDERED to NEVER bring up Flashpoint. That is why there is no reference to Flashpoint with the exception of Pandora

This I did not know. It makes a fair amount of sense from a marketing perspective. And yet it remains a personal disappointment. If anyone were going to have a recollection of the alternate history...

Then again, in years to come they'll dust off the title once again, and perhaps at that time DC will want to touch bases with its roots anew. Isn't that their usual pattern with reboots?