Justice's Gonna Lose Its Mind In Detroit... ROCK CITY!!!

(A brief aside: I hope that somewhere Gene Simmons' uncanny ability to find and sue the pants off of ANYTHING that refers to KISS without his direct involvement doesn't seek out this piddling lil' blog.)

Another weekend edition arrives in your hands... through SOME media device or another... and today's blog serves as a mirror to yesterday's entry.  If you remember, I went into more detail than your average writer would even CARE to do so about the Avengers/Avengers West Coast splinter group, Force Works.  But the main difference between yesterday's discussion, and today's, is that today was NOT created from a fracturing of an existing group.  This was wholly intended to usher in a new era for a LONG established example of a super-heroic team.  But this particular era usually tends to spark one of three reactions for fans of the teams' legacy:

1. "Ugh!  THAT team?  They were bloody awful!"
2. "Wait... Who?"
3. From Geoff Johns: "Man, they are gonna be GREAT in the 'New 52'!"

1984 wasn't just the year that "Big Brother" watched all of us, nor was it the debut year of the annual "WrestleMania" event.  After 232 issues, and one annual, the "old guard" of the Justice League of America was dissolved, after a Martian invasion of Earth.  Aquaman... who acted with a UNIQUE leadership drive that wasn't much present for him during this time-period... declared the League to be exclusive to members that could wholly devote themselves to full-time membership.  So... say goodbye to the "Big Guns" of Superman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, and the Flash.  I'm FAIRLY certain Batman was already busy mentoring the... ugh... Outsiders during this period, anyways.  So that left established members Aquaman, Martian Manhunter, Zatanna, and the Elongated Man to lead the way to the brand new recruits, of whom I shall detail:

• Vixen- Mari McCabe actually was somewhat established in the DC Universe before this point, appearing in a few issues of "Action Comics" and "DC Comics Presents".  She also started life in a very Catwoman-esque appearance, while sidelining in her civilian life as a supermodel.  But the mid-80's dictated she switch over to a VERY Wolverine-inspired appearance for her introduction into the Justice League.  But her power-set had not changed, at least; a mystic totem she wore around her neck allowed Mari to emulate the power of any animal she could call upon.  For example, she could call upon the power of flight from a bird, or speed from a cheetah... etc.
• Steel- Henry Heywood III was NOT pre-established before his Justice League tenure, but the legacy of Commander Steel HAD existed in the days of World War Two... On Earth 2.  (He transitioned to Earth One... AKA "General Earth" after the first "Crisis".)  Heywood the First was a willing volunteer to have his entire body mechanically enhanced to battle the Axis powers.  Heywood the Third... Well, it wasn't exactly a "consensual" transition.  But Grandpappy knows best, so the new Steel had the same mechanical-enhanced body, which allowed increased strength and a measure of invulnerability.
• Gypsy- Let's put the Stevie Nicks song aside for the moment, and talk about Cynthia Reynolds.  A runaway, with LEGIT Romani heritage, she is first introduced with Steel and our next member in "Justice League of America Annual #2".  Her powers... outside of being WHOLLY oblivious to her massacre of fashion... were chameleon illusion castings, and an imperfect sense of precognition.   So she was kind of like having a package of Mystique and Deanna Troi in one teenage person.  But if you eyes aren't rolling yet, wait until the last of the new recruits...
• Vibe- Paco Ramone... Sigh... I cannot count the ways how you are one of the most reviled Justice League members in existence.  Even the female Doctor Light had more supporters than you did!  Maybe it was because of your TRULY grotesque costume?  Maybe it was because your attitude, as written by Gerry Conway, was utter garbage?  All we can say, for sure, is Paco gave up the life of being a gang leader, and gave up even REMOTELY looking "cool", to join forces with the Justice League.  He carries the ability to manipulate sonic vibrations, seismic abilities... and my "favorite" according to Wikipedia, "superb breakdancer".  The cast of "Breakin'" had better WATCH OUT!

It should come as NO surprise that this team was launched as a response to the popularity of "New Teen Titans" and "Batman and the Outsiders", AKA the "Youth Team Wave".  And in a way, this title also reflects "Force Works" in the fact that it was VERY limited in its existence.  Aside from participating in the crossover events, "Crisis on Infinite Earths" and "Legends", the JLD's life span lasted 29 issues... but UNLIKE Force Works, this team did manage to eek out two extra-length annuals.  But while "marital" problems were cited on my research, I want to say Aquaman left the team after a year because even HE couldn't stand being the leader of this new squad of goofs.  But this allowed Martian Manhunter to test out his forthcoming leadership capabilities for the Justice League International/America that would arrive after "Legends"!  And this particular run DID manage to squeeze in some classic JLA villains to square off against the new kids.

For example, my favorite one-android JLA, Amazo, faced off against the re-established JLA team!  This also managed to fit in a reunification with Aquaman to his most HOT wife, Mera!  Ironically, this would not be the only time the Detroit leg of the Justice League would square off against a creation of Professor Ivo.  ... And the next time out, it would NOT fare too well for many of the members.  But before that...

It wouldn't be a Justice League team if Desparo didn't thrust his finned head into the team's good intentions.  This threat proved to be so severe... or maybe the team proved to be SO ineffectual... that the Batman had to return for a four-issue battle with Desparo, who managed to gain control over the forces of the Underworld.  ... Because that's what space aliens do, right?

"Legends" proved to be the team's last hurrah, as Earth's heroes were under assault by the plottings of Darkseid.  Darkseid's ultimate plan for this event involved the manipulation of regular people on Earth's perceptions of our superheroes, with the end goal being total distrust of ALL Meta Humans.  The JLA managed to team up with a previous member, Firestorm, and a member of the future-based Legion of Superheroes, Cosmic Boy, to tackle the mammoth being known as Brimstone.  (It ultimately took the Suicide Squad to batter down the skull-faced flame mountain.)  And there's a certified reason why at the end of the "Legends" event, we had to have a new Justice League team established...

For a final four-issue event, Professor Ivo... See, I TOLD you he would return... sent an army of androids to assault the Detroit team.  And it's hard to keep members on the team when two members die in the confrontation.  So, tears were shed when Steel perished.  And I'm sure EVERYONE break-danced on the grave of Vibe.  (I know I WOULD!)  Thus, the regular "Justice League of America" title that lasted a grand total of 261 issues drew to a conclusion, and the Keith Giffen/J.M. DeMatteis run of "Justice League America/Europe/International" was given life.

The funny thing is the legacy of the Detroit league... as MASSIVELY unpopular as it was... still had long shadows!  Vixen would show up in titles on occasion after "Legends", and would later return to become a FULL-TIME member of the post "Infinite Crisis" Justice League of America team.  Gypsy would have a brush with the "Justice League Task Force" title run, and eventually become a member of the Birds of Prey.  Steel had to wait until the post "Infinite Crisis" Justice Society of America relaunch to be resurrected in the person of Nathan Heywood, who was given the Steel "treatment" to recover from injuries received during his run as a college football player.  And hell... even VIBE came back... first as a living corpse in the "Blackest Night" event, and then as part of the "New 52" universe.  ... Because we were just ITCHING to see Vibe come back.  So... say what you will about the team: Noble experiment?  Utter failure?  Not even worth remembering?  But they were a bridge to two specific eras of the Justice League, and it all took place in the ONE major American city that currently is in the throes of bankruptcy.  (We can just blame it all on Vibe and Gypsy.)