JLA Classified

ARTISTS

Writers: J. M. DeMatteis, Keith Giffen
Penciller: Kevin Maguire
Inker: Joe Rubinstein
Colorist: David Baron
Letterer: Bob Lappan
Editor: Michael Carlin

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CHARACTERS & SETTINGS

heroes: Blue Beetle II, Booster Gold, Demon, Elongated Man, Fire, Ice, Mary Marvel, Power Girl, Warrior
villain: Brother Garc & Brother Maul

Setting: 21st-century Hell, DCU

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ISSUE SUMMARY

Cover Description: Guy Gardner and Power Girl fight the hordes of Hell. (No Booster Gold.)

Brief Synopsis: The Super Buddies encounter a fallen friend in Hell.

Costume Worn: MARK XII armored power-suit

Issue Notes: Originally written and promoted in 2004 as the mini-series I Can't Believe It's Not the Justice League, this story was published in 2005 due to conflicting events occurring in the Identity Crisis mini-series. Events in this story must take place prior to Identity Crisis #1 for obvious reasons. Also, events of the Infinite Crisis mini-series have possibly erased some or all of the events in this issue from history.

This story has been reprinted in the following issue:
I Can't Believe It's Not The Justice League (2005)

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ISSUE ANNOTATIONS

Page 3, panel 1
Blue Beetle II and Booster Gold discuss their situation, endlessly cooking and eating hamburgers in a fast food franchise in Hell. Booster has faith that an escape is possible. Previously, Booster's faith has been a matter of question. He has openly stated that he is an atheist (in Justice League International Annual #2), though that may have been a joke.

Page 5, panel 1
Booster's faith is rewarded when he and Beetle and Elongated Man are rescued by Guy Gardner and Power Girl. Guy Gardner is wielding a yellow power ring. Though Sinestro's yellow Qwardian power ring was taken away from him by Hal Jordan when Jordan attacked Oa, it is possible that Gardner recovered his ring in the same manner that he transported Power Girl and himself to Hell to rescue the Super Buddies: he wished for it.

Page 9, panel 3
Booster's comment suggests that his wife, Gladys, encourages him to wear a Wonder Woman costume in the bedroom. Booster had previously admitted to Maxwell Lord that Gladys encouraged him to wear his costume to bed, but this is the first hint that their role-playing may include cross-dressing.

Page 10, panel 2
Power Girl is surprised by Booster's pep talk. Motivational speaking has long been one of Booster's most notable contributions to the Justice League, probably because of his team-oriented football past.

Page 12, panel 4
As Elongated Man recovers from the trauma of Guy Gardner's "rescue," he mentions "the Maxwell." Maxwell Motor Company, Inc, an American automobile manufacturer, ceased production prior to the Great Depression.

Page 18, panel 5
SPOILER WARNING!: Booster and Elongated Man rejoin Beetle, Fire, Gardner, Power Girl, and Mary Marvel only to find Ice. Booster, believing that they are not in Hell but rather in a shared hallucination, is cynical that Ice is really their deceased fellow Justice Leaguer and friend. (Ice was slain by the Overmaster in Justice League Task Force #14.) Reveal

Page 19, panel 2
SPOILER WARNING!: Etrigan's condition for the removal of Ice from Hell is called the Orpheus Protocol by philosophers in honor of the Greek hero and bard who attempted to extract his deceased wife, Eurydice, from Hades. Reveal

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ISSUE REVIEW

Boosterrific Review: Now that the creative team has clearly hit their full stride, I'm beginning to wonder if it is possible for them to turn in anything other than a perfect issue featuring the Super Buddies.

Boosterrific Rating:

• Currently 5.0/5 Stars.

Average Fan Rating:

• Currently 5.0/5 Stars.

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