Justice League Task Force

ARTISTS

Writer: Mark Waid
Penciller: Sal Velluto
Inker: Jeff Albrecht
Colorist: Glenn Whitmore
Letterer: Bob Pinaha
Editor: Brian Augustyn

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CHARACTERS & SETTINGS

heroes: Amazing Man II, Blue Beetle II, Booster Gold, Captain Atom, Crimson Fox, Doctor Light IV, Elongated Man, Flash III, Gypsy, Ice, Lionheart, Martian Manhunter, Maxima, Maya, Metamorpho, Osiris, Power Girl, Ray II, Seneca, Tasmanian Devil, Wonder Woman
villain: Overmaster
supporting: L-Ron

Setting: 20th-century Mount Everest, Nepal/Tibet

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ISSUE SUMMARY

Cover Description: As the second Cadre looks on, a globe explodes. Villains pictured include Backlash, Brute, Cloudburst, Death Angel, Devastator, Golden Eagle II, Gunshot, Ice, Iron Cross, Mahayogi, Meanstreak, and Musashi. (No Booster Gold.)

Brief Synopsis: The Justice League races against time to prevent the destruction of the world at the hands of the Overmaster.

Costume Worn: MARK IV armored power-suit

Issue Notes: This issue's story is part of the "Judgment Day" storyline running throughout the Justice League titles.

Story Notes: The title of this story is a reference to a 1974 Burt Reynolds movie by the same name.

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ISSUE ANNOTATIONS

Page 1, panel 4
HIS STORY: At the start of this story, Booster Gold was convinced that he was destined to be a part of the assault on the Overmaster's compound. Though his faith in history was shaken by his death, he is again among the heroes preparing for the final battle with the Overmaster. Now Booster returns to true form, spouting football cliches in an effort to stir up the morale of his fellow combatants. Booster's comment about there being "five and a half miles of mountain between us and the end of the world," is a reference to the height of Mount Everest. Peaking five and one-half miles above sea level, Mount Everest is the tallest mountain in the world. Booster's audience includes...

Page 2, panel 1
...Amazing Man II, Blue Beetle II, Captain Atom, Crimson Fox, Dr. Light IV, Elongated Man, Flash III, Gypsy, Lionheart, L-Ron (in Despero's body), Martian Manhunter, Maxima, Maya, Metamoprho, Osiris I, Power Girl, Ray II, Seneca, Tasmanian Devil, and Wonder Woman. Booster's words are likely more stirring, because should the Justice League manage to defeat the Overmaster, Booster will likely die from injuries to his heart and lungs sustained in Justice League America #89.

Page 14, panel 3
As the Cadre II attacks one group of Justice League members ascending Mount Everest, Blue Beetle, Booster Gold, Captain Atom, Gypsy, and Martian Manhunter are caught in an avalanche set off by Maxima's detonation of Metamorpho.

Page 15, panel 3
As the League recovers from the Cadre's assault, Booster urges Martian Manhunter to continue up the mountain, leaving Gypsy behind. Booster's cold-hearted urgings are based on the Overmaster's decision to destroy the world in less than an hour, a timetable that the heroes are rushing to beat.

Page 16, panel 3
Captain Atom's group is assaulted by Ice. Ice has been corrupted by the Overmaster, exactly as her brother Ewald was before her. Apparently, it runs in the family.

Page 19, panel 1
Captain Atom's group, including Booster Gold, at last comes face-to-face with the towering Overmaster who...

Page 22, panel 1
SPOILER WARNING!: ...kills Ice. Ice is the first member of the Justice League International roster to die. Following the events of the Identity Crisis mini-series, there will grow a rumored "JLI Curse" because of the ill-fates destined for so many of the characters involved in that series. Reveal

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ISSUE REVIEW

Boosterrific Review: Though most know this issue for the fate of Evil Ice (an obligatory fate suffered by some unlucky hero in every major crossover storyline), every reader of this issue will no doubt spend some time wondering how much tape Fire must use just to keeps her costume on. Despite the cliched plot and too-frequent hero posturing, this issue is still entertaining enough, in no small part because of T.O. Morrow's metafictional countdown of events.

Boosterrific Rating:

• Currently 3.0/5 Stars.

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