Justice League International
“Justice League... International”
Volume 1, Issue 7, November 1987
Released August 11, 1987
Cover Price: $1.25
Guide Price: $4.00 (as of 2011)
Writers: J. M. DeMatteis, Keith Giffen
Penciller: Kevin Maguire
Inker: Al Gordon
Colorist: Gene D'Angelo
Letterer: Bob Lappan
Editor: Andrew Helfer
Cover Artists: Al Gordon, Kevin Maguire
Heroes: Batman, Black Canary II, Blue Beetle II, Booster Gold, Captain Atom, Captain Marvel, Creeper, Doctor Fate I, Martian Manhunter, Mister Miracle, Rocket Red 7
Villains: Angon, Gray Man
Supporting: Maxwell Lord, Oberon
Settings: Earth orbit, Space, 20th-century; New York, NY, USA, 20th-century; Stone Ridge, DCU, USA, 20th-century; Unknown City, DCU, 20th-century
Cover Description: (Clockwise from center) Blue Beetle, Black Canary, Booster Gold, Mister Miracle, Captain Atom, Guy Gardner, Batman, Rocket Red, and Martian Manhunter stand against a background of international flags.
Brief Synopsis: After polishing off the Gray Man, the Justice League finds itself manipulated by outside forces into a United Nations-sanctioned super-team.
Issue Summary: Reveal Potential Spoilers
Booster Gold's role in this story:
Featured (Booster Gold plays a prominent role)
Costume Worn: MARK I power-suit
Issue Notes: As the Justice League accepts the approval of the United Nations, the title of the book changes from Justice League to Justice League International while maintaining its previous numbering. This League also has its first major membership shake-up; out are Dr. Fate and Captain Marvel, in are Captain Atom and Rocket Red (as Justice League members #28 and #29). Batman steps down as team leader to be replaced by Martian Manhunter. This is also the first issue to spotlight the change in Guy Gardner's persona from aggressive troublemaker to agreeable pacifist.
This story has been reprinted in:
Justice League International Book One: Born Again (2020)
Justice League International Omnibus (2017)
Justice League International Volume 1 (2009)
Page 6, panel 5
With Dr. Fate's resolution to the Gray Man's situation, Booster regains consciousness alongside the rest of the League.
Page 23, panel 1
Booster stands with his fellow Justice Leaguers in conference with a specialist inside a S.T.A.R. Labs facility (exact location unknown).
Page 23, panel 5
The Justice League goes to space aboard a S.T.A.R. Labs spacecraft that looks a lot like the Space Shuttle, a reusable rocket system operated by NASA from 1981 to 2011. The Soviet Union had their own version of the Space Shuttle called the Buran, which made its maiden (and only) flight in 1988, so it's not entirely inconceivable that a non-government agency like S.T.A.R. Labs had their own version of the spacecraft. What is inconceivable is that a shuttle could be prepared for liftoff within a half-hour; it took NASA an average of 5 hours just to move their shuttles from hangers to launch pad on their specially-designed crawler-transports. Perhaps S.T.A.R. Labs was already about to go into space for another reason?
Page 24, panel 3
A narrative balloon from the editor indicates that sound effects are provided by "artistic license." Of course, there is no sound in the vacuum of space, though why a comic book editor would suddenly feel the urge to justify the inclusion of space sound effects when other American entertainment media has long ignored the science altogether in favor of exploding asteroids and Death Stars is not entirely clear. (Nor is it clear why a S.T.A.R. Labs shuttle would have rockets on board. Just what kind of science are they getting up to up there?)
Page 27, panel 4
POWER UP: As the Justice League battles a rogue satellite with a death ray, Booster brags about the capability of his force field. Booster will visit space occasionally, sometimes protected only by his force field, sometime requiring a suit.
Page 28, panel 1
EXTRA, EXTRA: Batman's life is saved, but not, as it appears, by Booster's force field. This dramatic "rescue" is being broadcast live around the world (as part of a villainous plot), making Booster Gold the unintentional idol of millions! (Some guys get all the luck.)
Page 34, panel 1
Booster and several other members of the League are in the United Nations 39-floor Secretariat Building in New York City. The Secretariat Building stands alongside the East River in Manhattan.
Page 36, panel 1
This is the first time that Booster has appeared on panel with Mister Miracle's right-hand-man and Justice League assistant, Oberon.
Page 38, panel 1
With the Justice League now sponsored by the United Nations, Booster is gleefully introduced to the U.N. General Assembly alongside (from left to right) Martian Manhunter, Batman, Black Canary, Mister Miracle, Blue Beetle, Guy Gardner, Rocket Red #7 (Vladimir Mikoyan), Oberon, Captain Atom, and Maxwell Lord. Captain Atom (from the U.S.A.) and Rocket Red (from the U.S.S.R.) have been forced into the Justice League as representatives of their respective governments in order to earn the recommendation of the U.N. Security Council. The U.S.A. and U.S.S.R. have each always been among the five permanent members of the U.S. Security Council, and were almost always at odds during the decades-long Cold War. The other three governments with permanent seats on the Security Council, China, France, and Great Britain, apparently did not have any problems with the Justice League roster despite the League having no members from any of those nations. This is the first meeting between Booster and either Captain Atom or any Rocket Red. Effective immediately and after a run of only 3 issues, Booster is no longer the "New Guy" in the Justice League.
Boosterrific Review: Enter the Justice League International. A lot of things are happening in this issue, and at times the story seems disjointed and unnecessarily confusing. Fortunately the simple and elegant art of Kevin Maguire and Al Gordon provide a beautiful unifying style for the issue's story, smoothing over any rough patches in Keith Giffen's pacing. While it is true that this series features more comedy than is seen in all of the previous Justice League series combined, this series is simultaneously more realistic in its approach to the concept of a league of super powered heroes than what has come before. Those facts make a refreshing change on all fronts, and make this series something special.
Boosterrific Rating: Boosterrific!
Average Fan Rating: (1 vote)
A great issue even if Booster takes a back seat to Bat Man and Mr. Miracle. Kirk to Spock, Kirk to Spock.....
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