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Meet DC’s New JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA Comic Book Team

Meet DC’s New JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA Comic Book Team

Ahead of this upcoming weekend’s New York Comic Con, publisher DC Comics has officially announced the release date and creative team for their new ongoing Justice League of America title. The comic was first revealed during the inital DC Rebirth announcement back in the spring, but was not among the initial offerings when Rebirth launched in May, leading many to wonder if DC was sticking with just one Justice League title after all.

But it turns out that the title was merely delayed, and will launch in February 2017 from the creative team of writer Steve Orlando and superstar artist Ivan Reis. The book will spin out of event from this winter’s upcoming Justice League vs. Suicide Squad mini-series.

Along with the creative team, DC has announced the first four members of the JLA, and it looks like for this group of heroes, the publisher is embracing diversity in a big way. Each of the four initial new members is getting a special one-shot issue in January, reintroducing the character to the DCU before Justice League of America launches the next month, as a twice monthly title.

First out of the gate is The Atom, who will star in  January 4’s Justice League of America: The Atom one-shot, which will be written by Orlando and an undisclosed artist. Thanks to Comic Vine, we’ve learned that this Atom will be the Asian-American Ryan Choi version, who is described as “a prodigious theoretical physics student, hyper-allergic, and crippling social anxiety sufferer. But little does young Ryan know, his first day at Ivy University will begin an epic journey that will take the all-new Atom into the very heart of the DC Universe.” The Ryan Choi character was re-introduced in the DC: Rebirth Special back in May.

Next up on January 11 will be the Justice League of America: Vixen one-shot, also being written by Orlando, along with Jody Houser, and with Jamal Campbell on art duties. According to DC’s description, (via CBR) “She’s one of the country’s most successful businesswomen, an iconic fashion pioneer, a crusader for social justice, and an incredibly powerful member of the Justice League of America. But Mari McCabe life wasn’t always this way. Follow her path to becoming the heroic Vixen in this crucial special!”

It should be noted, that in the old, pre-New 52 continuity, Vixen was the first African-American member of the JLA, joining back in 1984. You can see new promo art from Jamal Campbell for Vixen’s one-shot below:

On January 18, Justice League of America: The Ray will hit comic shops, and will be written by Orlando on his own, with Green Arrow artist Stephen Byrne providing the artwork, according to Comics Alliance. This will star Joe Quesada and Jack C. Harris’ iteration of the character from back in the early ’90s namaed Ray Terrell (son of the original Ray from the 1940s). For a recently announced online animated series for the CW Seed, this version of The Ray was announced as being gay, so I have a strong feeling the comics version will be as well. DC has revealed new promo artwork for The Ray’s one-shot from artist Stephen Byrne.

Maybe the biggest surprise so far? Longtime villainess Killer Frost changing her evil ways and joining the good guys. In the comics, Killer Frost’s civilian name is Caitlin Snow, and of course, the character of Caitlin Snow has gone on to mainstream fame as one of the good guys on “Team Flash” on the CW Flash TV series, played by Danielle Panabaker (on TV, her Killer Frost identity is a version of her from an alternate universe).

Via Newsarama, we’ve learned that also coming out on January 18 will be the  Justice League of America: Killer Frost one-shot, which will again be written by Orlando and Jody Houser, with artist Mirka Andolfo illustrating. This Killer Frost is a member of Amanda Waller’s Suicide Squad, but is due for parole from Belle Reve Prison. According to DC’s description, “Killer Frost is up for parole from the Suicide Squad, but you can bet Amanda Waller isn’t going to make it easy for Frost to take her place on the new JLA.”

In the earlier days of the New 52, a Justice League of America title was launched a governement backed team of heroes, meant as a response to the Justice League that had DC’s biggest guns like Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman. This team was made up of characters like Martian Manhunter, Green Arrow, Catwoman, Hawkman, Stargirl, and Katana. Could this new JLA be another attempt at a government sponsored League? And could some of those characters be returning to the fold?

DC will reveal more members of this new JLA soon, saying in a statement that “these four will be joined by more team members — DC isn’t done stocking the JLA roster. More heroic DC leaders, more of the characters you love, and maybe a few out-of-this-world surprises will follow these four to the pages of Justice League of America in February. Stay tuned!” More JLA information will be revealed on the “DC All Access” panel at New York Comic Con on Thursday, October 6. In the meantime, you can check out the covers for the recently revealed Justice League of America one-shots in our gallery below.

What do you think of the newest Justice League of America line-up thus far? And who do you want to see on the team? Let us know your thoughts down below in the comments.

Images: DC Comics

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