The DC Multiverse fully bloomed in June 1963…
This week marks the 60th anniversary of the first Justice League-Justice Society team-up — an annual event remembered fondly by all you Silver and Bronze Age types out there. (Justice League of America #21, by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky and Bernard Sachs, was released June 20, 1963.)
As it happens, our pal Anthony Desiato of the Digging for Kryptonite podcast is launching a summer event — called Red Skies — that explores DC’s Crises from the beginning to Crisis on Infinite Earths — and beyond. I’m flattered to be the first episode guest, discussing the annual JLA-JSA team-ups of the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s.
The ep goes live July 18 and I invite you to join us. (Coincidentally, my summer reading project is all of the Crisis issues.) But in the meantime, dig this 13 COVERS celebration, featuring favorites from artists including Mike Sekowsky, Nick Cardy, George Perez and MORE!
Right on!
Mike Sekowsky pencils, Murphy Anderson inks
Sekowsky and Anderson
Ernie Chan
Nick Cardy
Sekowsky pencils, Joe Giella inks
Nick Cardy
Ernie Chan
Joe Kubert
Rich Buckler pencils, Jack Abel inks
Jim Starlin pencils. Bob Smith inks
Dick Giordano
Anderson
George Perez pencils, Mike DeCarlo inks
—
MORE
— 13 JLA-JSA COVERS to Make You Feel Good. Click here.
— 13 SUMMER SPLASH PAGES: The JUSTICE LEAGUE Meets the JUSTICE SOCIETY. Click here.
June 24, 2023
JLA 172 does show Dick Giordano’s signature, but looking at the faces of Power Girl and Wonder Woman, and the poses in general, I can’t help but think that maybe Joe Staton may have had a hand in the layout of the cover? Can anyone verify this, or am I dreaming?
June 24, 2023
I don’t see Joe’s pencils in that cover. Though he is one of my all time favorite JSA artist.
These are all great covers and still plenty more out there (eg adult Earth-2 Robin). I used to look forward to the summer team up. After Crisis, every month became an event and they stopped being special.
June 24, 2023
I find it interesting that at a time when Batmania was in full swing, the cover of JLA #46 featured Batman, Wildcat (a hero with a similar look to Batman) and Sandman (a hero with a similar look to the Green Hornet who’s tv series debuted the month after this issue came out). Coincidence?
June 24, 2023
I agree, Allen. With the large lettered sound effects, it looks like a fight scene from the 60s series.
June 24, 2023
Issue #135 was the second issue of JLA that I purchased. I was 9 and it was my first introduction to the multiverse and parallel Earths. That year’s story may not have been one of the better ones, but I quickly looked forward to the JLA/JSA teamups every year.
It also gave a chance to introduce different characters to a younger audience, such as the Freedom Fighters and the Shazam! related characters.
Two of my favorites were from 1981 — with the Secret Societ of Super-Villains, where the Ultra-Humanite got his gorilla body — and 1982 — that five-issue time-travel crossover with All-Star Squadron fighting Degaton.
June 26, 2023
The DC Multiverse truly is vast.
June 27, 2023
I started buying JLA with issue 100 (I must have been about 12!) Since then I read all the team-ups either in back-issues, reprints or first-run through the Crisis on Infinite Ect. If I had to pick a favorite, it would be issue 107. And I loved the Freedom Fighters comic!