ASK BRAD MELTZER ABOUT JLofA #1

**MattBrady** · 08-10-2006, 03:41 PM

Though the series kicked off last month in the special issue #0, Brad Meltzer’s Justice League of America kicks off in earnest next week with the release of issue #1, and fans will begin to find out what they’ve been wanting to know for months – who’s on the roster?

As we promised last month, Meltzer is coming back to Newsarama again to answer your questions about issue #0, issue #1, or the series in general, but we’re shaking things up and doing things a little differently this time around.

Because there will be 10 members of Meltzer’s new League roster, we’re going to send the writer what we think are 10 best, most thoughtful, most probing reader questions, and ask Meltzer to answer them here on Tuesday, August 15th, the day before Justice League of America #0 hits the streets.

You can post your question(s) for consideration right between right now and Saturday August 12th at 3pm EST. So fire up those brains, have fun, and maybe your question will be answered here next week.

And in case you missed last month’s Q&A’s, check out Part One here and Part Two right here!

cncoyle · 08-10-2006, 03:51 PM

Does Red Tornado dream of electric sheep or elemental sheep?

Cyphon · 08-10-2006, 03:53 PM

Will we see you use the JLA as an opportunity to introduce any new heros of your own creation?

House Of Me · 08-10-2006, 03:55 PM

Besides the eleven members you've already chosen, will we see any old members as guest stars?

SaturnKnight · 08-10-2006, 03:55 PM

Brad,

It's been reported that due to your busy schedule your run of Justice League of America will only be 12 issues. Without divulging any names, have you talked with who will take over after you to discuss the transition and what direction the book will take after your run is over?

And will Ed Benes be staying beyond your initial 12 issue run?

AuburnTiger · 08-10-2006, 03:56 PM

Ray Palmer hasn't been seen for well over a year now (DCU time). Since he disappeared in your IC series, will his location/situation be addressed at all? We Palmer fans miss him greatly.

Timberoo · 08-10-2006, 03:56 PM

How closely will the JLA work with the US government and Checkmate?

Ace · 08-10-2006, 03:59 PM

Mr. Meltzer,

There's a lot of the same here, but I don't think you covered any of this last time. Pick and choose at will.

From a storyline perspective, do you think there's a different need for the Justice League than the Justice Society? Do their missions/goals overlap or do they differ somehow? Would they be better served by being one large organization? For an aspiring hero in the DCU, is it more of an honor to be asked into the League or the Society? If you're a villain would you rather face one than the other? Is there a difference in how the public views the groups?

Thanks,

Matt

Excelsior! · 08-10-2006, 04:02 PM

How do you perceive the JLA (in any sense, be it the team, the book, or the concept in general), and how does that influence what you're doing on the book - in other words, what does the Justice League mean to you?

cncoyle · 08-10-2006, 04:08 PM

Hey Brad,

Can I wait & see or should I just wait & see?

PreCrisisDC · 08-10-2006, 04:10 PM

BM--greetings--I often wondered a while back how come the JLA issues which dealt with the mind wind wasn't more prominent--as a kid I thought something like that shouldn't have been so lightly regarded, obviously you thought along those lines. In any event what other story lines from the 70s/80s run will you return to? I can think of at least three which would kick butt as much as 166-168.

I await your run in earnest--I so hope that Vixen is a part of the line. And give her a decent haircut.

whitemarkd · 08-10-2006, 04:11 PM

How big a load was Dan Didio sitting on after you told him there was a page with an alternate Earth in JLA #0?

JimShelley · 08-10-2006, 04:11 PM

What are you feelings on Firestorm both New and Old?

bluebird · 08-10-2006, 04:13 PM

Why sign on to write JLA at all if you're only going to be around for such a short time (12 issues). Given that it will take a few issues to assemble the team and get a status quot rolling (new base, new mission statement, new team dynamic, "Hey, where have you ben all year Red Tornado?", et cetera), it seems like there was a lot of work that went into getting everything in place for your run (in terms of disbanding the old League, cancelling the old title, restoring the old "of America" name, making sure Heroes A, B, C and so on are available) for such a relatively short run.

It's kind of like if Morrison ended his run after "Rock of Ages;" or if Bendis left "New Avengers" around the time of the Sentry arc.

jza1218 · 08-10-2006, 04:13 PM

Hey Brad,

Want me to give you cncoyle's address so you can pummel him?

Scott King · 08-10-2006, 04:15 PM

Mr. Meltzer,

How do you manage to write character drive stories without them becoming plot driven?

Thanks,
Scott King

whitemarkd · 08-10-2006, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PreCrisisDC

the JLA issues which dealt with the mind wind

You mean mind wipe? I don't mind wind, but only if I pass it.

Good question, though - actually, that was one of the first comic books I remember reading, so when I read Identity Crisis I nearly had a load in my pants too. (See my question above to find out why that is just f**king brilliant humor.)

BillReed · 08-10-2006, 04:17 PM

So, Brad, just wondering...

Do you feel there's a particular importance to the "of America" tagline on a Justice League comic? I'm interested to see what it means to you, and perhaps what it means to the team itself; after all, the League protects the entire world, not just one country, their membership consists of heroes from all over the globe and galaxy, and they quite often utilize headquarters in outer space.

I guess there's not a chance that it's just an excuse to bring back Justice League Antarctica...? No? Darn.

khuxford · 08-10-2006, 04:19 PM

Can you expand upon your decision not to use Martian Manhunter? Do you just have a problem with finding his voice? Or is it a problem with his fitting into a need for the team? Or is it that he just isn't a character you find interesting? I'm not trying to phrase that in a "when did you stop beating your wife" style, so I hope it isn't coming across that way.

dipsomaniac · 08-10-2006, 04:29 PM

I like this question.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cncoyle

Does Red Tornado dream of electric sheep or elemental sheep?

JediMaster · 08-10-2006, 04:29 PM

In Justice League of America # 0, we got a glimpse of a possible story involving a second earth. As an old-school DC fan, would you like to see Earth 2 and the Multiverse return?

Birdfan · 08-10-2006, 04:30 PM

Even though he will not be in the JLA, will Jack O' Lantern be making an appearance? Do you like this character?

garou12 · 08-10-2006, 04:30 PM

Hey Brad glad to see that you're taking questions again so here goes:
Why the preference of Elongated man over Plastic Man?
Any chance of seeing the demons three or Neron during your run?
Who would you say are the most important members of your league and why?
Who would you say are the most important villains to the league and why?
Are you tying in any religious or gnostic demonology during your run?
Thanks for looking at these! Can't wait till the book and the Book of Fate hits!
Shawn

sagitane · 08-10-2006, 04:34 PM

Families of Superheroes often are overlooked when it comes time for JLA membership. The Batman family, the Superman Family, the Wonder Woman family. Most of the members of the families take a huge backseat to their top tier counterparts (Bats, WW, and Supes). Have you ever thought that the reason they were so overshadowed was because they weren't presented on a top tier team (like only few such as JLA are) as their own character, and instead are still considered "sidekicks" or junior members? Have you ever given thought to taking a member of any of the Big 3's families (whether it be Robin, Batgirl, Batwoman, Nightwing, Superboy, Supergirl, PowerGirl, Steel, Wonder Girl, Donna Troy, etc.) and making them their own hero as a fully recognized member of the JLA. Some of these heroes have been on the JLA in the past, but they always seem to be overshadowed by Superman and Batman (in particular). Are there any characters in your roster that you feel you are taking them out of the shadow of a more well know, larger character? I'm not just talking about the Big 3 here, you can also include any Green Lantern, Green Arrow, Flash analogues - there are plenty of "Jr. Heroes" "Sidekicks" "Dirivitives" in the DCU.

Thanks, and I'm looking forward to # 1, and each and every issue thereafter. I have high expectations for this book, but i Don't expect that you'll dissapoint.

Eric S.

J. Alan · 08-10-2006, 04:41 PM

Dear Mr. Meltzer -

I just have maybe a couple of questions so I'll try to make them brief.

1) Will we be seeing any new members of the JLA, such as veteran heroes that never joined or younger ones that will be essentially "graduating"?

2) Will there be any superheroes or heroines on your roster, either initially or later on down the road, who might have a life threatening illness of some sort? (Ex. AIDS, Cancer, any form of heart condition)

Thank you very much for your time.

- Jason Alan