JUSTICE SERVED #4

And this is the issue where things got a little crowded!

When Batman Beyond Unlimited was finally conceived, it would be a split book of stories between Batman Beyond and Justice League Beyond. Superman Beyond also got added. But with this issue comes the "Beyond: Origins" stories. These origins are actually a part of Justice League Beyond, and it's probably easier to think of them that way rather than a fourth title added into the mix. The idea was to have a way to introduce (or reintroduce) the members of the future Justice League. At this point, many of them had only been seen in a couple tv episodes and didn't have much of a backstory. So this was a chance to flesh them out.

Also the way the title is published now, there will always be a 20 page main story (which rotates each issue) followed by two 10 page stories. Since the "Origins" are part of the Justice League Beyond section, and this issue JLB would be the feature story…it was just odd timing that they would come out together. So you'd end up having four 10 page stories this issue. It won't always be this way, but it will happen again as we go along.

And just to stop any assumptions fans might have, that these Origins are placed into the comics as a way to buy time or help out slow artists…it's not the case here. Dustin was finished drawing the entire JLB story before the first issue saw print. That's 120 pages completed, and he was already moving onto other projects (our stint on Batwing for a couple issues, the American Vampire mini, and other work). But the Origins will be a fun way to get to know these characters, and see guest artists draw them.

Now let's get into the stories themselves...


JUSTICE LEAGUE BEYOND

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One of the early discussions that Dustin and I had when we started on the book, was what we could bring to make it our own. Not only honor the past of the shows, but also put a little cool visual stamp on it. So having a new batsuit was one of the things we talked about. Dustin wanted a cape, so it happened. Then it was up to me to find a way to work it into the story. Terry's current Beyond suit had to be damaged, and taking awhile to repair, for him to borrow an earlier version of the suit.


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We sort of relegated Aquagirl to being the team dispatcher, earlier in the story. That a lot of times, she would take that role and work from the Watchtower, to provide intel for the other members. Part of the juggle of team books, is finding a way or a purpose to use every character in the limited space you have for the story. Not everyone will go into battle or be in every issue. That's how it is in most team books and would be the same here. But we were looking for a reason to have Aquagirl  join the team away from home base when the situation called for it. Of course, this gave us another excuse to redesign the look of a character. We didn't want to just have her in her usual swimsuit. Expand the design of her uniform and toss a trident in her hand, and Aquagirl was ready to go!

With Waller recovering along with Micron in his containment tube, who would be left to monitor the Watchtower when the team leave? Why, "Superman's Pal"…Jimmy Olsen. Even in his older years, Jimmy is one of Superman's last remaining ties to the past and could be counted on to help out in a pinch.


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It's no secret my love for Kirby. And some of the best episodes of Superman:TAS and the Justice League shows featured the New Gods and Apokolips. So I wanted a large enough story that we could tap into those characters, even in the Beyond future timeline. The gods are ageless and would still be around, but in what capacity. And it was a chance to see Dustin draw just about every Kirby DC character I could toss in. Like all these animated stories in comics, I always hear the actors in my mind while writing it. The next few issues would be very "Michael Ironside" centric.



BEYOND ORIGIN: WARHAWK chapter 1

Once we found out we'd be telling the backstories for the future Justice League members, the first story that came to mind was the one that fans of the show have talked about the longest, ever since it was hinted at that Warhawk was the son of John Stewart and Shayera Hol. It would also prove to be the most contested story due to the subject matter.

With all the Origins stories, I wanted to keep a few things in mind. I wanted each of the stories to be narrated by the person it was about. To get their perspective of where they came from and the people they came to be. It would also be a chance to tie-in with the history and continuity of the shows themselves. It was a fine line to walk, as you want to nod back to certain episodes without just spending the entire time recapping what people have already seen. Also a familiar theme of these Origins is telling the story about their parents, as much as it is about their offspring.

There was a lot of ground to cover for Warhawk and his parents, and probably could've used even more space to do the telling of it. But it's the only Origin that gets 2 chapters to tell it. The other Origins will be 1 chapter long.

The relationships between John Stewart, Shayera Hol, and Vixen, were such a huge crux over the course of Justice League shows. And would prove so in this story. Teammates that grew into lovers only to be torn apart by secret agendas and an invasion. I always admired that even for a "kids show", the relationships were handled in a very adult way. People grow, change, move on, but still have conflictions and feelings and history with the people they've been with in their lives. And even though John was now in a relationship with Vixen, and fighting off all talk about possible futures and fate's intervention; you can tell there was still a lot of unresolved feelings towards Shayera. It's the stuff that all good dramas and soap operas engage in.

Watch List:  Justice League "Starcrossed parts 1-3"
 

Of course we all found out who Warkhawk's parents were when it was introduced in "The Once and Future Thing" episodes. So it had to be brought up here as well. Interestingly the other most requested thing I've found talking to fans, is the inclusion of Static. If he'll be brought into Justice League Beyond, since he was featured in these episodes as well as an episode of Static Shock. I always have to mention that those episodes were possible futures within the shows, since time travel was involved and then changed once the characters restored order and returned to their timelines. So at this point in Justice League Beyond, we haven't seen Static yet. If he'll join the team, or if he's out there on his own…remains to be seen.

Watch List:  Justice League Unlimited "The Once and Future Thing parts 1 & 2" 

When it comes to killing a character, beloved or not, it shouldn't be an easy decision. There will always be shock value attributed to it by the fans, justified or not, or the excuse of it being used to get attention and boost sales. The talk of "fridging" in comics is always a hot button issue relating to deaths of women as a plot device, yet never if a guy is killed in the story. But none of that was in my mind when dealing with the death of Vixen.

Truth be told, as much as I liked the past relationship of John and Shayera, I liked the growing relationship between John and Vixen equally and maybe even more. I loved the fact that Vixen outwardly wasn't fazed or bothered by John's past relationship to Hawkgirl. That she almost relished an open challenge by Shayera for John's affection. That the two girls were teammates and even a sisterly or friendly rivalry between the two. That ultimately, Vixen wasn't threatened that Shayera was still in the picture, because she was comfortable knowing she was currently with John and didn't think Shayera would or could ever get him back. She was well written in the show. The girl's got moxy!

And knowing that John would have to get back together with Shayera for Warhawk to be born, was a lingering doom that would have to be addressed. In life, there could be a nasty break-up, cheating…any number of ways people fall back to past loves. Even an acceptance of characters growing apart and past feelings still lingering could all be used. But I felt for this story, it just wouldn't impact these characters enough. It wouldn't resonate.

Instead, I wanted to go against those notions that he would go back to Shayera willingly. That he actually was steadfast to his notion of thumbing his nose in the face of fate. That he was sticking it out with Vixen not out of spite but out of love. To the point of proposal for marriage. That it was going to happen until she was fatally taken from him.

It's hard to argue that her death on the night she's proposed to doesn't have a very soap operatic or cliched vibe to it. But I never wrote or chose for it to be seen that way. It was always the more tragic focus of what could've been if their lives had continued. And maybe Warhawk would've never been.