On October 9, the legendary comic writer and artist Keith Giffen passed away at the age of 70. Giffen first started in the comic book business at Marvel in the 1970s. His first work was in Marvel Preview #4 (January 1976). Giffen's career would really take off when we went to DC in the 1980s, with runs on the Justice League and Legion of Super-Heroes' books. He was the co-creator of Lobo (with Roger Slifer) and Rocket Raccoon (with Bill Mantlo) and was the creator of Ambush Bug.
As a writer, Giffen was known for being more humorous than many of his colleagues, which would show in his Legion and Justice League work. As an artist, his style evolved heavily over the years. His style started out homaging Jack Kirby, but over the years, would transition to showing influence from the likes of Jim Starlin and George Perez to most recently Argentinian artist Jose Munoz.
My first exposure to Giffen's work was as a writer, mainly on Justice League International. It is my favorite era of the Justice League. And the group has crossed paths with this blog in the past. I figured that in tribute
The cover is a Kevin Maguire and Al Gordon piece. It's pretty cool. It depicts the Justice League facing off against the Rocket Red Brigade. The sheer numbers of the Brigade give the impression that the League is going to have quite a fight on their hands, even if they arguably have the power advantage with Doctor Light, Captain Marvel, Guy Gardner
"Meltdown"
Writers: Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis
Penciler: Kevin Maguire
Inker: Al Gordon
Colorist: Gene D'Angelo
Letterer: Bob Lappan
Editor: Andrew Helfer
Executive Editor: Dick Giordano
The story begins with the members of the Champions of Angor (basically a bunch of Avengers pastiches), in the company of the Bialyan dictator Rumaan Harjvati. Harjvati informs the Champions that there are a lot of nuclear weapons in the Soviet Union (keep in mind, this was originally published in the 80s, when the USSR was still a thing).
The Champions obviously don't buy Harjvati's whole "peace-loving man" act. Despite that, they are there to prevent a nuclear war on this world. After all, they came from a world that was destroyed by a nuclear war, and they don't want any other worlds to suffer that fate.
Meanwhile, the JLI is hovering outside Bialyan airspace in Ted Kord's Bug. They've been there for about nine hours. And it's made Blue Beetle a little antsy. And bored.
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| "Man, you were more fun in the 60s, Bats!" |
Batman's also got a frayed temper, but mainly because of the Champions. He's understandably worried about them. They could end up, in their zeal to prevent a nuclear war, accidentally cause one. The Bug's radar picks up the Champions. Batman orders Ted to follow them. The Bug starts to pursue...until it suddenly stops.
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| Guy Gardner got his first broken neck that day. |
Batman is furious that Ted suddenly stopped the pursuit, but he does have a good reason. You see, the three wannabe-Avengers are now in Soviet airspace. If they start attacking nuclear missile silos there, the Soviets will interpret it as an attack by America. It didn't help that recently, there was a misunderstanding between the Green Lantern Corps and the Soviet Union's resident superheroes, the Rocket Red Brigade. That was shown in Green Lantern Corps #209-210. So, yeah. The League are going to have to risk heating up the Cold War to stop this.
Speaking of the Rocket Reds, they spot what seems to be the Champions flying by, but it's actually the Bug. Naturally, they intercept the craft, and Guy Gardner is all too eager to throw some fists and emerald willpower energy at them.
Batman tells Captain Marvel to go and get him. In Moscow, the then-General Secretary, a Mr. Mikhail Gorbachev, is taking a call from Maxwell Lord. He tells his generals to order the Rocket Red Brigade to stand down from facing the Justice League. After all, the League may be useful to the Soviets in this situation.
Back in the skies, the Bug is picking up a lot of transmissions. The Soviet Union's nuclear bases and their subs are all on Red Alert. Last time this happened, Marko Ramius made off with the Red October. Mr. Miracle and Martian Manhunter go out to get Captain Marvel and Guy Gardner, who have been engaging in battle with the Rocket Reds. Kimiyo Hoshi, aka Doctor Light, basically says "enough of this" and blasts the group with a flash of light.
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| "MY EYES! MY BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL EYES! THE VISORS DO NOTHING!" |
Batman hears a Rocket Red on the roof and sends Black Canary to deal with him. Because Batman is lazy. She gets on the roof and easily takes him down.
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| Luckily for the Rocket Reds, they have a fantastic dental plan. |
Fun fact, the Rocket Red that Dinah punched out here? That's Dimitri Pushkin, who will become a Justice League member himself. Thankfully, the battle ends when the Rocket Reds get their new orders. At a nuclear plant, the Champions are having their own faceoff against the Rocket Reds.
The extradimensional superheroes plead with the armored men to let them pass, but the Rocket Reds ain't hearing it. And to make thing worse, the plant is about to go into meltdown. The technicians had panicked and tried to SCRAM too fast. The horrified Justice League discover the plant and fly down to help. The Champions of Angor and the League watch the meltdown helplessly, until Wandjina makes his way into the plant to shut it down. We don't see what he exactly does, but we do know it has hit the thunder god hard.
With the potential crisis averted, the two remaining Champions surrender to the authorities. The Rocket Reds assure the League they'll do all they can for Wandjina. After all, the Russians know radiation sickness well. The League leave on the Bug, and Ted notes that he can't pick up any transmissions about the near-disaster. Evidently, they're also good at covering up things. Canary wonders if that's the last they'll hear of the Champions of Angor. Batman isn't sure, but there's something more important to worry about right now.
Yup, Max Lord has arrived, and has brought Booster Gold with him.
If you want to read this for yourself, I recommend tracking down the 2008 trade paperback Justice League International Vol. 1
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