Still annoyed by how the latter half of JLD portrayed Zee as an incompetent leader who made some outright dumbass decisions while in charge.
As a palate cleanser, here are some tidbits from Justice League of America Vol 1 Annual #1 written by Paul Levitz and Len Wein and pencilled by Rick Hoberg and her decisions weren’t disastrous.
This was from the period where Zee was elected chairwoman of the League:
Oh hey look, it’s Commissioner Gordon on the Watchtower, you don’t see that every day. What could he be there for?
(This is from the period where Batman left the League to form the Outsiders but given that he formed the Outsiders to do *more* crime fighting, the fact that Gordon had to go to the League because he couldn’t get in touch with Batman is doubly ironic.)
Also, pretty cool how Gordon is known and respected even by the JLA.
So Zee splits the team into groups and they go investigate the missing artists. Not everyone is too keen on her calling the shots though:
Why Ollie? Why? Sadly, Ollie doesn’t do much in this annual besides whining and being a jerk.
But turns out she was right and it turns out Destiny is pulling out nightmares from artists brain and materializing them in to the real world.
Diana on the other hand, is more supportive Zee’s decisions:
Oh hey look! It’s John Stewart!
John teaming up with the League during the Satellite era was rare but always welcome. As a DCAU fan, he will always by *my* Green Lantern.
After confirming Destiny’s involvement, Zatanna, Red Tornado and Elongated Man chase him into the Dreaming (a much less exciting place before Neil Gaiman joined DC):
One of the main sub plots of the annual is Zee’s sometimes mentor/detective Ralph having a crisis of confidence:
Zatanna summons the rest of the League and they head to confront Destiny at his HQ:
Also shout out to penciller Rick Hoberg here; the League is flying or running towards their target but he gives each member a distinct pose that reflects their personality. Zatanna and the Hawks are soaring through the air while John and Red Tornado are darting through the air laser focused on their target while Firestorm’s pose falls somewhere in the middle. (Also it’s funny how the Atom is on Firestorm’s shoulder seemingly rooting for him to go faster.) Even the running poses are different from each other; Flash’s pose looks like a homage to his debut comic cover, Diana is more casual while Aquaman looks more determined whilst Ollie looks like he is oogling Dinah who seems to be doing her best to ignore him.
The League takes the fight to Dr Destiny’s HQ but it doesn’t go as planned:
He defeats the League in a way that makes me think the League all probably collectively agreed to never speak of again:
“Giant monster.”
“So how did Destiny take down all of you again?”
“Yep, giant monster.”
“He had big fangs.”
“Don’t forget the horns.”
“And the spikes.”
“Practically untouchable.”
“It was too powerful for us to even comprehend!”
(I’m also going to head canon this as Destiny having more power in the Dreaming.)
Unbeknownst to him however, Ralph has managed to free the original Jack Kirby Sandman, Garret Sanford. Side note: He is the guy who passed the mantle to Hector Hall who was the Sandman who was being manipulated by Brute and Glob before being “freed” by Neil Gaiman’s Sandman.
Destiny’s characterization here; his hatred for the League, unable to dream which in turn turned him into a withering husk because of it and usurping the power of Sandman has echoes of his story arc in Gaiman’s Sandman. The latter was more impactful but I wonder if he drew inspiration from this annual?
Sandman calls in the cavalry in the form of Superman
and takes on Dr Destiny again and in probably one of the funniest moment of this annual:
So how did they escape?
Ralph: The MVP.
Later, the League offers membership to Sandman who turns it down. Also, turns out Superman’s dreams are special:
So there you have it; Zee was a competent chairman, Ralph got his confidence back by being the MVP, John Stewart finally got some lime light and Superman dreams about ~peace~.
Honestly, wouldn’t mind a variation of this story but with the League meeting Morpheus.
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“batman loves his nightwing” this and “batsibs love nightwing that”, what about the batsibs’ friends / team loving nightwing ‼️‼️
YES!!! They love him!
The thing about Dick Grayson is that he has such a unique quality that just draws people in and holds them captive.
Titans (2016) Issue #26
He has a charisma that's intense. People from all walks of life find themselves just constantly looking at him for friendship, advice, love, guidance, and just something that calls them to him.
It's the impact he has on people that's astounding.
Titans (2016) Issue #27
They love him so much and they respect him so much that his absence is like a huge gaping hole in their chest. People feel lost without him because they've come to rely so heavily on him. Gar and Steel literally only joined because Dick asked.
This is something Roy catches on to and is well-aware of. He practically hounds Dick into creating the Outsiders with him.
Outsiders (2003) Issue #1
But you think Roy is the only one to capitalize on Dick's Nightwing effect? Hell no.
Titans East Special
Dick isn't just a person. He's a home. He's the guiding hand and the ship's steer control. He's special to people because he's everything they want him to be. He's their lover, best friend, brother, and partner. Whatever role they're missing in life they find it him him because he makes himself versatile enough to fill whatever they're looking for.
Dark Crisis Issue #1
We say batsibs' teams but he's the whole Justice community's everything. He fills the connections of both Batman's side and Superman's side.
He IS the most well-connected person in the entire community.
Teen Titans (2003) Issue #23
Look at what Kon says -
"Nightwing and Starfire brought wave two. Which is just about everyone whose ever been a Titan. It's a natural thing when Nightwing shows up. None of us are conscious of it, really--but we all look to him for orders. Robin's lucky."
The sheer respect. That Kon has for Nightwing is indomitable. Oh, but you think that's all?
Do you know what the superhero community says about Nightwing? Kon will tell you what they think -
Teen Titans (2003) Issue #33
The Titans (1999) Issue #39
He calls. They answer.
Hero-worship of Nightwing is canonically universal. Renaming this the Nightwing Effect
Epilson
The Titans (1999)
Red Condor
Nightwing (2016) Annual #3
Hutch
Nightwing (2016) Issue #75
Kara
Justice League of America (2006) Issue #49
Supergirl (2005) Issue #3
And sometimes this means more than friendship love but still born out of respect. It's so funny to me how Dick goes around friendzoning people.
Cassie
Even when people don't like what he wants they still do it because they respect him. Because he had an impact on them and they were were moved
Titans (2003) Issue #89
Aquaman, Ollie, John (Green Lantern)
JLA (1997) Issue #121
Kyle Rayner
Even people he's just met are like - this guy's pretty good!
Green Lantern (1990) Issue #81
Coming from a Green Lantern comic!! Not even a Wondergirl, Wonderwoman, Batman, or Nightwing writer. A green lantern!
Speaking of which, when Hal Jordon dies, a list of people are selected to be The Hal Jordon's replacement and guess who it is?
Action Comics (1938) Issue #642
Hal forces his soul back into his body and comes back to life but DC does a "what-if" thing and shows what it would be like if Dick actually became a Green Lantern.
Superman/Batman Issue #60
AND BRUCE'S REACTION!! His most favorite son combined with one of his least favorite people 🤣🤣
Superman/Batman Issue #60
But Bruce's faith in Dick actually elavtes his opinion of Hal.
ALSO!!-
Superman/Batman Issue #61
I JUST KNOW THAT BRUCE WAS WRITHING IN JEALOUSY!!
But anyway, shows to prove that no matter who Dick is and what identity he takes, he will always be the love of the hero community. Because in this world, each member is a combination of the Justice League AND the Titans.
Superman/Batman Issue #60
Yet Dick is still the center of it all.
A literal god
Nightwing (2016) Issue #49
Jon and the hero community
Justice League: Road to Dark Crisis Issue #1
"It would mean a LOT to people if you came and said--"
"You're all overreacting."
"We need you."
"You're all overreacting." - Clearly, this isn't the first time someone has already come to Dick about being the center of the community.
Not just by the batfam, but for everyone Dick is the most beloved person in the community. That is a fact.
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