The Justice League of America dealt with Christmas as the world's greatest super-heroes could, with the tale of "The Man Who Murdered Santa Claus!" in
Justice League of America #110 (March, 1974) by
Len Wein,
Dick Dillin and
Dick Giordano, under a cover by
Nick Cardy.
Doesn't sound like a happy tale, does it? Sadly, bad things still happen even at Christmas, as a mall Santa Claus was found murdered, and this was enough for Superman and Batman to call in the JLA....but Flash (Barry Allen) is with Iris and her parents in the future, Elongated Man, Atom and Aquaman are also busy, and Hal Jordan slips in the tub answering the call, so his back-up, John Stewart, has to take over as Green Lantern for this case.
Things don't go well for the JLA, as Superman and Black Canary appear to die, then Batman and Green Arrow, leaving Red Tornado and the new Green Lantern to face off against the Key (an old JLA foe), who plans on releasing a "doom bomb" on this old, rundown neighborhood....at least until the Phantom Stranger shows up to stop him.
The Phantom Stranger helped the Justice League on occasion, and had saved all the previously thought dead JLAers as well. But, the Key still manages to blow up the neighborhood!
Thankfully, Green Lantern John Stewart is there, to rebuild the neighborhood (minus the rats, leaking pipes and other problems faced by it's residents!). Best of all, Black Canary gives Red Tornado a new costume, allowing an android a chance at a Merry Christmas! Better still, this issue has the a reprint of the JSA adventure from
All-Star Comics #40 (April-May, 1948), with the Justice Society facing the Crimson Claw gang, and
Zatanna's first meeting with the JLA (including Elongated Man) from
Justice League of America #51 (February, 1967) and
Murphy Anderson's drawing of the JSA from
Justice League of America #76 (November-December, 1969). How's that for a Christmas present?
Thanks for the awesome holiday flashback! I miss the goofy comics they used to make. Any idea why all the substitutions took place? Was it just another part of the silliness?
ReplyDeleteLen just liked to mix it up a little, so he added John Stewart for his one regular issue appearance in JLofA (John made it into the Justice League of America Annual #1 back in the day....). Len also reintroduced Eclipso, Amazo, the Seven Soldiers of Victory, and formed the Freedom Fighters from old Quality heroes and the Injustice Gang of the World from individual villains of the heroes at this time. Len was (and is) a fan of comics!
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