The Original Global Guardians

The world needs heroes...and sometimes, the world supplies them.

Such was the idea behind the Global Guardians, heroes from around the world that would work together to solve problems.

Here, we take a quick look at where these heroes came from, and how they eventually came to gather in stories by E. Nelson Bridwell and Ramona Fradon (with Romeo Tanghal on the last two Super Friends issues, and Alex Saviuk on the DC Comics Presents)....

As the Earth was threatened by the villainous Superman foe, Grax, the Justice League of America had to go into action around the world, so they recruited help from where they had to go....

Super Friends #7 (October, 1977)

Superman worked with Seraph (Chiam Lavon) from Israel, Elongated Man worked with Godiva (Dorcas Leigh) in England, Flash teamed up with Impala (M'Bulaze) in South Africa and Hawkman and Hawkgirl met Owlwoman (Wenonah Littlebird) in the United States.

Super Friends #8 (November, 1977)

Atom met Rising Sun (Izumi Yasunari) in Japan, Green Lantern worked with Jack O'Lantern (Daniel Cormac) in Ireland, Red Tornado teamed up with Tuatara (Jeremy Wakefield) in New Zealand, Batman and Robin met Bushmaster (Bernal Rojas) in Venezuela, and Black Canary teamed up with Thunderlord (Liang Xih-k'ai) in Taiwan.

Super Friends #9 (December, 1977)

Green Arrow met Tasmanian Devil (Hugh Dawkins) in Austrailia, Aquaman worked with Little Mermaid (Ulla Paske) in Denmark, Wonder Woman teamed up with the Olympian (Aristides Demetrios) in Greece and all the JLA provided cover for Ice Maiden (Sigrid Nansen) in Norway.

Super Friends #12 (June-July, 1978)

Doctor Mist (Nommo) appeared at the end of another problem in this issue, and the Super Friends helped him deal with it in the next issue.  Doctor Mist would be the man to help form the Global Guardians (although details wouldn't be revealed until later....).

Super Friends #25 (October, 1979)

Green Fury (Beatriz da Costa) helps the Super Friends in Brazil, as well as Nubia, Tasmanian Devil and Seraph in her premiere appearance as they face the menace of the Overlord who turns the Super Friends evil!

Super Friends #45 (June, 1981)

The Wild Huntsman (Albrecht von Mannheim) of Germany first appears, as Doctor Mist calls together the team, with this batch including Godiva, Bushmaster, Little Mermaid, the Olympian and the Rising Sun to deal with villains being captured.

DC Comics Presents #46 (June, 1982)

Here, Doctor Mist recruits Superman, along with Seraph, Green Fury, Rising Sun, the Olympian, Little Mermaid and Jack O'Lantern to fight the mystical menace of Thaumar Dhai and magical enemies of the team (and they finally officially are the Global Guardians).

Various individual members of the Global Guardians appear, defending the Earth in Crisis On Infinite Earths #12 (March, 1986), including Doctor Mist, Godiva, Green Fury, Jack O'Lantern, Little Mermaid, Owlwoman, Rising Sun and Thunderlord, with Red Star (Leonid Kovar , the former Starfire) of Russia mentioned among them (but he was not a member of the Guardians, later going on to join the Titans).

More members and more history of the team would later be revealed in Infinity, Inc., Secret Origins, Justice League International, Justice League Europe and Justice League Quarterly (including their ties to the Batmen of Many Nations), but this seems to be a good place to stop, as this huge team assembles.