Justice League of America - Issue 4
Featuring the twin menaces of Carthan and unnecessarily contrived plot devices
The Justice League (aka the Justice League of America, aka the JLA, aka Justice League International, aka Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)) is a collection of the DC Universe's greatest heroes (and also Green Arrow).
I talked about why I love the JLA in this piece here. Now I’m breaking down each and every issue of the comic book, from their very first appearance, with Atom-sized summaries. Enjoy!
When Xandor, the king of Dryanna, discovers his number one warrior, Carthan, is ‘hella invulnerable’, he comes up with a confusing scheme to exile him to Earth, along with three magic boxes. In a monumentally confusing page and a half of exposition, Xandor explains that Carthan can leave Earth, but the boxes will blind him if he does, but also if he removes the covering of the boxes, he won’t go blind, but all life on Earth will be destroyed. Also, the aura that gives him his invulnerability also means he can’t reveal to the JLA his situation. Look, it's all absurdly contrived, but in the process of the JLA eventually sorting everything out and helping the hapless Carthan go home, new Justice League member Green Arrow does get encased in a giant lead egg. So it's not all bad.
Fun With Comics!
MVP
It’s Wonder Woman, who has to put up with an enlarged cat trying to swat her invisible jet out of the sky. How can the giant cat see the invisible jet? You shut up.
Top Panel
Carthan is the greatest hero of the planet Dryanna. And, coincidentally, one of the worst villains of the Justice League. Because he's not really interested in villainy at all. Come on, Carthan. I don't pay ten cents an issue to read about a guy who's being villainous for good reasons. Also, he puts way too much faith in giant beads.
Villain Cryptic Crossword Clue
Within the JLA is a scar, thanks to this non-villain (7)