Judgment Day

[raul grau]

Crossover: Judgment Day
Published in: Justice League America, Justice League Task Force, and Justice League International (2nd series), June-July 1994
Writers: Dan Vado (Parts 1 & 4), Mark Waid (Parts 2 & 5), Gerald Jones (Parts 3 & 6)
Pencilers: Marc Campos (Parts 1 & 4), Sal Velluto (Parts 2 & 5), Chuck Wojtkiewicz (Parts 3 & 6)
Major Characters Involved: Ice, Overmaster, <a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=25777">Booster Gold</a>, <a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=26120">Blue Beetle II</a>, <a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=27318">Fire</a>, <a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=27830">Captain Atom</a>, <a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=26212">Wonder Woman II</a>, Amazing Man II
Plot: In order to erase the potential for humanity to produce superhumans, the Overmaster decrees that all human life will be wiped out.

Reading Order:

Part 1 - Justice League America #89 - Captain Atom leads a small group of heroes in an assault upon the Cadre of the Overmaster. In the melee, Ice vanishes and Booster Gold is gravely wounded.
Part 2 - Justice League Task Force #13 - The Overmaster announces his intentions to the world. The League splinters over how to approach the crisis, while doctors work feverishly to save the life of Booster Gold.
Part 3 - Justice League International (2nd series) #65 - The flatlined Booster Gold arises, as all births and deaths are arrested by the Overmaster. Ice reveals that she has joined the Cadre.
Part 4 - Justice League America #90 - Captain Atom's team deals with the U.N. sanctioned League-Busters. The League recombines atop Mount Everest, with little time left.
Part 5 - Justice League Task Force #14 - The League slowly makes their way up the mountain, under constant attack by the Cadre. Ice rejoins her former comrades, but falls in battle against the Overmaster.
Part 6 - Justice League International (2nd series) #66 - Blue Beetle struggles to prevent the approaching annihilation, while the remaining heroes directly confront the Overmaster.

Related Issues:

Justice League America #91 - Judgment Day aftermath, with a solemn funeral held for Tora Olafsdotter (Ice).

Notes:

In the months leading up to Judgment Day, several present and former enemies of the Justice League came forward to warn the heroes of impending doom, including Vandal Savage (in Justice America #88), T. O. Morrow (Justice League America #87), Desaad (Justice League International (2nd series) #64), and Despero (Justice League Task Force #12).

Will Everett II first appeared in Justice League America #86. In Justice League America #87, on the advice of his grandfather (Amazing Man I), Will left Detroit to seek out Jay Garrick (Flash) in New York City.

The Overmaster first appeared in Justice League of America #233-236.

Ice was imbued with her greatly enhanced powers (including flight and super strength) in Justice League America #85.

Booster Gold received his bulkier armor in Justice League America #80. He first dons his more streamlined battlesuit (along with his prosthetic right arm) in Justice League America #90. In Justice League International (2nd series) #66, his new armor is revealed to have life-support capabilities.

Gypsy and Metamorpho are among the members of the Justice League who are left for dead in Justice League Task Force #14.

The escape pod (stolen in Justice League International (2nd series) #66) is later used as the headquarters of the incarnation of the Justice League America led by Wonder Woman, beginning in Justice League America #0.

[Jon Hancock]

Shame that Ice had to die. I think Waid said he regretted killing her.

you got a mistake in the writers credits though Raul. Two number 3's and no number 5

[raul grau]

Thanks, Jon, I hadn't noticed that typo. I fixed the listings for the pencilers and writers. (Part 3 was fairly good, but not 2 writers and 2 art teams good.) :)

I really enjoyed this crossover, even though it was built upon the quite dull Jurgens/Vado run on JLA. Ice's death was very powerful, and I wholeheartedly believe that the story still resonates well to this day.