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I usually don't do these things, but this one caught my interest. I was originally set on the notion that JLA without the “classic 7” lineup doesn’t work, but I thought about it a bit and came up with a combination that I think not only works well from a “tactical” perspective (a range of different powers and areas of expertise) but also provides the opportunity for a lot of good character interaction and stories. Minus Superman/Batman/Wonder Woman to keep it novel:
MARTIAN MANHUNTER - Obviously, he's got to be on the team. A League is not really a League without him. He makes it his business to keep the Justice League running smoothly. He lost Mars, he'll never sleep as long as Earth is under threat, etc. etc. etc. He's the closest this group has to a "leader," but it's a reluctant role. It's not a lack of self-confidence (as, if pressed, he'd tell you with no trace of ego that he is the most qualified to do so), but deep down he suspects that despite everything he’s done for them in the past, the civilian populace would be wary that the leader of Earth's first line of defense is an alien from another planet (who doesn't look like an American white male).
STEEL - I liked that the JLA finally got a tech-guy when Grant was running the title, and he's got the S on his costume. Steel gets to be the Superman of this Superman-less League, and as time goes on, I see him growing into an active leadership position and an all-time classic League member. He's very pragmatic, and he and J'onn are often the first ones to say, "Hey, instead of punching Brainiac until he goes away, let's see if we can beat him with strategy and cleverness." Plus, somehow I get the sense that he’s good with the press and could talk confidently to reporters about malevolent 5-dimensional color entities while still keeping a human edge on things.
GREEN ARROW - Playing his usual role of making sure the League doesn't get lost in the Big Picture and ignore the more down-to-earth threats. Master of combat, with or without arrows, and Batman’s “representative” in the League in his absence. He and Steel become buddies at first because they're both historically street-level, but as Steel becomes more and more accustomed to a position of leadership, Ollie thinks he's “losing perspective.” Green Arrow seems to have this knee-jerk assumption that since Steel is black, he ought to be "representing" in some way, but Steel has, as stated in Grant’s run, no interest in being “the black Justice Leaguer.”
ZATANNA – To handle magic-based threats, obviously. Zatanna is the kind of person who has really good days and really bad days; sometimes she's on top of the world and feeling really good about being a champion of the human race, and other days she wonders what she's doing with her life and if the JLA really values her membership or is just keeping her on staff so that they have a magical member who’s more photogenic than Dr. Fate or The Spectre. Zatanna and Green Arrow go way back (satellite era), so they're friends of a sort, but Green Arrow has a thing for fishnets and maybe that complicates things. Through Ollie she becomes friends with Steel, and maybe if the whole "magic & technology" thing isn't too trite and obvious, perhaps there's a little bit of romantic interest.
SUPERGIRL – Supergirl is this League’s avatar of ceaseless idealism, the one who more than anyone else is a superhero because it’s just the right thing to do, dammit. She’s new to the team concept, however, and doesn’t always grasp group strategy (her first instinct is to be the first one to punch the bad guy because she’s the strongest) and is largely unaware of the interpersonal conflict her appearance on the League causes. Remember in JLA #1 when Wally says "I have a problem with this guy who's Green Lantern all of a sudden?" This is kind of the same way Steel feels about Kara Zor-El. Steel knew the Linda Danvers Supergirl very well, and they worked closely with each other, particularly in the Loeb/Kelly Superman days. Now there’s a new Supergirl and the old one is missing and Steel’s upset that nobody seems to care. Also, Batman is a little...concerned...about Superman having two “representatives” (her and Steel) and him only having Green Arrow (a loose connection to begin with).
FLASH – I love Wally West. Everybody makes such a thing about his Midwestern personality being very down to earth, but don’t forget that Wally’s been a superhero since he was 10 years old, and at the height of DC’s Silver Age. Only J’onn knows more about superheroics than Wally on this team, and his experience is invaluable. However, his perspectives on what’s “normal” are a bit wonky. He’s like that guy you knew in college who you were really good friends with, but he majored in something completely different, and you were completely lost whenever he’d start talking about it. You and Wally can have a conversation about baseball for twenty minutes, and then suddenly he’ll start talking about how Johnny Quick’s speed formula forces your brain to imagine a four-dimensional object in three-dimensional space to reorganize the informational plane and tap into speed power, and he won’t realize the immense conversational jump he’s just made. It’s ALL THE SAME to him.
ION – I guess this is what we’re calling Kyle now. I imagine he’s going to carry a chip on his shoulder for quite awhile; just when he’d finally gotten used to the idea of him being the last Green Lantern and stepped out of Hal Jordan’s shadow, guess who’s back from the dead? His role, as Grant pointed out, is that he’s the guy who gets stuck on trips to other dimensions and other planets and through time because he’s the most adaptable. Also, Kyle and Wally’s “partnership” is largely based on their own senses of expectation and tradition: “Hey, we’re both third-generation superheroes, and we have that whole Flash/Green Lantern duo legacy to uphold.” They have a lot more respect for each other than when they started out, but they’re two people who will never really see eye to eye. Although he’s no longer the JLA’s “new kid,” he’ll always be a little more grounded than Wally because Kyle’s from the ‘90s (or whatever DCU Time’s equivalent is): he’s used to “realism” and not all the Silver Age wackiness; the New Gods show up, and Kyle has to say, “Okay, one more time, how are these guys different from the OTHER gods we know?”
Eh? Eh? It’s not all the most popular heroes, but no obscure ones, either. A nice mix, I think. DC can PM me and we’ll talk; I’d write that for free. |
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Rokk Krinn of the 30th century is now an adult. Traveling back in time he's took it upon himself to help protect this particular era in time but pulling together a Justice League that history will barely notice. His magnetic powers are at their peak with year of his youth devoted to their use. Traveling back in time in a souped up time bubble he'll bring a tool kit containing all the technology not yet imagine in the early 21st century.
Captain Marvel: He's been in the league before and he's been in the JSA. With SHAZAM currently out of the picture Billy's decided to remodel and having the Rock located in a position outside space/time makes it an ideal base. His vast wisdom has allowed him to anticipate Cosmic Man's visit and he's eager to get started. He'll try his best to fill superman's shoes but knows he can't do it alone. He calls a JLA member who already knows the way to the ROCK.
Zatanna: She's famous, she's beautiful and Billy probably has a crush on her. After all of the recent fall out Zatanna's got mixed feelings. She wants to help out and can recognize the need for a new team but would really rather not be in that kind of spotlight again. Ultimately she'll agree to help out, instead of teleporter she'll create magic mirrors that lead directly to the rock of ages and help the other two pull people together. Of course her claims to not want to participate will always be set aside for the next adventure.
Martain Manhunter: Jonn has been hanging out on the moon alot these days; cleaning up what was once the watchtower and meditating on what to do next. The appearance of Zatanna plus the others it a welcome surprise. Cosmic Man provide an artificial atmosphere for their conversation and explains that this Justice League must not be noticed by history. Jonn understands and they're of to find the rest of their new team.
Green Arrow II: is approached next. Jonn knows the team will need a human perspective and comes to realize that Connor's upbringing in a monastery may well be a greater asset to the team than any trick arrows. This he communicates telepathically, Conner will have to translate the wisdom of Solomon into concepts a battle hardened Tamaranian Princess, a Superhero from the Future, and a Famous Magician will understand and accept. It's a Dharma path for Conner and he recognizes that this may be the great calling the monks who rased him foresaw. He's also about #3 in Martial Arts skills and thanks to Cosmic Man gets a whole new bow and arrow using Oan green light future-tech.
Plastic Man: is finnally approached after a bit of consternation and the insistence of Cosmic Man. This period in history has allot of conflicting reports but somewhere in the footnote there's mention that Plaz plays an important role. Of course all it takes is one look at Starfire and Zatanna to get him on board.
. While the need for her to have a "modern" code name could be a constant issue her control over mass, weight and gravity could provide many interesting possibilities. While she's not quite as iconic as Saturn Girl or Cosmic Boy would be, her unique powers would make up for it. Her 30th century idealism would make an interesting counterpoint to Starfire while her understated powers could make things interesting. 
