JLA: Destiny
Encyclopedia
JLA: Destiny is a comic book
mini-series that was published by DC Comics
in 2002
. Its writer was John Arcudi
and its artist was Tom Mandrake. The series ran for four issues.
The series was created as part of DC's Elseworlds
line. This series was based on characters from the Justice League of America
but featured them in a setting where Batman
and Superman
had never existed.
blowing up a hotel and killing the United States Cabinet
officials who are meeting there.
This world's version of the Justice League was founded by Thomas Wayne
after his wife and his son Bruce were killed in a robbery. The original members of the group were The Clock, Manhunter
, Midnight, Mr. Scarlet
, and Nightshade. They originally confined their activities to Gotham City
and were highly effective in eliminating crime in that city. After the bombing described above, Wayne decided the League needed to expand across the nation and also needed to recruit superpowered members.
Three members of the group - the Clock, Manhunter, and Green Lantern
(the Guy Gardner
version of the character) - disappeared on a mission a few years before and they are believed dead. Nightshade has left the group and is now known as Destiny. She has psychic powers but they appear to affect her mental stability - the League consults her for information but she does not actively participate.
The current version of the Justice League consists of:
Three of the characters - Marksman, Midnight, and Widow - have no superpowers and their usefulness is dismissed by the other members of the group.
The issue introduces Kamburu, a fictional nation that appears to be based on Iraq
or Libya
. Kamburu is harboring a mysterious figure known as Khouriga Edjem, who has been indicted by an international court. Edjem has been providing aid to Kamburu which has created surpluses of energy and food. Edjem has formed his own superpowered group:
Edjem sends his team to attack a refinery. The Justice League ambushes them. In the resulting battle, Black Adam puts the Unknown into a coma and Aqualord is captured.
The issue also introduces this world's version of Lex Luthor
, who runs a scientific institute in Switzerland dedicated to developing peaceful technology.
This issue explains Luthor's background. He had been an unscrupulous arms dealer but renounced his criminal ways after a disfiguring accident. Thomas Wayne now funds his institute.
Edjem sends his team to attack an American military base. The Justice League once again ambushes them. Marksman, Midnight, and Widow have been outfitted with armored suits. Flash, Triumph, and Wonder Woman are injured in the fight but Thane and Kondor are captured.
Edjem suspects Luthor provided the armored suits to the League and has the Human Bomb destroy Luthor's institute. It's revealed that Luthor also has superpowers.
Destiny foresaw Luthor's attack and tried to warn Wayne but was unable to contact him in time. She then travels to the Nevada desert where she encounters a giant alien lying in the sand. The alien is J'onn J'onzz
.
Interrogation of the captured members of his team (the Human Bomb was also captured after his attack on Luthor) reveal that Edjem has been working on causing a massive crop failure in the United States. United Nations troops, supported by the Justice League, surround Kamburu and issue an ultimatum calling for Edjem's surrender.
Luthor's true background is revealed. He is really Jor-El
the last surviving Kryptonian. He knew Krypton
was doomed and built a rocket to save his wife and son, Kal-El. But Krypton blew up while he was testing the rocket and he was the only survivor. He traveled to Earth where he began working for the real Lex Luthor. When his survival from the accident revealed his powers, he made a deal with Luthor, giving Luthor his ship so Luthor could leave Earth to conquer other worlds and assuming Luthor's identity.
Jor-El escapes and flies to Kamburu to confront Edjem and discovers Edjem now possesses his ship. Triumph follows him and is attacked by Black Adam. Triumph is able to defeat Black Adam and discovers he was an artificially intelligent robot. Edjem is enraged by Black Adam's destruction and kills Triumph.
. Lex Luthor had landed on one of the planets Mongul was trying to conquer and had organized its defense. Mongul was able to eventually capture the planet and kill Luthor but was impressed by Luthor's abilities. Mongul decided to use Jor-El's ship to travel back to Earth and conquer it.
J'onn J'onzz reveals to Destiny that the original Manhunter, Paul Kirk, had died years earlier and J'onzz had assumed his identity. It was actually J'onzz that Destiny had married. The mission on which he, the Clock and Green Lantern had disappeared was to investigate Mongul's ship after it arrived on Earth. Mongul captured Green Lantern, killed the Clock, and believed he had killed J'onzz. But J'onzz survived as a disembodied mind because of his psychic powers. Destiny's apparent psychic power was actually J'onzz sending messages to her telepathically.
Mongul used a parasitic plant called the Black Mercy to take control of Green Lantern's mind and has been using Green Lantern and his power ring to create the energy he used to rebuild Kamburu. J'onzz is able to enter Green Lantern's mind and reveal the truth of his imprisonment to him. J'onzz also gives Destiny the information needed to reverse the American crop failure. His mission completed, J'onzz fades away.
The Justice League attacks Mongul a final time. Captain Thunder, Marksman, Midnight, and Widow are apparently killed in the attack. But Jor-El joins them and is able to capture Mongul. Jor-El flies Mongul into space in his ship and then destroys it.
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
mini-series that was published by DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
in 2002
2002 in comics
-March:* Adventures of Superman #600: super-sized anniversary issue by Joe Casey, Mike Wieringo, and Jose Marzan, Jr. -April:* Batman #600: "Bruce Wayne: Fugitive," part one, 64-page giant, written by Ed Brubaker.-January:...
. Its writer was John Arcudi
John Arcudi
John Arcudi is an American comic book writer, best known for his work on The Mask and B.P.R.D., and his series Major Bummer.-Career:Arcudi worked for Malibu Comics upon its founding in 1986, working on its Eternity line...
and its artist was Tom Mandrake. The series ran for four issues.
The series was created as part of DC's Elseworlds
Elseworlds
Elseworlds is the publication imprint for a group of comic books produced by DC Comics that take place outside the company's canon. According to its tagline: "In Elseworlds, heroes are taken from their usual settings and put into strange times and places — some that have existed, and others...
line. This series was based on characters from the Justice League of America
Justice League
The Justice League, also called the Justice League of America or JLA, is a fictional superhero team that appears in comic books published by DC Comics....
but featured them in a setting where Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
and Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
had never existed.
Issue 1
The series opens with a flashback to the Human BombHuman Bomb
The Human Bomb is a fictional superhero published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Police Comics #1 , and was created by writer and artist Paul Gustavson.-Publication history:...
blowing up a hotel and killing the United States Cabinet
United States Cabinet
The Cabinet of the United States is composed of the most senior appointed officers of the executive branch of the federal government of the United States, which are generally the heads of the federal executive departments...
officials who are meeting there.
This world's version of the Justice League was founded by Thomas Wayne
Thomas Wayne
Thomas Wayne is a fictional character in the Batman series of comic books. Dr. Thomas Wayne was the father of Bruce Wayne, and husband of Martha Wayne, as well as a gifted surgeon and philanthropist...
after his wife and his son Bruce were killed in a robbery. The original members of the group were The Clock, Manhunter
Manhunter (comics)
-Golden Age:The first of DC's Manhunters was a non-costumed independent investigator, Paul Kirk, who helped police solve crimes during the early 1940s. Though the series was titled "Paul Kirk, Manhunter", Kirk didn't use the Manhunter name as an alias...
, Midnight, Mr. Scarlet
Mr. Scarlet
Mister Scarlet is the name of several fictional characters, comic book superheroes published by DC Comics. Brian Butler the original Mister Scarlet debuted in Wow Comics #1 , and was created by France Herron and Jack Kirby....
, and Nightshade. They originally confined their activities to Gotham City
Gotham City
Gotham City is a fictional U.S. city appearing in DC Comics, best known as the home of Batman. Batman's place of residence was first identified as Gotham City in Batman #4 . Gotham City is strongly inspired by Trenton, Ontario's history, location, atmosphere, and various architectural styles...
and were highly effective in eliminating crime in that city. After the bombing described above, Wayne decided the League needed to expand across the nation and also needed to recruit superpowered members.
Three members of the group - the Clock, Manhunter, and Green Lantern
Green Lantern
The Green Lantern is the shared primary alias of several fictional characters, superheroes appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The first Green Lantern was created by writer Bill Finger and artist Martin Nodell in All-American Comics #16 .Each Green Lantern possesses a power ring and...
(the Guy Gardner
Guy Gardner (comics)
Guy Gardner is a fictional character, a comic book superhero published by DC Comics. He is a core member of the Green Lantern family of characters, and for a time was also a significant member of the Justice League family of characters.He was created by John Broome and Gil Kane in Green Lantern...
version of the character) - disappeared on a mission a few years before and they are believed dead. Nightshade has left the group and is now known as Destiny. She has psychic powers but they appear to affect her mental stability - the League consults her for information but she does not actively participate.
The current version of the Justice League consists of:
- Captain Thunder - an African-American version of Captain MarvelCaptain Marvel (DC Comics)Captain Marvel is a fictional comic book superhero, originally published by Fawcett Comics and later by DC Comics. Created in 1939 by artist C. C. Beck and writer Bill Parker, the character first appeared in Whiz Comics #2...
. - FlashFlash (comics)The Flash is a name shared by several fictional comic book superheroes from the DC Comics universe. Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Harry Lampert, the original Flash first appeared in Flash Comics #1 ....
- the Wally West version of the character. - Marksman - a version of the 1940s character of the same name from the 1940s Smash ComicsSmash ComicsSmash Comics is the title of an American Golden Age comic book anthology series, published by Quality Comics for 85 issues between 1939 and 1949...
series. - Midnight - another minor character from the 1940s Smash Comics series.
- TriumphCaptain TriumphCaptain Triumph is a superhero from the Golden Age of Comics who first appeared in Crack Comics #27, published in January 1943 by Quality Comics. The character was later obtained by DC Comics, though by that time he had already lapsed into public domain. Some of his Golden Age adventures were...
- resembles Superman and has similar powers. - The Unknown - a version of the 1940s character of that name, although his appearance is similar to the SpectreSpectre (comics)The Spectre is a fictional character and superhero who has appeared in numerous comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in a next issue ad in More Fun Comics #51 and received his first story the following month, #52...
. - Widow - based on the obscure 1940s character Spider WidowSpider WidowSpider Widow is a fictional superhero character that was published by Quality Comics during the Golden Age of Comic Books. The character was created by Frank Borth and debuted in Feature Comics #57, which bore a cover date of June, 1942...
. - Wonder WomanWonder WomanWonder Woman is a DC Comics superheroine created by William Moulton Marston. She first appeared in All Star Comics #8 . The Wonder Woman title has been published by DC Comics almost continuously except for a brief hiatus in 1986....
Three of the characters - Marksman, Midnight, and Widow - have no superpowers and their usefulness is dismissed by the other members of the group.
The issue introduces Kamburu, a fictional nation that appears to be based on Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
or Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
. Kamburu is harboring a mysterious figure known as Khouriga Edjem, who has been indicted by an international court. Edjem has been providing aid to Kamburu which has created surpluses of energy and food. Edjem has formed his own superpowered group:
- Aqualord - a drug-addicted version of AquamanAquamanAquaman is a fictional superhero who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger, the character debuted in More Fun Comics #73 . Initially a backup feature in DC's anthology titles, Aquaman later starred in several volumes of a solo title...
who believes himself to be a servant of God. - Black AdamBlack AdamBlack Adam is a fictional comic book character, created in 1945 by Otto Binder & C. C. Beck for Fawcett Comics. Originally created as a one-shot villain for Fawcett Comics' Marvel Family team of superheroes, Black Adam was revived as a recurring supervillain after DC Comics began publishing Captain...
- an armored character. - Kondor - a winged character who is the leader of the group; based on Black CondorBlack CondorBlack Condor is the name of three fictional characters, DC Comics superheroes who have all been members of the Freedom Fighters. The first Black Condor, Richard Grey Jr., was originally a Quality Comics character.-Quality Comics:...
. - Thane - a Nordic character who wields a giant axe and rides on a black horse. He has two trolls who serve him.
- Wildfire - a character who can control fire. She shows no mercy except when it comes to children. Based on obscure 1940s character WildfireWildfire (Golden Age)Wildfire is a fictional superheroine in the DC Comics universe. One of the first female superheroes, she was originally published by Quality Comics during what comics historians and fans called the Golden Age of comic books....
.
Edjem sends his team to attack a refinery. The Justice League ambushes them. In the resulting battle, Black Adam puts the Unknown into a coma and Aqualord is captured.
The issue also introduces this world's version of Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor is a fictional character, a supervillain who appears in comic books published by DC Comics, and the archenemy of Superman, although given his high status as a supervillain, he has also come into conflict with Batman and other superheroes in the DC Universe. Created by Jerry Siegel and...
, who runs a scientific institute in Switzerland dedicated to developing peaceful technology.
Issue 2
Midnight and Widow meet with Destiny. It's revealed that Midnight had been in love with her but she married Manhunter.This issue explains Luthor's background. He had been an unscrupulous arms dealer but renounced his criminal ways after a disfiguring accident. Thomas Wayne now funds his institute.
Edjem sends his team to attack an American military base. The Justice League once again ambushes them. Marksman, Midnight, and Widow have been outfitted with armored suits. Flash, Triumph, and Wonder Woman are injured in the fight but Thane and Kondor are captured.
Edjem suspects Luthor provided the armored suits to the League and has the Human Bomb destroy Luthor's institute. It's revealed that Luthor also has superpowers.
Issue 3
Luthor believes Wayne stole the armored suit designs from him and blames him for the attack. He attacks and destroys Wayne's headquarters. The Justice League responds. Luthor appears to be capable of defeating their combined attack but then surrenders.Destiny foresaw Luthor's attack and tried to warn Wayne but was unable to contact him in time. She then travels to the Nevada desert where she encounters a giant alien lying in the sand. The alien is J'onn J'onzz
Martian Manhunter
The Martian Manhunter is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in publications published by DC Comics. Created by writer Joseph Samachson and artist Joe Certa, the character first appeared in Detective Comics #225...
.
Interrogation of the captured members of his team (the Human Bomb was also captured after his attack on Luthor) reveal that Edjem has been working on causing a massive crop failure in the United States. United Nations troops, supported by the Justice League, surround Kamburu and issue an ultimatum calling for Edjem's surrender.
Luthor's true background is revealed. He is really Jor-El
Jor-El
Jor-El is a fictional character, an extraterrestrial in the . He was created by the writer Jerry Siegel and the artist Joe Shuster, and he first appeared in a newspaper comic strip in 1939 as Superman's biological father....
the last surviving Kryptonian. He knew Krypton
Krypton (comics)
Krypton is a fictional planet in the DC Comics universe, and the native world of the super-heroes Superman and, in some tellings, Supergirl and Krypto the Superdog. Krypton has been portrayed consistently as having been destroyed just after Superman's flight from the planet, with exact details of...
was doomed and built a rocket to save his wife and son, Kal-El. But Krypton blew up while he was testing the rocket and he was the only survivor. He traveled to Earth where he began working for the real Lex Luthor. When his survival from the accident revealed his powers, he made a deal with Luthor, giving Luthor his ship so Luthor could leave Earth to conquer other worlds and assuming Luthor's identity.
Jor-El escapes and flies to Kamburu to confront Edjem and discovers Edjem now possesses his ship. Triumph follows him and is attacked by Black Adam. Triumph is able to defeat Black Adam and discovers he was an artificially intelligent robot. Edjem is enraged by Black Adam's destruction and kills Triumph.
Issue 4
Jor-El discovers that Khouriga Edjem is actually an interplanetary conqueror named MongulMongul
Mongul is the name of two fictional characters that appear in comic books published by DC Comics. The first version of the character debuted in DC Comics Presents #27 and was created by writer Len Wein and artist Jim Starlin. The second version first appears in Showcase '95 #85 and was created by...
. Lex Luthor had landed on one of the planets Mongul was trying to conquer and had organized its defense. Mongul was able to eventually capture the planet and kill Luthor but was impressed by Luthor's abilities. Mongul decided to use Jor-El's ship to travel back to Earth and conquer it.
J'onn J'onzz reveals to Destiny that the original Manhunter, Paul Kirk, had died years earlier and J'onzz had assumed his identity. It was actually J'onzz that Destiny had married. The mission on which he, the Clock and Green Lantern had disappeared was to investigate Mongul's ship after it arrived on Earth. Mongul captured Green Lantern, killed the Clock, and believed he had killed J'onzz. But J'onzz survived as a disembodied mind because of his psychic powers. Destiny's apparent psychic power was actually J'onzz sending messages to her telepathically.
Mongul used a parasitic plant called the Black Mercy to take control of Green Lantern's mind and has been using Green Lantern and his power ring to create the energy he used to rebuild Kamburu. J'onzz is able to enter Green Lantern's mind and reveal the truth of his imprisonment to him. J'onzz also gives Destiny the information needed to reverse the American crop failure. His mission completed, J'onzz fades away.
The Justice League attacks Mongul a final time. Captain Thunder, Marksman, Midnight, and Widow are apparently killed in the attack. But Jor-El joins them and is able to capture Mongul. Jor-El flies Mongul into space in his ship and then destroys it.