History ComicBook / JusticeLeagueInternational

* ShoutOut: During the stealth mission in Bialya, ComicBook/BlueBeetle is given the civilian name [[Film/ItsAWonderfulLife George Bailey]]. Doubles as a StealthPun, since this would make him ComicStrip/BeetleBailey.

[[UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks By that time]], comic books were getting DarkerAndEdgier, and most of the "Big Seven" heroes of Creator/DCComics were unavailable for varied reasons. So writers Keith Giffen and J.M. [=DeMatteis=] had to work with a cast of mostly minor characters, including such [[NonPoweredCostumedHero nonsuperpowered heroes]] as ComicBook/BlueBeetle and [[ComicBook/NewGods Mister Miracle]]. What to do then? Giffen had a great idea: instead of going DarkerAndEdgier, they went LighterAndSofter, turning the comic book into a super hero comedy. Yes, they get to fight against vampires, [[MadScientist Mad Scientists]], [[PresidentEvil dictators]], [[HumongousMecha giant Nazi robots]], [[AlienInvasion alien invasions]] and the like, but most of their plots dealt with completely bizarre situations: Guy Gardner and Ice having a date at an ice show, the heroes go to school to learn French, Blue Beetle and ComicBook/BoosterGold build a casino at a paradise island, or the mayhem at both their embassies caused by... an alley cat (yes, they made a [[BatFamilyCrossover 2-issue crossover]] with that). They were also used to fight [[HarmlessVillain Harmless Villains]] and [[IneffectualSympatheticVillain Ineffectual Sympathetic Villains]], and had to deal with [[SuperZeroes annoying "good guys"]] as G'Nort or The Beefeater. All that being said, the book could and did get quite dark, and these dark times were often more affecting, precisely because of the overall light tone of the book; also, the dark times were also often the funniest, at least to some readers.

** Hawkman was one toward UsefulNotes/{{the Silver Age|of Comic Books}} in general. He became so disgusted with the brash, crude nature of his teammates that he quit the League in a matter of days.

'''Second from top row''': Ice Maiden (later Ice), Franchise/WonderWoman, [[Comicbook/NewGods Mister Miracle]]\\
'''Middle Row''': ComicBook/PowerGirl, Franchise/{{Batman}}, ComicBook/CaptainAtom\\

'''Bottom row''': Green Flame (later Fire), Franchise/GreenLantern (Guy Gardner), Franchise/TheFlash (ComicBook/WallyWest)[[/note]]]]

The Justice League International (or "JLI") was the ComicBook/PostCrisis version of the Franchise/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica. Starting with ''Justice League'' #1 (May, 1987), it gained its more familiar title with issue #7 (November, 1987).

The initial cast (Franchise/{{Batman}}, ComicBook/MartianManhunter, [[Franchise/GreenLantern Guy Gardner]], ComicBook/BlueBeetle, ComicBook/BlackCanary, ComicBook/DoctorFate, [[ComicBook/{{Shazam}} Captain Marvel]], [[ComicBook/NewGods Mister Miracle and his sidekick Oberon]]) got new members afterwards, such as ComicBook/BoosterGold or Fire and Ice (from the ComicBook/GlobalGuardians, a MultinationalTeam that the United Nations disbanded to form the JLI). Following the events of ''ComicBook/InvasionDCComics'', a new Justice League title was launched, ''Justice League Europe'' (JLE), with ComicBook/CaptainAtom, ComicBook/PowerGirl, ComicBook/{{Metamorpho}}, Franchise/TheFlash, Ralph Dibny (ComicBook/ElongatedMan) and his wife Sue, Rocket Red, and Comicbook/AnimalMan, while the original JLI was renamed "Justice League America" (no "of" in there, oddly enough). All teams were managed by Maxwell Lord, a crooked but ultimately good-hearted man. (He was [[RetCon turned into an evil villain]] during the ''[[ComicBook/InfiniteCrisis Countdown to Infinite Crisis]]'', but was not a villain at all back then, except when controlled by an evil computer). During this time, another series launched, ''Justice League Quarterly'', a four-issue-a-year series with extra pages to tell longer stories starring the heroes.

* BettyAndVeronica: When Franchise/{{Superman}} joins the League, Ice almost immediately gets a crush on him, causing Guy to view Supes as a love rival. Superman, meanwhile, has no interest in Ice whatsoever.

* BrilliantButLazy: Guy Gardner's combined willpower and imagination give him the potential to be one of the most powerful [[Franchise/GreenLantern Green Lanterns]] ever. Too bad he doesn't really care to try that hard or he's usually too pissed off to think straight.

* TheComicallySerious: Franchise/{{Batman}}, ComicBook/MartianManhunter, [[ComicBook/{{Hawkman}} Hawkman (Katar Hol)]] and, to a lesser extent, ComicBook/CaptainAtom. Although both Batman and J‘onn do engage in humour here and there. (Especially J‘onn after he gets hooked on caviar and Oreos.)

* CoversAlwaysLie: Going by the comic cover pictured above you'd think Franchise/WonderWoman was a significant character in the series. You'd be very, very wrong.

** A notable aversion occurs with, of all people, [[Franchise/GreenLantern Guy Gardner]]. Giffen and [=DeMatteis=] were concerned with how much Flanderization had already occurred with the character, who initially was more intelligent than Hal Jordan, but by the time of joining the JLI was mostly famous as a JerkAss with severe brain damage. A punch from Franchise/{{Batman}} sends Guy into an alternate, hyper-sensitive persona, [[spoiler: eventually revealed to be a total con, as Guy enjoyed screwing with his teammates. His girlfriend, Ice, sees through it.]]

-->'''Hawkman''': "Hell?!" Did you just say "Hell?!" Never in my life did I hear [[Franchise/GreenLantern Hal Jordan]] say "Hell!"

* ImAHumanitarian: During a membership drive, all applicants (or at least alien ones) had to answer a question on whether they've ever eaten a human. [[Franchise/GreenLantern Kilowog]] comments "That's ridiculous! Humans taste terrible!"

* OnlySaneMan: Franchise/{{Batman}} originally, followed by ComicBook/MartianManhunter once Bats started appearing less frequently. ComicBook/CaptainAtom filled this role once the League split and he went to Europe. Hawkman as well.

--->'''Hawkman:''' "Hell"?! Did you just say "hell"?! In all my life, I've never heard [[Franchise/GreenLantern Hal Jordan]] say "hell"!

* HesBack: And how! Guy Gardner, after some months of IdentityAmnesia, was so calm, reading the poetry of Creator/LeonardNimoy... then, with a new TapOnTheHead, he returns to being the Guy Gardner we all love and enjoy (well, he returns to his usual self, period) and gets into a fight against Lobo.

* PlayingWithFire: ''Green'' fire, at that. Fire became a feminine expo of the Human Torch.
%%* PoweredArmor: The Rocket Reds.

-->'''L-Ron:''' Sir, the shields have fallen.
-->'''Manga Khan:''' WHAT?!
-->'''L-Ron:''' I said that the shields have fallen.
-->'''Manga Khan:''' I heard you! It was a rhetoric 'what', stupid!

** Comicbook/AnimalMan could never find a useful animal to use with his powers.
** Franchise/{{Batman}} always seemed to [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere disappear]] when the group acted really crazy/immature. In one case, he left after just having the day's events described to him.

* StrawFeminist: ComicBook/BlackCanary.
** To some degree, Comicbook/PowerGirl as well, though she would be just as pissed at the women for letting themselves be victimized.

--->'''Hawkman''': "Hell"?! Did you just say "hell"?! In all my life, I've never heard [[Franchise/GreenLantern Hal Jordan]] say "hell"!
** Dr. Fate's jab about SoCal being made up of mindless drones with no free will like the zombie-like people he was attacked by.

* PlayedForLaughs: Manga Khan plays for laughs most tropes associated to the megalomaniac villains: pompous speeches, unneeded shouts, monologuing, stock phrases...

* ByThePowerOfGreyskull: Joseph Jones transformed into General Glory by shouting "Lady Liberty hear my plea! For the land of the brave and the home of the free!"

* HeelFaceMole: Lobo briefly joined the League for a chance to kill the members (plus Big Barda and G'Nort) who were on a mission in space at the time.

After nearly five years, Giffen and [=DeMatteis=] decided to go a GrandFinale to their run, entitled ''Breakdowns'', which saw the two teams disband after a series of incidents. This was followed up by ''Justice League Spectacular'', which set up the new status quo by introducing the new members of the League... which were the same as the old ones, except ComicBook/{{Superman}} was now on the America team replacing the Martian Manhunter and Hal Jordan on the Europe team replacing Captain Atom. Sadly, the America team wouldn't stay stable thanks to getting involved in ''ComicBook/TheDeathOfSuperman'', leading to Wonder Woman leading a seemingly rotating team. In 1993, the Martian Manhunter headlined a fourth title, ''Justice League Task Force'', which had the Martian creating teams for missions given by the United Nations, even getting involved in the ''[[ComicBook/{{Knightfall}} KnightQuest: The Search]]'' storyline.

The initial cast (Franchise/{{Batman}}, ComicBook/MartianManhunter, [[Franchise/GreenLantern Guy Gardner]], ComicBook/BlueBeetle, ComicBook/BlackCanary, ComicBook/DoctorFate, [[ComicBook/{{Shazam}} Captain Marvel]], [[ComicBook/NewGods Mister Miracle and his sidekick Oberon]]) got new members afterwards, such as ComicBook/BoosterGold or Fire and Ice (from the ComicBook/GlobalGuardians, a MultinationalTeam that the United Nations disbanded to form the JLI). They got a related series, "Justice League Europe" (JLE), with ComicBook/CaptainAtom, ComicBook/PowerGirl, ComicBook/{{Metamorpho}}, Franchise/TheFlash, Ralph Dibny (ComicBook/ElongatedMan) and his wife Sue, Rocket Red, and Comicbook/AnimalMan, while the original JLI was renamed "Justice League America" (no "of" in there, oddly enough). All teams were managed by Maxwell Lord, a crooked but ultimately good-hearted man. (He was [[RetCon turned into an evil villain]] during the ''[[ComicBook/InfiniteCrisis Countdown to Infinite Crisis]]'', but was not a villain at all back then, except when controlled by an evil computer).

When Giffen and [=DeMatteis=] left the series, they made a GrandFinale where the League lost the UN support and disbanded. The League then returned in ''Justice League Spectacular'', with much the same characters, but a less overtly comedic tone, including Maxwell Lord's apparent death. (Somewhere in the middle of that, Justice League Europe changed its name to Justice League International, for maximum confusion.) Following ''ComicBook/ZeroHourCrisisInTime'', Franchise/WonderWoman and ComicBook/CaptainAtom formed rival Leagues (Cap's appearing in the too-nineties-for-words book ''Extreme Justice''), before Creator/GrantMorrison re-invented the JLA as "the Big Seven", and the last vestiges of the Giffen/[=DeMatteis=] League disappeared.

* SliceOfLife: Often a source of humor in the series: it treated its characters as real people with quirks and flaws that we don't associate with superheroes. Even Martian Manhunter gained an addiction for... Oreos.

* SpoilerOpening: Max Lord had suddenly woke up from the coma. Someone has stolen the robots of the Extremists. At the end of the comic book, we find out that Lord has awaken because Dreamslayer has [[DemonicPossession possessed his body]]. This ''should'' have been a huge reveal... if it wasn't openly announced on the comic book cover.

%%* PlayingWithFire: ''Green'' fire, at that.

* ReassignedToAntarctica: The Injustice League, after trying for OneLastJob only to end up foiling a robbery by a group of terrorists at the same location, decide to go straight and turn to the JLI for help. Max decides that since things tend to go insane when they get involved, to bring them on using this trope, literally reassigning them to Antarctica and packing G'nort away. This goes about as well as you'd expect, with mutant penguins attacking within days of the new branch starting, though Major Disaster does end up beating them with an avalanche when both branches of the JLI couldn't... albeit destroying [=JLAntarctica's=] headquarters in the process

* TheComicallySerious: Franchise/{{Batman}}, ComicBook/MartianManhunter, [[ComicBook/{{Hawkman}} Hawkman (Katar Hol)]] and, to a lesser extent, ComicBook/CaptainAtom.

The team was reunited by Creator/JuddWinick in the well-received ''ComicBook/JusticeLeagueGenerationLost'' maxi-series, albeit with the new ComicBook/BlueBeetle and Rocket Red filling in for their deceased predecessors. In 2011, DC's ComicBook/{{New 52}} relaunch rebooted DC's continuity. The JLI's history was completely removed from continuity, but a new ''Justice League International'' series was launched. It featured many of the same characters, as well as Comicbook/{{Vixen}}, Godiva and August General in Iron. Despite decent sales, the series was [[ExecutiveMeddling cancelled in order to launch]] a new ''Justice League of America'' title, and ended with an Annual issue in September 2012 to finish the story. After the ComicBook/DCRebirth crossover ''ComicBook/SupermanReborn'', the team original team's history was partly restored to canon.

* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: Katar and Shayera left the team in #24.

* AbsoluteCleavage: Fire's and Ice's first outfit (seen in the above group shot), and Owlwoman.

* [[MoralGuardians Moral Guardian]]: General Glory tries to be one, but it doesn't work too well given the rest of the team. Spending most of his time with Guy Gardner really didn't help.

* MsFanservice: Fire, with her second clothing set. Power Girl, contrary to her usual role in modern DC comics, was '''not''' Ms. Fanservice back then: first she had the physique of a bodybuilder rather than of a supermodel, and then she changed to the white-and-yellow costume with no CleavageWindow.
* [[MyFriendsAndZoidberg My Friends... and Guy Gardner]]

The initial cast (Franchise/{{Batman}}, ComicBook/MartianManhunter, [[Franchise/GreenLantern Guy Gardner]], ComicBook/BlueBeetle, ComicBook/BlackCanary, ComicBook/DoctorFate, [[ComicBook/{{Shazam}} Captain Marvel]], [[ComicBook/NewGods Mister Miracle and his sidekick Oberon]]) got new members afterwards, such as ComicBook/BoosterGold or Fire and Ice (from the ComicBook/GlobalGuardians, a MultinationalTeam that the United Nations disbanded to form the JLI). They got a related series, "Justice League Europe" (JLE), with ComicBook/CaptainAtom, ComicBook/PowerGirl, ComicBook/{{Metamorpho}}, Franchise/TheFlash, Ralph Dibny (ComicBook/ElongatedMan) and his wife Sue, Rocket Red, and Comicbook/AnimalMan. All teams were managed by Maxwell Lord, a crooked but ultimately good-hearted man. (He was [[RetCon turned into an evil villain]] during the ''[[ComicBook/InfiniteCrisis Countdown to Infinite Crisis]]'', but was not a villain at all back then, except when controlled by an evil computer).

[[caption-width-right:350:[[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters Who let these guys in?]][[note]]\\