View source for Justice League Task Force (comics)

{{Short description|American monthly comic book series}}
{{Primary sources|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox comic book title   <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
| title               = Justice League Task Force
| image               =  Justice League Task Force.1a.jpg
| caption             = ''Justice League Task Force'' #1 (June 1993), cover art by Sal Velluto.
| schedule            = Monthly
| ongoing             = y
| Superhero           = y
| publisher           = [[DC Comics]]
| startmo             = June
| startyr             = 1993
| endmo               = July
| endyr               = 1996
| issues              = 37
| main_char_team      =
| writers             = various
| artists             = various
| pencillers          =
| inkers              =
| colorists           =
| letterers           =
| editors             =
| creative_team_month =
| creative_team_year  =
| creators            = [[David Michelinie]]<br>Sal Velluto
| subcat              = Justice League
| sort                = Justice League Task Force
}}

'''''Justice League Task Force''''' was an American monthly [[comic book]] series published by [[DC Comics]] from June 1993 to August 1996; it lasted 37 issues. At the time the [[Justice League]] was featured in three separate series: ''[[Justice League America]]'', ''[[Justice League Europe]]'' (''JLE'') and ''[[Justice League Quarterly]]'' (JLQ). ''Justice League Task Force'' was a spinoff of ''Justice League Europe'', a series which ran from April 1989 to May 1993. Like JLE, this team carried a [[United Nations]] charter which sanctioned their activities. In fact, JLTF was composed of several former JLE members. The team was called to action by Hannibal Martin, a representative of the [[United Nations|U.N.]] He asked that [[Martian Manhunter]] select a "strike team" of fellow Justice League members and to "lead them on a very special mission".<ref>''Justice League Task Force'' #1, page 14</ref>

==Publication history==
===Creative teams===
Because of the varied nature of the missions the Task Force would be employed on, and the versatility of the concept, various writers and artists were featured on this title. Up to issue #13 most writers wrote only up to three issues (even the series' creator [[David Michelinie]] only wrote the first three issues, although a misprint on the cover of issue #5 credited him with the story, but it was actually written by [[Denny O'Neil]]), which changed when [[Mark Waid]] came on board, who wrote ''Justice League Task Force'' for eight issues<ref>''Justice League Task Force'' #0, 13-15, 17-20</ref> and changed the concept to what it would ultimately become. His last few issues were co-written with [[Christopher Priest (comic book writer)|Christopher Priest]], who came on at issue #18 and wrote the title up to its cancellation at issue #37.

Similar to the role of the writers, few pencillers stuck around for more than one or two issues, with exception being Sal Velluto, who, alongside [[David Michelinie]] created the book,<ref>{{cite book|last=Manning|first= Matthew K.|last2=Dolan|first2=Hannah, ed.|chapter= 1990s|title = DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle|publisher=[[Dorling Kindersley]] |year=2010 |isbn= 978-0-7566-6742-9 |page= 259 |quote = Writer David Michelinie and artist Sal Velluto introduced a different type of Justice League in their new ongoing series ''''Justice League Task Force''.}}</ref> and pencilled 22 issues of the title.<ref>''Justice League Task Force'' #0-3, 5-8, 10-15, 17-24</ref> The only other regular artist was Ramon Bernado, who pencilled nine issues in total<ref>''Justice League Task Force'' #27-30, 33-37</ref> and pencilled the title's last few issues.

==Biography==
===Membership===
Because the Justice League Task force had a variable line-up, there was no definite number of stable members, aside from the Martian Manhunter and Gypsy, who (with the exception of issue #9 in Gypsy's case) appeared in every issue of the run. Other members who made regular appearances include Triumph, Ray, L-Ron (in Despero's body) and Mystek.

====Core members====
*[[Martian Manhunter]],<ref>''Justice League Task Force'' #1-37</ref> the team's leader
*[[Gypsy (comics)|Gypsy]]<ref>''Justice League Task Force'' #1-8, 10-15, 17-37</ref>
*[[L-Ron]]/[[Despero]]<ref>''Justice League Task Force'' #0, 13-33, 37</ref>
*[[Mystek]]<ref>''Justice League Task Force'' #25-32</ref>
*[[Ray (Ray Terrill)|Ray]] (Ray Terrill)<ref>''Justice League Task Force'' #0, 13-15, 17-26. The Ray quits in issue #26, but makes frequent guest appearances.</ref>
*[[Triumph (comics)|Triumph]]<ref>''Justice League Task Force'' #0, 15-28. Triumph is fired in issue #28, but remains part of the comic book's cast.</ref>

====Recruits====
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
*[[Aquaman]] (Arthur Curry)<ref name="1-3">''Justice League Task Force'' #1-3''</ref>
*[[Batman]] (Bruce Wayne)<ref name="5-6">''Justice League Task Force'' #5-6</ref>
*[[Black Canary]] (Dinah Laurel Lance)<ref name="10-12">''Justice League Task Force'' #10-12</ref>
*[[Bronze Tiger]] (Ben Turner)<ref name="5-6" /><ref name="J0">''Justice League Task Force'' #0</ref>
*[[Damage (DC Comics)|Damage]] (Grant Emerson)<ref name="J25">''Justice League Task Force'' #25</ref>
*[[Dolphin (comics)|Dolphin]]<ref name="7-8">''Justice League Task Force'' #7-8</ref>
*[[Elongated Man]] (Randolph William Dibny)<ref name="10-12" /><ref name="J16" >''Justice League Task Force'' #16</ref>
*[[Fire (comics)|Fire]] (Beatriz da Costa)<ref name="J16" />
*[[Flash (comics)|Flash]] ([[Wally West]])<ref name="1-3" />
*[[Geist (DC Comics)|Geist]]<ref name="J9">''Justice League Task Force'' #9</ref>
*[[Green Arrow]] (Oliver Queen)<ref name="5-6" />
*Joe Public<ref name="J9" />
*[[Hourman]] (Rex Tyler)<ref name="10-12" />
*Lionheart<ref name="13-14">''Justice League Task Force'' #13-14</ref>
*Loose Cannon<ref name="J9" />
*[[Maxima (comics)|Maxima]]<ref name="7-8" />
*[[Metamorpho]] (Rex Mason)<ref name="J16" />
*[[Nightwing]] ([[Dick Grayson]])<ref name="1-3" />
*[[Tasmanian Devil (comics)|Tasmanian Devil]]<ref name="J16" />
*[[Peter Cannon, Thunderbolt|Thunderbolt]] (Peter Cannon)<ref name="13-14" /><ref name="10-12" />
*[[Vixen (comics)|Vixen]]<ref name="7-8" />
*[[Wonder Woman]]<ref name="7-8" />
{{col-end}}

==Fictional history==
===The beginning===
The first mission of this new Justice League team concern a group of rebels, led by Rafael Sierra, who are planning to assassinate Sanobel President Enrique Ramos. They enlist the aid of Count Jeremy Glass, who produces a superlaser that "projects death from miles away", a device the rebels are reluctant to use. [[Dick Grayson|Nightwing]] is assigned by Hannibal Martin to stop Sierra on his own. Meanwhile, the Task Force engages the rebels. During an ensuing fight at the palace, Ramos hurries to shut down the superlaser and finds himself in Nightwing's sights, but, in a crisis of conscience, the [[superhero]] cannot pull the trigger. Ultimately, Ramos destroys the machine, but at the cost of his own life. As the story ends, Rafael Sierra becomes President, and Martin reveals that he selected Nightwing because he knew that the hero would never kill; he intended Nightwing to fail. Nightwing and Flash quit the team in anger.<ref name="1-3" />

Gypsy proceeds to go on a solo mission in issue #4, in which she and the Martian Manhunter (who follows Gypsy) defeat Sa'ar, the Ageless One. Afterward the team becomes involved with the [[KnightSaga|KnightQuest]], in which they aid [[Batman|Bruce Wayne]] in the search of Dr. Kinsolving and Jack Drake (father of [[Robin (Tim Drake)|Tim Drake]], the third [[Robin (comics)|Robin]].<ref name="5-6" /> The team next encompasses a complete female membership (including a shapeshifted Martian Manhunter) in order to save the life of Henry R. Haggard, who carries with him a deadly virus, from a savage female tribe.<ref name="7-8" /> Martian Manhunter is faced with more trouble when two [[Bloodlines (comics)#@New Bloods|New Blood]] heroes, Joe Public and [[Geist (DC Comics)|Geist]] seek his mentorship, but by the end of the tale in issue #9, they revoke their membership in the League, confident that they're not cut out to be superheroes.

Next, the [[Aryan Brigade]] plans to release a virus that will kill any non-Aryan in Northern America. The League is capable of infiltrating the group, but are soon compromised when a Nation member recognizes [[Peter Cannon, Thunderbolt]]. The League eventually manages to escape with the help of [[Hourman]] (Rex Tyler) and stop the virus from being spread. After the mission, Hannibal Martin reveals the return of [[L-Ron]], still inhabitting the body of old foe [[Despero]], to warn the team of the coming threat of the [[Overmaster]].<ref name="10-12" /> Shortly afterward, the Justice League collectively faces the Overmaster, who kills the superheroine [[Ice (comics)|Ice]] in ''Justice League Task Force'' #14.  During the assault on Overmaster's citadel, Gypsy is left behind in an Arctic wasteland as the main group forged forward, leading her to quit the team after the battle. The Task Force then become embroiled in the ''[[Zero Hour (comics)|Zero Hour]]'' conflict, and [[Triumph (comics)|Triumph]], a hero [[retcon]]ned into having been a founding member of the original Justice League, appears and joins the team. After ''Zero Hour'', the Martian Manhunter and L-Ron assemble a new group, making the Task Force a training ground for new heroes, and the team consists of themselves, Triumph, the [[Ray (Ray Terrill)|Ray]] and a returned Gypsy.<ref>''Justice League Task Force'' #0, 15-16</ref>

===A new team and purpose===
[[Image:Justice League Task Force.0.jpg|thumb|The cover to ''Justice League Task Force'' #0 featuring the new team. Art by Sal Velluto/Jeff Albrecht.]]

The new team seemingly fits well together, but Gypsy has trouble reconciling with the fact that the Despero on the team is not the Despero that killed her parents. As they train together, they are called to aid [[Vandal Savage]], whose supply of replacement body parts and organs has been stolen. They are able to uncover the perpetrator, but do not allow Vandal Savage to kill her, earning them his wrath as he destroys their headquarters.<ref>''Justice League Task Force'' #17-21</ref> Gypsy's fears are later added to when she and the team face Baron Űman von Mauler, who believes Gypsy to be his long-dead wife Nakia. She narrowly defeats him, and proceeds to hitchhike her way through Romania, leaving behind her teammates. She eventually ends up at [[Bronze Tiger]]'s place, where the Martian Manhunter asks her to rejoin the team.<ref>''Justice League Task Force'' #22-24</ref>

During this run, Christopher Priest established a piece of the series' lexicon: the [[tuna sandwich]].<ref name="J0"/> When debating Vandal Savage's intelligence, Triumph asserted that Vandal Savage was a super-genius, not a tuna sandwich. Throughout the series, "tuna sandwich" became a [[euphemism]] for someone of low intelligence.

{{Expand section|date=May 2008}}

==Writers==
* ''David Michelinie''  #1-3
* ''Chuck Dixon'' #4
* ''Dennis O'Neil'' #5-6
* ''Peter David'' #7-8
* ''Jeph Loeb'' #9
* ''Michael Jan Friedman'' #10-12
* ''Mark Waid'' #0, 13-15, 17-20
* ''Christopher Priest''  #16, 21-37
==Collected editions==
This series has been collected in the following volumes:
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! width=25%| Title
! width=25%| Material collected
! width=25%| Publication date
! width=25%| ISBN
|-
| ''Justice League Task Force Vol. 1: Purification Plague''
| ''Justice League Task Force'' #1-12
| March 27, 2018
| {{ISBNT|978-1401277963}} 
|-
| ''Wonder Woman & the Justice League America Vol. 2''
| ''Justice League Task Force'' #13-14, Plus ''Justice League America'' #86-91, ''Justice League International'' Vol. 2 #65-66 
| October 10, 2017
| {{ISBNT| 978-1401274009}}
|}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
*[http://www.dcuguide.com/who.php?name=justiceleaguetaskforce]
*[http://www.dcuguide.com/who.php?name=justiceleaguetaskforce2]

{{Justice League Task Force}}
{{Justice League characters}}
{{Justice League}}
{{Robin}}

[[Category:Comics by David Michelinie]]
[[Category:DC Comics superhero teams]]
[[Category:Defunct American comics]]
[[Category:Justice League|Task Force, Justice League]]