Tansy Rayner Roberts's Blog, page 20

Galactic Suburbia Spoilerific: Bloodchild by Octavia Butler

New episode!!

In which parasites are creepy, pregnancy is body horror, and consent is important!

Get comfy and listen to Alex & Tansy’s discussion of Octavia Butler’s “Bloodchild” and her essay “Positive Obsessions,” both available in the Bloodchild & Other Stories collection (plus Bloodchild is available as a single story digitally).

Don’t forget: submissions for the Octavia Butler tribute anthology are due on Jan 8! See Submissions for details.

Please send feedback to us at galacticsuburbia@gmail.com, follow us on Twitter at @galacticsuburbs, check out Galactic Suburbia Podcast on Facebook, support us at Patreon and don’t forget to leave a review on iTunes if you love us!

Random Act of Monster: Poena (for Katharine)

Random Act of Monster is a series of personalised micro-stories written for my Patreon supporters at the $12 level, based on the fabulous mythical creature of their choice. This story is for Katharine Stubbs. Thank you so much, Katharine, for your generous support!

Sing, Hekaterine, of vicious Poena, summoned of the Underworld to attend Nemesis in her cruel work.

I saw them outside the supermarket yesterday. Nemesis has purchased Poena a collar and leash with diamante studs and pink fur handles. It’s embarrassing for everyone.

Nemesis walks in high-heeled boots down Main Street. Her pet clacks along beside her, sharp claws striking against the pavement.

It is unwise, perhaps, to summon a dracaena to your side and humiliate them so thoroughly that the only vengeance they can imagine is against you. But Nemesis has always made risky choices. Remember that time she defied almighty Zeus and got the “Rachel” haircut in the same week?

Sing, Hekaterine, of Nemesis and her unfortunate hairdresser.

I still get postcards from that hairdresser sometimes. The poor dear doesn’t dare return to this country.

I am an old woman, and nostalgia has become my friend. But I still recall when Poena was a violent scourge, summoned by Apollo to ravage Argos. I remember when the baby-eating Lamia quivered in fear every time Poena set a claw inside one of their Tupperware parties.

Poena was feared once. Sing of that, Hekaterine. Nemesis has tamed her, but…

Some creatures can never be tamed.

I heard a rumour that Nemesis has ordered a new humiliation for the she-dragon of punishment: she plans to have Poena washed and shaved of her scales in order that she will better fit the holiday jacket Nemesis ordered on Etsy.

The knitted one, with false scales embroidered in loops of sequins. It is green, to match Nemesis’ new hat, and bears the dread inscription: Mummy’s Little Pwincess.

I think, Hekaterine, you had better Sing of Nemesis while she lives and breathes. Poena’s retribution is simmering. When it boils over, vengeance will be swift.

Sequins will fly.

Justice League International #11: Constructions (March 1988)

THE CREATIVE TEAM: Keith Giffen (Plot & Breakdowns), J.M. DeMatteis (Script), Kevin Maguire (Pencils), Al Gordon (Inks), Gene D’Angelo (Colors), Andy Helfer & Robert Greenberger (Editors)

JUSTICE LEAGUE ROLL CALL: J’onn J’onnz the Martian Manhunter, Batman, Black Canary, Green Lantern (Guy Gardner), Blue Beetle (Ted Kord), Booster Gold, Mister Miracle (Scott Free), Captain Atom, Rocket Red (Dmitri Pushkin), with Maxwell Lord.

GUEST STAR: Metron

THE STORY: After the drama of the Millennium crossover, everyone is back at Justice League Headquarters, and a brand new Rocket Red has joined the team — it’s Dmitri, y’all! Sporting a beard and a missing tooth from the last time he went toe to toe with Black Canary, this is the actual Rocket Red that we know and love as part of Justice League International. Like Mister Miracle, he is a married man (Dmitri actually has kids at home too).

Maxwell Lord (hey, wasn’t he shot? Wtf?) has been banking on the heavy hitter Justice Leaguers like Superman, Hawkman etc, to return with J’onn and Captain Atom — he’s not just disappointed that they have ditched again, he is devastated and terrified. As it turns out, he has a supervillain/stalker problem he was hoping the Justice League could, you know, save him from.

The rest of the League are notified about a problem at Max’s building and end up smashing their way into his floor to help Captain Atom and J’onn fight off random mechanical tentacles. Believing that they are dealing with the Construct, a old evil computer Justice League antagonist, they track down their new foe and battle him in the form of a giant robot. Just as they think they have defeated him, they get a new opponent… a very angry-looking Metron in his time-travelling space chair.

THE CHARACTERS: There’s some lovely bonding going on between Black Canary and Rocket Red, as the two get the measure of each other as teammates and use humour/teasing to do this. Black Canary also gets to excel in battle, only to flip her hair at Batman and tease him about his terrible leadership skills, which are still a thing.

Once more we’re checking in with each character, who gets their own moments to shine or express personality. Blue Beetle reads classic novels! Guy is still brain-damaged! But the most important thing is that Max is finally ready/desperate enough to confess to the Justice League why he set them up in the first place, and what he needs from them.

Captain Atom has clearly stepped into the role of J’onn’s Number 2 here, which makes you wonder why Batman is even bothering to turn up…

THE COMEDY: Most of the humour is centred around Rocket Red, who is obviously taking up the Captain Marvel Americana schtick, which works better when it’s a Russian trying to fit in, who may well have learned English from very old sitcoms. I also really like Dmitri’s confused response to Sweetheart!Guy Gardner, who is still being all earnest, heroic and genuinely nice.

Black Canary and Rocket Red’s lovely back and forth routine works a lot better than the odd scene between Max, Captain Atom and J’onn, where the two Justice League straight men are being all goofy and sarcastic while Max is genuinely melting down.

Booster, sensing perhaps that attention has shifted off him, spends most of the trip in the bug throwing up.

THE ART: Still good, basically. Black Canary’s smug headshot upon saving the day is one of my favourite all time shots of her.

THE KITCHEN SINK: I want to call attention to the sequence in which the team realises that the best option of several scenarios is for the shuttle to smash directly into Max’s floor in the middle of the building, creating THAT sequence where all the windows on a single floor get blown out at once. It’s dramatic.

But crucially: they double check this is their best option, they scan the floor to make sure that Max is the only human there, thereby ensuring the least possible civilian injury. They consider the possible ramifications, and they do it because they have time (even if only a couple of minutes) to review those options.

Which made me think of Man of Steel, and how many buildings were smashed into without Superman (who has very powerful scanning abilities) putting even a tenth of the thought into alternatives, acceptable risk, and potential civilian casualties. I like that the heroes in this book, however goofy, actually think about this shit, and are shown to do so.

BONUS CHARACTER HISTORY: Metron

He’s from the New Gods history, he flies around in a space-time chair, eh, he’s not that interesting.

PREVIOUSLY ON THE ONE TRUE JUSTICE LEAGUE:

Justice League The Story So Far

Justice League #1 (May 1987)

Justice League #2 (June 1987)

Justice League #3 (July 1987)

Justice League #4 (August 1987)

Justice League Annual #1 (1987)

Justice League #5 (September 1987)

Justice League #6 (October 1987)

Justice League International #7 (November 1987)

Justice League International #8 (December 1987)

Justice League International #9 (January 1988)

Justice League International #10 (February 1988)

Random Act of Monster: Chimera (for Belle)

Random Act of Monster is a series of personalised micro-stories written for my Patreon supporters at the $12 level, based on the fabulous mythical creature of their choice. This story is for Belle McQuattie. Thank you so much, Belle, for your generous support!

Everyone knows of Dr Echidna’s success stories. Lion and dragon and goat: now, that is a chimera to be proud of. It is perhaps best not to discuss the lesser known, more obscure experiments.

Such as that time she combined a kitten with a sparrow and a hippopotamus of reasonable size. It wasn’t just that this particular chimera was the ugliest creature ever designed, but oh. When it climbed the curtains, no one was safe.

Then there is the creature no one speaks of. The one that lives in the house with your neighbour, Belle (Dr Echidna’s favourite niece, according to rumour). That creature of hers is lion, oh yes. Its neck is leonine, and even without the trademark mane, the curve of its face is unmistakeable.

One third lion, but what of the other parts?

I wrote to Belle more than once, begging for the truth. How can I publish a Bestiary of Intelligent Facts About Chimera with such a damning gap in my knowledge? I must know of the final creature, the one that Dr Echidna shaped before her death.

The one that killed her, I believe.

I caught a glimpse of its body once, slithering along a corridor when I was supposed to be drinking port with Belle’s uncles. I swear, if it moved like anything, it was a crocodile.

One third lion, one third crocodile? The mystery is almost solved.

You are her dearest, most trusted companion of many years. Surely Belle would tell you the truth, if you asked her. What is the final piece of this puzzle? What unholy combination did Dr Echidna meld together, to create her greatest work?

The uncles would have told me, I am sure of it, if the chimera had not eaten them up a month or more ago, according to the Times.

As you have failed to reply to my recent letters, I worry that you have likewise served as supper to Belle’s creature of the slithering torso and leonine face.

Tell me, what manner of stomach does this chimera wield? Is it wolf or bear, or something in between?

Write, if you can. I should hate to include a new entry in my bestiary: of the final, one-third-unknown chimera, my only information is that it ate my grandmamma.

Random Act of Monster: Gorgon (for D)

Random Act of Monster is a series of personalised micro-stories written for my Patreon supporters at the $12 level, based on the fabulous mythical creature of their choice. This story is for D Franklin. Thank you so much, D, for your ongoing support!

I have always carved Gorgons.

When I was young in the ancient world, it was a skill greatly prized. A Gorgon head with hissing snakes for hair and protuding tongue might ward away all manner of evils. I carved in soapstone, in wax, in soft clay to be baked in my mother’s ovens.

Sometimes, (rarely) I was given marble in which to work my art. In its white whorls I carved such beauty as has never been seen in the world again.

No one needs Gorgons in the 21st century. They serve no function.

Still, I carve. My statues decorate gardens, and cornices of buildings. They are cast in pewter and other alloys to make cheap jewellery.

I survive and remember. I carve.

* * * * *

Last night, I saw a Gorgon on the train. A fleeting glimpse of strong muscle and hissing serpent hair. I watched, open-mouthed as the train flashed past me, taking the dread creature on without stopping, and for one instant I did not feel alone.

Today, I was ready for them. I met the train a station earlier and walked the length of it, my whittling tools clanking awkwardly in my pocket.

The Gorgon sat in a compartment on their own — others had fled no doubt at the sign of that fearsome, grinning mouth, and the snakes that writhed and sang from their scalp.

Our eyes met, and they knew me. Gorgon and snakes alike recognised exactly who I was. “Carver,” they hissed in unison.

“D,” I replied, for the name was mine now, and hard-won.

“Carver,” the Gorgon said again. “Carve me.”

Sheep Might Fly: Dance, Princes, Dance Part 3

New episode of our new Castle Charming serial! Part 3: Look at My Shoes

Welcome back to Castle Charming. Winter is upon us, which means the annual tournament of Rookery is underway, a game that pits Royals against Hounds. Meanwhile, fairies steal castle residents away each night, and persons unknown have run up a mysterious bill for far too many dancing shoes. When you live in a fairy tale kingdom, you have to expect to rescue the occasional prince — but for Kai, Dennis and Ziyi, it’s becoming a habit. Can the boys stop pining after each other long enough to step up as heroes?

Previous episodes of Dance, Princes, Dance:

Part 1: Armour Up

Part 2: The ‘Team’ in Steam

For more Castle Charming hijinks, check out the previous adventures of the Royals and the Hounds in Glass Slipper Scandal – podcast edition, or Glass Slipper Scandal – the ebook.

Thanks for listening to Sheep Might Fly. You can follow me on Twitter @tansyrr and @sheepmightfly, and Tumblr: tansyrr and sheepmightfly. Like my page on Facebook at TansyRRBooks.

Justice League International #10: Soul of the Machine (February 1988)

THE CREATIVE TEAM: Keith Giffen (Plot & Breakdowns), J.M. DeMatteis (Script), Kevin Maguire (Pencils), Keith Giffen (Backup Pencils), Al Gordon (Inks), Gene D’Angelo (Colors), Andy Helfer & Robert Greenberger (Editors)

CROSSOVER ALERT: Ugh, still Millennium

JUSTICE LEAGUE ROLL CALL: J’onn J’onzz the Martian Manhunter, Captain Atom, Blue Beetle (Ted Kord), Mister Miracle (Scott Free).

GUEST STARS: Hal Jordan, Katma Tui, Kilowog and Arisia (other Green Lanterns), Dr Bloody Fate again, Superman, Hawkman, Hawkwoman, Firestorm, but most importantly, G’NORT!

THE STORY: Some of our team have joined a bunch of other heroes in a task force assault on the homeworld of the Manhunters. Firestorm is acting strangely, and Hawkman is a dick. So, just like old times? The planet is machine made and has been heavily cloaked, but when they arrive they discover that it is also bright yellow, which renders all the Green Lantern rings useless.

While exploring the planet they come across the lone Green Lantern who is in charge of this previously-thought-empty sector of space: G’nort, a lovable furry alien. Hal introduces him by rolling his eyes and telling everyone about all the reasons that the other Green Lanterns hate G’nort (they see him as useless, and think he basically bought his way into the Corp via an influential uncle). Hal, even if this is true and necessary exposition, you are a total asshole for saying all this to people G’nort never met.

After ditching the new comic relief character, the task force fight a bunch of Manhunters, destroy their “children” (ie robots in progress) and face off against the big boss before basically causing the planet to fall to rubble. As they fly away, Hal tries to get them to leave G’nort behind (cough, ASSHOLE), though a telepathic scan shows that he has in fact vanished.

Back at the Green Lantern headquarters, Blue Beetle and Mister Miracle get into a comedy scrape with an escaped Manhunter device, and are saved by Kilowog’s competence.

THE CHARACTERS: There are quite a few random character notes in this one — like that Captain Atom considers himself responsible for Firestorm, and that Dr Fate is not actually the same Dr Fate any more. Oh and that Hawkman and Hal Jordan are competing for who can be the absolute worst. But for the most part this is an awkward issue that doesn’t add much to the overall Justice League International storyline, and doesn’t make me remotely curious enough to pick up the Millennium event and find out more.

THE COMEDY: The whole thing with all these new/old characters standing around trying to be funny in the Justice League International tone just feels awkward, like when famous sports stars cameo on your favourite sitcom, and can’t really act. G’nort is the only highlight of the issue. Arisia has potential as a character who is at least cute and has some energy, but I know next to nothing about her. I’m a little alarmed that Hal is calling her ‘honey,’ though…

THE ART: It’s not bad — this is the first time I’ve seen Kevin Maguire doing cosmic battles and I like that he takes the space to do some pretty epic stuff with the Manhunter planet, but there’s not much dynamism in the many panels of people standing around making awkward jokes.

Once again, G’nort is a highlight — now that I know he’s original to this issue, I am impressed with his character design and also the amount of emotion/comic effect that Maguire is able to convey in a furry face. G’nort is the best.

In the back up story, Keith Giffen draws a great Mister Miracle but I’m really not OK with his Ted Kord.

THE KITCHEN SINK: Crossovers are awful, and so is Hal Jordan.

BONUS CHARACTER HISTORY: G’nort

Nope, he’s an original character to this book! This is his first appearance! How about that? Actually, that explains a lot.

It’s later revealed that G’nort and his uncle actually received their rings from aliens who pretended to be Guardians of the Universe in order to distribute power rings to those they thought would do the most amusing things with them. So Hal isn’t even accurate in his blatant attempt to trash talk our new friend. Hal Jordan is a jerk.

BONUS BONUS CHARACTER HISTORY: Arisia

First appearing in the Green Lantern Corp comic in 1981, Arisia was one of a group of alien Green Lanterns who relocated to Earth after Crisis of Infinite Earths, forming a team.

She was originally portrayed as a teenager who had a massive crush on Hal Jordan, but then after he started to reciprocate her feelings and was worried about their age difference, she USED HER POWER RING TO AGE HERSELF UP, after which they started dating.

Um. That is… even more creepy than if he went ahead and dated her when she was 13 or whatever. Hal Jordan, you are the worst.

Arisia was named after a planet in E.E. “Doc” Smith’s Lensman series.

PREVIOUSLY ON THE ONE TRUE JUSTICE LEAGUE:

Justice League The Story So Far

Justice League #1 (May 1987)

Justice League #2 (June 1987)

Justice League #3 (July 1987)

Justice League #4 (August 1987)

Justice League Annual #1 (1987)

Justice League #5 (September 1987)

Justice League #6 (October 1987)

Justice League International #7 (November 1987)

Justice League International #8 (December 1987)

Justice League International #9 (January 1988)

Sheep Might Fly: Dance, Princes, Dance Part 2

Part 2 — The ‘Team’ in Steam up at Podbean now.

Welcome back to Castle Charming. Winter is upon us, which means the annual tournament of Rookery is underway, a game that pits Royals against Hounds. Meanwhile, fairies steal castle residents away each night, and persons unknown have run up a mysterious bill for far too many dancing shoes. When you live in a fairy tale kingdom, you have to expect to rescue the occasional prince — but for Kai, Dennis and Ziyi, it’s becoming a habit. Can the boys stop pining after each other long enough to step up as heroes?

Previous episodes of Dance, Princes, Dance:

PART 1: Armour Up

For more Castle Charming hijinks, check out the previous adventures of the Royals and the Hounds in Glass Slipper Scandal – podcast edition, or Glass Slipper Scandal – the ebook.

Thanks for listening to Sheep Might Fly. You can follow me on Twitter @tansyrr and @sheepmightfly, and Tumblr: tansyrr and sheepmightfly. Like my page on Facebook at TansyRRBooks.

Sheep Might Fly: Dance, Princes, Dance Part 1

Brand new episode is up of Sheep Might Fly, a podcast of serialised fiction written and read by Tansy Rayner Roberts.

New original serial! Today we’re starting Dance, Princes, Dance, which is a direct sequel to Glass Slipper Scandal, which appeared on this podcast earlier in the year.

Welcome back to Castle Charming. Winter is upon us, which means the annual tournament of Rookery is underway, a game that pits Royals against Hounds. Meanwhile, fairies steal castle residents away each night, and persons unknown have run up a mysterious bill for far too many dancing shoes. When you live in a fairy tale kingdom, you have to expect to rescue the occasional prince — but for Kai, Dennis and Ziyi, it’s becoming a habit. Can the boys stop pining after each other long enough to step up as heroes?

PART 1: Armour Up

Fiction giveaway – until the end of November, you can claim a free copy of my Musketeer space opera novella Joyeux if you sign up for my author newsletter. Joyeux is a festive romp involving nano-viruses, mistletoe, royal politics, zero gravity sport, tragic backstories, unexpected snow inside space stations, sex, romance, banter and friendship. It’s also a prequel to my epic space opera novel Musketeer Space.

Thanks for listening to Sheep Might Fly. You can follow me on Twitter @tansyrr and @sheepmightfly, and Tumblr: tansyrr and sheepmightfly. Like my page on Facebook at TansyRRBooks.

Justice League International #9: Seeing Red (January 1988)

THE CREATIVE TEAM: Keith Giffen (Plot & Breakdowns), J.M. DeMatteis (Script), Kevin Maguire (Pencils), Keith Giffen (Backup Pencils), Al Gordon (Inks), Gene D’Angelo (Colors), Andy Helfer & Robert Greenberger (Editors)



CROSSOVER ALERT: It’s 1988. The latest Event to sweep the DC Universe and render all its regular titles incomprehensible is Millennium, and this issue of JLI is part of Millennium Week One. I don’t know what that means, but apparently the heroes of Earth have just been told that ten of them are going to be chosen as Guardians of the Universe. This involves a robotic cult called the Manhunters who have placed sleeper agents among the supporting characters of many of DC’s current comic titles, but I’m sure that won’t be relevant to us at all.



JUSTICE LEAGUE ROLL CALL: J’onn J’onnz the Martian Manhunter, Batman, Black Canary, Green Lantern (Guy Gardner), Blue Beetle (Ted Kord), Booster Gold, Mister Miracle (Scott Free), Captain Atom, Rocket Red 7, with Maxwell Lord and Oberon as civilian support.

GUEST STARS: Rumaan Harjavti, Jack O’Lantern

THE STORY: Returning in the shuttle from having the crossover event explained to them, the Justice League are shocked to discover that Rocket Red 7 is actually a Manhunter. This is particularly surprising to Black Canary, who just thought he was a sexist pig. Being a Manhunter is worse, right?

Manhunter Rocket Red hijacks the shuttle and attempts to convince them all to join his side against the Guardians, but when Batman demonstrates his extreme lack of diplomacy, it turns into a pitched battle.

Once the Leaguers flying outside the shuttle realise something is wrong (about half an hour after Oberon back at headquarters figured out the same thing — he deserves a pay raise), the Manhunter climbs out and surfs on the back of the shuttle, threatening the lives of the non-flying Leaguers still trapped inside.

He takes them through Bialyan airspace, planning to crash the ship into an oil refinery and blame it on the Justice League. Luckily, Oberon has contacted the nearest (Russian) embassy, and sent a whole pack of genuine Rocket Reds over to save the day. Hooray for competence!

Rumaan Harjavti, dictator of Bialya, is ready to declare war over yet another incursion into his country by the American superheroes, but the Rocket Reds as Soviet allies take the heat.

Meanwhile, Maxwell Lord and his suspicious talking computer are busily checking in on how the Manhunters have corrupted and infiltrated so many other DC comics titles, including Superman and Wonder Woman. He is so distracted, he fails to notice that his secretary Ms Wootenhoffer is also a Manhunter agent… until she shoots him in the stomach (possibly the appendix) and leaves him for dead.

In the Global Guardians back up story: 90 minutes before Rumaan Harjavti discovered what the JLI were up to, he was using them as leverage with which to seduce the angry and resentful Jack O’Lantern into his new terrorist/freedom fighting force at Bialya. Jack agrees, though he dislikes Harjavti immensely and looks forward to a regime change. In the mean time, he is going to go on a tour of his similarly disaffected former teammates, to see who he can bring to the party.

THE CHARACTERS: Oh, J.M. DeMatteis, we need to talk about Black Canary. Up until now it’s been kind of amusing that she was all cranky and snarky, with few other characteristics. But we’re into Fake Feminist territory now, and even for the late 80’s, that’s hard to stomach. Pretty much every line out of Dinah’s mouth in this comic is some kind of primer on “Feminists” As Written By Dudes, and sure, the joke is that she keeps commenting on his sexism while physically fighting the bad guy, but as the joke continues it makes her look pretty stupid.

Making Black freaking Canary look stupid is bad writing, especially when she’s (still) the only woman on the team.

In other news, Oberon being good at his job is great, Max getting up closer and personal with his creepy computer is great, and Maxwell Lord getting shot is ALWAYS GOOD CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT.

The Manhunter reveal, sadly, hasn’t exactly been set up for maximum impact on characters or story. We hadn’t even seen Rocket Red’s face in the one issue featuring him so far — I think the first time I read this comic I kind of thought he was a robot anyway? Still, the important thing is, now we get to trade him in for the best Rocket Red.

THE COMEDY: Black Canary acting like Jessie from Saved By the Bell aside, there’s a pretty good balance here of snarky commentary and banter with all the action, and the comic at least still feels like it belongs to the JLI, even though it’s serving the larger event.

THE ART: Ugh, Kevin Maguire, where did all your bold lines go? Your covers are beautiful and your internals, so scratchy. You continue to be, however, most excellent at drawing Rocket Red mecha suits.

THE KITCHEN SINK: It’s exciting to read these issues in order, knowing how important Bialya is going to be later. The Global Guardians storyline was one that was particularly difficult to get the hang of while reading these issues order, so it helps a lot to be taking this for the beginning.

Black Canary deserves better from the League.

BONUS CHARACTER HISTORY: Global Guardians

The original Global Guardians were created as guest stars the comic book spin off of the Saturday morning cartoon Super Friends, which had already created many original superheroes (Black Vulcan, Apache Chief, El Dorado, Samurai) to increase the show’s ethnic diversity from ‘none’ to ‘some.’

Various combinations of the Global Guardians were used for team up stories in DC continuity through the 80’s, including in DC Comics Present, Infinity Inc and other comics. The characters included:

Doctor Mist (Africa)

Godiva (England)

Impala (South Africa)

Owlwoman (North America)

Seraph (Israel)

Rising Sun (Japan)

Jack O’Lantern (Ireland)

Green Fury/Green Flame (Brazil)

Icemaiden (Norway)

Little Mermaid (Denmark)

Tasmanian Devil (Australia represent!!!)

Tuatara (New Zealand)

Etc. There are a lot of them. But their most significant storyline to date is this one, unfolding in the pages of Justice League International, after the Global Guardians have been disenfranchised by the United Nations. More on this later, when a certain pair of green-and-white-haired ladies sign up to the League.

PREVIOUSLY ON THE ONE TRUE JUSTICE LEAGUE:

Justice League The Story So Far

Justice League #1 (May 1987)

Justice League #2 (June 1987)

Justice League #3 (July 1987)

Justice League #4 (August 1987)

Justice League Annual #1 (1987)

Justice League #5 (September 1987)

Justice League #6 (October 1987)

Justice League International #7 (November 1987)

Justice League International #8 (December 1987)