Justice League of America: The Final Chapter

• Credits: by JSAGL and Starsky Hutch 76
• Published: February 21, 2000
• Link: Justice League of America: The Final Chapter

December: While the JLA is in disarray, Maxwell Lord forms his own team called the Conglomerate, and Batman investigates it. After the Conglomerate is introduced at a press conference, the JLA holds its own press conference to introduce the new team, blending old and new members. Nubia becomes Wonder Woman II. Meanwhile, a transformed Despero heads for Earth to get revenge on the team, angering Lobo and alerting Adam Strange. JLA members: Black Canary, Elongated Man (Ralph Dibny), Flash II (joins the team), Green Arrow, Green Lantern (Hal Jordan), Hawkman, Hawkwoman, Martian Manhunter (J'onn J'onzz), Steel (Hank Heywood III), Wonder Woman II (Nubia; joins the team), Zatanna Zatara. Villains: Despero, Maxwell Lord (first appearance). Guest appearances: Alanna (of Rann), Batman, the Conglomerate (Animal Man, the Beetle (Ted Kord of Earth-1), Fire (Beatriz daCosta; formerly the Green Flame), Firestorm, Guy Gardner, Ice (Tora Olafsdotter; formerly Icemaiden), Sargon the Sorcerer), John Constantine, David Cranston (first appearance), Sue Dibny, Dale Gunn, Lois Lane, Lobo, Looker (Lia Briggs), Jimmy Olsen, Andar Pul (of Thanagar), Sardath (of Rann), Adam Strange, Superman, Vicki Vale, Miss Wootenhoffer (first appearance). [“Justice League of America: The Final Chapter”]

• December: J'onn J'onzz (Martian Manhunter) reviews the status of the currently defunct JLA. The Green Lantern Corps of Earth assists Superman in removing kryptonite from Metropolis, while Hawkman and Hawkwoman assists in the rebuilding of the city. A man named Maxwell Lord forms a new team called the Conglomerate to take the JLA's place, its first members Guy Gardner (Green Lantern III of Earth) and Ted Kord (the Beetle). Despero is transformed into a monstrous, godlike figure and begins heading for Earth, leaving destruction in his wake while passing the planet Rimbor. Note: This Ted Kord is the Earth-1 counterpart of the Earth-4 Ted Kord (Blue Beetle III). [“Justice League of America: The Final Chapter, Chapter 1”]
• Gardner recruits the Green Flame and Icemaiden into the Conglomerate, who soon change their names to Fire and Ice. Batman informs J'onn J'onzz of Lord's plans for the Conglomerate and begins conducting surveillance with the Outsiders. The Flash II (Wally West) joins the JLA. Lord attempts to recruit Green Arrow and Black Canary into the Conglomerate. [“Justice League of America: The Final Chapter, Chapter 2”]
• John Constantine visits Zatanna and convinces her to rejoin the JLA. Constantine plans to spend a few months on holiday in India. The first JLA meeting since the Crisis occurs with Martian Manhunter, Black Canary, Green Arrow, Elongated Man, Flash II, Green Lantern, Hawkman, and Hawkwoman, where they discuss plans to rebuild the JLA satellite. At the same time, Lord holds a press conference to announce the formation of the Conglomerate: Guy Gardner, the Beetle, Fire, Ice, Animal Man, Sargon the Sorcerer, and Firestorm. [“Justice League of America: The Final Chapter, Chapter 3: The Conglomerate”]
• Nubia becomes Wonder Woman II and joins the JLA. Wally West reveals that he won a fortune in a lottery. In the Alpha Centauri star system, Adam Strange learns that the Rann space fleet was destroyed by an encounter with Despero on his way to Earth. [“Justice League of America: The Final Chapter, Chapter 4: The New Wonder Woman”]
• Despero kills several space dolphins, angering the bounty hunter Lobo, who trails him. Adam Strange learns that Despero destroyed much of Thanagar's forces when the planet defended itself. The JLA votes the Martian Manhunter as current chairman. The JLA holds a press conference in Washington, D.C., to announce its revival. A message from Superman affirming his reserve membership of the JLA is played. The team's new members, the Flash II and Wonder Woman II, are introduced. After Martian Manhunter announces that the team is moving to its Happy Harbor, Rhode Island, location and that Hawkman is now his deputy chairman, an angered Green Arrow quits the team on live TV (although this is secretly a ploy to infiltrate the Conglomerate). At the press conference are Jimmy Olsen for GBS News, Lois Lane for the Daily Planet, and Vicki Vale for the Gotham Gazette. [“Justice League of America: The Final Chapter, Chapter 5”]