Justice League of America #14

Issue Details

Synopsis

DEBRIEF After telling Steve Trevor the details of her imprisonment within the Firestorm Matrix, Stargirl demands to know what happened outside; in the real world. Steve comments that she wouldn't believe him if he told her. Even so, he explains how Lex Luthor saved Superman's life, and the remaining heroes banded together to fight the Crime Syndicate. In her imprisonment, Courtney and the rest of the JLA were completely absent for the appearance of the parallel heroes from another earth. But the world is a different place since she got back - and she is different too.   So, she waits, humoring Steve's need to keep secrets while he interrogates her - an ongoing thing for the last week. Asking about her teammates, Courtney learns that the JLA is now seen as bad guys. Catwoman - according to Steve - has returned to her life of crime, seeking a rare jewel. Courtney knows better, thanks to her experiences with Martian Manhunter. She knows Catwoman wants a fresh start - but on her own terms. To that end, Catwoman hacked her file from the A.R.G.U.S. databases, and replaced it with junk information so that she could disappear until she wanted to be found.   Simon Baz the Green Lantern, who had a particularly harrowing emotional prison created for him in the Firestorm Matrix by Despero has at least recovered enough to help with the relief effort. Courtney knows, though, that he will still have lingering doubts. He had been forced to watch as others' fear of him as a Muslim man with power led to destruction. In the real world, though, she knows he'll be able to put that doubt behind him and rise above.   Green Arrow meanwhile, wants to keep the JLA together - and he hopes that Simon Baz will stay with it. Even if the government dissolves the JLA as it previously existed, they might be able to change that by taking on threats bigger than just one man can handle alone. First, he hopes to seek out the others, beginning with Hawkman, but Simon refuses. His scans have picked up an anomaly on earth - some kind of power ring is hiding, and needs his attention.   Katana is climbing mountains in the Himalayas training her discipline before beginning training with the monks of an ashram at the mountain's top. When she reaches the summit, she encounters Green Arrow, who hopes to lure her away from the Outsiders and enlist her in his renewed JLA. Unfortunately, she refuses.   Martian Manhunter, meanwhile, is desperately searching A.R.G.U.S. for Courtney, who is being kept at a secret, psychically shielded safehouse. When he finally encounters Amanda Waller, she explains that she has essentially been silently ousted from her role at A.R.G.U.S., without being outright fired. Until then, though, she insists that she will keep doing her job. She believes that Stargirl hopes to put a positive spin on the issues with A.R.G.U.S. and the JLA, and keep the team going - and more power to her. She promises that Courtney is safe with Steve - and though Steve thinks he's interrogating her, the truth is that Amanda asked Courtney to interrogate Steve.   Steve finishes telling Courtney everything he knows, and comments that he would love to see her get the team back together - but what chance do they have if America doesn't want a JLA? Steve and Amanda have essentially had their power stripped from them, and the League has been put in a box. If Courtney wants to get things going, she'll have to think outside of that box. The majority of the JLA's old members are busy or MIA - and that means she'll have to recruit new ones - probably from somewhere outside the US.   Courtney finally steps outside to find the Martian Manhunter waiting. She admits that Waller placed her in charge, and she suspects that she and Trevor want her to put a new team together. Regardless of all the hate for the JLA of late, Courtney intends to follow through on her plan - with J'onn's help.   As they make their way north, Courtney realizes that none of her team mates had ever really expected to be part of a team - never had the team spirit. It wasn't until after being trapped in the Firestorm Matrix with J'onn and the others that she realizes they all had pain they were carrying, and that it didn't need to be carried alone. The JLA was not so much a team as it was a family.