Slightly Misplaced Comic Book Heroes Case File #54: Gypsy

When you look this good, you don’t want to be invisible.

The Justice League has been DC’s all-star team from its earliest founding.  That is, unless you’re aware that the original purpose was to give exposure to the company’s lesser-known heroes, which would be why Superman and Batman only made sporadic appearances in the early missions because they were too busy to actually attend missions and meetings.

Some days I wish I could use that excuse to get out of meetings.

But, you know, in retrospect, the League was the all-star team.  Then, around 1984 or so, Aquaman told the big names to take a hike if they were too busy to help and recruited some new heroes to fill the ranks for a period while operating out of Detroit.  Those new recruits included Gypsy.

ICYMI- What Would Happen If The Justice League Had to Fight….TO THE DEATH?!?

I was going to write an article to coincide with the start of the NCAA basketball tournament consisting of a bracket of 64 superheroes in a “who would win a fight” contest. Those are so boring though because inevitably the answer is “Superman wins!” Thinking of scenarios that could make for better clickbait more entertaining content led me to recall one of the greatest articles I have ever read in the history of the Internet. Thus begins our journey!

So, What Would REALLY Happen If The JLA Had A Fight…To The Death?

 

Last week, Watson posted his thoughts on who would win in an epic, non-powered fight to the death between a number of Justice Leaguers, forced into combat by having a loved one’s life on the line.

But what happens when a similar scenario plays out and they still have their powers?

J’onn J’onzz, Redheaded Stepchild Of The Justice League

As first appearances go, this may be one the most long-lasting weird looks in comics.

Justice League fans of a certain age (namely mine) often believe that J’onn J’onzz, the Martian Manhunter, is the heart and soul of the Justice League.  A hero who’s been involved in every incarnation of the League, J’onn is the wise father-figure, the mentor, the strategist, and the backbone that holds the Justice League together.

Sadly, it’s not quite true.  While he was one of the original founders of the team, he was also the first to leave the team to do other things for a while.  Whether it was due to redundant powers next to Superman or just the fact that he’s generally been one of the few major Leaguers to not hold down a solo series for very long, J’onn has been removed from the League more than once, and may be just shy of iconic for many fans were it not for his appearance as one of the founders on the Bruce Timm-produced Justice League animated series.