Following the smash hit revivals of such Golden Age comic book superstars as The Flash and Green Lantern, DC Comics and longtime editor Julius Schwartz reached and important and inevitable realization. They reasoned that if the adventures of any of these single superhero sensations could thrill fans, the exploits of a team of heroes would electrify them! Schwartz was clearly influenced in his plans by his earlier experience as the editor of the 1940s series starring comics' original superhero group, the Justice Society of America. He logically turned to Gardner Fox—the writer of JSA—to realize these plans. Schwartz and Fox, along with penciller Mike Sekowsky, put together an all-star lineup, featuring Superman, Batman, Flash, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and J'onn J'onzz, Manhunter from Mars, to conquer menaces too terrifying and powerful for any one champion to handle alone. The League appeared in three consecutive issues of DC's anthology comic The Brave and the Bold. Sensing almost immediately that they had a hit on their hands—and without waiting for sales figures—the publishers launched the Justice League of America monthly on the heels of the thrid B&B issue. Their faith was well justified; the League was tremendously well received and became an unqualified sales success. The Justice League of America has gone on to further greatness and acclaim as the longest running superhero team in comics history. Today, thirty years after its launch, the Justice League is as popular as ever and is unquestionably one of the cornerstones of the DC heroic universe.
