Convergence

CONVERGENCE: JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 – #2

Written by Fabian Nicieza with art by Chriscross.

In 2015, DC had a mini event called CONVERGENCE where instead of the main story falling into issues of the monthly series, they would be suspended and new mini-series of two issues each would be published in their place. The conceit of CONVERGENCE and the reason for the two-issue mini-series lay in a Brainiac of the future having captured multiple instances of differing times and universes, and encapsulating them in self contained cities. For reasons that are too convoluted to go into, these cities are eventually opened up and the heroes and villains within them are forced to fight each other, with the victors’ city allowed to live, while the losers would be destroyed.

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Issue 1 starts with Elongated Man’s powers having returned (prior to the cities being opened up, all metahuman powers were negated) and him heading out to team up with the rest of the Detroit League. And it only takes four pages until we get this:

Once again, right off the blocks, the Detroit League is rubbished.

The League train as much as they can in preparation for the fight ahead of them, while elsewhere Martian Manhunter, Aquaman, and Gypsy (who for some reason is sporting green circles around her eyes) meet up and revel in once more having their powers.

They link up telepathically with Zatanna as they attempt to detect where the imminent attack will come from . . . just in time for an explosion to rock the warehouse with Elongated Man and the rest of the League were training. Martian Manhunter and the others arrive at the warehouse only to find a booby-trapped novelty bomb which Zatanna detonates, while casting a spell to keep them from harm. This backfires and instead keeps the heroes in a form of stasis while their enemies arrive:

Sue Dibny – whose narration we’ve been reading – is right: this Secret Six are from the Tangent Earth and have been given the same ultimatum as the League to fight or die. Despite that, they do still show they’re heroes at heart:

And just when all seems lost, the ground beneath their feet rumbles and explodes outwards to reveal the targets of the Secret Six are alive and well:

Issue 2 opens with civilians being moved to safety and a quick recap of Aquaman, Zatanna, and Martian Manhunter being trapped in stasis which means it’s up to – as Sue Dibny’s narration tells us – the “least respected group of Leaguers ever” to save the city. Admittedly she’s including her husband, Elongated Man, in that description but once again we see the Detroit League being pre-judged.

The two teams – the League and the Tangent Secret Six – fight each other while both teams attempt to prevent the police and civilians getting hurt. Elongated Man attempts to reason with the Atom but the Secret Six are fighting for their own city. Eventually, the League’s inexperience causes them to fall, leaving Steel standing:

Just as the Six are about to attack, Gypsy throws a belt of concussion grenades at them, giving Steel time to gather up his fallen comrades and make a tactical retreat.

Under Elongated Man’s guidance, they find their way to an abandoned hideout of Mr Freeze to regroup but despite his attempts to bolster their confidence, the younger heroes are already convinced that, as everyone says, they’re losers.

In the meantime, Sue has an idea on how to free the League’s big hitters from their stasis.

Back with the League, Elongated Man has just got them to the point of considering continuing . . .

. . . when the Secret Six attack. Any plans they had go out the window and they improvise, working together and managing to get a few hits in before Sue arrives and tells Elongated Man that she needs Mr Freeze’s equipment to hopefully free the Leaguers in stasis. The League draw the Secret Six away, allowing Sue to grab what she needs.

The Six regroup and, despite the League’s best efforts, get them to the point of surrender when Sue’s plan works out and Zatanna, Aquaman, and Martian Manhunter take out the bad guys.

Vicki Vale, who has been reporting on the fight the whole time and been insulting to the League, arrives moments later and wants to speak to the heroes who defended the city. Aquaman attempts to speak but we see her pass him and get this:

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And that’s it for the Justice League Detroit, at least as at the time of writing in 2024.

If you know of any other appearances of the team, use the Contact Me page and get in touch.