When
a raging fight between Superman and Brainiac knocks down the United Nations
building
.when Batman's brought up on child endangerment charges
when Wonder
Woman misplaces her lasso at a jewelry show
when Lobo shows up on Earth and
does pretty much anything
you read about it in the "DCU DIGEST"!
50 cents February, 1999
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NEW GENERATION OF JUSTICE
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Happy Harbor, RI -
Speaking from their old headquarters in a cave
outside Happy Harbor, RI, the Justice League announced that the group of
young crimefighters informally called "Young Justice" has received
official approval from them and should be treated with the same regard
that the adult crimefighting team is accorded.
Justice League spokesperson Steel held a joint press
conference with the Flash to make this announcement. Flash, the mentor
of Young Justice member Impulse, elaborated on how his experience as a
Teen Titan impacted his future adult super-hero career. "It was an
extremely important part of my development," the former Kid Flash
recalled. "While my Uncle Barry [the second Flash] tutored me in the
basic use of my powers and in super-heroic responsibility, having a peer
group helped me to keep my development in perspective, comparing myself
with fellow teens rather than to adult heroes with much more maturity and
experience. On top of that, it was an excellent way for me to learn team
dynamics, which has certainly helped me in my membership in the various
Justice Leagues.
The Young Justice team will be supervised by former Justice
League Red Tornado. While some have expressed doubt's about the Tornado's
own instability and his checkered past, the JLA has declared that he is
fully sane and is eager to rediscover his own humanity through the youngsters.
Even Superman has expressed confidence in the Red Tornado's responsibility.
The Justice League has determined that the Red Tornado,
an android, was not in control of his own body when he attacked
the Pope a few days ago. In response to concerns about future takeovers,
Steel would only say that as the League's resident technologist, he is
watching the Tornado carefully.
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That attack on the Pope has brought Young Justice to
prominence, although the young heroes have apparently been acting as a
team for a while. The first confirmed instance of their collaboration was
when, together with the League and the Legion of Super-Heroes, they helped
shut down C. O. M. P. U. T. O., although there are rumors of a mission
that only the Department of Extranormal Operations knows about.
Individually, the members are:
Superboy, who was cloned as a replacement Superman when
Superman was believed dead, and who has since earned Superman's approval
and praise. He has operated mostly from Hawaii, although he has not been
seen there much in recent weeks.
Robin, junior partner of the Batman, assuming Batman
truly exists. He might be only using the urban legend to gain himself fear
amongst criminals. Recently exiled from his native Gotham, he had been
praised by the Gotham County sheriff's department.
Impulse, junior partner of the Flash, and more recently,
under the supervision of Max Mercury, a speedster who has operated under
a variety of aliases since the 1940's. He is considered the least disciplined
of the group, but he has worked with the Titans in the past. He and Max
Mercury operate out of Manchester, Alabama.
Wonder Girl, junior partner of Wonder Woman. Little is
known about her other than that she apparently derives her powers from
the Greek gods like her mentor.
Miss Arowette, who is not connected with the current
Green Arrow, but a prior version of the heroine (some suspect they may be
related, possibly even mother and daughter) acted as a crimefighter a few times
in concert with the original Green Arrow.
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Gun Debate Rages
Both Sides find Support
in Abandoned Gotham
Washington, DC-The debate is old, but new events
have stirred it up again.
What are the effects of handguns on society? Can lives
truly be saved by eliminating them, or will those who use them find alternative
outlets for their aggression?
With rumors about the state of affairs in Gotham City
abounding, one clear consensus has emerged: There is no more gun violence.
No weapons have entered the city since it has been sealed off from the
rest of the United States by federal order, and even by the largest estimates
of what handguns and bullets remain, most experts agree that they must
have been used up by now.
Beyond that, the eternal debate rages on.
Charlton Heston of the National Rifle Association has
declared that Gotham City proves that "Guns don't kill people, criminals
do." Pointing to the stories of the city being divided up amongst
different gangs, with bloody territorial wars being fought, he has stated
that "the lack of guns hasn't stopped people from killing each other.
They're using spears, slingshots, clubs
and the people, who do not own
guns for their own defense, live in fear."
Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), an anti-gun activist whose
husband was killed by a gun wielder in 1993, disagrees with the conclusions
he has drawn. "I'll admit that the populace is probably fearful,"
she said. "But they're still alive. while there might still be killing
going on, it's a mere fraction of what would exist if guns were freely
available."
Heston disagreed, and also noted that "F. D. R. has
stated that "freedom from fear" is one of the fundamental
rights of a human being."
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New York, NY -In apparent response to
a forced gathering of their numbers by a rogue planet, the former members
of the Teen Titans (later known simply as the titans) are apparently considering
re-forming the team. Super-hero Arsenal had apparently attempted such a
ressurection shortly before the Hourman crisis which resulted in the destruction
of Montevideo, but this time the efforts look more serious, as more of
the former team has gathered together. |
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TODAY IN
THE DAILY PLANET:
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ARTS
"Dead planets" exhibition at the Metropolis
Museum of Art, featuring donations from Krypton and
Thanagar
SPORTS
Vikings lose to Falcons; faulty computer equipment from
CompUSA blamed
SOCIETY
Abandoned-City Anxiety: Mayors worry, "Will we
be the next Gotham?"
TV
Jerry Springer set destroyed during "Gay Super-Villains
and their partners in Crime!"
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All characters are DC Comics
All scanned artwork is DC Comics.
This column is © 1999 by Chaim Mattis Keller.
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