Batman One Punches Guy Gardner! | Justice League International

Buy Justice League International Volume 1! amzn.to/2Qx2mdR The world's greatest super-team, the Justice League, are Earth's greatest and last line of defense against all manner of world-threatening villains... assuming they don't wipe each other out first! Find out what happens when Batman, Superman and the rest of the gang face a galactic invasion fleet known as the Cluster, exchange harsh words with crazed bounty hunter Lobo and track Mister Miracle back to the hell planet that is Apokolips, and then battle yet another invasion fleet...because that's how they roll. Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis' classic run of Justice League stories--ably illustrated by Kevin Maguire - begins, mixing classic JLA action with a liberal dose of humor. And never miss an update by subscribing! bit.ly/2WYvgkt #justiceleague #batman
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ComicPop is a few friends talking about comic books. The ComicPop team brings a bunch of unique points of view to every single discussion about a comic book, graphic novel, character or story arc. You can find full conversations about your favorite titles from Marvel and DC Comics, plus a few pretty key independent comics. If you're looking for a long, funny conversation about Batman or a deep dive into why Spider-Man is so neurotic, check out the hours and hours of amusing, insightful and downright stupid conversations about some of your favorite comic books over the years. If you're a longtime comic book reader or just starting out, make sure to subscribe right now!
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[@solsticeofsins6039]

I'm not sure if Sal's position on the couch perfectly blocking out Guy Gardner was intentional, but it makes every joke at his expense at least 10x funnier.

[@undead923]

Guy Gardner: The Mike Wazowscki of theJLI

[@theonekeanu]

@@solsticeofsins6039 i doubt it but it makes it hilarious now that i see it it’s all i can see

[@Just_Some_Guy_with_a_Mustache]

Everyone on this team is a clown... ... ... ...But Guy Gardner is the entire circus.

[@sonicjr53]

would that mean batman is the ringmaster? or Max Lord?

[@captainvimes6079]

🧐👏👏👏

[@fragile4408]

@@sonicjr53 Batman is the guy who adopted the acrobat when his parents died.

[@Ducaso]

Yes, basically.

[@ClemRusty1940]

Guy Gardner is a bag of Circus Peanuts.

[@TheClitCommander530]

"What are you doing here, Doctor Fate? What the fuck do you want? You're not a goddamn Justice Leaguer, shut your fuckin helmet. I'm goddamn Batman, I buy and sell characters like you." 😂💀

[@DiegoAlvarezBeltran1993.]

" What the fuck is a Blue Beatle?!" " You know, that sounds like a YOU problem, not a me problem."

[@chrisw2307]

It blows my mind that they created Maxwell Lord to be an obvious villain, then as a twist give him a redemption arc...only for Geoff Johns to retcon that he was secretly evil the whole time. Twists undoing twists.

[@mero7731]

Very twisty

[@Dakonaton]

Pretzel writing if ever there was

[@Sicod79]

Wheels within wheels within crap writing.

[@mr.goblin6039]

And now he’s a Wonder Woman villain... just cause. lol

[@sillygoose9791]

And then Wonder Woman twisted and snapped his neck

[@Sicod79]

This book is the start of Martian Manhunter fight desperately to maintain his sanity based on the craziness of the this series, coping with huge amount of Oreos (pre-Chocos). I love it.

[@jclombardi8471]

It is so bizarre to me that the Justice League team with Ted Kord Blue Beetle, Fire and Ice, and BOOSTER FREAKING GOLD was more seminal and important than the Justice League team with all the mainstream characters people actually recognize.

[@ComicCrossing]

It wasnt lol.

[@DanV900]

@@ComicCrossing It was though and is considered one of the two best runs alongside Morrison’s JLA run. It’s not like Justice League was a great comic before JLI.

[@vaggelisbaousis1756]

I love this book. It's living proof that second, third or fourth rate characters, on a popularity basis of course, can work under the right team and writers who care about them.

[@domgeek5632]

This and the weekly series 52.

[@daelen.cclark]

Now all we need is this kinda book for the Titans.

[@ChristopherZubin]

This is when Justice League was turned into a sit-com. How much you're able to get into it really depends on your mood. I think for a lot of people it's the comfort food version of comics.

[@fitnessabcvideo]

Fair point. I liked it, but I see what your saying.

[@Apokalips217]

"Im the god damn Batman I buy and sell characters like you" had me so dead I love you guys. Been tuning in periodically for years

[@scoobers90]

I love the variety Back Issues brings. From the dark and deeply artistic Harleen to the very silly Contagion.

[@Koitusinteruptus]

You guys have become some of my most anticipated shows. I truly hope you never get tired of doing this coz after 4 yrs I'm still excited for every upload!

[@comicpop]

Thank you, man!

[@Ashguy733]

"That's how I feel everyday of my life." 3:34 Way too relatable.

[@jackdavis5380]

Same

[@lukang8671]

Me too Ben, me too 😂

[@Yiguirro]

I love the fact that we get like 15 minutes of backstory before we get into the actual book. This channel gives me life.

[@KalleVilenius]

Yup, that's the best Justice League right there. DeMatteis and Giffen are solid gold.

[@jordanrichardlewis]

Too true! The only justice league that I like as much is Grant Morrison’s run.

[@Cubelarooso]

Solid _Booster_ Gold! 🤣

[@apcfire]

"Spare me the humor BlueBeetle we don't have time for this" "I'd say we've had about 9 hours of time for this."

[@zaphero5518]

"9.21 hours."

[@Omar-wq9dz]

I would say, this is one of the iconic Justice League runs, alongside Grant Morrison's JLA run

[@carrion_man3700]

This Justice League run is FANTASTIC. A great palette cleanser for the genre. Read it as sitcom and you'll love it.

[@chrisdaily2077]

If you watch Batman: The Brave and Bold, they not only take inspiration from this story but have the very writer (J.M. DeMatteis) on the show.

[@flashfire9825]

wait REALLY, man i wish the show got a spinoff about the JLI

[@undead923]

They literally have an episode where the JSA mistook an invite to JLI to belonging with “the good one” and even Starman asking “Is Superman going to be here? Superman’s the only reason I came.”

[@sunshinespark8785]

@@flashfire9825 The creators of TBAB actually wanted to do a JLI spinoff but it sadly didn't work out

[@lexofpower2822]

@@sunshinespark8785 really?! Aw man! I would have loved that and had Demattis been writer on the show!

[@jamestargaryen9588]

“Batman’s a Trekkie - that’s cannon!” 🤣

[@manuelortiz3039]

Best joke was when Ten says to Booster Gold "you wouldn't hit a woman would you?". BOPP Booster knocks her out with equality 🤣 😂 💀

[@kiko1935]

How have I just found this series? This is the best, love this style of banter and respect for the material

[@50jakecs]

"It's Muppet Babies up here." hahahah

[@billyrice5573]

This was always one of my favorite JL runs. Definitely felt this was a big influence on Justice League Unlimited

[@andrewpragasam]

Weirdly it was this incarnation of the Justice League that reached the screen first. Albeit in a TV movie so bad it barely aired.

[@igordias9273]

Great episode! I love this book and I think CW's Legends of Tomorrow it's a clear "spiritual successor" of the JLI: C List characters, madcap humor, their internal affairs being more important than the actual threat at hand.

[@thetizic]

I love that Sal brought up the Trinity scene (Brad Meltzer's run I think?)! I read that before I read JLI but I knew about the punch so it was still delightful to read.

[@comicpop]

It was Meltzer, you're right!

[@thetizic]

@@comicpop has that been a Elseworlds Exchange? Best writers/authors that came to comics from different mediums?

[@danielgerena1263]

The Silver Sorceress and Blue Jay later joined the JLE.

[@andrewmichaelscomedy]

Did not expect a name drop for my home town in this video.

[@dandilber]

Very funny episode!

[@OnlyMagikarp]

Waiting for the reverse Back-Issues where Ethan walks out with a college textbook on physics or something and describes concepts

[@ItsOver9000Productions]

"THIS LEAGUE IS A JOKE! I'M TIRED OF BABYSITTING EVERYONE! I QUIT!" -Batman was such a petulant child on this team.

[@ninja1man4u]

Everyone hates on Martian Man Hunter, but me as a DCAU fan I was very excited to see him return in Dark Knights Metal. I wish the DCAU was just cannon so that way we could have all the cool stories that everybody who's a fan of DC knows could be official

[@yermatedave4930]

Who hates on J'onn? Honestly!

[@thats_not_glue]

the only reason the dcau could never be canon, is Bruce and Barbaras relationship, that shit is just plain wrong.

[@Alpha-zj2bf]

@@thats_not_glueThat’s the DCAMU. The DCAU is JLU etc.

[@kadegetslaid634]

​@@Alpha-zj2bfit was literally a thing in the dcau and not the dcamu, the killing joke isn't canon to the dcamu

[@KenByrneNL]

I LOVE Keith Giffen - amazing Legion run .... his art is so expressive

[@WIFFLEWAFFLE88]

This is the comic run that got me into comics back in 2014 and Kevin McGuire's covers are what got me back to drawing.

[@JasonEvans-j4c]

Maxwell Lord as a sleazy businessman trying to co-opt an existing institution while bringing absolutely nothing to the table is insanely prescient.

[@Martin_TheCollector]

This series was AMAZING, it's great to see it get some love on here! Sal and friends never fail to entertain.

[@felixg.4908]

when sal said everyone is a clown in this book, i just imagined batman forced to do standup comedy and i'm still laughing imagining his jokes

[@felixg.4908]

imagine a dane cook type energy of batman going : have you ever noticed that, when you mortal enemy kills your teenage sidekick, it takes a bit of time before bringing underage children on patrol? i did it again, eventually, you get back into it tho.

[@Sun_worshipping]

The explanation of guy getting punch is the funniest stuff I’ve seen from comicpop lol!

[@randallguzik3764]

Once Batman was removed from the team it seemed JL was starting To spiral. Then GL was removed due to a storyline in his book, the Flash on trial storyline, the loss of the Atom, and editorial Lessening the use of Superman and WW towards the end. There is a great issue of Back Issue that addresses this about the Justice League.

[@LukeTheSketcher]

I could really see this team having a show set in the Harley Quinn cartoon universe

[@flywheelshyster]

Nothing so good as a lazy sunday after a hard work week, watching many a back issues and lovin' every minute of it

[@Meltman42]

Dude... its Wednesday. And for that matter, why the heck is Wednesday spelled Wednesday?

[@BenFranklin89]

@@Meltman42 Probably something related to the Norse. Thursday is literally Thor's Day

[@just4commentsable]

It's Wednesday my dude

[@Lol8922]

@@BenFranklin89 Wednesday is named after Wodanaz, another name for the Norse God Odin.

[@BenFranklin89]

@@Lol8922 I figured it was something Norse related

[@matthewpopow6647]

Maxwell: here's my sales pitch... Booster Gold. Me: YES!YES!YES!YES! Booster is my FAVORITE DC character! Mostly because of this series.

[@nerds4knowledge]

Does this mean we'll eventually get a "I can't believe its not the Justice League" back issues someday? 😁

[@Sicod79]

I vote for this

[@mattmccann1850]

I'ma watching this twice because I enjoyed it so much. I'm grateful to have found back issues in the end of the pandemic been bingeing a lot of y'all's content and enjoying it!

[@Doddser]

No matter how many times I watch this episode, I always lose my shit at Sal's portrayal of Batman and how aggressive he is. My favourites are his Dr Fate confrontation and "shut the FUCK up Captain Whitebread"

[@captainvimes6079]

Just moved into a new place after months of grinding and now there's a new back issues to listen to while I unpack! Not bad, Wednesday.

[@ultimate_lance]

1:18:04 Wendys is so good it makes you forget the nuclear apocalypse

[@Logan7281X]

I liked the BTAS version of the Creeper. Having Joker be the cause of Ryder's transformation was cool. I guess that's where Joker got the idea to, "Make a better Joker"😁

[@roccoborghetti4693]

There’s nothing more I love to watch than you guys talking comics.

[@rorygroth8517]

So happy to see you were covering this. One of my favorite runs it’s so ridiculous.

[@patrickhumphrey3076]

Anyone here read Justice League Antarctica? In my opinion, it’s the best thing to come from this era, if not the best single issue of a comic ever published.

[@ItsOver9000Productions]

its fucking great!!!

[@patrickhumphrey3076]

@@ItsOver9000Productions my man!

[@zenbyo]

53:25 I love the fact that he hands the ring to Blue Beetle and on the next panel Blue Beetle rolls his eyes and proceeds to throw this powerful cosmic weapon over his shoulder like an empty soda can. This particular comic was my first Justice League comic i got back in the 80's and I started collecting this and Justice League Europe.

[@comicswatching4851]

Long time viewer, would love to see you guys do DeMatteis’ Defenders run, or Gerber’s run on Defenders for that matter, I think the couch would be howling as they process the things that go on

[@jpasan]

JLI is awesome. Still fun to read these days

[@priceyyeti4058]

Mr. Miracle, why're you looking at me like that?

[@thegreyinitiate3680]

Juuuuustice Leeeeeeeague 😂 dude was persistent and wouldn’t take no for an answer haha

[@TommyBaysMusic]

This run is awesome. I had a very fun time reading this era when i found a bunch of the floppies a year or two ago. One had a guy holding a gun to a cats head on the cover and it said "if you read this comic, the cat gets it.." or something like that, but i enjoy that goofy element sometimes.

[@NewtonMakes]

The only part of this story that I knew was the one punch incident. Thanks for diving more into it. I might pick it up.

[@tomcarpenter177]

I purchased both omnibus volumes of this run early on in quarantine. I'm so glad you covered this! The art in this book is so unique and cool.

[@bZman]

Booster Gold and Blue Beetle are such a great tag team. Ted Kord needs to be used more often

[@JoePescisAngryCousin]

Huge fan of the show and I'm so glad to see JLI coming up. It's a series I've always been interested in and now I'm definitely gonna pick it up.

[@JH-dm1vt]

Great episode guys! I love the series and I’ve been thinking of reading this run for a minute. Also the book Sal was talking about at 55:57 is JLA (2006) issue 0 by Brad Meltzer in case anyone was wondering.

[@RF-tg2eh]

This is my favorite League incarnation ever! Thank you for covering it

[@gazzhammer5924]

Literally a brilliant run i have all 3 omnibus its really good

[@DCPatrol]

I've been hunting back issues of Justice Leage International because of this episode. It's popped up on my feed again, so here's to another viewing!

[@kazual6149]

Fantastic book, absolutely love this run! Gotta love Dematteis's character development with these lesser known DC heroes!

[@ctl6985]

So the first time I watch is out of excitement for a new episode. The next two times to actually listen to what the hell the story is about. The next 20 times is for anything else I missed and just pure enjoyment

[@barraki6706]

(4:16) Me out of nowhere at the end: *Bow-Chicka-Bow-Wow!*

[@bradwatkins7564]

The big problem was that DC rebooted "most" of their individual heroes after the CRISIS but did NOT reboot their teams. This is where the problem came in for adding the big guns to JLI at the start. They had to retcon Black Canary in Wonder Woman's place in JLA history and J'onn for Superman.....etc. Now Wonder Girl debuted before Wonder Woman....etc. CRISIS created even worse problems for Titans with Donna Troy's ever changing origin and LEGION with the equally eternal Superboy problem. Not doing a full reboot was the problem here.

[@101Mant]

DC never wants to reboot everything since some things are always successful. So the reboots are always a band and and the cracks start for show and then the solution is another reboot. It was reboot fatigue that eventually killed my interest in DC comics despite loving some of the characters and still watch shows and movies.

[@zaphero5518]

Gosh the Batman humor tangent is hilarious. It could make a good short if you start it at 41:07.

[@comicpop]

Done!

[@zaphero5518]

@@comicpop Ooo, yay!

[@justinbouffard8938]

Another episode of Back Issues that I have to stop 25 minutes into because I've been sold on the book and need to read it myself now before finishing the video. Love you guys!

[@brandonbrueschke7830]

Here’s to hoping that an Animal man movie or show gets made so Grant Morrison’s run can be covered.

[@theonekeanu]

3:32 so real.

[@codystahl5935]

Ethan... executing another perfect Office Space reference lol

[@radentruman7535]

My boy Blue Beetle Ted Kord

[@comixproviderftw_02]

"Lighten up, will you? My God, you're positively grim!" -Batman

[@nathane6368]

Very excited to see this version of the Justice League on the couch! Such an interesting team composition. When I first subscribed to DC Universe (remember that?) this was one of the first books I checked out.

[@daelen.cclark]

"There's a light on this nuke that won't light on one side." Loved how well you said that!!!

[@ian81705]

Made working on chemistry 50x better “No use the fry......” is quote of the year so far

[@colinvalentine]

Ben being as relatable as ever. Loved the episode

[@Menageryl]

I still have some of the original floppies lying around in some box somewhere. Most of this run. It was really fun at the time. Though it DID drag on a little and become something else towards the end. … Gonna have to go box hunting eventually. 😏

[@nailin18]

I would like to see more, it does goes off the rails but it never stops being fun, and there is some real great action, as much as three is comedy, it was unlike anything at the time and it still is my favorite Justice League era. It is true that the main thing is the characterization, it was a truly character driven story and this first book only just scratches the surface of what these characters have to offer. This run defines these characters for decades, J'onn J'onzz specifically, this is his run on the League, his and Maxwell Lord`s.

[@ToonGal12]

It's hard for me to pinpoint a favorite moment, as this was easily the funniest Back Issues episode to date. XD

[@gabrieljimenez9762]

Yes, yes yes yeesssss! This is my all time favorite run of the various incarnations of JL. Found my first issue in a quarter bin and happy to have all of the Giffen/DeMatteis run. Love it!

[@bradwatkins7564]

So happy that you guys are doing this run and loving the longer run times. I know Sal is going to be in rare form roasting my beloved JLi mainstays. lol One of my al time favorite JL runs and the run that got me back into reading DC. The fall of the JLA in the Detroit era was an attempt to make the JLA more like the X-Men and Teen Titans but it did not work. The 90's "leather jacket Avengers" and "boob window Sue-Fantastic Four" were similar ploys. Also, the same editorial embargo on top tier characters also played a role in all of these cases as well. JLI knew how to use that to pivot in a new creative direction. Fans saw right through it and it just made it seem like pandering and they were apologizing for them not being the X-Men. The problem was "Why would I bother reading a knock of of X-Men when I can read X-Men" JLI was a badly needed breath of fresh air especially when everyone else at the time was getting all dark and gritty. Anyway possible would you guys ever do GREEN LANTERN-MOSAIC? An incredibly underrated run from that era.

[@jordanrichardlewis]

Yeah, I’m gonna need “No, use the frieees” on a T-shirt.

[@ronymcheartattack4537]

Those 2 other heroes from the other dimension join Justice League Europe. The dead one became a brainwashed pawn of queen bee. And the villains from their dimension come to our dimension and do a bunch of stuff in a big crossover.

[@jaymiiwilde3772]

This was the first Justice League run I read. I got the first trade for Christmas when I was in high school thanks for this one guys!

[@dekaritheprofessor2631]

I loved this episode and I love that JLI gave birth to more of these hero team books feeling more human like the Fantastic Four than just your run of the mill superhero team up book.

[@plumlineltd7585]

When I was a young teenager, maybe 13 or 14, my dad had three graphic novels at home still from his collecting days. Dark Phoenix Saga, Arkham Asylum, and this. Those three books impacted so much of what I thought and think about comics.

[@OneJamalWonder]

YESSS JLI!!! I knew this day would come

[@dead0ntime]

I’ve owned this run for years and I’ve never read it. I might have to dig through my boxes and read it!

[@rogergoza3180]

DeMatteis & Giffen are such a great writing duo

[@curtisharris966]

I've been anticipating this for years.

[@yaloolah42]

This is my favorite team, and my favorite version of the Justice League... I love the campy, goofy original, and I love how the (core) team grows and develops over time. Maybe you guys should cover "Justice League: Generation Lost" as a lesser known showing of these characters in the more modern time of comics...

[@jefferysummers830]

Had the whole series,..great insite, HILARIOUS. 😆😆😆😆

[@AV01]

3:30 that's how I feel everyday

[@lemonherb1]

Great review! There's a podcast that reviews this era of JL and they describe the series as a work place comedy like "The Office" TV show.

[@StainedGlassDemon]

I only just read this about a year ago in the omnibus format, both volumes, and it's honestly one of my all time favorite Justice League eras ever. It's incredible.