Teams due for a DC Comics New 52 debut

Sort of a combination of the previous two entries, L.E.G.I.O.N. is an interplanetary police force for hire. The aforementioned pre-occupation of the Green Lantern Corps would also serve as a good introductory point for this group. Again, seeing this expand from a small group to an organization capable of protecting several planets at a time would make for fun storytelling. Unfortunately, Lobo, the team's most popular member, does not seem to be a fit for the team in the New 52 Universe. However, L.E.G.I.O.N. founder and leader Vril Dox II could easily still be a clone of Brainiac, as the super villain was re-introduced in Action Comics. The team could also serve as a platform for introducing the New 52 versions of Adam Strange and Captain Comet.The Power Company was a for profit super hero organization that offered its services on a one time or recurring basis. The company was up much like a law firm with associates and partners. The "for hire" aspect of the team may not have worked in the well established DC Universe, where the world and readers were accustomed to heroes freely offering their protection. However, in the New 52 Universe, with super-heroes only just starting to pop up within the last 5 years, the concept may be a better fit. It makes sense that with this new fad that someone would try to monetize it. Despite the reboot into the New 52 Universe, most, if not all, of the original Power Company members could exist in the current DCU with only minor tweaking. Firestorm, now a teenager, may have posed a problem, but he was only a member for a short time, anyway. Grifter is one candidate for new membership or could serve as a replacement for Manhunter. One of the most appealing aspects of The Power Company series was that it utilized various super villains associated with other heroes as well as organizations like S.T.A.R. Labs and Kord Industries. Doing so again would bring some much needed world building to the New 52 Universe.In the pre-New 52 Universe, The Darkstars were an interplanetary police force headed by the Guardians of the Universe offshoots known as The Controllers. After the godlike beings withdrew their support of the force, they gradually reduced into non-existence. With the Green Lantern Corps wrapped up in the emotional spectrum of Lantern Corps for the past few years, there is a wide opening and need for another such police force. And with the Green Lantern franchise being one of the few DC properties maintaining sales success, it only makes sense to expand it. Enter: The Darkstars. The Controllers, looking to capitalize off the strife within the Guardians and for revenge against Larfleeze, the Orange Lantern, for killing several of their number, could begin the process of rebuilding their more aggressive security force. Since readers have never actually seen the building of the GLC, despite the many times it's been destroyed and rebuilt, it would be a unique look to see how an organization goes from early conception to an intergalactic force to be reckoned with. the team could start with the last members of the prior incarnation of the team: Ferrin Colos, Chaser Bron and Munchuk, plus Merayn Dethalis, former girlfriend of Green Lantern John Stewart, could rejoin the ranks. A prime new recruit would be disgraced Green Lantern Jediah Caul from the pages of Threshold. Effigy, a human granted powers after experimentation by The Controllers, could also play a role. Evil Star, the villain of the first arc of the original The Darkstars series, would be an appropriate early adversary. As would Grayven, the self proclaimed illegitimate son of Darkseid, who killed off many of the members of the previous incarnation, as well as crippling John Stewart. Fatality, currently a Star Sapphire, also has Darkstar blood on her hands for killing former GL and Darkstar Galius Zed. The various ties to several Lantern Corps, as well as cosmic villains being looked over in the GL franchise due to its focus on the emotional spectrum, makes this an ideal time to reintroduce The Darkstars.View the list »
The Justice League of America is just the latest team making their DC New 52 debut later this month in JLA #1.

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It may be a year and a half into DC Comics' New 52 Universe, spawning over sixty different titles, but there are still many viable properties that have yet to show up in the rebooted universe, let alone star in their own mini or ongoing series. DC's current crop of team books includes three different Justice League titles, Teen Titans and the the spin off book, The Ravagers, as well as Birds of Prey, Suicide Squad, Team 7 and even a team of Batmen in Batman, Inc. The Justice Society of America is even represented in the Earth 2 series. However, there are still several super hero teams yet to be used that would provide a unique perspective into the current DC Universe. Most of them have even had their own titles in the past, so why not again in this fresh new super hero universe? The following pages take a look at a few of these teams, as well as what they have to offer to the DCU and fans alike.

Feel free to share your approval/disapproval of these suggestions or your own picks in the Comments section below.

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  • In the pre-New 52 Universe, The Darkstars were an interplanetary police force headed by the Guardians of the Universe offshoots known as The Controllers. After the godlike beings withdrew their support of the force, they gradually reduced into non-existence. With the Green Lantern Corps wrapped up in the emotional spectrum of Lantern Corps for the past few years, there is a wide opening and need for another such police force. And with the Green Lantern franchise being one of the few DC properties maintaining sales success, it only makes sense to expand it. Enter: The Darkstars. The Controllers, looking to capitalize off the strife within the Guardians and for revenge against Larfleeze, the Orange Lantern, for killing several of their number, could begin the process of rebuilding their more aggressive security force. Since readers have never actually seen the building of the GLC, despite the many times it's been destroyed and rebuilt, it would be a unique look to see how an organization goes from early conception to an intergalactic force to be reckoned with. the team could start with the last members of the prior incarnation of the team: Ferrin Colos, Chaser Bron and Munchuk, plus Merayn Dethalis, former girlfriend of Green Lantern John Stewart, could rejoin the ranks. A prime new recruit would be disgraced Green Lantern Jediah Caul from the pages of Threshold. Effigy, a human granted powers after experimentation by The Controllers, could also play a role. Evil Star, the villain of the first arc of the original The Darkstars series, would be an appropriate early adversary. As would Grayven, the self proclaimed illegitimate son of Darkseid, who killed off many of the members of the previous incarnation, as well as crippling John Stewart. Fatality, currently a Star Sapphire, also has Darkstar blood on her hands for killing former GL and Darkstar Galius Zed. The various ties to several Lantern Corps, as well as cosmic villains being looked over in the GL franchise due to its focus on the emotional spectrum, makes this an ideal time to reintroduce The Darkstars.
  • The Power Company was a for profit super hero organization that offered its services on a one time or recurring basis. The company was up much like a law firm with associates and partners. The "for hire" aspect of the team may not have worked in the well established DC Universe, where the world and readers were accustomed to heroes freely offering their protection. However, in the New 52 Universe, with super-heroes only just starting to pop up within the last 5 years, the concept may be a better fit. It makes sense that with this new fad that someone would try to monetize it. Despite the reboot into the New 52 Universe, most, if not all, of the original Power Company members could exist in the current DCU with only minor tweaking. Firestorm, now a teenager, may have posed a problem, but he was only a member for a short time, anyway. Grifter is one candidate for new membership or could serve as a replacement for Manhunter. One of the most appealing aspects of The Power Company series was that it utilized various super villains associated with other heroes as well as organizations like S.T.A.R. Labs and Kord Industries. Doing so again would bring some much needed world building to the New 52 Universe.
  • Sort of a combination of the previous two entries, L.E.G.I.O.N. is an interplanetary police force for hire. The aforementioned pre-occupation of the Green Lantern Corps would also serve as a good introductory point for this group. Again, seeing this expand from a small group to an organization capable of protecting several planets at a time would make for fun storytelling. Unfortunately, Lobo, the team's most popular member, does not seem to be a fit for the team in the New 52 Universe. However, L.E.G.I.O.N. founder and leader Vril Dox II could easily still be a clone of Brainiac, as the super villain was re-introduced in Action Comics. The team could also serve as a platform for introducing the New 52 versions of Adam Strange and Captain Comet.
  • The Kingdom was a team of the premiere super-heroes of Africa and, despite the fact that it was introduced in the pages of Batwing, a New 52 series, the team has yet to make a present day appearance in the DC Universe. The team disbanded after a conflict in The Republic of Congo that left tens of thousands dead. Later, several of the original members were hunted and killed by the villain, Massacre. The Batwing title alone is not enough to fully develop the DC Universe Africa, a setting rife with all sorts of diverse stories, so it is time for a new incarnation of The Kingdom. This time starring established DC African super-heroes, even if not yet in the New 52 Universe. The line up could include Batwing, former Justice League International member Vixen, Congorilla, B'Wana Beast and/or Freedom Beast, Impala, Flint (formerly of the Wildstorm Universe) and surviving Kingdom founding member Steelback. They could operate out of a newly rebuilt Citadel, the original team's headquarters destroyed by Massacre. Potential storylines include a search for missing Kingdom founder, Deity, as well as opposing an invasion of another African nation by Gorilla Grodd and the forces of Gorilla City.
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Suggested by the author:

, Philadelphia Comic Book Examiner

Brian Thomer is a comic book reader of more than 20 years and a longtime Philadelphia area resident. He is the creator of the "Manhunter 25k Challenge" and other grassroots promotional efforts. He has been featured on BrokenFrontier.com and appeared in the pages of Green Lantern, Checkmate and...

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