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My DCU - Justice Society Redesigned Redux

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Part eleven of my head canon DC Universe teams.

ORIGINS

As the first ever group of mystery men to team-up to battle a common foe, the Justice Society of America are veterans in the field of crimefighting. When the immortal Vandal Savage made a play for control of the United States' advanced weaponry, his plans were predicted by the precog Hourman. He hastily assembled a team consisting of himself, Green Lantern, Wildcat, Hawkman, Liberty Belle and the Flash. Their pitched battle against Savage led to his retreat back into Europe. Realizing the need for such an organization, this team made a pact to continue fighting crime under the banner of the Justice Society of America.

Since these early days, the team has opened its roster to include newer heroes. This next generation of heroes work in tandem with their mentors to fight foes like Wotan, the Injustice Society, Johnny Sorrow and Roulette.

GREEN LANTERN

As the first ever human member of the Green Lantern Corps, engineer Alan Scott preceded the likes of Hal Jordan and John Stewart by a full decade. His exploits were well-documented, especially in his hometown of Gotham City. However, his origins remained cloaked from the people he sought to protect. As a closeted gay man, Alan lived in fear of himself and of what others would think if they ever learned the truth. Sensing his anxiety, but also his potential, the Guardians of Oa sought out Alan to participate in a trial run to see if humans could be capable members of the Corps. If he could overcome his fears, then humans could indeed be worthy of wearing their rings.

After the years of facing off against the worst criminals across the universe, Alan gained a unique perspective about life and was eventually inspired to come out publicly. As the first ever out gay hero, he has since become an advocate and has leveraged his position within the Justice Society in order to inspire others.

Alan's design here was previously explained in earlier submissions. He has the basic GL design, but is made to look a little more individual. My inspiration for him was for him to look very knight-like.

WILDCAT

Ted Grant grew up in the slums of Gotham City, participating in brutal street fights in order to earn money. His illegal activities eventually landed him in prison, which sobered him up greatly. Housed next to hardened criminals who had committed terrible injustices, he resolved to change his life when he was released. When he returned to the streets he grew up on, he did so as the vigilante Wildcat. Taking up a career as a professional boxer to pay for his nighttime endeavours, Ted continued to hone his skills and eventually became recognized as one of the greatest American fighters. As one of the founding members of the JSA, he has since taken to mentoring younger heroes.

Like Alan, Wildcat's design had been posted before. It's his iconic suit, but is modernized into a lightweight armoured look.

HAWKMAN

When archaeologist Carter Hall discovered an ancient tomb while on a dig in Egypt, he uncovered a cache of weapons, including a set of fully-functioning wings. Upon touching them, memories were unlocked within him, revealing that he was the reincarnation of the Thanagarian warrior Katar Hol. Centuries ago, Katar fled his homeplanet alongside his lover - the Queen Chay-Ara - and landed on Earth. For their technology, Katar and Chay-Ara were extolled as Gods and became the rulers of Ancient Egypt. However, not all loved their new leaders. The deceitful Hath-Set murdered the lovers and this brutal action kickstarted a curse that would reverberate throughout the centuries. The lovers would be constantly reborn, only to die once they are reunited. 

Embracing his reacquired memories, Carter used the Thanagarian weapons to become the winged hero Hawkman. He would fight injustice and continue his pursuit for a way to break the ancient curse that would rob him of his chance at true happiness. Along the way, he met other likeminded individuals and thus became a founding member of the Justice Society.

For Hawkman's design, I kept it classic. I took inspiration from the New 52, adding plenty of golden weaponry, as well as his costume's colour scheme from Young Justice. The shirtlessness was also a must for his look. ;)

LIBERTY BELLE

Talk show host Elizabeth Lawrence built an empire for herself as a daytime institution. Known as Libby to her watchers, she was known for her liberal perspective and became a champion for people of all races and sexual orientations. Even at this, she was frustrated by the continued crime and lack of social progress in the country she loved so dearly. Becoming more proactive, Libby took up the fight as the vigilante Liberty Belle using her natural metahuman gifts of superhuman strength and agility.

My goal with Liberty Belle was for her to be the team's Wonder Woman, but she needed a modern and iconic look. I really tried to give her a sleek bodysuit, with plenty of detailing and a slight suggestion of armouring.

HOURMAN

As a scientist, Rex Tyler worked in the field of pharmaceuticals. He was responsible for creating the drug known as "Miraclo," which magically granted the user a limited precognitive ability. As the drug's first guinea pig, Rex was inundated with the perils that existed in the world and became convinced that it was his responsibility to protect those he saw in his visions. Taking up the name Hourman, Rex has become a slightly reluctant hero motivated largely by his visions and his increasing dependence on Miraclo.

For Hourman's design, I didn't stray too far from what's been done before. I gave him a lightweight armour suit that features red ribbing. He's also got his iconic hood, but I included a mask in order to create a more modern look to it.

THE FLASH

Once an Olympic athlete in long distance running, Jay Garrick's career was cut short when an injury sustained during a race robbed him of his ability to walk. Depressed and without direction, he contemplated suicide. In those moments, he was visited by the Greek God Hermes who offered to heal him and gift him with incredible speed. Jay accepted and was transformed into Hermes' mortal champion. As a speedster, Jay has made a difference in his hometown of Keystone City as well as around the country as a member of the Justice Society. While he's far from being the only Flash in the world, he is fondly remembered as the first.

When I redesigned Jay a few months back, it received a fairly lukewarm reception. While many appreciated the athletic gear, it was a bust for most others and ended up being one of my least liked designs. That meant I had to go back to the drawing board and try to capture what it is that makes him visually distinctive. That meant keeping the overall look of his ensemble the same, but modernizing it and giving it a more elaborate construction. I gave him a sleeveless shirt that's buttoned asymmetrically, which is paired with athletic pants and red boots.

MISTER TERRIFIC

Michael Holt, a leading technology engineer at Starrware Enterprises, is classified as one of the world's smartest men. His unique ability to interface with computers has helped him to forge a successful career and even garnered him some attention from his colleagues, one of which was Ted Kord. The two dated for a period of time, but after their break-up Michael withdrew into himself and became more interested in computers than people. This led to the creation of his T-Spheres - special devices that run on his brain waves and are capable of acting as defensive weaponry. Realizing the usefulness of these devices, Michael tested them in the field under a disguise using the name Mister Terrific. His early successes led to a permanent tenure as a superhero, one which eventually saw him inducted into the Justice Society thanks to a glowing review from his boss (i.e. Power Girl).

For those of you who saw my previous JSA ensemble piece before I deleted it, you'll remember this design. I didn't get much in the way of negative feedback and people seemed to really dig what I'd done with Michael, so I figured if it wasn't broke then it didn't need fixing.

DOCTOR FATE

When his grandfather passed away, med student Khalid Nassour inherited his Victorian mansion on the outskirts of Gotham City. Though initially intent on selling the property, Khalid discovered that the manor contained many hidden passageways during his initial inspections. One of these passages led to a room containing an altar and many mystical items, one of which was a shimmering golden helmet. It spoke to him, whispering in his head to put it on. In doing so, Khalid was inundated with mystical energies and was transformed into the powerful mage known as Doctor Fate. Realizing his destiny was intertwined with the evil Wotan, Fate sought out heroes to help him on his quest. This led him towards the Justice Society, where he became a full-time member.

Doctor Fate's design here is very indicative of his associations with Egyptian mythology. The way I see the character, his magicks originate in ancient Egypt, where the God Horus created the helmet and imbued it with mystical powers. The helmet is then passed down from generation to generation, where a Doctor Fate is appointed to protect the innocents. The look itself is very sleek and consists of a two-piece suit with armoured gloves and books.

POWER GIRL

Karon Zor-El was studying at the University of Kandor when Brainiac invaded Krypton. During the pitched battle, he claimed the city of Kandor as his own and trapped it within a bottle. While Brainiac was eventually forced off the planet thanks to the efforts of General Zod and his army, Kandor appeared lost forever. Trapped in the bottle, Karon focused her time on finding a way out in order to be reunited with her parents and her younger sister Kara. Unbeknownst to Karon, time was frozen while in the bottle and two decades had passed while she plotted her escape. During this time, the nefarious Lesla-Larr schemed to use Karon in order to make her own escape. She befriended Karon and earned her trust, only to betray her upon completion of a ship that would free them from their bottled prison. Furious, Karon fought her one-time friend only to have the ship damaged in the process. Once Lesla-Larr was defeated, Karon took her chances and used the ship anyway. 

Karon's escape from Kandor was a success, but only got her as far as Brainiac would let her. He imprisoned her and intended to use her as an experiment in order to find a way to defeat his newly minted enemy Superman. He sent a brainwashed Karon to Earth to battle him, but this plan proved unsuccessful due to the intervention of the Justice Society. Together with Superman, the JSA managed to free Karon from her brainwashing. It was then that Karon learned that she was Superman's cousin and this inspired her to become her own heroine - Power Girl. She joined the JSA as a way of thanking them for their help in freeing her from Brainiac's influence.

Much like her cousin, Karon set up a secret identity for herself as the brainy Karen Starr - CEO of Starrware Enterprises. Using her extensive knowledge of technology and science, Karon has become a force to be reckoned with in the world of business (think of her like a cross between Steve Jobs and Anna Wintour).

While you all seemed to like the previous design I had going for Power Girl, I decided to do a new one for this piece. I wanted to match her a little more closely to Superman, Supergirl and Superboy. That meant adjusting some of the lines and created a more detailed look overall for her. I also gave her a little bit longer hair than the last time. Overall, she and Liberty Belle stand as my two favourite designs from this team.

HAWKGIRL

Kendra Munoz-Saunders is a treasure hunter. She makes a career out of pilfering artifacts and selling them off to the highest bidder. This kind of life has helped her to live comfortably, even residing in an expensive condo in Midway City with a butler on staff. On one caper, she discovered a set of Thanagarian battle armaments which belonged to the Egyptian Queen Chay-Ara. Much like Hawkman before her, Kendra was revealed to be the reincarnation of the ancient queen and learned of the curse that would inevitably lead to her death. Her reawakening brought Hawkman to her side and she reluctantly took up the fight to break the curse whilst using the codename Hawkgirl. However, her motivations are much different. While Hawkman seeks to live out his days with his love free of the curse, Hawkgirl wishes to be free so that she may live independently from this past life nonsense. Nevertheless, Hawkgirl fights valiantly and fiercely as a member of the Justice Society alongside the man she's come to reluctantly call her partner.

Hawkgirl was another character, like Power Girl, who did have another design in my head canon that was fairly well-received. Ultimately though I felt it needed to be changed in order to match Hawkman's look. This meant changing the colour scheme and altering the details of the suit to work in tandem with the aesthetic I was going for with Hawkman. I also changed her helmet from the more Earth Two-inspired one to what you see here. She's also got a big mane of flowing fair instead of the braid from the previous design.

STARGIRL

An average teenager in every sense of the word, Courtney Whitmore is not unfamiliar to giving her parents plenty of lip and snooping around in their business. However, this curiosity would inevitably change her life forever. While poking around in some of the things her parents had stashed away in their basement, Courtney found her original birth documents that revealed that her biological father was Ted Knight. She followed this trail, determined to learn more about her heritage and soon discovered that her birth father was the hero known as Starman. He had fallen in battle shortly after her death and had in fact left his equipment to Courtney, which had then been stored away by her mother as a way of protecting her from the dangerous life of heroics. As any teenager would do, Courtney found the storage facility where his equipment was being kept and used it to become the heroine Stargirl. 

Her appearance and weaponry instantly garnered the interest of the founding members of the JSA, who had fought alongside Starman. They admired her spunk and surprising level of maturity in battle. They realized that they couldn't stop her from fighting the good fight and offered to help mentor her. Thus, Stargirl was inducted into the JSA as a junior member and has since proven herself to be a capable hero (much to her mother's dismay).

Again, Stargirl is another character that I had redesigned previously and decided to give her another go. I took a good chunk of my inspiration from her original costume and from the Bombshell version of the character. I mixed the two together, added some further details and - voila! - new Stargirl design.

RELATIONSHIPS

The Justice Society is the biggest team I've got in my head canon. It consists of a whopping 11 full-time members, thus beating out the Legion (you'll see them soon enough) by one member. Green Lantern, Flash and Wildcat form the nucleus of this team. They're best friends and act kind of like as the JSA's version of the Trinity. Alan is cool, calm and collected, Jay is even more laid-back and humorous, and Ted is hotheaded and gruff. There's a complex love triangle going on between Liberty Belle, the Flash and Hourman. She's torn between the two. She's drawn to Jay's playfulness, but is equally as enthralled by Rex's intellect. Liberty Belle also happens to be the matriarch of this team and is really intended to be, as I mentioned before, the Wonder Woman of the group. She's really close to both Power Girl and Hawkgirl, but her best friends are actually outside of the team (Phantom Lady and Firebrand). Furthermore, she and Ted act as Stargirl's teacher in heroics. Mister Terrific and Doctor Fate (and, to an extent, Hawkman) have a rivalry due to their science vs. magic perspectives. Mister Terrific and Green Lantern also have a little somethin'-somethin' going on in secret. Power Girl and Hawkgirl are the best of friends. They're super sassy together and love going out to grab beers and watch sports after they hang up their capes at the end of the day. Power Girl maintains a very close relationship with her cousin Kal and her sister Kara, but remains a little uncertain about Kon. As Karen Starr, she is currently dating publishing magnate Cat Grant, but has been faced with the rather obvious affections of Maxima while under her Power Girl guise. Finally we come to Stargirl. She's friends with everyone. She's just that kind of girl. She loves to give the older generation heroes a little bit of attitude, often poking fun at their ages and so on, but she sees them all as parental figures. She's also quite close with the teen heroes outside of this team - particularly Supergirl, whom she met through Power Girl.

SHOUT-OUTS

As with many of the other teams within my head canon, the Justice Society's roster was chosen by my watchers! I conducted a poll asking you all to pick your favourite JSA members out of a list of more than 25 characters. The most popular ones are all featured here - plus a couple extras! Despite not being popular within the poll, I added both Mister Terrific and Liberty Belle due to my fascination with both. 

So, I'd really like to thank all of you who participated in that poll. I hope that most of your favourites are here and that you like the line-up that was voted in. I know there were a lot of choices and so many characters didn't make the cut, so I hope this here is the cream of the crop! So, I'd specifically like to say a big thank you to Steelpoodle, ImdaBatman, featureanimestar97, kingziggy, spider-fan116, Jose-Ramiro, morpheus-cf, PyroTwilight, bkno, DanFalcon, Jyger85, Andster11, Weighrightthere, Leumasy, TristanDavis, K-Jounin, mr-redx, Calenator, Arcalian, HarryJamesPotter1, Godzilla713, DrMcQuark, and Historyman14.

As always, I love hearing from you guys so please feel free to leave a comment below to let me know what you think of the designs and backstories of these seven fabulous heroes!

Enjoy! :)
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© 2015 - 2024 Femmes-Fatales
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Finalknight7932's avatar

they all look amazing.