For Sale—The Justice League!

Justice League of America #8

January 1962

In a Nutshell

Small-time crook Pete Ricketts has stolen the Cyberniray, a device capable of placing the Justice League under his hypnotic control. Ricketts auctions the heroes off to the criminal underworld, who force the JLA to steal for them. What he doesn’t realize is the League’s mascot is not afraid to raid the trophy room.

Roll Call

This is another case of our heroes forced to do the bidding of a villain, so much of the story doesn’t qualify as making a contribution. The Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman, Green Arrow, the Martian Manhunter and Wonder Woman are all under the thrall of the Cyberniray, and forced by Ricketts’ gangster cronies to steal a list of pre-selected treasures.

  • Batman and Superman are busy on a case in Dimension X, but send their regrets.
  • This leaves Snapper Carr to once again save the day single-handedly. With the aid of Doctor Destiny’s flight discs, Snapper is able to preemptively steal the designated treasures before the other Leaguers, both keeping the prizes out of the criminals’ hands, and simultaneously preventing the hypnotized Leaguers from having to commit crimes themselves. And if that wasn’t enough, he later snatches the Cyberniray from Ricketts, allowing him to free the League from their trance. Going above and beyond earns Snapper his second Saving the Day bonus point.

  • Once Aquaman is free, he begins a classic Gardner Fox round-robin rescue spree. The King of Atlantis summons a school of flying fish to douse the flames immobilizing J’onn J’onzz, who uses his Martian vision to free both Aquaman and Wonder Woman, who uses her magic lasso to rescue Green Arrow, who shreds the net holding the Flash, who catches the yellow bullet that is about to kill Green Lantern.

  • While the Leaguers are technically acting in self-defense here, the fact that each team member is only acting to free a colleague, and not themselves, convinces me they deserve contribution credit. All except Green Lantern, who openly admits his own uselessness in this adventure.

The Scorecard

Snapper gets two points this round, and five of the other Leaguers get a point each. This puts Snapper back in second place along with Green Lantern.


Team Member


Tenure

Cover Appearances

Story Appearances

Contribution Rating

Flash

11

11

100%

11

100%

9

82%

Martian Manhunter

11

10

91%

11

100%

9

82%

Green Lantern

11

11

100%

11

100%

8

73%

Snapper Carr

11

0

0%

11

100%

8

73%

Wonder Woman

11

11

100%

11

100%

7

64%

Aquaman

11

11

100%

11

100%

6

55%

Green Arrow

5

5

100%

5

100%

4

80%

Superman

11

2

18%

9

82%

4

36%

Batman

11

2

18%

9

82%

2

18%

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