JLA #69

Oct 2002 · DC · 2.25 USD; 3.75 CAD

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“[The Obsidian Age, Part 1] New Blood”

★ 1st appearance — Faith

About this Issue

JLA #69 is the opening chapter of Joe Kelly's 'Obsidian Age' arc and serves as the formal debut of Faith, an entirely original DC character introduced by Kelly and artist Yvel Guichet — one of the few wholly new heroes to join the Justice League during the 2002 era of the title. The issue also marks the first full assembly of Batman's pre-planned 'contingency League,' a storytelling device that temporarily replaced the Big Seven with a deliberately eclectic roster including reformed villain Major Disaster and demonic mage Jason Blood, making it a pivotal structural moment in how the JLA franchise explored the idea of institutional resilience. The cover itself pays deliberate tribute to Howard Porter's lineup shot from JLA #16 (March 1998), a self-aware nod to the series' own visual mythology that underlines the gravity of a roster change. Taken together, the issue demonstrates how Kelly and collaborators used the standard 'team-in-jeopardy' scenario to push the franchise past its 'Big Seven only' comfort zone.

writer Joe Kelly · artist Yvel Guichet · inker Mark Propst · colorist David Baron · letterer Ken Lopez · cover Doug Mahnke, Tom Nguyen

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History

JLA #69 falls within Joe Kelly's extended run on the series — issues #61 through #93 — which he wrote alongside primary artist Doug Mahnke. 'The Obsidian Age' was Kelly's second major arc on the book, following 'Golden Perfect,' and was teased in the title's letters pages by associate editor Steve Wacker well in advance of publication. Interior pencils for this particular chapter were handled by Yvel Guichet (with inks by Mark Propst), while Mahnke contributed the cover; the arc's dual-artist approach was structural, with different pencillers assigned to the present-day and ancient-timeline threads running in alternating issues. The issue was edited by Dan Raspler and associate-edited by Stephen Wacker, and it shipped August 14, 2002, with an October 2002 cover date.

Trivia · 8 facts

First appearance of Faith, a telepathic former government black-ops operative and original character created by writer Joe Kelly and penciller Yvel Guichet.
Part one of 'The Obsidian Age' (subtitled 'New Blood'), Kelly's second story arc on JLA, running through approximately issues #66–76.
Introduces Batman's pre-recorded 'Omega Gabriel Alpha' contingency program, which autonomously recruits a replacement Justice League when the main roster goes missing.
Also contains what DCU Guide identifies as the first appearance (identity unrevealed) of the ancient Atlantean sorceress Gamemnae, the arc's primary antagonist.
The replacement roster assembled in this issue: Nightwing (field commander), Faith, Atom, Green Arrow, Firestorm, Hawkgirl (Kendra Saunders), Jason Blood, and Major Disaster; Captain Marvel is offered membership but declines.
Cover by Doug Mahnke is a deliberate homage to the lineup cover of JLA #16 (March 1998), illustrated by Howard Porter.
Reprinted in JLA Vol. 11: The Obsidian Age Book One trade paperback (July 2003, collecting JLA #66–71) and again in the JLA Deluxe Edition Vol. 6 (March 2015).
Edited by Dan Raspler; associate editor Stephen Wacker (credited as 'Steve Wacker'); interior pencils by Yvel Guichet, inks by Mark Propst, colors by David Baron, letters by Ken Lopez.