Justice League of America #110
Justice League of America #110 is the second appearance of John Stewart and his first-ever team-up with the Justice League, marking the earliest time an African-American superhero worked alongside the JLA in that title's history. Writer Len Wein's Christmas-themed lead story — set against the backdrop of a St. Louis inner-city ghetto — gives Stewart a socially conscious spotlight that would quietly define the character's moral compass for decades, directly anticipating the role he would inherit in the early 1980s and, much later, in the Justice League animated series. The issue simultaneously launched the JLA's brief run as a 100-Page Super Spectacular and delivered the first on-cover promotion of the Super Friends animated show, embedding the book in the broader DC multimedia moment of 1974. Red Tornado's new, more colorful costume — designed and gifted by Black Canary in the epilogue — also debuts here, a look that endured as the android's definitive Bronze Age appearance.
In "The Man Who Murdered Santa Claus!", the Justice League of America tackles a rising wave of juvenile delinquency in Riversend, where kid gangs are on the rise and the heroes must find a way to stop them without resorting to force. Green Lantern digs into the root causes with a social worker, while Dr. Mid-Nite and Atom enlist the help of the JJSA and Don Brent to go undercover—only to find the gang’s true leader is someone far more dangerous than expected. Written by John Broome and illustrated by Carmine Infantino with inks by Frank Giacoia, this 1974 issue features a gripping, character-driven mystery, with Nick Cardy’s dynamic cover capturing the tension.
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The lead story, 'The Man Who Murdered Santa Claus!', was scripted by Len Wein with pencils by Dick Dillin and inks by Dick Giordano under editor Julius Schwartz — the same tight creative team that had kept the book stable throughout 1973. The credits page carries a notable acknowledgment: 'special thanks to Green Lantern fan Duffy Vohland,' suggesting a reader suggestion contributed to Stewart's inclusion. The issue's letter column introduces Martin Pasko as DC's first Junior Bullpen trainee, assisting Schwartz, while the cover — featuring the JSA in a scene redrawn from the cover of All-Star Comics #40 — was painted by Nick Cardy. Pencil and ink credits for the lead story are confirmed from Julius Schwartz's own editorial records.
Trivia · 8 facts
- Second appearance of John Stewart (Green Lantern), and his first appearance alongside the Justice League of America — he substitutes for an incapacitated Hal Jordan.
- First appearance of Red Tornado's new, more colorful Bronze Age costume, designed and gifted by Black Canary in the issue's epilogue.
- First issue of Justice League of America published in the 100-Page Super Spectacular format (JLA ran in this format through issue #116).
- First issue of Justice League of America to carry the 'Here Come TV's Super-Friends!' cover blurb, tying the book to the debut season of the Hanna-Barbera animated series.
- Lead story: 'The Man Who Murdered Santa Claus!' — script by Len Wein, pencils by Dick Dillin, inks by Dick Giordano, cover by Nick Cardy.
- Two reprint features: 'The Plight of a Nation!' from All-Star Comics #40 (1948), featuring the Justice Society of America; and 'Z — As in Zatanna — and Zero Hour!' from Justice League of America #51 (1967), which concludes Zatanna's multi-issue quest to find her father Zatara.
- The lead story's villain, the Key, is established as terminally ill from his own psycho-chemicals — a plot point that motivated his scheme to destroy the JLA before he died, though the character continued to appear as a recurring JLA foe for years afterward.
- 'The Man Who Murdered Santa Claus!' was subsequently reprinted in The Best of DC #22, Christmas with the Super-Heroes #1, Showcase Presents: Justice League of America Vol. 6, Justice League of America: The Bronze Age Omnibus Vol. 1, and Green Lantern John Stewart: A Celebration of 50 Years.
Cast · 40 characters
Full credits
Full plot ⚠ may contain spoilers
▸ Reveal full plot — may contain spoilers
In Riversend, Black Canary tells Green Lantern that a big problem exists with kid gangs that needs to be dealt with, so Green Lantern visits a social worker to learn about the causes of juvenile delinquency and why kids like them want to emulate criminal gangs. Meanwhile, Dr. Mid-Nite and Atom enlist the aid of the JJSA to help in the matter and they enlist Don Brent to infiltrate the gang. At the same time, Hawkman and the Flash bring Eddie Brent to justice for their near-murder. And the Junior Claws discover Don Brent is a mole, so they tie him to railroad tracks to try and scare him.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).