JUSTICE SQUADRON #1 [DC LEGENDS]

"The world doesn't need another hero group. There are too many as it is -- the Outsiders, the Titans, the JSA, the JLA, Young Justice, the Metal Men... it goes on and on. Too many."

"Oui... but there is one thing that all those groups have in common, mon ami. They are all American."

"Based in America, maybe. But the groups themselves do plenty on the international level. Bloody hell, the Outsiders have been pretty much living in Markovia the past few years -- and don't forget the JLA runs from one part of the globe faster than you can blink an eye."

Constance D'Aramis let out a sigh, setting her full lips into a pout. She and her dining companion, Sir Cyril Sheldrake, were eating in a very expensive restaurant in Paris. Many of the people moving about cast interested glances in their direction -- Constance was quite famous as the head of the Revson Corporation and Cyril sometimes made European news as well. The Earl of Wordenshire was a handsome man with a reputation for ladykilling.

"Cyril... I'm not saying that we should compete with ze American heroes. But there is much more to ze world than just ze States! Shouldn't there be a group who does nothing but protect the interests of Europe and beyond?"

Cyril reached out for a buttered scone. "Definitely. And it's called the International Ultramarines."

Constance made a face. "Zat group of militant upstarts?! You quit them last month and you call them a viable alternative?!"

"I left the group because I felt I was spending too much time away from England. The Knight & Squire legacy is a distinctly British one."

"Hmm." Constance fingered the side of her wine glass. "So you are not interested then? You have no desire to provide inspiration to people without hope? No desire to put the name of the Knight -- the identity that your father died creating -- on the lips of people throughout the world?"

Cyril gazed at her levelly. "Constance, you're beautiful and full of idealism. I like both those qualities in a woman. But the Knight is a British icon and so shall he remain." He stood up slowly, taking Constance's hand in his own. "Good luck with your dream -- should you come to England any time soon, be sure to give me a call."

Constance watched as Cyril exited the cafe. Again I have been rejected. Perhaps this is nothing more than a dream. My attempts to form a new JLE came to a tragic end*, and I've only found one person to join my Justice Squadron... Oh, Vivian! If only you had lived, this was more your dream than mine. I never --

The sound of her celphone ringing ended her reverie. She answered it curtly, expecting it to be another call from the office. "Oui?"

The young woman's voice on the other end sounded both nervous and excited. "Constance? I received your telegram... This is Chandi."

"Much better than before. I wanted to tell you that if you're still interested in sending me a plane ticket -- I'm ready to come. I owe you and the League too much to say no."

"That is wonderful, Chandi! I'll send you the ticket right away. Maybe this group of ours will get off the ground floor, after all."

The man known as Cluemaster sat back in his hotel room and ran his fingers through the suitcase full of cash that was set before him. Getting away from Gotham was the best thing that could have happened to him -- the lack of heroes out here on the West Coast made things a lot simpler. Not that even the Caped Crusader could have figured out those clues he'd left... Classic work, that.

A funny tickle on the Cluemaster's leg made him swat downward. Filthy hotel rooms. Filled with bugs. Well, no more after this -- the Ritz, here I come! With this kind of haul, I might not even need to use this signal device I got....

>The tickle returned and Cluemaster glanced down with annoyance. He saw a dark-gloved hand wrapping around his leg. It stretched all the way out the open window.... "Gah!" Cluemaster jumped up but not before the hand clenched tight, holding his leg with an iron grip.

A red-haired man appeared in the window, his neck stretched obscenely. He grinned, his nose twitching rapidly back-and-forth. "Whatcha know? I did smell a stinky criminal, I really did!"

The stretching hero looked hurt. "Plastic who? I'm the original JLA super-stretchy sleuth! Ralph Dibny's the name, Elongating's my game."

Cluemaster slipped a hand into one of the many pouches on his costume. If he could just reach one of his smoke capsules... "So how did you find me, hero?"

The Elongated Man snaked his legs inside the room while dragging Cluemaster towards him. "C'mon, even Encyclopedia Brown could have solved those clues!"

"Well, solve this!" Cluemaster hurled a capsule towards the Elongated Man's face, but the pliant hero made his torso expand enough to catch the capsule before it could detonate.

"Done." Ralph drove a fist into the Cluemaster's chin from the across the room. The villain went down quickly, having never been a match for most heroes in the physical department. Ralph chuckled at his good work for a moment before moving towards the phone. Better call the police and have them round up Clueless here. Then I have to head over to the airport to meet Sue. Hope our plane won't be delayed... I'm ready to hit Paris and see what scheme the Fox has cooked up. With things so slow for me lately, aside from helping J'onn with his little problem, I'm ready for some new mysteries.

Something odd caught his eye and made Ralph kneel to examine the Cluemaster's still form. A strange communications device had slipped from the criminal's pocket and was chiming softly. It was rectangular and flat, like a credit card, with a red anarchy symbol on the front. Ralph hit the flashing light to accept the call.

A woman's voice came through, "Cluemaster? We need to know if you're going to accept our offer...."

Ralph grinned. He deepened his voice slightly. "Um... I think I might be interested. Where do I meet up with you?"

The woman hesitated slightly. "We've discussed the location of the Sinister Citadel before. You don't remember?"

"Hmm. I'll turn your application over to the Master for approval. But clean yourself up first. We'll contact you when you're in. Until then, consider yourself a reserve member of the Secret Society."

Ralph watched as the flashing light went dim. What do you know? Looks like I've got something to tell the guys in Paris about. A new Secret Society of Super-Villains... Ralph's nose twitched. I can't wait to tell Sue!

"Constance!" Sue Dibny waved as she saw her old friend approaching. The airport terminal was crowded with travellers, but for just a moment it seemed empty, save for the three reunited friends.

Ralph winked. "You too, Connie. So is any of the old gang already here? Wally? Dmitri? Kara?"

Constance shook her head. "Non. It is just the three of us. But Chandi is due to arrive tomorrow and I've been looking into inviting some of the newer European heroes like Lionheart."

"What about Godiva? Whoo-hoo! All that hair of hers..." Ralph grunted as Sue elbowed him hard in the ribs. "Ow."

Sue and Ralph began following Constance. "Well, great things sometimes have small beginnings. How about Thunderbolt? He worked with the JLE in the past."

A woman's scream made all three look around with alarm. An older woman was yelling in French and pointing at a youth who was streaking towards the exit, her purse in his hands.

Ralph and Constance both moved forward, but before they could react, the youth stopped dead in his tracks. His eyes went wide and he stumbled backwards. Materializing before him was a handsome young man dressed in a crimson robe. He held up his hand and spoke in French, "S'arrêtent! Au nom de Dieu, vous êtes punis pour vos péchés!"

The young thief screamed, his hair turning white in the blink of an eye. He fell to the floor, the purse dropping from his grip.

The ghostly figure glanced around at the frightened crowd and smiled. "L'innocent sera protégé."

Constance stared at him. "He told the thief to stop -- 'In the name of God, you shall be punished.' Then, he said 'The innocent shall be protected.'"

Sue reached out and held his nose. "A mystery. We know. Can we at least get to the car first?"

Ralph grabbed the bags and started walking again. "Say, Connie -- you know about the Secret Society of Super-Villains?"

"Only that their numbers were legion, comprised of deadly villains like Gorilla Grodd, the Floronic Man and Star Sapphire! Why?"

In Justice Squadron #2: The Knight experiences something that changes his opinion about the Squadron, while Revenant's origins are explored! Plus: the return of Maxwell Lord?!

Why the Justice Squadron? Because the JLA would pitch a fit if we called ourselves Justice League Europe....

Plus, I see the series moving in some odd directions that might not be appropriate for something under the Justice League banner. Considerably lighter than my Doom Patrol series, this book will, at times, not be a superhero book at all. These guys will become friends and the JS team will be more of a club than anything else. Heck, we might even be the "Seinfeld" of superhero books -- we're not really about much of anything. ;-)

For those keeping score at home, I chose 'Squadron' because of the All-Star Squadron and the 1970s Super Squad, two groups I really liked. Plus, it goes well with the 'justice' part of the name.

Expect to see lots of light-hearted banter, an examination into the mysteries of the Knight's past, and some down-right scary stuff involving Revenant. Villain-wise, you'll see a wide range of foes, both old and new -- the Secret Society, a new version of the Wildebeest, and something called the Multiplicity Factory.

Hope you'll stick around for it!

Barry Reese