JLA #52 [Direct Sales]

(May 2001)

Element of Surprise (Table of Contents: 1)

Justice League / comic story / 22 pages (report information)

Script

Mark Waid

Pencils

Bryan Hitch

Inks

Paul Neary

Colors

Laura Martin

Letters

Ken Lopez

Genre

superhero

Characters

JLA [Justice League; Superman [Clark Kent; Kal-El]; Aquaman [Arthur Curry; Orin]; Batman [Bruce Wayne]; Martian Manhunter [J'onn J'onzz; John Jones]; Wonder Woman [Diana]; Flash [Wally West]; Green Lantern [Kyle Rayner]; Plastic Man [Eel O'Brian]]; Metamorpho [Rex Mason]; Joey Stagg; Sapphire Stagg; Simon Stagg; Terry Berg; The Cathexis (villain, first appearance)

Synopsis

As the heroes and their alter egos drift further apart, a horrific version of Metamorpho comes to life to reunite with his son Joey Stagg. While trying to protect the Stagg family, the JLA encounter The Cathexis who inform them that a sentient energy from their dimension called ID is loose in the JLA's dimension and has granted Joey's wish for his father's return. Once Joey wishes his father away, The Cathexis suggest that not only is ID responsible for many of the strange occurrences around the globe but that it is also responsible for separating their private selves from their hero selves.

Reprints

• in JLA (DC, 1997 series) #8 - Divided We Fall (2001 [March 2002])
• in Superman (Editora Abril, 2000 series) #22 (Março 2002)
• in JLA (Panini Deutschland, 2001 series) #6 (2002)
• in JLA (DC, 2011 series) #5 ([August] 2014)

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 2)

Justice for All / letters page / 1 page (report information)

Script

Stephen Wacker

Letters

typeset

Indexer Notes

Letters from readers Neil Ahlquist, Daniel McMasters, Jason Wells, Doug Bartels, and Andy Oliver.