Formerly Known as the Justice League #5

Formerly Known as the Justice League, published in 2003, served as a comedic reunion for the creative team behind the beloved late-1980s Justice League International run. Writers Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis, alongside artist Kevin Maguire, reunited to revisit the dysfunctional, character-driven dynamic that had previously redefined the team. The series was designed to recapture the dry wit and situational humor that made the original JLI run a cult success, shifting the focus away from epic cosmic threats toward the awkward office politics and personality clashes of superheroes living together.

Kevin Maguire’s return to the characters he helped define was a significant draw for long-time readers, as his expressive, grounded facial work was essential to the book's comedic tone. The series was well-received by fans and critics who felt it successfully modernized the irreverent spirit of the eighties incarnation. As the penultimate issue, the fifth installment continues the meta-narrative and lighthearted tone that established the series as a nostalgic yet fresh companion to the darker, more serious superhero titles dominating the early 2000s market.