JLA #91

Published in 2004, JLA #91 marks the beginning of the 'Trial by Fire' story arc, written by Kurt Busiek and illustrated by Ron Garney. This era of the Justice League was characterized by an attempt to return to the core dynamics of the team, focusing on the internal pressures of a group composed of gods and heroes as they face an escalating Martian crisis. The narrative choice to foreground Martian Manhunter allowed the creative team to explore the psychological weight of his isolation within the league, moving away from the more cosmic-scale threats of previous runs to something more character-driven.

Ron Garney’s art style in this issue brought a grounded, somewhat gritty aesthetic to the Justice League, which was a departure from the cleaner, more operatic styles that had defined the title throughout the late 1990s. The visual direction was aimed at emphasizing the physical toll of heroics, a common thematic trend in early 2000s DC comics. While the issue was received as a competent start to a high-stakes mystery, it remains a transitional chapter in the larger history of the Justice League, serving as a pivot point before the team's significant restructuring in later years.