Justice League of America #173

Justice League of America #173, published by DC Comics in December 1979, was a pivotal chapter in the long-running series created by Gardner Fox and Mike Sekowsky. This specific issue features a script by Gerry Conway and interior art by Dick Dillin, a prolific artist who defined the look of the JLA throughout the 1970s. The cover art, depicting the team grappling with the threats of the Secret Society of Super-Villains, was rendered by Rich Buckler and Dick Giordano, capturing the high-stakes, ensemble-driven aesthetic that characterized the Bronze Age of comic books.

The issue serves as a prominent example of the multi-layered storytelling Conway brought to the title, focusing on complex interpersonal dynamics and large-scale team battles. At the time of its release, the Justice League was a cornerstone of DC's publishing identity, and issue #173 reflects the editorial focus on keeping the team's roster expansive and their adversaries increasingly dangerous. Fans of the era generally appreciated Dillin's reliable, clear-lined storytelling, which provided a sense of visual stability to the rapidly changing roster of heroes during the late 1970s.