Justice League of America #261

Justice League of America #261, released in 1987, serves as a poignant conclusion to the long-running original series. Written by J.M. DeMatteis and illustrated by Luke McDonnell, this issue depicts the dissolution of the Justice League following the events of the Legends crossover. The creative team aimed to provide a sense of closure to the classic era of the team, transitioning the narrative toward the more comedic and personality-driven approach that defined the subsequent Justice League International relaunch.

The book is notable for its elegiac tone, focusing on the character-driven moments of the team's final days in their Detroit-based sanctuary. McDonnell’s artwork complements the script's melancholic mood, moving away from high-stakes cosmic battles to reflect on the legacy and interpersonal bonds of the members. While the transition was jarring for some long-term readers accustomed to the traditional Justice League structure, it is retrospectively regarded as a necessary pivot that allowed DC to reinvent the team for a modern audience.