WARNING: Contains Potential Spoilers for Justice League Unlimited #1!

I’m officially giving Mark Waid and Dan Mora a standing ovation for transforming two Justice League characters I couldn’t have cared less about into instant favorites. Though their page time is brief, Waid’s interview with AIPT Comics has only amplified my excitement for what’s ahead, as he details his vision for the various Justice League teams and his intriguing hero “tier” system.

Waid revealed that when assembling these subteams, he follows a three-tier system.

Justice League Unlimited #1 by Mark Waid, Dan Mora, Tamra Bonvillain, and Ariana Maher has officially arrived, bringing with it the sweeping changes to DC’s premiere superhero team that the ALL IN Special teased last month. One of the most significant updates to this reborn Justice League is its inclusive approach to hip, now open to all of Earth’s heroes rather than a select elite as in past iterations.

The issue builds on this change by unveiling the League’s new operational structure: identifying, coordinating, and deploying mission-specific subteams to handle emerging crises. One of the first subteams introduced is “Alpha Wave,” featuring Wonder Woman, Superman, Black Lightning, Star Sapphire, Firestorm, and Kid Flash.

Okay, I’ll it It: Black Lightning & Star Sapphire Are Great Additions to the Justice League

Carol Ferris and Jefferson Pierce Just Became Instant Faves

While I was beyond thrilled to see Wonder Woman and Superman returning to the Justice League spotlight—especially as a duo—I initially felt less enthusiasm for the other of the team. This was largely because I’m unfamiliar with their characters, with only a limited understanding of their personalities. However, Justice League Unlimited completely blindsided me, as Star Sapphire and Black Lightning—two heroes I hadn’t paid much attention to—instantly became favorites thanks to Waid’s brilliant writing and Mora and Bonvillain’s stunning artwork. What first caught my eye about Star Sapphire and Black Lightning were their character designs.

While Mora stays true to their classic and most recognizable looks, which I’ve seen in past cover art and cameos, his signature art style elevates their visuals to an entirely new level. Mora is one of my all-time favorite comic artists, and seeing these two characters through his lens immediately made them stand out. But what truly won me over was the strength of their voices. Despite only appearing in a few scenes, their personalities are already vivid and compelling. Characterization is everything to me, and I’m loving not only their emerging individual traits but also the dynamic they share with one another.

The Star Sapphire & Black Lightning Dynamic Features My All-Time Favorite Fiction Trope

Carol Ferris and Jefferson Pierce Are a Surprising Yet Epic Duo

In Justice League Unlimited #1, Black Lightning and Star Sapphire pair up to carry out their search-and-rescue directive. As the two take off, Star reveals her unease about her inexperience as a hero, prompting Lightning to reassure her with, “That’s why I’m here, Sapphire. You’re relatively new at this, and I’m a teacher. You’ll do fine. Just watch your back and follow my lead.” This initial exchange between them was love at first sight for me—I instantly knew I was going to adore this duo. If there’s one dynamic I can’t resist in fiction, it’s the level-headed, older male mentor paired with a younger, inexperienced yet incredibly overpowered woman.

Some of my all-time favorite dynamics in fiction fall into this exact category. Whether it’s Geralt and Ciri from The Witcher, Oraya and Vincent from The Serpent and the Wings of Night, or Vi and Vander from Arcane, I’m drawn to those non-blood-related father/daughter relationships where the older male serves as a mentor or protector, while the younger female mentee not only learns from him but ultimately has the potential to sur him in power and skill. Bringing it back to DC, I can already see the potential for Star Sapphire and Black Lightning to develop this type of relationship, and I’m beyond hopeful that Waid continues to build on the incredible dynamic he’s teased so far.

Star Sapphire Is the Freshest Leading Female Addition to the Justice League in Decades

Cover I 1:25 Card Stock Variant by Dave Wilkins for Justice League Unlimited #1 (2024)

While the developing dynamic between Black Lightning and Star Sapphire is what excites me most about these two characters, they’ve already carved a special place in my heart individually—especially Star Sapphire. She stands out as one of the most refreshing and unique female additions to the Justice League in years. Her inexperience sets her apart from seasoned heroes like Wonder Woman, with her millennia of battle-hardened experience; Black Canary, one of the DCU’s top hand-to-hand combatants; and Hawkgirl, a legendary Thanagarian warrior. These three have been iconic female in past Justice League iterations, defined by their confidence and mastery in heroics.

That’s why Star Sapphire feels so refreshing. She’s still finding her footing, unsure of herself, and lacking the usual confidence of a seasoned hero, which brings a fresh perspective and creates room for incredible character growth. On top of that, her powerset is completely unique. Unlike her combat-focused peers, she wields the literal power of love—a distinction beautifully showcased in this issue when she uses the love of a wife to heal her fatally wounded husband. It’s this blend of vulnerability and uniqueness that makes Star Sapphire such a standout addition to the team.

Mark Waid Explains His “Tier” System in Justice League Unlimited

Cover F Raised UV Wraparound Foil Card Stock Variant by Fico Ossio for Justice League Unlimited #2 (2024)

One of the most striking aspects of this issue was the experience gap among of the “Alpha Wave” team. In an interview with AIPT Comics, Waid shed light on this intentional decision, explaining that it’s a dynamic fans can expect to see more of in issues. He revealed that when assembling these subteams, he follows a three-tier system. The first tier includes two or three of the Justice League’s heavy hitters—icons like Wonder Woman, Superman, Batman, and Flash—who serve as the standard-bearers of the team.

The second tier comprises what Waid refers to as “B-listers,” heroes who aren’t part of the Justice League’s Big Seven, such as Mary Marvel, Robin, or the Captain. The third and final tier introduces characters that many readers might be less familiar with, like Air Wave, Doctor Occult, or Xanthe from Spirit World. This glimpse into Waid’s creative approach to team composition adds an intriguing layer to the series and makes the future of Justice League Unlimited even more exciting to anticipate.

Mark Waid: When I put the teams together, I basically have three tiers. I want to have two or three of the big heavy hitters. Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Flash — the standard -bearers of the Justice League. Then, on the second tier, I want to have the characters who are sort of B-listers in the sense that they’re not the holy trinity of Superman, Batman, or Wonder Woman. But, you get characters like The Captain, or Mary Marvel, or characters like that. Robin. And then, on the third level, I want to bring in at least one character that hopefully is pretty new to newer readers. Whether that be Air Wave, or Doctor Occult, or Xanthe from Spirit World. Some of those, I try in every issue to bring in at least one character that is functionally new to the DC Universe in the sense that we haven’t seen them for a long long time.

Justice League Unlimited #1 is available now from DC Comics!