WORLD’S GREATEST SUPERHEROES, THE 709
Batman to confront poverty as he attempts to keep a juvenile whose parents were killed
in a violent crime from succumbing to the cycle of violence that plagues the inner city.
Batman’s realization is that he bears a double responsibility to his community: not only
is he obliged to help as the Batman, but his alter-ego, Bruce Wayne, must also actively
strive to revitalize the urban landscape using the vast resources of his multinational
company. Th is realization leads Batman to reject the industrialist Randall Winters as
a business partner since Winters is more concerned with lining his pockets than with
urban renewal.
Shazam!: Th e Power of Hope , published in 2000, involves Captain Marvel’s i nte rac -
tions with sick children at a local hospital. Th ere he meets an adolescent who has been
abused by his father. Unable to connect to the boy as Captain Marvel, and disquieted
by this failure, he decides to return as Billy Batson, his alter-ego, since Billy himself is
merely a child. Captain Marvel fi nds that he is able to approach the boy freely without
the imposing trappings of an adult superhero and he befriends him. Th e experience
teaches Captain Marvel that it is hope itself that is essential to the role of a superhero,
and that the smallest gestures can sometimes make the biggest diff erence in the lives
that he touches.
Wonder Woman: Spirit of Truth , published in 2001, addresses Wonder Woman’s rol e
as an ambassador of peace to the nations of Earth. Near the beginning of the book she
fails time and time again in her overtures of cooperation with foreign nations because of
their perception of her as an outsider to both the countries’ aff airs and to life as a normal
human. In a pivotal scene she discusses her frustrations with Superman, who encour-
ages her to be less fl amboyant in her approach so that she can gain a new perspective on
the situation. She then dons a series of disguises in order to walk among people without
drawing attention to herself, and in so doing gains a more intimate knowledge of the
cultures with which she wishes to connect in order to better operate as a superhero.
Th e last two works are companion pieces, JLA: Secret Origins , published in 2002, act-
ing as a preceding volume and preview to JLA: Liberty and Justice , published in 2003, by
containing a series of two-page origin stories for its main characters. JLA: Liberty and
Justice itself is about the Justice League of America combating an alien disease that par-
alyzes its victims. Th e overt threat to the public that emerges from the confusion as the
Justice League attempts to isolate and cure the disease, however, is from the people them-
selves as widespread riots begin to break out from fear of the global pandemic. Th e Justice
League pacifi es the riots, but in doing so takes a hit to their reputation as news organiza-
tions and public leaders speak out against even their mild use of force on the general pub-
lic. Rampant fear grips much of the populace and the alien plague is even blamed on the
Justice League, the league itself having several members of extra-terrestrial origin. Told
mostly from the perspective of the Martian Manhunter , the story comes to a conclusion
when he speaks about the Justice League’s intentions in front of the United Nations, ask-
ing for the people of the world to realize that the Justice League has always honored the
trust the public has given them and that the members of the League ultimately wish to
be perceived as part of the global population, not as outsiders to be feared.
