Comments
This annual was part of the “JLApe” story line which crossed over into eight other annuals that year, including Wonder Woman Annual #8.
JLA Annual – 3
General Info
Issue No:
3
On Sale Date:
July 1999
Cover Date:
September 1999
Era:
Modern Age
Story Title:
JLApe - Part One: Gorilla Warfare
Creative Team
Cover Artist:
Arthur Adams
Writer:
Len Kaminski
Penciller:
Jason Orfalas
Inker:
Jordi Ensign
Letterer:
Kurt Hathaway
Colourist:
Jason Wright
Editor:
Dan Raspler, Tony Bedard (associate editor)
Characters
Main:
Wonder Woman (Princess Diana), Batman (Bruce Wayne), Superman (Clark Kent/Kal El), Aquaman (Arthur Curry), Flash (Wally West), Green Lantern (Kyle Rayner), Martian Manhunter (J'Onn J'Onzz)
Heroes:
Animal Man (Bernhard Baker)
Villains:
Gorillas - [Abu-Gita, Admiral Trafalgo, General Zolog, Gorilla Grodd, Grimm, Ulgo]
Olympians:
N/A
Amazons:
N/A
Other:
Cameron Chase, Lois Lane, Sarge Steel, Monaghan, Solovar
Synopsis
King Solovar of Gorilla City petitions the United Nations for membership as a sovereign nation. Upon arriving in New York however to address the General Assembly, a car bomb destroys his limousine, killing him. An organisation known as the Human Supremacy Movement claims responsibility for the attack.
In Gorilla City, Solovar’s council seat is taken up by his successor, the Prince Regent, Ulgo. The members of the Inner Circle of the Simian Scarlet call for a full war between the apes and the humans. Noted members of the Simian Scarlet include Admiral Trafalgo, General Zolog and Grimm. They are all being subconsciously manipulated by the telepathic prowess of Gorilla Grodd.
The United States government sends the JLA to act as intermediaries between apes and humanity. They believe that Aquaman and Wonder Woman’s roles as monarchs should help pave the way for a diplomatic accord. They arrive on the mainland of Gorilla City and are immediately attacked by the city’s militia. One soldier launches a “gorillabomb” that transforms the JLA members into apes. Their personalities begin to change to match their physiques, and they begin shouting “Death to the Hu-Mans!” The Martian Manhunter’s telepathy enables him to maintain his true demeanour and he manages to get them back to the JLA Watchtower.
At the Watchtower, Batman and Green Lantern having not accompanied their teammates to Gorilla City are the only ones unaffected by the gorillabomb gas. Batman and J’onn begin running tests in the hopes of finding a way to reverse-engineer the process.
J’onn flies off to the American Southwest to consult with Animal Man, but Buddy’s ties to the anthropomorphic field have made him mentally unstable. Returning to the Watchtower, J’onn finds several JLApe members fighting over the right to mate with Wonder Woman. J’onn uses telepathic meditation techniques on all of them to get them to calm down.
Meanwhile, Ulgo, the Prince Regent and his entourage arrive at the United Nations building. He addresses the General Assembly and openly declares war on the human race. His soldiers fire gorillabombs into the crowd, and instantly transform the council members into apes.
The JLApe arrive and begin fighting the gorillas. The Martian Manhunter has cobbled together something that can turn them back to normal, but there isn’t enough to transform both the JLA and the General Assembly. The JLApe agree that innocent civilians are more important, and J’onn activates the device. Everyone in the U.N. building revert to normal, but the JLA are still apes. Batman is concerned that J’onn is holding something back from him.
Charges cannot be brought against Ulgo as he has claimed diplomatic immunity.
