Justice Leagues: Justice League Aliens # 1 - Brother's Keepers

In San Francisco, the Advance Man amuses himself by causing a dot-com company to go bust, by making a Devil's deal. More of his plan with client Plura is revealed. 

Elsewhere, J'onn J'onzz gathers together Guy Gardner, Warrior; Lobo; Orion; Princess Koriand'r, Starfire; Mikaal Tomas, Starman and Superman aboard a martian station orbiting the moon as a Justice League of Aliens. Guy Gardner, Mikaal Tomas and Orion take an instant dislike to each other, while Lobo plays video games. He was de-aged to a teenager in Peter David's Young Justice: Sins of Youth event. Gardner makes a homophobic comment to Tomas, before the blue Starman leaves, declining J'onn's invitation. 

The rest of the League make their way to San Francisco where they encounter civilians mutated by the Advance Man. Superman, Starfire and the Manhunter spend just as much time containing the event as they do containing their counterparts, Gardner, Lobo and Orion.
 
Kyle arrives on the scene with his Justice League of Air; Black Condor, Captain Comet, Dr. Light, Firestorm, The Ray and Red Tornado. bantering with Lobo, Kyle suggests that Superman hold him down while they beat him to death. Fun and games have to wait as the Advance Man selects a human host for Plura and she finally makes her appearance. Superman admits that there may be a need for more than just their two Leagues.

DC sure has a lot of jerk characters. It's one thing to be light and flippant like Peter Parker as Spider-Man, and I know some people that are like Orion, Guy Gardner, and Lobo. I'd rather read a book focused on Peter and his adventures as Spider-Man, I can identify with him, I can't so much identify with Flash Thompson. That's basically who Guy, Lobo and Orion are modelled after; not the hero or even an anti-hero (whatever that is), but the bully who needs to get his @$$ kicked by the underdog. Why would I want to read a book featuring a guy that is so close to reality it hurts? What, so that I can watch him go postal and "solve" all his problems at the end? Yeah, right. I'm really very sorry if you enjoy Guy Gardner, Lobo and Orion. Here they're only shown in their worst light. Most everywhere I've seen them, they've been shadows, or contrasting, supporting characters to more idealistic, altruistic heroes. Comic relief. While I think Superman and Captain Marvel could use a little toughening up, the other three could use a few more redeeming qualities. I've seen Guy slip in Green Lantern and Justice League mini-series. It was quite touching when he lost Ice for a second time. He's become a nicer Guy. Still obnoxious and pro-active, but not so much a jerk anymore. He does appear to use his personality as a mask to cover up.
 
The writing and art is pretty strong here, but re-reading and flipping through Aliens, Superman looks odd. He's the only one with wind-wipped hair. Where comes this wind that wips his hair? On J'onn's satellite, he's the only one with wind-wipped hair. Not even Kory's is wind-wipped - it's the Anette Funicello helmet. He looks kinda goofy. Feminine and superior at the same time. Which is odd considering the cover.  

If this were a classic Silver Age JLA story, there might have been room for Hawkman and maybe Adam Strange. Shame that maybe Hawkman had not made his return or was unavailable. And that this was more of a Modern Age story. I would like to have seen their interaction with Lobo, Mikaal and Orion.
 
The one thing I think someone, either Tom Peyer or his editor is missing in the concept of this series is that when the original Justice League formed, in every iteration that they formed, it was more seredipity and circumstance. The instance and the event brought the heroes together. They didn't go and recruit each other. This could have been the perfect homage and tribute dedicated to Julie Schwartz and the pillars of the Silver Age in using another alien event to bring the single or many Justice League(s) together. I know the launching point is Hammond's mental image of a Justice League of A, but even when Arthur, Barry, Hal, J'onn, and either Dinah or Diana formed the team and there was no Justice League before, they came up with that idea from teamwork. Maybe that's the point Peyer is trying to make with this exercise, that if they were to form a League on their own, this is what they would come up with. And that's why it doesn't work or stick.

Is this a mini-series, or a commentary on the '80's incarnations of the League?

This storyline concludes in Justice Leagues: JLA 1.