When the current Justice League series relaunched in 2006, it featured a beautiful double-spread cover by Ed Benes. In fact, you can see the original art in the CAF gallery of the great TC Art Collector. Seeing that cover inspired me to have a similiar one done using the same layout, only using "my" characters in place of the JLAers.
First I had to come up with 42 heroes of color to fill all those slots. That didn't turn out to be as hard as I thought it would. In the end, I actually ended up cutting some, regrettably. Just not enough room.

Of course, the core seven members of the Brotherhood would be most prominent. The Black Panther and Storm, (the royal couple of black superheroes), Icon (from Milestone Comics), Green Lantern/John Stewart, Triathlon, Monica Rambeau (formerly Photon/Capt. Marvel) and the Falcon (the first African-American superhero). Note that I don't let the fact that some of the characters live in different universes stop me from bringing them together.

For the allies and reservists characters, it got a little harder. Sure, there were no-brainers like Luke Cage, Black Lightning, and Spawn, but then I had to really think to remember some others, since they often spend more time in comic limbo than on the printed page. Think about it: When's the last time you've seen someone like Cardiac or Skyrocket?

Then came the really hard choice: Who'll draw it? I inquired with almost a dozen artists, but in the end I found the perfect artist who had the right combo of gorgeous pencil work and affordability: SAL VELLUTO.
A longtime comics veteran, I became a major fan of his work during his long tenure on the BLACK PANTHER comic. I knew he'd do a dynamite job and nail each and every character, which is exactly what he did. He not only hit a home run, he put this one in the parking lot.

There was, however, no question as to who'd I'd get to ink it. BOB ALMOND is Sal's longtime inking partner, and has inked 50 commissions for me by dozens of artists.
Bob took the best and made it better. But then, that's what he always does.

I'll get to WHO'S WHO in a moment, but a couple of notes.
I'd originally planned to include (Black) Goliath and Night Thrasher on this piece, but Marvel killed off both characters in their CIVIL WAR limited series. Then there were some I simply didn't have room for. Sorry about that Josiah Power (of THE POWER COMPANY), Technique (the female version of Milestone's HARDWARE), and Wildstreak (a little-known Marvel heroine).

Special thanks again to Sal Velluto and Bob Almond for an outstanding job. You can commission Sal at velluto.com and Bob at almondink.com

Left section:

top row (l. to r.): War Machine, the Guardian, Jack-in-the-Box (ASTRO CITY), Skyrocket (THE POWER COMPANY), Static (Milestone Comics).

middle row (l. to r.): Mr. Terrific, Bird of Paradise (ASTRO CITY), Mister Miracle II (Shilo Norman), Cardiac (from SPIDER-MAN), Crimson Avenger II (JSA).

bottom row (l. to r.): Luke Cage, the Falcon, Monica Rambeau, Triathlon.

Middle section

top row (l. to r.) Cloak, Delete (an independent character), Patriot (Young Avengers), Spawn

middle row (l. to r.) Rocket (Icon's partner), the Prowler, Steel, Rage, Bloodwynd

bottom row (l. to r.) Justice (THE CREW), Deathlok II, Battle Star (SILVER SABLE)

Right section:

top row (l. to r.) Blade, Cleopatra (ASTRO CITY), Cyborg, Firestorm II, Nubia (WONDER WOMAN), Bishop

middle row (l. to r.) Hardware (MILESTONE COMICS), Vixen, Menthu (independent character), Brother Voodoo, Bronze Tiger, Black Lightning

bottom row (l. to r.) Green Lantern (John Stewart), Icon, Storm, the Black Panther.

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