The New Justice League Should Be Led By One Underrated DC Hero (And I Know Exactly Why)

This article includes mentions of suicidal ideation and fictional depictions of suicide attempts.

Summary

• Mister Terrific emerges as a rational choice for Justice League leader in
  Justice League Unlimited
  .
• Mister Terrific’s intelligence and leadership experience make him an ideal leader candidate over Batman in
  Absolute Power
  #2.
• Despite his youth in DC lore, Mister Terrific’s skill and mindset position him to lead the new Justice League era.

Warning: Spoilers for Absolute Power #2!In my head, there’s only one logical choice to lead the new Justice League. The Justice League is officially returning in Justice League Unlimited by Mark Waid and Dan Mora in November 2024. The team has already died once, returning only to die again as a unit — meaning the team killed League operations. Now, Justice League Unlimited brings them back, but with a new team roster and so a new leader.

After reading Absolute Power #2 by Mark Waid and Dan Mora, there’s only one character I think would make the perfect leader for a new age of the Justice League: Mister Terrific. Mister Terrific makes an appearance in this issue and does so impactfully, standing up to frequent League co-leader, Batman.

Because he’s often so underused, it’s easy to forget (or not know) about Mister Terrific. I even forgot about him and his accolades until he reminded us about him being JSA chairperson. So now I absolutely need to highlight why Mister Terrific is one of the few level-headed options to lead the League.

Who is Mister Terrific?

Created by John Ostrander and Tom Mandrake

Debuting in 1997’s The Spectre #54, Michael Holt becomes the second man to hold the Mister Terrific mantle. The original was Terry Sloane, a Golden Age DC character created by Charles Reizenstein and Hal Sharp. Sloan debuted in 1942’s Sensation Comics #1. He actually has a similar backstory to Michael, as they’re both wealthy businessmen and super-geniuses who entertained suicidal thoughts. For Sloane, his tendencies grew from being bored with life. One day, moments before jumping off a bridge, he’s mugged, and the moment inspires Sloane’s new purpose: becoming a superhero to take down the criminals of the world.

Meanwhile, Michael Holt is a highly intelligent (and I do mean highly, as he holds 14 PhDs) businessman and an Olympic gold medalist whose life took a turn when a car accident claimed the life of his wife and unborn child. His grief brought him to the brink of ending his own life. That brings us to The Spectre #54, which opens on Michael on the edge of jumping off a hill onto some train tracks. Before he has the chance to jump, he’s approached by muggers at gunpoint threatening him to hand over his belongings if he cares to live.

Mister Terrific Is One of the Smartest DC Characters of All Time

And an Experienced Leader

In his first words on panel, Michael asks, “What if I don’t care if I live?” That’s when the Spectre intervenes, rescuing Michael and saying that he was drawn to Michael’s thoughts, compelling Michael to share his story. In return, the Spectre shares the story of the original Mister Terrific, noting how similar Sloane and Holt are. He tells Holt that although Sloane can’t be replaced, there is a void he left behind where Holt could find a new purpose for himself. This comparison inspires Michael to become Mister Terrific, sporting a prototype costume of what his now-current costume.

Despite having no powers, Mister Terrific uses his hyper-intelligence — as the canonically third-smartest man in the DC Universe (potentially the smartest, if Terrific wasn’t humble enough to place himself third) — and natural physical ability to earn entry into the Justice Society of America, where he has a prominent seat as chairperson. As chairperson, Mister Terrific has exuded expert leadership when the JSA needed it most, and I think that’s the kind of leadership the Justice League needs right now.

Mister Terrific Is Ready to Take on Batman

And Doesn’t That Prove His Worth?

Before we talk about what makes Mister Terrific such an ideal candidate to lead the Justice League, I think we should reflect on this moment in Absolute Power and why such a brief moment stuck out so strongly in my head. For context, Amanda Waller is hunting superhumans and superheroes one by one as DC Comics’ new big threat. The surviving heroes are stowing away in Superman’s Fortress of Solitude, and with Superman losing his grip with his son, Jon Kent, being M.I.A., someone needs to lead the vestiges of the team.

Enter Mister Terrific. Well, Mister Terrific would enter, if Batman wasn’t being a prima donna. In this chaotic moment, Mister Terrific emerges as one of the more rational and level-headed voices at the Fortress of Solitude. Terrific just wants to get everyone back on track, and maybe he would’ve if Batman didn’t choose today of all days to be a petty little goose. The Dark Knight argues that he doesn’t have the experience to justify leading them. And, hey — fair play.

After existing for only 27 years, Holt’s existence in DC lore is younger than that of the characters he’s surrounded by. His superhero career is younger than I am, and at 27 myself, I’m not that old! However, what Mister Terrific lacks in experience, he makes up for in skill and smarts, which outranks just about everyone in the Fortress of Solitude. Batman may have more experience than Mister Terrific, but is he smarter? No way, and that’s not me being biased, that’s a fact that’s been confirmed by other DC stories.

Why Mister Terrific Should Join Justice League Unlimited

And, Ultimately, Lead the New Team

While not confirmed to be on the upcoming Justice League roster, keep in mind the word Unlimited in the forthcoming Justice League Unlimited title by Waid and Mora. If the name stays true to the namesake of the classic cartoon it echoes, then this Justice League should have an unlimited number of members. If the Absolute Power event showcases any of the members expected in the new League, then readers should expect Mister Terrific to be on that roster. And if I were in charge, I’d go as far as making him the Justice League’s new leader.

Holt has previously been a member of the Justice League, the chairperson of the JSA, and even led his own team called the Terrifics. Regardless of whether he’s leading or not, Mister Terrific is unabashedly a team player and is ready to do any and everything for both the team and the mission. In Infinite Crisis #5 by Geoff Johns, Phil Jimenez, Ivan Reis, and more, he says that while he has no faith in a religion as an atheist (which is interesting when his introduction sees him visited by a God of Vengeance), but rather that he has “faith in my team.”

That’s how strongly he feels about any team he is part of, especially as a leader. He is religiously trusting in the people he calls his teammates, and I’m positive he can offer the same mindset as a Justice League leader. The best way to establish a new era of the Justice League is to have a brand-new leader at the forefront. DC can easily go with the usual Superman, Batman, or Wonder Woman as leader, but something fresh would work even better. Mister Terrific, with his credentials and his pedigree, is the perfect candidate for leading a new Justice League.

Absolute Power #2 is available now from DC Comics. Justice League Unlimited #1 is available November 27th, 2024 from DC Comics.