Bring on the Bad Guys: Doctor Destiny

Real name: John Dee

First appearance: Justice League of America I#5 (Jun./July 1961)

Abilities: Entering and manipulating dreams, also gravity control

Worst act: Murder and lots of it

Quote: "No one knows me for a master-thief yet--because until now I've stolen nothing!"

Created by: Gardner F. Fox (script), Mike Sekowsky (pencils), Bernard Sachs (inks) 

Wow, this guy. I know, the Sandman series left a heck of a change on the character and the way he's depicted but I'd rather focus on his Silver Age misadventures. 

When we first see him, well, we don't. The story proper starts with the JLA dealing with a massive jailbreak. All the foes of the JLA seemingly escaped and have banded together.

Monty Moran (Martian Manhunter), escape artist 

Captain Cold (Flash)

Professor Menace (Wonder Woman), builds Wonder Woman robots 

Clock King (Green Arrow), more of a straight up thief and called King Clock here

The Electric Man (Aquaman) super powered one of the group

Puppet-Master (Green Lantern)

Things look grim when it appears that Green Arrow helped the crooks escape. When they finally get around to getting Arrow's side of the story, it seems he was actually helping the JLA-because one of them is a traitor! Most of the story focuses on the escaped foes until we met the boss in the last chapter. 

It's Green Lantern. Yup, Destiny had the idea to knock Hal Jordon out and replace him. He manages to use his will-deadening machine on the team but he forgets about GL and thus is taken down.

Looking back, I'm amazed that someone would read this and think, "this guy needs to be a serial killer". He's just so goofy and goofy in a specific Silver Age way. William Atherton played him wonderfully though, so there's that. 

Bring on the Bad Guys: Xandor

Real name: Xandor

First appearance: Justice League of America I#4 (Apr./May 1961)

Abilities: Access to alien weapons 

Worst act: Kidnapping, being a despot

Quote: "Most people on Dryanna secretly call me a dictator! Your friends--certain scientists--hope to overthrow me and establish a government of the people--and want you to lead the revolt!"

Created by: Gardner F. Fox (script), Mike Sekowsky (pencils), Bernard Sachs (inks) 

Major first for this yarn, in that is the issue where Green Arrow formerly joins the team, and what a debut.

Technically, Xandor is more of a background character while the action focuses on the character Carthan. He's a warlord of Dryanna and as characters oft do, he gets into an accident with electromagnetic waves and gains superpowers. 

He's a nice guy though, but Xandor, ruler of Dryanna, thinks he's too nice. So nice in fact he fears he might overthrow him and what with his new abilities he might be able to back that up. 

Thus he exiles him to Earth along with a series of monsters to keep him in check; Carthan would ask the League for help but his powers make that difficult, so he opts for the next best plan of action and kidnaps Green Arrow. He manipulates the League into the fighting the monsters and destroying their controls thus freeing him. 

Not a huge presence and a bit flat all things considered.  

Bring on the Bad Guys: Kanjar Ro

 Real name: Kanjar Ro

First appearance: Justice League of America I#3 (Feb./Mar. 1961)

Abilities: Access to alien weapons 

Worst act: Enslaving planets, kidnapping

Quote: "There! Now that none of you can move a muscle, I can speak to you without your indulging in any heroics...!"

Created by: Gardner F. Fox (script), Mike Sekowsky (pencils), Bernard Sachs (inks) 

Another alien dictator, but this one is also combined with the 'paring the heroes up and sending them to different locations' trope. Ro wants his rivals taken care of, so he paralyses the entire Earth. The heroes are split up and easily take down the other rulers. 

Ro smugly tries to back out of the deal, pointing out that only his former rivals saying his name at the same time would free the Earth. 

Good thing the JLA made recordings of them saying just that, eh?

Kanjar Ro would return in a sequel to this yarn in Mystery in Space I#75, in which he tangles with Adam Strange but he never really reached those levels again.

Bring on the Bad Guys: The Sinister Sorcerers

Membership: Simon Magus, Saturna the Lord of Misrule, the Troll King

First appearance: Justice League of America I#2 (Dec./Jan. 1960)

Abilities: Magic 

Worst act: Breaking all scientific laws, attempted ruling of Earth

Quote: "Four weeks ago, on All-Hallows Eve we three did perform a magical incantation and by our spells put a golden doorway in the sky!"

Created by: Gardner F. Fox (script), Mike Sekowsky (pencils), Bernard Sachs (inks) 

Now this is a first; we have the first (unofficial) super villain team the League ever fought and the very first alternative Earth, even before Flash I#123.

The three miscreants all happen to live in Magic-Land, a sort of Earth where science doesn't exist and magic rules everything. The three wizards aren't happy with their respective stations, so they opt to swap both planets and thus muck up the laws governing both planes. 

Shame most of the League's powers are science based (although Wonder Woman really shouldn't be affected, but eh). Thankfully Merlin steps in and gives the League a hand. 

Yes, apparently THAT Merlin but it never comes up again. This group would never be seen again, but Simon Magus would return in a 1980's World's Finest comic. 

Which a pity, as the whole idea has merit. Admittedly, this is becoming a bit of a trend; i.e., villain pops up and the team gets paired off and each chapter focuses on the group fighting one particular foe. A hold over from the JSA days I guess. 

Bring on the Bad Guys: Desparo

Real name: Desparo

First appearance: Justice League of America I#1 (Oct./Nov. 1960)

Abilities: Hypnotism, teleportation, telepathy  

Worst act: Murder

Quote: "Members of the Justice League of America, you are gathered here to deal with the menace of Desparo! But I--Desparo himself--am taking over! Since I have defeated you all, I now declare this meeting adjourned...forever!"

Created by: Gardner F. Fox (script), Mike Sekowsky (pencils), Bernard Sachs (inks) 

The first villian the JLA fought in their own series. Desparo wouldn't have a lot of appearances but they tended to matter when he did so up. In a mostly "holy crap we're all going to die!" kind of way.

When we first see him, Desparo is fairly skinny (later showings would have him bulked up considerably) but his main focus is on his mind. 

The main character of the first story is a scientist, Jasonar, and his fleeing his world from Desparo. Jasonar needs time to finish a secret weapon capable of defeating the tyrant. Desparo knows about this and heads him off at the pass, easily taking the JLA out in the process.

How? Mostly by beating the Flash in a rigged chess game and teleporting each member or so to a different planet. They manage to get back to Earth, but it turns out JLA mascot Snapper Carr already took care of it. Yeah, remember that secret weapon? Carr found it and used it. Super easy, barely an inconvenience really. 

So not the best introduction but things would get better, although nowadays he tends to be more Doomsday like than Dr. Doom. 

Bring on the Bad Guys: Professor Ivo and Amazo

Real name: Ivo

First appearance: Brave and the Bold I#30 (June/July 1960)

Abilities: Making robots, being immortal 

Worst act: Attempted murder, stealing super powers 

Quote: "Before the chlorine gas in the cylinder overcomes you, Flash--I want you to know I am Professor Ivo, creator of the amazing android, Amazo!"

"I move clumsily--sluggishly! I'm not fast anymore! Master...what's happening?"

Created by: Gardner F. Fox (script), Mike Sekowsky (pencils), Bernard Sachs (inks)

Considered making these guys two separate profiles, but eh. Last time the League would be in Brave and the Bold, with their next appearance would be in their own series. 

Ivo seems to have 2 motives. First, he builds Amazo for the purpose of stealing super powers; second, he wants to be immortal. 

For the first part he succeeds and manages to capture most of the League with little to no issue. Funny enough he ignores Superman, but this isn't present as arrogance or foolishness on his part. With the other powers at his disposal plus easy access to kryptonite, what would he do with Superman?

As for the latter he also succeeds but it is clearly more of a curse. The JLA escapes and get their powers back, so now he's sentenced to 500 years. Didn't think that one through, did you?

Ivo isn't the JLA main eventer but he's still managed to pop up a decent amount. Amazo has had a longer career. Sort of predates the Super Adaptoid too, what with his many hero powers bit. 

Bring on the Bad Guys: Xotar the Weapons Master

 Real name: Xotar

First appearance: Brave and the Bold I#29 (April/May 1960)

Abilities: Access to time travel, old history books

Worst act: Attempted conquering of Earth

Quote: "Attention--Justice League of America! Armed with the four most destructive weapons ever devise, I have time-traveled 10,000 years from the future to do battle with you! Ready--let the action begin!

Created by: Gardner F. Fox (script), Mike Sekowsky (pencils), Bernard Sachs/Joe Giella (inks)

After the last guy, bit of a comedown. We open to the year 11960 AD, in which master criminal Xotar has his ultimate plan! He has four, count 'em four weapons of unstoppable power! The only weakness, the police has the perfect counter measures to three of them but he doesn't know which ones. 

One of the weapons is a page from the Justice League of America casebook. Sure it isn't complete but it does say the words beaten, so it must detail how the JLA were beaten, right? Hopping back in time, Xotar uses his weapons on the assembled team. He does a pretty good job, but if he paid attention, he'd notice that Superman wasn't present at the meeting he crashed...

Decent and with the time travel hook I'm surprised he didn't pop up again.