Breakdowns Reading Guide

Overview:

Breakdowns is a crossover event that ran from 1991 to 1992, spanning the Justice League International (JLI) and Justice League Europe (JLE) series. Written by Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis, with art primarily by Bart Sears and Adam Hughes, the arc marks the end of their popular, humor-driven era of the Justice League.

In the story, the Justice League faces internal turmoil, with leadership shifts and political struggles within the group. Key members like Batman, Blue Beetle, and Booster Gold, along with other JLI regulars like Captain Atom, deal with these crises while also battling external threats. The arc features villains both old and new, including familiar foes like Despero and corporate manipulators trying to control the League. The plot weaves through international settings, reflecting the team’s global presence, particularly in the Europe-based portion.

Reception at the time was mixed. Long-time fans of the Giffen/DeMatteis run appreciated the story’s blend of humor and drama, while others felt it was a bit chaotic and signaled a decline in the series. The event ultimately transitioned the Justice League back toward a more serious tone, as new creative teams took over following Breakdowns.

Best Way To Read:

Not collected

For crossover and significant events, I typically only read the main story the first time I encounter it. Trying to read all of the tie-ins with the story tends to make them increasingly convoluted and are not crucial to the main narrative. However, I think they are important to read, as many series-shifting plotlines can happen.

For the tie-in issues, I only read them as they come up in the reading guide that I am working through. This can become problematic because the tie-in issues are not always included in collected editions of the event. So you may need to hunt for them.

Reading Order:

References:

• Wikipedia
• Comic Book Reading Orders

Feature Image from Justice League of America #53 cover art by Chris Sprouse and Bruce D. Patterson