Publication History
Justice Machine debuted in Noble Comics' Justice Machine #1 (June 1981), created by writer-penciler Michael Gustovich, with the first issue cover penciled by John Byrne and inked by Gustovich. This initial series lasted five issues, cover-dated Winter 1981, April 1982, Fall 1982, and Winter 1983. The first three issues were published in magazine format. An annual publication, Justice Machine Annual #1 (1983) was published by Texas Comics, and featured a crossover with the then-defunct Tower Comics' superhero team T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, by writer William Messner-Loebs (as Bill Loeb) and penciler Bill Reinhold. A second story, by writer-penciler Bill Willingham, introduced the superhero team the Elementals.
This led to a miniseries, Justice Machine featuring the Elementals #1-4 (May-Aug. 1986), by writer Willingham and artist Gustovich, published by Comico. That company subsequently published an ongoing Justice Machine series (vol. 2) that lasted 29 issues (Jan. 1987 - May 1989), plus a 1989 annual. That series' initial creative team consisted of writer Tony Isabella and artist Gustovich.
Innovation Comics published a three-issue miniseries, The New Justice Machine (Nov. 1989 - March 1990), by Mark Ellis with pencils by Darryl Banks and others, and inks by Gustovich. An accompanying annual, Justice Machine Summer Spectacular #1 (Summer 1990), by writer Messner-Loebs and penciler Reinhold, had originally been intended for publication by Texas Comics in 1983. This was followed by the one-shot Hero Alliance & Justice Machine: Identity Crisis #1 (April 1990), by writer Ellis, pencilers Banks and Rik Levins, and inker Gustovich, as well as a new ongoing series, Justice Machine vol. 3, which ran seven issues (April 1990 - April 1991). Initially produced by Ellis and Banks, it acquired series creator Gustovich as both penciler and inker for issues #4-6, and Isabella as writer for the final three issues.
Finally, Ellis' Millennium Publications produced two issues of a fourth volume (Oct. & Dec. 1992), by writer Ellis and penciler Banks. These feature updated versions of the characters. Ellis had purchased the Justice Machine rights from Gustovich in 1991.
The New Justice Machine: High Gear Edition, Volume One was released by Ellis' Millennial Concepts and Gary Reed's Transfuzion Publishing in March, 2009. The compilation volume collected the New Justice Machine mini-series and the first issue of the regular series published by Innovation.
According to the official Justice Machine website, Moonstone Comics will be publishing a Justice Machine Special, with art by Preston Asevedo. This will be followed by a three-issue mini-series with art by David Enebral. Both are written by Ellis.
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