Hi @swansongscribe !! I'm making a separate post on your reply about what I'd do with Jay. I'm making it a post because I have a lot of thoughts tbh.
Jay (and in association, Gamorra) is one of the most direct commentaries on American imperialism in recent years in DC Comics. Most of the big heroes, like the main members of Justice League, are used these days to reinforce the existence of American Imperialism as it is. Justice League members, but specifically the white ones, are purposefully written to be non-political. Even when they are, it's entirely fictional and the American Norms are considered heroic.
So, I'd make Jay an anti-hero, and put him in an antagonistic role to the Justice League with good cause. Ollie(Green Arrow) was directly involved in Gamorra's colonization, and most definitely knew about Sara's assassination. He didn't even get a slap on the wrist and the JL let him back in. Thereafter, the JL have done ZILCH to help Gamorra, and they hadn't done anything before either.
Next, I'd have him be on friendly terms and work often with the Dakotaverse heroes and the Power Company. These two parts of DC are even more direct about criticizing white supremacy and racism in the U.S. by talking often about how hypocritical the JL are. In the recent Dakotaverse one shot(New History of the DC Universe: The Dakota Incident), it's shown that Dakota never needed the Justice League. They were made to fend for themselves.
The Paris Island gas attack happened and gave lots of people powers, which inevitably lead to the emegence of Static, Icon and Rocket, and Hardware. The people in the Paris Island gangwars were basically test subjects for the government to create an army of metas they can control.
Sounds familiar?
Some amazing accidental synergy here.
And look here!
Two dictatorial villains whose main goals is to control and use a group of people who were experimented to become their future army.
Lex basically threatened to get the Justice League and the army to attack Dakota if the metas and heroes of the city used their powers. The Justice League delivered the message, but because it was from when Lex was president, they did nothing to stop this deal from going through. The Dakotaverse heroes had no choice- it was between freedom to use their powers, or safety of the city. And again, the JL did NOTHING.
The JL didn't even know about Gamorra's colonization until Jon, but more importantly, Superman's family was in danger. Jay was broadcasting for months, maybe years, but it didn't matter until Jon was involved.
Lex and Bendix used metas and aliens as an excuse to suppress this marginalized group of people and their home. When push came to shove, the Justice League did nothing. They did nothing for Gamorra, they did nothing for Dakota. Dakota and Gamorra's histories are actually surprisingly similar.
Hence, Jay working in rotation with the Dakotaverse heroes.
The Suicide Squad was used often in Gamorra to enact the U.S's wishes. Waller was never necessary for the Suicide Squad to exist(see Suicide Squad: Bad Blood). Most likely, they're gonna send another squad + a lot more military power to get Gamorra under their thumb again. So I'd have Jay's main enemies be the Suicide Squad and the U.S. military.
I'd also give him more allies that are considered anti-heroes or aren't part of the Justice League. Like Ghostmaker, City Boy(I kinda ship him with Jay but I want them to work together regardless of romance, they seem like they'd get along), more of the Secret Six again, and The Authority.
If I really got my way, I'd have on a book with Virgil in the new era, addressing Lex and the U.S.'s stupid ass agreement that metas in Dakota aren't allowed to use their powers, followed by something with the Suicide Squad.
I am avoiding mentioning him allying with white heroes or anyone in the big leagues because, as I mentioned before, they inevitably become tools for glorifying the U.S. It become evident when you read the Milestone comics, the Dakota Incident one-shot, and the recent Black Lightning run. Jon, Nia and the JL have demonstrated they don't really care. But all the Dakotaverse heroes, who mainly emerged from Milestone, DO care. Their entire existence is based on questioning the whiteness of DC Comics.
So, yeah!
