So, we can blame Martian Manhunter for the fact that Maxwell Lord lives another day, and eventually kills Ted Kord. Thanks, J'onn!
Yes, this issue we finally learn the truth about Maxwell Lord and why he got JLI together. It was a plot hatched by an alien computer that was afraid of death. The computer coerced Max (it wasn't really too hard) to try to take over the world. Max, though, had second thoughts after the his "death" at the hands of a Manhunter, and wrecked the computer, killing the sentience. In doing so, he also destroyed the force that was repairing his body after being shot, and he almost died again.
I am not sure I would have let Max continue to be involved with the League. In fact, it seems to me he committed a number of crimes that J'onn should have learned about (hiring the Royal Flush gang and the terrorist gang at the UN), and that should have sent him to jail at the very least. He certainly wasn't a very nice guy before the computer took charge, either.
I was reading the letter column, and I noticed the DC Statement of Ownership on the last page.. Some interesting information from therein:
Annual Subscription Price: $9.00
Print Run: 280,284.
Sales through dealers, newstands, etc.: 182,550
Subscriptions: 1568
Free Copies: 980
Returned Copies: 89,220
I am going to have to check some more recent issues to see if this information is still published. It seems very interesting, especially comparing it to current sales figures.