by Alan Rapp on March 24, 2013
in Comics
With the “Throne of Atlantis” storyline complete the Justice League puts together a recruiting drive aboard the Watchtower to expand their ranks. Although the group invites a dozen or so heroes including Old DCU JLA standouts Black Canary, Vixen, Firestorm, and Zatanna, along with Nightwing, Black Lightning, Blue Devil, Element Woman and others, only three make the final cut (and not really the ones I’d have chosen).
The gathering is interrupted by Platinum, the new android by Dr. Magnus (who in the Old DCU created the Metal Men) who runs amok and begins tossing heroes around the space station. Despite the main Leaguers being present, it’s two relative newcomers in Firestorm and a female Atom (who certainly isn’t Ray Palmer or Ryan Choi) who save the day.
The back-up story continues Billy Batson acting like a spineless prick and his continued unwillingness to be a hero despite the power granted to him and Black Adam‘s rampage and gathering of the Seven Deadly Enemies of Man to his side to unleash his evil on the wizard and his new champion. Hit-and-Miss.
[DC, $3.99]
by Alan Rapp on March 23, 2013
in Comics
There’s certainly some improvement here over the atrociously bad first issue. As Green Arrow fights for his life in the medical bay the rest of the team comes together to fight the mysterious threat of the Secret Society of Super-Villains even though, as Steve Trevor points out to Amanda Waller, the team has never worked together, has almost no intel on the threat, and will probably get their asses kicked.
Aside from Waller’s irrational expectations, the second issue of the new Justice League of America has a few other problems as well. The opening shot of the Scarecrow‘s recruitment runs far too long while at the same time being unnecessarily obscure. It’s also unclear why, despite his injuries, why Green Arrow isn’t offered a spot on this team (after risking his life for them).
Issue #2 does have some fun moments, my favorite being the sequence involving Vibe and Hawkman meeting for the first time. Although it’s pretty forced, I also liked the idea of setting up a relationship between Trevor and Catwoman. Hit-and-Miss.
[DC, $2.99]
by Alan Rapp on February 26, 2013
in Comics
Nearly everything about his comic comes from a ridiculous premise and bad (and do I mean BAD) ideas. After having cancelled Justice League International, and still desperate for a second Justice League team working inside the DCU, the New 52 launches their brand spanking new Justice League of America.
The premise is simple (and basically ripped off nearly completely from Justice League Unlimited with all the best parts taken out). Amanda Waller (who’s lost a lot of weight since the reboot) and Steve Trevor decide to put together a team they can control, market, and use as a last result if the real Justice League goes bad.
Under that premise you’d expect some heavy-hitters. After all, if these guys are the last line of defense against Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, and the rest, you’d expect some top-shelf talent. You’d be wrong. Instead Waller and Trevor put together a laughable list of C-list and D-list heroes who’d struggle taking on Keith Giffen’s Justice League Antarctica, let alone the current New 52 version.
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by Alan Rapp on January 2, 2013
in Comics
Because no one, anywhere, was demanding it, DC begins its Aquaman-centric crossover “Thrones of Atlantis” beginning here with the accidental attack on Atlantis by a U.S. air craft carrier (don’t you hate it when that happens?).
On other fronts, Superman and Wonder Woman are still dating and the Man of Steel takes the opportunity to explain his ingenious disguise as Clark Kent, Hal Jordan is still missing (and it seems no one is looking for him anymore), and the back-up story of the New 52‘s douchebag version of Captain Marvel continues as Billy selfishly turns on Freddy Freeman and is confronted with Black Adam for the first time.
Unless you’re a huge Aquaman fan anxiously anticipating this new event (i.e. your name is Geoff Johns) there’s almost nothing here for you. No Flash. No Green Lantern. Batman saved by Aquaman. The art’s not bad, and we get a little more of Superman and Wonder Woman together on a date, but that’s about it. Pass.
[DC, $3.99]
by Alan Rapp on November 27, 2012
in Comics
The Justice League chases the Cheetah to the jungles of the Congo where Superman becomes infected by the curse and Wonder Woman is faced to deal with truth about the woman she once believed was her friend.
The “end” of the Cheetah story is a little awkward, especially given that it appears the super-villain’s plan was to be taken captive all along (and wasn’t searched for any transmission devices before being put in prison). Superman also take Diana home to Smallville for a little more mid-air smooching, which doesn’t go unnoticed by another member of the team. It will be interested to see where this storyline goes now that Batman knows about their relationship.
The Shazam! back-up story works a little better than usual as it is focused on Black Adam journeying out into the world with Dr. Sivana rather than the truly awful (not to mention unrecognizable) version of Captain Marvel that DC has presented us with as part of the New 52. Seriously, this character is already in serious need of a reboot. For fans.
[DC, $3.99]
by Alan Rapp on November 27, 2012
in News
by Alan Rapp on October 22, 2012
in Comics
This latest issue of Justice League gives us a little discussion of Superman and Wonder Woman’s kiss, but the majority of the issue is focused on the league rallying around Diana to help find the Cheetah. Other than the group’s short battle with Darkseid this marks the first time the New 52 version of the league has taken on a classic villain.
Cheetah may seem like an odd choice but the villain’s magical origin does give her the upper-hand as it seems the New 52 version of Superman has kept the pre-Flashpoint‘s version of the character’s weakness to magic. That said, the character has certainly gotten a power upgrade from the version from my childhood as she fights the entire league to a standstill without breaking a sweat.
It’s not a great story, but it’s certainly better than some issues the comic has delivered over the past year and gives several characters their own moments to shine. We do get some talk behind the scenes discussing the shakeup of the team as well as a back-up story involving Steve Trevor and Green Arrow as a lead-in to the upcoming series Justice League of America. For fans.
[DC, $3.99]
by Alan Rapp on September 24, 2012
in Comics
When people ask me what issues I have with the New 52 I can point to this latest issue of Justice League which is a microcosm for all that’s wrong with DC Comics’ current direction.
The Shazam back-up story takes center stage as Billy Batson meets the wizard Shazam for the first time and turns into… Booster Gold (with Freddy Freeman standing in for Ted Kord)? Captain Marvel, a character who has delighted comic readers almost as long as Superman as a noble, if naive, paragon of virtue finds the last shreds of his origins shredded.
We’d already seen in the previous issues of Justice League that DC Editorial threw out the original character in favor of a street-tough grifter, and now they do the same with his super-powered alter-ego.
Bestowed the magical powers by the wizard Shazam, who couldn’t be bothered to find anyone worthy of them (sigh, it’s Kyle Rayner‘s origin all over again), Billy is transformed into a immensely powerful figure who, let’s just say, is seriously lacking the wisdom of Solomon.
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by Alan Rapp on September 6, 2012
in Comics
This is an unusual comic, and not only because it’s an annual for a series that’s been cancelled, introduces characters we may never see again, and shows us there’s no hope the team, in any recognizable form, is returning anytime soon in a new title.
In Justice League International Annual #1 Guy Gardner quits (again), and Booster Gold puts together a new team from the ashes of the old JLI by welcoming O.M.A.C., Blue Beetle, and the Olympian. However, the new JLI will last less than a full issue as O.M.A.C., now under control of Brother EYE, goes berserk and tries to kill every other member of the team.
Even if it does feel rushed, and kind of a mess, the story does have some important moments of note including Godiva and Booster’s kiss (I’m sad it looks like these characters won’t be together anymore), Blue Beetle being sent to the homeworld of the Reach, and our the first time Booster’s time traveling for Rip Hunter has been officially made part of New 52 continuity.
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by Alan Rapp on September 3, 2012
in Comics
Although I have problems with some of the choices made in the latest issue of the New 52‘s Justice League, the story makes sense in the new version of the DCU and is more consistent and better thought-out than several issues of the series have been.
The main news is the decision to put Superman and Wonder Woman together as couple. While I’m opposed to this being done with classic versions of these characters, the logic writer Geoff Johns uses to put the New 52 versions together holds up pretty well. Of course I think this has more to say about the lackluster redesigns of several of DC’s top name heroes than any great storytelling, but it still works.
The rest of the story has to deal with the team taking down Graves by believing in Christmas (or some such nonsense – this isn’t the strongest part of the comic). What’s important to note, however, are the big changes following the battle and the public’s shaken faith in the team. Hal Jordan quits, Steve Trevor is fired, and we’re teased with the introduction of a new Justice League of America which will premiere next year (and Captain Marvel beating the emo out of The Big Blue Boy Scout). Worth a look.
[DC, $3.99]
