Justice League

• Title: DC Retroactive: Justice League – The 90’s (One-shot)
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Keith Giffen
• Artist: J. M. DeMatteis, Kevin Maguire

DC’s Retroactive titles have been a failed experiment (and that’s putting it kindly). The attempt at telling tales from the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s with writers and artists who worked on those characters during that time period has delivered some of the most disappointing and awful tales the publisher has put out this year. Until now.

When I heard of the idea I was cautiously optimistic. Most of the group didn’t interest me much but I was going to get Dennis O’Neil writing a Green Lantern story (sadly, without Neal Adams), and Len Wein was doing a Batman story, but the one that really piqued my interest was Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis, and Kevin Maguire reuniting for a classic Justice League tale. And, unlike the others, this one actually delivers the goods.

The issue gives us the classic 90’s team (Booster Gold, Blue Beetle, Mr. Miracle, Guy Gardner, Fire, Ice, Martian Manhunter, Oberon and Maxwell Lord), a Parademon who has lost Darkseid’s inhaler (or something) in a card game, the Injustice League, a giant monster loose on the city, and Power Girl shows up with that #$%@& cat!

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DC Retroactive: Justice League – The 90’sRead More »

• Title: Justice League: Generation Lost #22
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer:Judd Winick
• Artist: Joe Bennett

With only a couple issues remaining things really pick up here. Blue Beetle returns from the dead with information on Maxwell Lord‘s plan. Batman and Power Girl finally join the team, and Wonder Woman makes an appearance as well.

There’s quite a bit shoved into this issue as Max’s plan goes into motion and the JLI celebrates the return of Beetle and Batman and tracks down the Amazon princess before Lord can implement his plan of revenge. There’s also a somewhat surreal moment as Batman and Wonder Woman meet for the first time, again.

I’m still a little sad we aren’t getting a little Guy Gardner thrown in (he certainly could use the break from the Brightest Day nonsense he seems to be trapped in), but I’m happy to see the return of Blue Beetle so quickly. Also, I’ve got to say just having Batman back with the JLI is pretty damn cool. Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

• Title: Justice League: Generation Lost #20
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer:Judd Winick
• Artist: Joe Bennett

In this one issue writer Judd Winick attempts to reconcile the Maxwell Lord of Justice League International with that of Infinite Crisis, and with the man who just killed the Blue Beetle…again.

This is something somebody probably should have thought about doing years ago. Better late than never.

Winick’s attempt (crammed into a single issue) does a fair job by shedding some light on Max’s relationship with his mother and how it drove him to become the man who created his own version of the Justice League. It also offers a turning point for the character and a plausible reason for the fundamental change in his character.

Given that so much of this issue is flashback we get very little of the confrontation of the JLI attempting to capture the fleeing Lord. What we do get is confirmation of Reyes’ death and a glimpse into the mind of the man who shot him. Must-read.

[DC $2.99]