Justice League

Justice League #13

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justice-league-new-52-13-coverThis 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]

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Justice League #0

/ / Comics

justice-league-new-52-0-coverWhen 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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Justice League International Annual #1

/ / Comics

justice-league-international-new-52-annual-1-coverThis 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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Justice League International Annual #1 Read More »

Justice League #12

/ / Comics

justice-league-new-52-12-coverAlthough 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]

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Hey it’s another Justice League team. Um…

/ / Comics

Justice League of America

Okay, so I’ve got some good news and some bad news. The good news is that Stargirl is going to be part of the New 52. Forgetting, for the moment, that the character makes no sense without the JSA (which never existed on this Earth), I’m happy to see one of DC’s young blonde heroine returning to the fold (even if it is the wrong one!). Here’s the bad news, Stargirl with be a part of the new Justice League of America featuring the Martian Manhunter, Green Arrow, Katana, the (yet to be named) new Green Lantern, Hawkman, Vibe, and Catwoman. Really DC? Fucking Vibe?! And Katana and Catwoman (both of who are fugitives in the New 52)? The comic will be written by Geoff Johns (who’s given us the very uneven Justice League) and drawn by David Finch (who’s given us the truly awful Batman: The Dark Knight). So, um, Yah?

[via CBR]

Hey it’s another Justice League team. Um… Read More »