Justice League of America #1, cover by David Finch
Justice League of America #1
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by David Finch
Color by Sonia Oback
Letters by Rob Leigh
Cover and Variants by David Finch
$3.99/Color/40 pages
Published by DC Comics
Gravely serious and often drier than a dossier, Justice League of America seems designed to counter Johns’ ongoing Justice League series at every turn. Not only is this new A.R.G.U.S.-sanctioned roster organized, literally, to function as a fail-safe should Superman and his crew go rogue; the book also appears aimed at more mature audiences looking for something a little less elementary. Positioned as a flagship title for the New 52, Justice League proper proved a bombastic return to the tried and true Super Friends model, a simple origin tale featuring a familiar cast of characters (updated with such modern conventions as in-fighting and the permanent Jim Lee grimace) and hand-holdy accessibility. That entry-level simplicity isn’t palatable to long-time readers, but is this shadowy new League the answer to satisfy a thirst for complexity?
Unfortunately, Justice League of America stumbles out of the gate, due almost entirely to the stiff gait of a terribly high horse. Suffering from leaden composition and the increasingly tedious conceit of covert, alphabet soup bureaucrats arguing over metahuman recruitment in the shadow of filing cabinets, this super-sized issue is largely a ragged snore. Perhaps tellingly, the narrative picks up when Col. Trevor actually engages with individual heroes like the now-chilling Martian Manhunter, or when Vibe relates an exploit to his brother Dante. Green Arrow also takes on a perilous field mission with exciting enough results, but it’s hampered to an extent by Queen’s New 52 de-flavorization. Given the political themes involved, Waller and Trevor would have certainly found a tremendous sparring partner in the mustachioed Ollie, the outspoken liberal crusader. Missed opportunities such as this only drew the remarkably sophisticated Justice League Unlimited animated series out from the depths of fond memory. Rotund Waller’s C.A.D.M.U.S felt just as menacing as svelte Waller’s A.R.G.U.S. without all the glowering self-importance. Green Arrow and The Question made for terrific objectors to all authority. While invoking JLU is often considered unreasonably nostalgic, even pat, its efforts continue to loom large like Wil Wheaton’s dead all-star brother John Cusack in Stand By Me. The unfavorable comparison is simply inescapable.
David Finch’s pencils don’t so much support the grim tidings of the script as they up the level of grit to Dust Bowl proportions. All things being subjective, the concerns begin from the very first page when Professor Ivo–a character who cackled “Curse your dopeness, Vibe!” on Saturday morning TV this past weekend–emerges from the shadows with stark eyes and the look of a man awaiting a cancer screening. Gravitas and consequence have their place, but it’s evident that none but Greg Rucka or Ed Brubaker can usher DC’s characters to so weighty a place without the house of cards collapsing in on itself. It’s not that superheroes, even mainstream DC superheroes, can sustain mature stories. It’s just incredibly easy for it all to come off far sillier than a light-hearted humor book. The effort to tell a serious story is apparent, just not in the way you’d hope.
There is potential for improvement in so much as there is plenty of room for it. We also know Johns was once capable of spectacular entertainment, and I like to think he still, very much, is.
Story: 2 / Art: 3 / Overall: 2.5
(Out of 5 Stars)
Justice League of America’s Vibe #1 (2013) Cover
Justice League of America’s Vibe #1
Written by Geoff Johns and Andrew Kreisberg
Pencils by Pete Woods
Inks by Sean Parsons
Color by Brad Anderson
Letters by Carlos M. Mangual
Cover by David Finch
$2.99/Color/32 pages
Published by DC Comics
Fairing better than the main series, Justice League of America’s Vibe benefits from a resonant heart.
Cut from the same cloth as John’s best heroes, Cisco Ramon might prove the saving grace of his ultra-bleak team (here’s hoping his efforts combined with the effervescent Stargirl’s can soften some of those hard edges). This is the Geoff Johns of Justice Society of America, the tone he and Kreisberg employ imbued with familial pride and a hint of wonder amidst the rubble of tragedy. It also helps that the Fourth World is involved, tying Vibe’s origin with Darkseid’s emergence in the world of the New 52. While such drives for continuity have kept the catalog thoroughly gummed up in the past year and a half, this decision seems far smarter than the re-introduction of, say, Cyborg.
Five years ago, three brothers stumbled on a dimensional rift as a Parademon emerged. The eldest brother a promising, college-bound athlete named Armando (come to think of it, he’s more than a bit like Cusack in Stand By Me too…) managed to shield the others, only to fall as the first victim of the Apokolips invasion force. In that moment, Cisco and Dante’s lives changed forever. Especially young Cisco, who was briefly caught in the portal’s event horizon. The science is a bit murky, but we’re told Cisco fell out of synch with the vibrational frequency of his world. It remains unclear whether an airborne cluster of Skittles played any part in things as well, though somewhere out there, the Fourth Worlders might be tasting the rainbow for the very first time. For much of the issue, it seems this anomaly merely amounts to Cisco’s inability to be photographed with any kind of clarity. As a teen, he works at a big box appliance retailer, not much of a superhero or even a mild-mannered secret identity. Still, he’s easily the best adjusted of the Ramons. In the years since Armando’s death, middle brother Dante lost his way, his survivor’s guilt only snowballing. As with this week’s Nova #1, the family dynamic helps paint our hero as relatable. Unlike Sam from that other book though, Cisco is graciously free of spite. He’s a troubled kid, but instantly sympathetic and likable.
Eventually, of course, an A.R.G.U.S. agent turns up to recruit the lad, whisking him off to a proximal field op, assuring him that the Parademon holed up in a suburban home is the very same beasty what murdered his big brother those five years gone. Here, the conveniently knowledgeable handler explains and thereby unleashes Cisco’s metahuman ability to warp the fabric of reality like an energy beam. Though it’s later revealed that the creature was not likely the same one that came through the rift that day, the newly christened Vibe is never made aware, left to believe he’s secured justice for Armando’s death. Now a founding member of the Justice League of America, Cisco is ready to embark on a new career as a government operative.
Artist Pete Wood’s energetic style reads as welcome springtime to Finch’s bleak nuclear winter. Though both artists are tasked with rendering the same shady, underground organization, the depiction of A.R.G.U.S. in Vibe’s book seems suitably imperious and morally murky without descending into the over-wrought shadow-humping of its parent title. The cliffhanger is delightfully absurd, forked tongue firmly in cheek. It inspires a sinister chuckle after Ivo’s wince-inspiring reveal.
A little shaky, but all in all, good vibrations.
Story: 3.5 / Art: 3.5 / Overall: 3.5
(Out of 5 Stars)
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I had heard a bit about the reveal in Vibe and – not wanting to be spoiled – downloaded it (I pick up the rest of my books tomorrow.
It was a solid enough book. We’ll have to see where it goes, but it’s a decent start. It’s generally fun to follow a new hero on his or her journey, learning about their personalities as they learn about their powers. So there’s lots of potential.
I actually quite liked both books.
Yeah I did too, surprised to see this kind of backlash but I respect the review from Paul
Yeah I have to disagree with this review, i found it very entertaining. It was no masterpiece, but was still a great issue personal score would be a 4/5.
Glad you guys liked ’em! Plenty of great books out there for everybody, but unfortunately they don’t always overlap.
Always somebody to like everything. Doesn’t mean it’s good, however.
Definitely and just cause someone else or a majority like something doesn’t make it good for me or someone else. I haven’t read these two yet but already get the feeling I’m not gonna like JLA and don’t even care to read Vibe, can’t believe Geoff Johns took that gig. The creative team on JLA is good but they can’t all be gold and the only real reason I picked it up is for Stargirl and Hawkman cause they were JSA characters I miss and MM since he’s no longer on Stormwatch. Green Arrow’s solo w Lemire and Sorrentino is all I need for him and the rest of the lineup just feels out of place.
I don’t know. I never liked the idea of superheroes working for the government.
“There is potential for improvement in so much as there is plenty of room for it.” (About JL of A).
Good sentence.
Whoa! “The stiff gait of a terribly high horse” combines metaphors without mixing them, no small feat, and perfectly perfectly expresses this endemic problem. Nicely done, sir.
I agree shouting “WE’RE NOT SILLY! WE’RE COOL!” comes across very silly and uncool. Methinks the lady doth protest too much.
Silly and serious are not mutually exclusive, as Dwayne McDuffie, Joss Whedon, Grant Morrison and the Geoff Johns of old, have proven time and time again.
I really liked both of these titles. Initially, I didn’t think Vibe would be a great title, but I really ended up liking it. I thought the artwork was good in both of them. I’m not really sure why everyone is down on JLA; I really liked the Ocean’s Eleven type issue where each person is considered. I liked the part with Green Arrow in a mask and then finally being revealed at the end. I’m curious to see more of the interaction with the Superman-Wonder Woman relationship too. I trust that Johns will deliver on this title and I am excited to see where it goes.
And as for good vibrations, I have to say I don’t love the colorful clothes he wears, but the jury’s out on the way the sunlight dances on his hair.
The thesis for the Justice League of America review comes out of a conversation I had with Conor yesterday. He mentioned that Jim wrote a column a good while back about the dismal effects of the effort to make comics serious business as opposed to fluffy kid stuff. This book has that written all over it.
If anyone can track down Jim’s original column on that subject, give a shout.
I like when writers take their stories seriously.
I don’t think I’d be reading comics if they were all “fluffy kid stuff”.
That’s not actually an accurate reading of my argument. I’m speaking to “serious” as an affectation of comic creators seeking to legitimize the superhero genre by going humorless and grimdark. I’m not talking about writers and artists taking a story or their craft seriously.
There actually is a happy medium between “kid stuff” and this embarrassingly puffed up tone. This is the kind of book that reeks of a going dark and gritty as a defensive measure. As I mention in the review, there are writers and artists who tell mature stories with superheroes in a competent, confident manner. The best of Bendis’ Daredevil. Rucka’s Batwoman This is not that. This is posturing.
i follow what you’re saying. I think “keeping it real” could be close to what you’re talking about? At some point there has to be an understanding that this is a team of Superheroes in capes and cowls with fun nicknames taking down bad guys with costumes and monologues…its not the Navy Seals taking down terrorist cells. I don’t think you have to bring them into that Special Ops world to make em non-kiddie.
@Paul This review speaks to an overall feeling from the comics community that I’ve been thinking about a lot lately, and I would love to hear your thoughts on this (I maybe should even send it in as a topic for the podcast)
Five years or so ago comic book fans and websites generally spoke positively about the Big Two. Sure, there were and always will be “haters” but for the most part, the Big Two was very positively viewed from roughly 2002-2008/9/10 (something like that).
In the last several years, in fact mostly in just the last year or two, a lot of that positive attitude has faded. Sure, most people love Batman and much of Marvel Now has been well received but comics fans and media as a whole seem to be a lot more wary about Marvel and DC. People still get excited about the standout titles like Batman, Thor, and All New X-Men but it felt like comic readers were excited about the Marvel and DC universes as a whole several years ago, as opposed to just certain titles.
I hear it in the voices of the iFanboys just to show an example. In 2006 the boys were really excited about 52 and Civil War and most of the books surrounding those events, not to mention a lot of the other books in the universe that were non-event related but still played into the universes as a whole. Now, (other than the big Batman, Thor, etc. titles) it seems almost like a chore to talk about the Marvel or DC universes. (This is in no way a complaint or me calling anyone out or anything, just an observation).
So what is it in the last few years that has changed this mindset? Do you think Marvel and DC’s books are simply just worse than they were several years ago? Have they both gone too “dark” or overly serious like you were saying about this issue of JLA? Are the universes too connected, taking away the appeal of when Wonder Woman and Batman led into Crisis which led into 52? Are they not connected enough? Some other factor I’m not considering on the comics end?
Or is it more on the fans and the media, many of whom have been at this internet comic book thing, to this big of a capacity, since 2005-ish? Who may be (I don’t think “burned out” is the right term, but I can’t think of anything better) burned out on superhero universes?
Or is this simply not an accurate observation on my part and I’m delusional?
I don’t know if I have an answer for this myself but I’m really curious about the iFanboy podcaster and commenter thoughts.
In other words, it feels like there is more push back against the Big Two now in the last two years than at any point in comic book history.
Is it entirely self-inflicted by those two comic book companies (if so what went wrong?) or does a lot of it have to do with burn out (as if the internet comic community is in its “college days”)? Or am I seeing something that’s not there (possibly as a side-effect from listening to too much 11 o’clock comics 🙂 haha)
@LeviHunt: I think what you’re talking about is the result of internet fandom making more fans more aware of the cyclical nature of the comic book industry. It’s possible this growing awareness started earlier with fanzines, Wizard and other magazines as the “voice” of fandom became less isolated.
So as we have become increasingly aware of “the way comics work,” I think it’s natural that we become a little jaded. We’ve had the curtain pulled back far enough to see that comic book creation is rarely as magical as we might have perceived it to be when we were younger/uninitiated.
But because of that heightened awareness, I think many of us (the older, experienced and “aware” fans of superhero comics) need to accept that catering to our awareness and experience with the characters and continuity is probably not good for the long-term health of the publishers. I think we need to show a little more “flex” and let the publishers do what they need to do to keep these characters thriving for another 30, 50, or 70 years.
If we like the new directions they take? That’s awesome, keep on keeping on. If we don’t like it? Well, then maybe it’s time to let it go and enjoy all those back issues and trades we already own.
@LeviHunt15: “I hear it in the voices of the iFanboys just to show an example. In 2006 the boys were really excited about 52 and Civil War and most of the books surrounding those events, not to mention a lot of the other books in the universe that were non-event related but still played into the universes as a whole. Now, (other than the big Batman, Thor, etc. titles) it seems almost like a chore to talk about the Marvel or DC universes. (This is in no way a complaint or me calling anyone out or anything, just an observation).”
In a general sense, this is not true at all. We’ve talked so much lately about how great most of the Marvel NOW! books are that there are sections of Reddit convinced that Marvel sends us a bag of money each week. DC is in bad shape right now, quality-wise, so it is a chore to talk about them but that’s due to the quality of the books themselves not any kind of general Big Two malaise. We WANT them to be good.
On the show last week Josh spoke to having Big Two superhero burnout and even that’s not unusual. I can think of at least two other times in the 12 years of iFanboy where he has felt that.
The mindset hasn’t changed; the mindset goes up or down with the quality of the comic books.
Thanks for the response @Conor, and again, I meant nothing negative by the comments. I have been re-reading some 2006 comics which caused me to go back and re-listen to some 2006 podcasts. I think there was definitely more excitement about the Big Two as whole then than there is now. That’s a trend I’ve noticed across most websites, not just yours, along with the commenters that visit those sites.
I’ve listened to you guys long enough to know you love the Big Two, to varying degrees. You guys are more varied in what you cover now, which is definitely a good thing, and are less willing to try a new book just because it happens to be from Marvel or DC, which I think is also a good thing.
I was curious if you’ve noticed the same downward trend in opinion on the Big Two and if it was caused more by 1) decreased quality from Marvel/DC or 2) fan/media burnout in superhero comics in conjunction with more books of equal to better quality being offered elsewhere now than ever before.
I think the simplest explanation is that we as consumers are less beholden to DC/Marvel now than we ever were before, which makes us less willing to give the bad-mediocre Big Two books time to show improvement. So the books aren’t necessarily worse as a whole, we just give them less chance, because there are always better books everywhere else we look.
Just something I was curious about. Thanks for the responses @Conor and @Ken. Good points both.
“Suffering from leaden composition and the increasingly tedious conceit of covert, alphabet soup bureaucrats arguing over metahuman recruitment in the shadow of filing cabinets, this super-sized issue is largely a ragged snore.”
There isn’t a thing about this sentence i don’t love. Ragged snore. Sweet lord that’s an amazing critique.
also “shadow-humping”, just gold.
Couldn’t agree more about JLA, Paul. Well said, as always. I especially like what you said about pre-52 Ollie being a perfect fit for the book. It makes it that much more disappointing. In my opinion, it wouldn’t hurt to have this written by pre-promotion Johns either.
I wanted to like this title very much. Hope it picks up.
Nice reviews, Paul. I felt pretty much the same.
I have mixed feeling about the structure of JLA — on the one hand, I generally dislike the “let’s go over the dossier” overly expository introductory issue concept, but at the same time… I have to admit, I needed a little clarification on who each of these guys are in the new 52 universe. J’Onn, Ollie, Katar/Carter… they’ve all been changed enough that a reintroduction definitely helps. I’m just not sure that THIS was the proper way to do it. This felt like a #0 issue that should have been given away for Free Comic Book Day, you know?
Vibe also holds some promise, but I’m not sure if grafting on a “you’re the key to the multiverse” agenda onto a character is enough to make that character sustainable. I dig that element of this series, but he’s still a pretty basic “young hero” archetype. I’ll be curious to see how they develop his character from here.
Very much agreed on the Free Comic Book Day thing. Though I’d also be afraid it would scare people off the #1. 😉
Good point. I do think it serves as a useful set-up tool, it’s just that the execution is so contrived that we don’t feel much of anything from it. But considered on a video-game-teaser level, I could see this working to get readers excited about the dangerous wildcards on the team, and the overall gambit to take down the JL.
I couldn’t make it through Justice League of America. The tone and art were off-putting. I figured it was my mood and set it down for another day, but I guess it isn’t just me.
Didn’t read Vibe, but JLA was kinda blah to me. The only reason I was interested was to see where they were going with Stargirl. I’m a big Star-legacy fan so I want them to do something good with her. New take on Courtney could be interesting, gave a little mystery to her New 52 origin.
They got me enough to get at least one more issue out of my pocket. Hope the story ramps up in the next one.
My only real problem with JLA was it was all exposition. Things need to pick up fast or I’m out.
I respect your reviews and you are entitled to your opinion Paul, but 2.5 seems a bit harsh. Justice League of America is a solid book with great art, an okay concept, and an interesting roster. The concept has been done before but I have faith in Geoff Johns’ ability to craft a fresh story using familiar ideas. You don’t seem to like the dark tone, and that’s fine, but perhaps this won’t be the book for you. I personally hope that this series continues in the same vein. I really enjoyed it.
I can’t grade based on promise. Or at least I try not to. I felt this particular issue was tedious and dull aside from a couple standout moments (Martian Manhunter). I’m also looking at the art in terms of mood, variety and overall storytelling (which I found lacking), not just anatomy. Even if there are 5-star pinups throughout, I don’t consider that enough to warrant a 5 for visual storytelling. That’s where I’m at.
Fair enough. I can understand where you’re coming from even if I can’t agree. I will agree that Martian Manhunter was a standout moment.
Like I said, I’m looking forward to more of the same tone from this series. I guess we will have to see what happens.
Does anyone know what happened to that extended diverse,interesting cast for Justice League (i.e the one with deadman and firestorm) that Johns and Lee were bolstering about pre new 52 launch? Is JLA the result or maybe was it another victim of the DC editorial axe?
This week’s issue ended with the JL saying they had to expand the roster to a bigger team so I assume that’s coming next.
During Throne of Atlantis they add like a whole new crew to JLO (Justice League Original)
I will say that, based on the “promise” of this issue, I am kind of a fan of the darker mission statement of the team. It reminds me of John Ostrander’s classic Suicide Squad run, more than anything. If executed well, I do like a team that is forced together for an ulterior motive, while also being comprised of wildly conflicting personalities, each with a different agenda. Team books as likely to implode as to explode are always fascinating.
And I like this take on Martian Manhunter.
So, even though I wasn’t hugely fond of the issue, this could win me over as the story gets rolling.
Great reviews, Paul. I agree that the glacial place and “new reader orientation’ tone makes Justice League kind of a chore for established readers, but I’d add that it’s a pretty self-serious title, too. I’m actually a little puzzled that Justice League of America is meant to be the “darker” alternative to a comic that’s already quite grim (the infighting and grimaces you already mentioned, plus the perpetual night feeling in the art.) Maybe the second spin-off will just be 19 black pages with word balloons so you know that a heavily equipped special ops group shot some stuff, but were eventually killed by the Spectre or something, and everyone’s dad was also killed.
Vibe’s name is no longer Paco? And he may have powers similar to the DC/Marvel character Access? Well, I need to get home and read this issue now.
He is referenced as Cisco Ramon in both issues. His vibration power is tied to his straddling multiple realities at once. He also has something of a spider-sense, experiencing pain whenever something extra-dimensional is in the area.
I have a feeling this issue will set Jeff’s DCU Librarian-sense all aflutter. 🙂
How will I catalog him, Dave? Under “Vibe: Ramone, Paco” or “Vibe: Roman, Cisco!?” Gah!
“While invoking JLU is often considered unreasonably nostalgic” – The show is barely five years old, how can it be considered nostalgic? I also just happened to rewatch the entire Justice League series in a huge binge a few weeks back and I can tell you that the show totally holds up in every way and there are no rose colored glasses here.
It’s almost 7 years old at this point.
“Nostalgia” is a sentimental longing for the past, and the past is the past, whether it’s 7 years or 70, is it not?
Once again, here I am alone. I liked it. It left me looking forward to something next month. Would I stop reading Saga for Justice League of America? Certainly not. Two very different levels but I still enjoyed it.
If you scan the comments you will see you are not alone.
Hahaha.
Man, you’re LCS owner is mean if he makes you choose between Saga and JLA. 😛
I loved JLA and expected higher marks from ifanboy. I would be curious to read Conor’s review to see if it mirrors this one or gives more credit.
When was the last time Geoff Johns truly wowed people with his work? Been a while.
When was Sinestro Corps?
I’m kidding. Sort of. The Throne of Atlantis crossover gave me a taste of the old Johns, but he hasn’t knocked me out of my chair in a long time. He’s never bad. Ever. But he used to stop my world from turning for 23 pages on a regular basis. Nothing lasts forever. I’m sure he’s got a lot of great stories left to tell, but I can’t help but feel like his new position on top of all the books he writes is muffling his creative voice a bit.
Almost every issue of Justice League so far.
Am curious to read both titles for a tad cheaper in 30 days. But I trust Paul, so I’m not getting my hopes up that high.
“alphabet soup bureaucrats” —-> genius. I’m awaiting the New 52’s big summer crossover event, ALPHABET BUREAUCRACY WAR! in which A.R.G.U.S. clashes with N.O.W.H.E.R.E. and S.H.A.D.E… as Cadmus, Checkmate and the Blackhawks launch a surprise non-alphabet attack! Will Team 7 ever be the same again??
T.E.A.M.7
I wish I could claim credit for the ‘alphabet soup’ phrase. I’m not sure where I first saw that used, or even if that was the actual origin. I was just immediately taken with it as an elegant metaphor for the absurdity of piled-up acronyms in government agencies. After a while it’s just a bunch of letters with little meaning.
Gotcha. I find N.O.W.H.E.R.E. to be the silliest. Honestly, if your shadowy group name can be initialized as N.O.W.H.E.R.E. then maybe it’s time to rethink your objectives.
Btw, I forgot S.T.A.R. Labs. Sheesh!
I really enjoyed this issue a lot and waiting to see where this series goes. As a DC reader who has been down these days (and wondered more towards the Marvel side), I found this story to a bit “refreshed’ and a different take than the other 52 type books I’ve tried. It does has similarities to be a bit like the JLU animated storyline, but the themes hold true. If there are a Super Powered team in the world today, there definitely would have to be a government response. “Geoff, where are you going to take us with JLA?”
I didn’t love or hate this. It was just sort of… there. The issue just felt like a list. I don’t know too much about the New 52 incarnations of these characters, so I just felt sort of detached while reading this. It really was nothing but Steve Trevor and Amanda Waller talking in a room and listing names. The team still feels sort of random, and the pairings with the Justice League aren’t explained well (with the exception of Simon Baz and Hal Jordan: that’s obvious). The only character I have any interest in so far is Steve Trevor. There wasn’t anything that I particularly disliked, but this issue didn’t do enough to really draw me in. I want to find out more about how this fits in with Justice League and where they are going, so I’ll give next month’s issue a shot. Still, money’s tight so I’ll probably hold off on this unless next month’s issue really draws me in.
I felt like these read much better in tandem (as in one after the other) than by themselves. I think it might have something to do with the different tones that both of these books bring to the table. I would definitely say that Justice League of America was the weakest of the two but I personally wouldn’t score it quite as low as you did. I think that it had some things to do that were necessary to getting the ball rolling in earnest and they accomplished them for the most part. Yeah it might feel a little clunky but sometimes those building blocks don’t quite fall into place as smoothly as we might like. Still it gave us a view of these characters and how they line up with the New 52 timeline (something that pretty much everyone needs whether you’ve been following all the series or not) it gave us a purpose for the team and also gave us some decent hooks with the fate of Green Arrow and the upcoming confrontations and recruitment stories.
I would probably leave Vibe at 3.5 and bump up Justice League of America to a solid 3.0. Nothing amazing but definitely necessary to get things going.
Still great reviews and excellent writing. I hope I can one day match your skill when it comes to clever, well-written reviews. Thank you.
I didn’t get the “This is totally serious comic stuff going on” feeling that the reviewer got. Maybe from the scene with Martian Manhunter but he just came from Stormwatch where he had to hang out with all those Authority types, and I think they kill puppies when nobody is looking. Or, the part with Green Arrow. But the parts with Vibe were light hearted, especially with Vibe’s brother Dante making fun of him. And Amanda Waller was not so serious she could take time out to ooh and aah over a celebrity photo. Or Catwoman’s flirting was rather a light hearted moment. Which I’m glad they added her to the roster now because I was starting to think that nobody cared (not even Catwoman herself) that a major organised crime family was trying to kill Selina Kyle and had already killed her best friend. But with Steve Trevor commenting on it I can now make peace with why this issue has gone so long unresolved (and unmentioned) in Catwoman’s own series.
David Finch does seem to draw people in very stressed out lines. It’s like he is angry at his pencil whenever he draws. But from the writing I didn’t think it was oh-so-serious.
Gotta say this guy got it completely wrong.