JUSTICE LEAGUE CRY FOR JUSTICE #1 (OF 7)

Review by: Terence

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Size: pages
Price: 3.99

                          

I have flip-flopped back and forth on this title; when it was first announced as an ongoing I was pretty enthusiastic. When it was demoted to a mini-series, my enthusiasm drained away, but at least James Robinson was still going to be writing a Justice League title, yes? Then I saw those preview pages, and my heart sank – this was going to be the same James Robinson newly returned from Hollywood (where his writing skills had obviously atrophied – Hollywood will do that) that left me flat on the first few issues of his Superman run. Robinson has brushed up on his comic book writing skills immeasurably since those disappointing days, and his Superman (well, Mon-El and The Guardian) run is one of DC’s highlights in my book. Still, I wasn’t sure I was going to buy into an unnecessary mini-series, having sworn of them earlier this year.

However, in a week when my only other comic book purchase was to be Batman and Robin, I thought what the hell, and plunked down my hard earned cash to hear the Justice League Cry For Justice!

Well, leaving aside the opening scene on the Justice League satellite with Hal getting all worked up about the meaning of justice (buy a Thesaurus you cheapskate!), and the beat-you-over-the-head-with-it concreting of the theme, it was OK. Not brilliant, but certainly serviceable for a cape and powers comic book. I’m even optimistic that Robinson’s writing will improve going ahead, as he shakes of the bad habits learned writing scripts for Hollywood for a number of years.

Let’s talk about the art, shall we? Honestly, I thought the art was the weakest element of the book; painted art that was worthy of an ‘A’ level merit badge, but little else – stock poses, faces that don’t actually show any expression (unless it’s extreme), and annoying painterly tricks wrapped up in a photo-realistic bow. I understand why a large number of comic book readers faint at the sight of some photo-realism (hence Alex Ross’ strange popularity) but it’s an art style that exists only to allow the artist to flatter his ego,  and waste time producing images with very little content beyond the surface gloss.  I’m not sure Cascioli even did any real character research, as there are some glaring mistakes to be found within these pages.

So, a mixed result; I will be buying the next issue hoping for signs of improvement from Robinson (I don’t hold out much hope for Cascioli), but I am confident that Robinson’s up-coming run on the League title proper  will be a vast improvement  – both on his writing here, and what has come before on the Justice League of America.

 

Story: 3 - Good
Art: 2 - Average

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