Compared to some previous issues, not a lot happened this time out. Our stalwart heroes had a fight at Checkmate, and then went home. That’s it.

People have been commenting on how much better-paced JLGL is than Brightest Day. Having dropped BD several issues ago, I can’t say whether that’s true, but the pacing of this issue, at least, is darn good. One of my big complaints with the very early issues of this series was that it was one giant chase scene that didn’t give the characters time to do anything other than run and get dismissed by other heroes.

That’s definitely not a problem this issue. From the opening narration (“This is the Justice League International. Except they’re not calling themselves that. And this isn’t all of them.”) onward, this issue is more lighthearted than the series has been so far (which is generally a plus in my book), but still manages its moments of drama well. The standouts for me were Rocket Red, who continues to be hilarious and adorable, and Ice, who–gasp!–comes across as justifiably overwhelmed rather than whiny or bitchy, which I think is a first for this title.

There’s one particular panel of Rocket Red’s face that’s all kinds of messed up, but the art is otherwise pretty good. I especially like that Lopresti gave Bea’s hair some body after it’s been pretty slick and straight the last few issues.  And Skeets’s Rocket Red design (which I apparently missed completely last issue) is great.