WGTB reviews Justice League #12

I’ve been reading Justice League somewhat regularly for the first year of the New 52. But because of the higher price-point and my somewhat limited budget, there had been a couple issues that I missed. This was remedied at FanExpo Canada two weekends ago, when I was fortunate to find all the missing back issues and I'm very glad I did. This has been an overall enjoyable comic since it started the New 52, and I was quite pleased to hear recently that Geoff Johns and David Finch will be working on another Justice League title – Justice League of America – in the near future. 

(Warning: some spoilers below)

Justice League #12 (October 2012) Writing by Geoff Johns, pencils by Jim Lee & art by Ivan Reis, Joe Prado & David Finch. $3.99

This issue will sell well because it received significant media attention due to a kiss between two of DC’s most iconic characters: Wonder Woman and Superman.  And while this may only get comics temporarily back into daily newspapers, the collectability-factor isn’t the only reason to pick it up. This issue also saw the culmination of the relationship conflict between Colonel Steve Trevor and Wonder Woman and a battle between the League and the spirit-driven villain David Graves has become. It also marked a falling-out between Wonder Woman and Green Lantern, with GL appearing to leave the team just in time for the upcoming Rise of the Third Army event over in the Lantern books. Suffice it to say, it was a busy issue and because of this didn't have space to put in a continuation of the Shazam story which I've also been enjoying.

Green Lantern heads back to space in Justice League #12

It was a good book and very emblematic of both the New 52’s move away from the previously established continuity and the freedom the creators have taken with new stories for their tested characters. Research tells me that this wasn't the first time Superman and Wonder Woman have kissed, but it will be interesting to see how these two go forward in the mainstream universe. The cynic might see this as a way of making sales, and to a degree that is true. But the battle and stress relating to David Graves and his 'Pertas' ('hungry ghosts') and Steve Trevor's ended relationship with Wonder Woman was good enough to convince me that this wasn't a flash-in-the-pan event and some serious character development could result from the kiss. We're also given an indication toward the end that it's not completely over with Graves and we should give us something to look forward to in the next issue. 

'Two lost souls, swimming in a fish bowl' in Justice League #12

Regarding the artwork, like most of Jim Lee’s, I find it precise, active and fun. I still think he's one of those artists who captures the medium’s vitality and entertainment value well and is among the best in the business. 

4/5 STARS

Random Thoughts: October 2011

You may have noticed I haven’t frequented my blog much of late. It has been a busy time and although it has been difficult to write consistently, here are some random thoughts about comics in October 2011. Because a writer writes... 

From Marvel's Alpha Flight #5, December 2011

I begin by expressing my disappointment with Marvel’s decision to end the current run of Alpha Flight at number eight. I know it was not originally planned as an ongoing series, but at Fan Expo in Toronto this August, it was announced the series would continue after eight issues. I know how much Marvel loves Canadians so sales must have really dropped, but it's disappointing none-the-less. If I could quickly offer some advice, I think the story would have been better if it had Alpha Flight working within the wider Marvel Universe. Certainly, Canadians love seeing Toronto, Parliament Hill and Vancouver on the panelled page, but I think it would have reached a wider audience (read American and British readers) if the Flight had left Canada and joined the superhero community for a couple of issues. Of course, this may still happen as we're only at issue 5/8 right now.   

From DC's Justice League #2, December 2011

In happier news, I was very glad to hear DC is bringing Captain Marvel back in a backup story titled The Curse of Shazam in the fifth issue of Justice League. Geoff Johns mentioned this at New York Comic Con and said it would be a reboot(!) of the Marvel Family franchise. In related commentary, Justice League #2 was a much better than #1 and I’m starting to enjoy the fresh and impetuous nature of the characters we’ve met so far. I’m still not sure about the $3.99 price, but it will be much easier to stomach with a Captain Marvel v. Black Adam story. Scroll down  two posts if you want to see how much I like Black Adam.

From Marvel's Uncanny X-Men #544, November 2011

Moving back to Marvel, I’m still not sure who’s camp I’m in with regard to the split we’re about to experience in X-Men. Regenesis was good, as was Uncanny X-Men’s final issue (I loved the nod to Jack Kirby at the beginning!) but I’m still not convinced Logan should be running a school. It just doesn’t seem characteristic!  That said, Beast’s line in Regenesis: 'I'm going to help Logan run a school. By which I mean, I will be actually running the school and Logan will merely have the best office' was great and I’m pleased Hank is heading back to the academy. I plan on reading both sides in the immediate future and will let you know my thoughts as they come up.  

From IDW & DC's Start Trek/Legion of Super-Heroes #1, October 2011

Finally, I picked up something at Orbital Comics in London this week I didn’t expect: a Star Trek/Legion of Super-Heroes crossover. It was good and had the Legion group, the mainline Kirk/Spock Star Trek universe, and the AMAZING Mirror Universe which long-time Trekkies will remember from such classic episodes as the ‘Mirror, Mirror’ and Deep Space Nine’s ‘Crossover’. As a long-time Trek fan, I am always excited to see the place where Spock had a beard! The Legion of Super-heroes wouldn't have been my first choice for a Star Trek/Comics crossover (I'd love to see Reed Richards work with Spock) but it was a decent establishing story and I’ll probably go back next month to see where it goes. 

He's not really 'Evil Spock'! From the Star Trek episode 'Mirror, Mirror'

So those are some random thoughts about the comic book world in mid-October 2011. Thanks again for visiting and FYI, I’m working on expanding my repertoire with a piece on a classic Arthur C. Clarke novel that should be up soon. Keep an eye on Twitter and blogspot and I’ll chat with you soon.

Random Reviews: Justice League #1

Well, it’s here! The first of the ‘New 52’, DC’s attempt to boost sales by restarting its entire line-up, arrived on the shelves the past Wednesday with Justice League #1. And while I’m still not convinced this will bring people back en mass to the comics medium, I have to say JL#1 is pretty good and actually has me excited about the next issue. The story is largely a Batman and Green Lantern yarn but gives us a sneak peak at Cyborg and Superman by end, and I have to say Kal-El is looking mighty cool in his newly redesigned outfit.

Indeed, all of the costumes are properly modernized but there’s also a territorial (“Gotham’s mine, Coast City’s Yours”) edge to both Batman and Green Lantern that hearkens back to an earlier separation of the DC world. Lee’s artwork is good and Geoff John’s story, while being almost too reader friendly, held my interest throughout and got me excited for both the next issue and the complete re-launch and I expect to go back next month to some degree. It would have been nice to see DC ‘hold the line at 2.99’ on this book -- if only to give us a few extra pages and make a point of principle for the fans -- but unfortunately that wasn’t the case as this book was $3.99.

(Batman and Green Lantern guard their 'jurisdictions' jealously in Justice League #1, October 2011)

On a related note, we enjoyed speaking with the folks at my local shop (Paradise Comics in Toronto) and it sounds like sales have reflected the hype, which is great for them and the industry.

(Mutual mistrust of Superman in Justice League #1, October 2011)

So while this is clearly an advert for the other 51 books coming out this September, the first of the ‘New 52’ was pretty good and I recommend you pick it up if you still can.

(The new Superman outfit in Justice League #1, October 2011)