From The Pull List: JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1
Was the debut issue of Justice League of America, 'World's Most Dangerous' a great opening salvo or a grave misstep from DC Comics' Justice League line?
"The road to this just became a lot clearer after Justice League #1."
CURRENT PULL
Aquaman
Earth-2
World's Finest
Batman
Batman and Robin
Nightwing
Stormwatch
Justice League
Justice League International
Phantom Stranger
Thor: God of Thunder
The Amazing Spider-Man
X-Men: Legacy
All New X-Men
Daredevil
Daredevil: End of Days
The Walking Dead TPB
Saga TPB
The Unwritten TPB
DANGER ZONE
Demon Knights
Redhood and the Outlaws
DROPPED
Resurrection Man
Wonder Woman
Justice League Dark
Superboy
Action Comics
Wonder Woman
Voodoo
*title indicates series ended |
One of the better issues to come out today was Geoff Johns and David Finch's Justice League of America #1. There's been a lot of buildup to this secondary Justice League title and it doesn't disappoint. Right away, we hit the ground running with an appearance from Professor Ivo and a chase between a mysterious figure and what looks to be the shadowy silhouettes of Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman. But for the majority of the issue, the spotlight shines on Steve Trevor and Amanda Waller as they dissect the strengths and weaknesses of the members they've targeted for Justice League of America. Johns crafts a JLA members that steal the show are Martian Manhunter and Catwoman. It's refreshing that there's no mystery about why the team is being formed. Waller and Trevor are about to embark on a recruitment drive to take out the Justice League for the scenario of them potentially going rogue. The individual members of the JLA were selected as specific combatants for the members of the Justice League. It breaks down to Martian Manhunter vs Superman, Catwoman vs Batman, Katana vs Wonder Woman, Hal Jordan vs Baz, Flash vs Vibe, Cyborg vs Stargirl and Aquaman vs Hawkman. Those are all match-up hardcore and newcomers alike would love to see.
What's to be appreciated about the issue is that it doesn't make any pretenses about who and what the characters are and what the U.S. government is dealing with in terms of a foreign operation like the Justice League. For instance, Green Arrow was originally selected as the opposite number for Batman but Trevor stepped in and quickly overrode that notion, acknowledging that a counter move for Batman is the most important position on their team. Fans of Justice League International will also be pleased that the team isn't gone and forgotten and that the disappearance of Booster Gold figures prominently into the formation of the new team. Overall, if you've been reading a wide variety of titles in the New 52, you'll be rewarded in JLA with the many references to the larger DC world.
The art was high-quality, matching the storytelling from Johns and the panel layout facilitated a lot of story being told in only one issue. My lone gripe would be that Finch seemed to really struggle drawing Amanda Waller who was pretty inconsistent from panel to panel.
There's also a ton of easter egg mentions in this issue with mentions of the Secret Society, Chronus, silver age DC villain Byth Rok, Starman, The Star-Spangled Kid and S.T.R.I.P.E.
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Johns and Finch make for a dynamic team and have crafted a debut issue full of intrigue, mystery and promise. This is a can't miss read for any DC Comics fan.
Written by Jeoff Johns
Art by David Finch
Letters by Rob Leigh
Colors by Sonia Oback & Jeromy Cox
40 pgs
$3.99
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