Waylon Weighs In: A Review Of Justice League #1

Waylon Weighs In: A Review Of Justice League #1

I know we are comicbookMOVIE.com, but I felt compelled to share my thoughts with you after picking up and reading the new Justice League #1 written by Geoff Johns and drawn by Jim Lee.

Review Opinion
By WaylonJones - Aug 31, 2011 12:08 PM EST
Filed Under: DC Comics

When hearing about the new DC 52 I was extremely skeptical. Why would you reboot so many iconic characters and stories? As information started to roll out I became less and less skeptical. First major news to come out was that all-star writer Geoff Johns and award winning artist Jim Lee would be handling the new Justice League. This to me was great news, I wasn't this excited about a DC writer/artist team up since Jeph Loeb and Lee worked on Hush together. Earlier Josh Wilding posted some reviews from other sites about what they thought of the first issue of Justice League. So I decided to give you guys some one on this sites perspective on it and do a review my self. While I have made my best effort not to, be warned of possible spoilers.

Justice League starts us off deep in the heart of Gotham in typical Batman fashion. Batman on roof tops chasing down a villain, what is interesting about this go around though is that Justice League #1 takes place before costumed heroes are accepted. So not only does Batman have his villain he has to worry about he has the local authorities as well. Batman runs into Green Lantern and this is where John's writing really shines. Geoff John's knows how to write Hal Jordan. Maybe I have a bad taste in my mouth from Ryan Reynold's portrayal of Jordan, but Johns mixes Hall's coolness with his arrogance and makes him in to someone that you defiantly want on your team, but you also wouldn't mind taking a swing at him.

We also get our first look at Ford High School football stand out Victor Stone A.K.A. Cyborg. Here again Johns shows off his incredible writing ability by bringing in a depth to a story about a kid who seems to have it all yet doesn't have what he wants the most.

While wrapping the story up Lee gives us our first(one page) look at Superman. Johns sets up, very nicely, a confrontation between Batman and Superman in next months issue. With his one page in the book Superman makes his presence known and known in a big way.

Overall the book was a fun read nothing significant happened that blew me away but then again it is just the first issue of what looks to be an amazing story arc. Geoff John's nailed each character, and makes you want to count down the days until the next issue. To compliment Johns, Lee puts your right in the heart of the action with his art. His Green Lantern constructs are breath taking as well and there are not shortage of them in this issue. I also have to mention inker Scott Williams who gives Jim Lee's art so much depth and colorist Alex Sinclair who makes the art pop right off the page at you. A great way to start off the new 52, and raise the bar for the other writers and artist.




This issue get 4 out of 5 stars.



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AiyalKilU
AiyalKilU - 8/31/2011, 12:14 PM
4 is way generous for this issue. 3 at best and I'm being nice. Geoff Johns wore out his welcome since 2008. The guy lives too much in the past and focuses on the Silver Age, thankfully Grant Morrison is on Supes so now we don't have to live through another Richard Donner obsessed world Johns made in the origin story.
ClosetNerd
ClosetNerd - 8/31/2011, 12:16 PM
Picking this up today
AiyalKilU
AiyalKilU - 8/31/2011, 12:17 PM
btw those who haven't read it or aren't planning to here's the simple rundown in Geoff Johns' little world:

Batman and Green Lantern b*tch and moan about who can be the bigger whiner while Superman comes later to brag about being the biggest whiner there can be.

Skip this and go get the Action Comics line worked on by Grant Morrison, Batman by Scott Snyder, Planetary, and Batman & Robin. There I just saved you a whole bunch of time.
WaylonJones
WaylonJones - 8/31/2011, 12:17 PM
^^^^^^lamoooo
WellDrawn
WellDrawn - 8/31/2011, 12:20 PM
I have absolutely no problem with a reboot as long as that's what it really is. I'd much rather they truly start from scratch, then trying to shoehorn in preexisting Batman/Greenlantern story line's into the continuity just because Geoff Johns doesn't want to see the project's that he's worked on suddenly not matter in the DCU.
They should be treating each and every story like it's a movie - giving the difinitive tale/origin for each character at a time.
The first six months to a year of this reboot should be laying the foundations for each character, finally finally building up and culminating in The Justice League!
Hell, I don't mind rereading each characters origin story again, as long as it's the DEFINITIVE version of the characters - just go all or nothing for f#@*k's sake!
Pontius888
Pontius888 - 8/31/2011, 12:21 PM
Mmmm...Seems that I'm not going to enjoy this....
AiyalKilU
AiyalKilU - 8/31/2011, 12:23 PM
come on dude, you know I'm right

you read the issue right? I agree with you that Johns knows Hal Jordan... but that's the problem, he focuses too much on the past. Bringing back Jordan as Lantern was great but nobody expected him to be front and center while the popular ones like Kyle Rayner and John Stewart were pushed to the back.
Speaking of popular, by bringing back Barry Allen (who had THE epic death/sacrifice in CoIE) he made that moment worthless. Now Wally West has been shoved away so that Barry can hog all the spotlight. If DC really wanted change they should do away with Geoff Johns. The guy is a cancer in DC.
WaylonJones
WaylonJones - 8/31/2011, 12:26 PM
I just thought it was a fun read and that is what I based my rating system off of. Do you have some valid points? Yes, but I enjoyed it. For me I thought Johns nailed the characters in the book, and I enjoyed the story.
AiyalKilU
AiyalKilU - 8/31/2011, 12:26 PM
^^^
Jealousy at its finest folks

GrammarNazi69
vermillion
vermillion - 8/31/2011, 12:26 PM
Geoff John's said this was going to be accessible to everybody. From all the reviews I've read, he was right.

I can't wait to read it myself. My local book store didn't have a copy so I'm gonna wait a few days and see if they get it, if not, I'll get the graphic novel when it releases.

Shaman
Shaman - 8/31/2011, 12:26 PM
WellDrawn- Couldn't have said it better myself!
AiyalKilU
AiyalKilU - 8/31/2011, 12:27 PM
To each their own I guess, it's still way too early to write this off but I'm gonna stay away until they get a new writer on board the line.
Geeksiah
Geeksiah - 8/31/2011, 12:32 PM
Read it... Meh

bleedthefreak
bleedthefreak - 8/31/2011, 12:43 PM
Sorry Comicsfan69, but this is what a review looks like when it doesn't have an overabundance of pictures to hid a lack of writing. Sorry Waylon had to taint you eyes with a review longer then 10 sentences. Also Waylon IS an editor not just a buddy to some, he did his work all by himself, and we are so very proud of you Way Way.
cable23
cable23 - 8/31/2011, 12:44 PM
I don't have a comic book shop around here so I have to wait until I get mine delivered. But from the reviews I have read its pretty good. But I do see people saying that its not a complicated read. Which is exactly what Johns and Lee planned to do. They wanted the new 52 accessible for everyone. Not to mention this is the first issue so things are not going to be so complicated and there are no references to any of the previous comics. Anyway great review! Just ordered the combo pack from Midtown Comics yesterday.
JoshWilding
JoshWilding - 8/31/2011, 12:45 PM
Great review Waylon! :)

Anyone else think of this when they read ComicFan69's comments?

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bleedthefreak
bleedthefreak - 8/31/2011, 12:45 PM
*hide*
WaylonJones
WaylonJones - 8/31/2011, 12:46 PM
*wipes tear* Thanks Bleed :D
davidcub
davidcub - 8/31/2011, 12:47 PM
I don't understand the people who say: "This is a jumping on point", "it's more accessible now". It's a [frick]ing comic book, it's pretty accessible to begin with. Not reading the first issue of something never stopped me from picking up new titles. What's the [frick]ing problem?
yeoldeemoney
yeoldeemoney - 8/31/2011, 12:49 PM
Meh. This is a maybe for me.
NerdyGeek
NerdyGeek - 8/31/2011, 12:51 PM
I'm not an editor but I still understand why this is on main and not your's Comicsfan69. Waylon became an editor because of his hard work and was trusted by 'GOD' himself Galactus to provide news and much more, there is no reason why a top class contributor(editor) like Waylon shouldn't be able to post his opinions on this comic since he provides so much more news and other things than someone like you or me! BOTTOM LINE: SHUT UP WHINY ASS UP! :)
NerdyGeek
NerdyGeek - 8/31/2011, 12:52 PM
*YOUR
95
95 - 8/31/2011, 1:03 PM
Sounds good.
jroka
jroka - 8/31/2011, 1:04 PM
I thought it was a good read. I like the whole recruiting the team one at a time angle and it makes sense that it all starts with Batman trying to solve a mystery. Supes' introduction at the end, in my opinion, was pretty epic. Looking forward to the second issue.
StrangerX
StrangerX - 8/31/2011, 1:05 PM
The only book right now I'm interested in is Action Comics #1
MaddMonkk
MaddMonkk - 8/31/2011, 1:07 PM
I must say i did enjoy it. However. I did not like the fact its a reboot, I don't like Superman 90210 (patent pending on that name), armored up suits and high collars, I hate starting over from the beggining. So i give it 2.37568 stars out of 5
VictorHugo
VictorHugo - 8/31/2011, 1:08 PM
AiyalKilU:

Agreed, f**ck Barry Allen! He´s dead and buried, died in the Crisis, everybody mourned for him.

Look at Geoff Johns argument "a whole new generation don´t know who Barry is...so it´s the best to reintroduce him".
f**ck both him and the new generation who can´t be bothered to buy a "Showcase Presents"

How about..moving FORWARD!
MaddMonkk
MaddMonkk - 8/31/2011, 1:08 PM
edit button! I'm sorry for what ever I did, please come back
ThaMessenger07
ThaMessenger07 - 8/31/2011, 1:16 PM
Way is probably one of the most "on top of his shite" Editor there is ComicFan. You sound a lot like Earz lol

Great review and I hope to pic it up. While looking forward to the Relaunch I feel I may agree with AiyalKilU
nuck82
nuck82 - 8/31/2011, 1:17 PM
i just picked it up, i thought it was ok, kinda funny reading them and they dont know one another yet, wish they did alittle more in the book it being the 1st one.
USAgent
USAgent - 8/31/2011, 1:24 PM
@MaddMonkk Loved the 90210 reference and the 2.37568 stars award, very funny

I haven't picked it up myself but it seems most folks are in the middle on it. As for the reboot, I imagine it has much to do with merging the Wildstorm stuff into DCU continuity and trying to give the DCU a sort of basis to work from instead of this Earth to that Earth type of story telling and then a crisis to shake stuff up. Someone said it best earlier, its like DC is trying to Marvelize their stuff
BackwardGalaxy
BackwardGalaxy - 8/31/2011, 1:29 PM
"nothing significant happened that blew me away"

That's really all you need to know about a comic book that's meant to relaunch an entire freaking universe.
Jordanstine
Jordanstine - 8/31/2011, 1:31 PM
@Waylon

Um... Hal Jordan actually sounds more like Ryan Reynolds in this issue.

I think Geoff Johns was thinking of the Green Lantern movie character's base on this.
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