Justice League of America Wedding Special #1 (Reviewed by Andrew Dowdell)
"Unlimited" Chapter 1
Writer: Dwayne McDuffie
Penciller: Mike McKone
Inker: Andy Lanning
Editor: Eddie Berganza
The Story:
While Oliver Queen and Dinah Lance celebrate their bachelor and bachelorette parties with their close friends and families, Lex Luthor gathers an all-new Injustice League to strike at the JLA. When Firestorm is attacked and left for dead, the Leaguers investigate on two fronts. Batman and Red Arrow are taken out by the Joker, Fatality and Shaow Thief, while Dr. Light, Killer Frost and the Cheetah apprehend Wonder Woman. Hawkgirl is able to fly back to the Hall of Justice, where the remaining members of the JLA rally to rescue their teammates.
REVIEW:
Dwayne McDuffie's much-anticipated run on Justice League of America gets its start with this issue, which actually has less to do with Green Arrow and Black Canary's wedding than it does with the formation of the Injustice League. For those who complained that Brad Meltzer's run was "too slow," and not enough happened, then perhaps McDuffie is more their liking. McDuffie is more of a "showing, not telling" type of writer, eschewing first-person narration caption boxes for which Meltzer is famous.
McDuffie has several great character moments in this issue. The opening sequence, in which Lex Luthor, the Joker and the Cheetah choose the members of the Injustice League, was brilliant. There comes a small but pivotal roster change to the JLA in this issue, in which John Stewart joins the team and becomes the League's second Green Lantern; he and Hal Jordan will be sharing membership in the team. Firestorm makes a return appearance here, which promises to on an ongoing basis. And McDuffie's Batman is spot-on -- an arrogant know-it-all who still takes the time to shepherd younger members (Red Arrow) and taunt old allies (Hal Jordan).
My main gripe about this issue is the art. Normally I enjoy Mike McKone's artwork, and I don't think that this issue is bad; I just think that it's not up to his usual caliber of work. Some of the villains, especially, don't look quite right. In the two-page spread of the villains in the Hall of Injustice, some of the characters look awkwardly posed, while others just don't look like themselves.
Nevertheless, for any fan of the Justice League or super-hero team books in general, this issue promises to be the start of great things to come.
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
This was an amazing amazing overview of the show. If i wasn't a fan already i so would be now. I would be at the store buying seasons 1 and 2 and watching them to catch up for season 3.
Posted by: abercrombie uk | May 14, 2011 at 07:44 AM