Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews
Justice League Of America #1
DC Comics
Johns & Finch
The latest DC launch is a big one as a new Justice League franchise title releases in the form of Justice League of America aka JLA. This first issue needed to do two very specific things; 1) differentiate between the title called Justice League and 2) establish a team in some sort of interesting way. This first issue achieves both in this over-sized debut issue. While the cast might seem to be a bit lackluster the first issue certainly gives the reader a solid comic book to sink their teeth into. This book is definitely worth a look.
Johns begins the issue with the standard team selection. Two government officials are pawing through files trying to pick super heroes for a team based in America. The overall reason for the team's existence isn't revealed until nearly the end, but this opening allows the reader to understand the thought process behind picking the individuals within the team. Through this process we get the overall purpose of why the team exists and subsequently why this book exists. It's all done very well.
The book takes a very odd approach to the characters though. The rationale as to why these characters would willingly join a team is very fuzzy to say the least. To expect these B and C list characters to sign on simply because the government will provide them amnesty or information that will assist them in their quest for revenge feels very clunky. Take Hawkman for example. He's a murderer on the scale of the Punisher, but he would willingly join up with an alien government so that he won't get charges pressed on him? Not buying it.
The artwork is good. There is a darkness and an edginess to the book that I suppose is geared towards the rogue nature of the team's members. It works well and is very anti- super hero in some respects which is basically what this team is made up of. This is a good artistic book.
JLA is going to be a tough sell. It's a book with a lot of new or totally unknown characters in it. Even the dialogue in the book asks the question of, "how are these characters going to work together?" That will be part of the journey for this book. One of the things this issue lacks is any sort of villainous threat. The book appears it will be character based and that could prove challenging with this many fresh or un-established faces. Time will tell, but this is a good start.
4 out of 5 Geek Goggles
