Written by Geoff Johns
Illustrated by Jim LeeThe superstar team of Geoff Johns and Jim Lee continue the origin of the Justice League as The World’s Greatest Heroes face the might of Apokolips — and find aid in an unlikely hero, as Cyborg is created!
Last time we chatted about Justice League, I hypothesized that the entire New 52 was going to be a direct sequel to the Green Lantern movie before it tanked at the box office, and that Justice League was supposed to read like an action film. Not to get a big head about it, but reading issue #4 has only further proved my theory correct and, in doing so, has left me with very little to say about this comic.
So, in the spirit of the Christmas season, I am going to, instead, write a wish list to Johns/Lee, in hopes that they will be my own personal Santa – someone to answer my prayers, someone who cares. Reach out and touch Christmas (after the jump)!
My names is Brian, and I have been a very good boy this year. For Christmas, I want this from your Jusice League comic:
1) I want this bickering to stop
I know that Hal being an idiot is a chuckle-fest of the highest order, but really, this is getting old. Hal Jordan, over in your Green Lantern book, is not so annoying and, although maybe five years of possession by Parallax, death, time as the Spectre, resurrection and rebuilding the Corps can mature a person, this version of Hal just reads obnoxious. Him bickering with everyone was cute for the first few issues, but let’s put that to bed, m’kay?
2) Give us more Cyborg
Cyborg is, in the short life of this series, the most interesting character so far. I still miss Martian Manhunter as the 7th guy in the League, but Cyborg is, thus far, the only sympathetic character, and one that has any sort of motivation other than “kill alien things.”
3) Keep Jim Lee on pencils
I have no problem with artists filling in for a story here or there, or even for a short arc, but it has been a real treat to see Lee turning out a monthly book. His Green Lantern constructs have been one of the undisputed highlights of the book — they are silly, subtle, and extraordinarily detailed. Give him the appropriate time off he needs, so that he can be on this book for the long term.
4) Expand the lineup
I’m one of the few people who really loved James Robinson’s run on Justice League of America, and one of the things I loved about it was the use of some of the lesser known characters as part of the team. Now, I’m not stupid — I know the point of this book is to be the lynchpin to the whole DCnU, and so a book headlined by Donna Troy and Congorilla isn’t going to fly, but mix in some not-so-familiar faces now and then.
5) Keep the threats big
This is a suitably large-scale threat for the Justice League to come together for – as Flash puts it in this issue, “It’s the end of the world.” Nothing is more frustrating than seeing seven hugely powerful heroes fighting some rinky-dink threat. Use the JL as the atom bomb of the DCnU — used with discretion, only when there are no other options. That said, every week can’t be the end of the world, but it doesn’t have to be end of the world or the Toyman – use caution is all I’m saying.
6) Let the Easter Eggs pay off
Not to mix holiday metaphors too much here, but there are lots of nice clues throughout the book, from characters working at S.T.A.R. Labs to Steve Trevor, of potential future plot points. Follow through on those – even though you are jumping five years into the future in just a few issues, don’t forget about the plot points you’re teasing here. Basically, I want the Metal Men – make it happen!
Continued belowI will make sure to leave you milk and cookies under my longbox, and I promise to listen to my mommy and daddy more.
Love,
Brian
Final Verdict: 5.7, Browse
