Title: Justice League #1
Author: Geoff Johns
Comics superstars Geoff Johns and Jim Lee make history! In a universe where super heroes are strange and new, Batman has discovered a dark evil that requires him to unite the World Greatest Heroes!I'm new to comics, and with DC Comics relaunching 52 issues this year I don't think there's a better time to get involved! I'm aiming to read most of the new 52 and see what a newbie to the scene thinks - are they the perfect starting point?
The first of the new issues to arrive is Justice League, and with a group of superheroes like this I really didn't know what to expect. How would they be introduced? How would they work together? Would it be easy to pick up? There's a whole host of other questions that can be asked, but this first issue only answers a couple of them.
As the story starts Batman is fighting an unknown foe in Gotham City, but also under attack by the authorities - the world does not seem to know much of super heroes in this time. Green Lantern shows up full of bravado and confidence, he introduces himself and helps Batman as they continue to chase the alien as it escapes. This leads to a discovery of an alien artefact, and knowing Superman is from another world they decide to head to Metropolis and see if he knows anything...
It's a pretty short introduction to the beginnings of the Justice League, but it sets the stage well enough. The heroes on Earth don't talk to each other, they don't team up, and they aren't looked upon favourably but the wider world. It's interesting, but it also helps the premise of the Justice League forming. To be fair there really isn't enough space in the 40 pages for much to happen and this is just the opening of the story that will surely grow as the issues progress. The art, however, is outstanding, very easy to follow and a joy for the eyes.
Personally I found it great for a newcomer. I know of Batman, the Green Lantern and Superman, although seeing a pre-Cyborg Vic Stone left me scratching my head - I'm sure this is only the start of his story within the Justice League. Batman and Green Lantern are the two main characters in this issue, both introduced early and each with their own character, both not too far from what I expected based on my limited movie knowledge of them. Still, it's going to take time for these characters to fully form within this context.
I'll be sure to pick up the next in this series and see how they deal with introducing the rest of the characters and just how quickly they can get the story into gear. I don't mind a good build-up, but I get the feeling this one may take a little longer than expected to fully get going.
8 comments:
Gorgeous art, oh yes - three cheers for Jim Lee! - but you're absolutely right, Mark: it's far too early to tell whether or not this is the way forward for the DCU. I'm optimistic! But cautiously so...
I read these as a kid, I've decided to get back into JLA with the reboot, so hopefully they do it right.
I read this too and I think it's not for me. It might read better in trade, but for now I'm not going to continue reading it. I think the problem I know the whole universe and all of the characters too well, so this retelling of the origin of the JLA, different as it might be, is not new enough if that makes sense. I think I will enjoy some of the other forthcoming books a lot more, like Aquaman, Red Lanterns, Animal Man, Batwoman etc.
It really seems like comic neophytes, like you and myself, mostly enjoyed the issue, while veterans as a whole found it lackluster. That's mostly a good thing, since DC's whole purpose in this relaunch is to bring in new readers. Hopefully the new readers more than compensate for the few old guard who decide to leave the fold.
I think it's also important for those using this issue as a reason to lambast the relaunch to remember that this is only part of the picture. We've still got 51 issues to go. To be fair, though, I read some preview panels of Justice League International #1 on Comic Book Resources, and while I enjoyed them I can see old-timers lodging similar complaints.
But yeah, overall this is something I'm really excited about as a relative comics newbie.
Hmm, this looks like a good one for me. I'm new to JLA, and my husband is a HUGE comic fan and I often think it would be cool to get more into his world. I should give this one a go :)
I think this is definitely a good book for newcomers, but the brilliant thing about the 52 relaunch is that there is a lot of titles for veterans like myself. I don't think there's anything wrong with this title at all I can just see that it's not really targetted at me and that's fine.
FantasyLass - now is the perfect time. You've 52 different titles to try from DC, plus there are hundreds of others out there in as many genres as you can think of. I'm happy to give anyone pointers and comimc book recommendations, within the 52 or beyond. Vertigo, Dark Horse, Image comics and many other publishers produce amazing comics every year.
I wish someone would re-launch the CrossGen titles, especially Sigil.
Errrr, Richard R, they did. Recently. Marvel bought CrossGen comics and have so far relaunched, Ruse, Sigil, Mystic and I think there are a couple of others are on the way.
http://marvel.com/comic_books/issue/38233/sigil_2011_1
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