Nearly a year into the New 52 and most might say they are feeling tepid. Sure the sales are up, but are the stories better? It’s not like Scott Snyder needed a reboot to write the Batman and Swamp Thing stories that are tantalizing us each month. When it comes to the Justice League, it seems the whole point of the reboot was to reduce the age of all the heroes and, by extension, their baggage. Now they can have Superman kiss Wonder Woman and not have people scream, “but what about Lois!” The cover says it all when it comes to generating interest, but as far as the issue, is it good?
Justice League #12 (DC Comics)
You know this is a comic book because the reputable news station reporting on the Justice League is TMZ. They don’t do “reporting” people! They do gossip column trash stuff. Very odd. Seriously…they must have gotten permission to use the logo and the likenesses. I’m pretty sure TMZ has never said, “…authorities believe…” in a serious sentence. Very odd way to open a comic book.
This isn’t TMZ news…very unrealistic opening.
Reading this issue is a frustrating experience. Characters do and say things that are not only irrational but out of character. When the villain, named Graves, makes them see their dead loved ones…they all flip out and drop to their knees with guilt and sorrow. What?! Are they really that dumb? Graves isn’t using some kind of mind manipulation, they’re just seeing the ghosts and believing it. I suppose they aren’t as strong as we think.
Damsel in destress that ends up kissing the hero. How original.
The art by Jim Lee, David Finch and Ivan Reis is good. Not sure how much work any one of them did, although the customary splash pages are here so Lee must have taken part in setting up the panels.
Bad guy move #1: Explain to us why your plan will work instead of making it work.
Geoff Johns does a decent job with pacing this issue, but the twists and turns feel false. When it’s revealed that a man we thought dead was only beaten up…you have to question the validity to any of this. This character was clearly killed issues ago. Oh well. You’ll be saying that a lot this issue.
Bad plan. Somebody tell him it’s a bad plan!
It’s when these guys use their words that this issue really starts unraveling. The characters discuss what they did wrong as a team because one news channel says they suck? Maybe it’s time to get a backbone? When Green Lantern decides to check out it feels more like a plot twist to serve his own book rather than a rational explanation. I guess heroes are quitters now.
Why is Batman’s face in shadow?
And then we have the kiss. What a pointless element this is. Instead of building a real relationship we have two young kids (because they’re in their 20’s now) discuss feeling lonely. It makes sense, sure, with Superman’s entire planet destroyed and Wonder Woman being kicked out of her home town, but why now? Why not have it mean something? Wonder Woman’s issue with Steve isn’t even explained. Were they dating? Were they in love? What is going on? This felt as cheap as the Catwoman/Batman sex scene.
Slut!
The fact that the book ends on a cliffhanger concerning a person writing a book is the only interesting highlight. Now we know where the book came from that was written to give instructions on how to beat the Justice League. I assume the heroes’ secrets will be used against them. Probably by the government. At least that’s interesting, although that’s all just conjecture on my part.
How we all feel after reading this book.
This was a disaster in my eyes. The characters are off base, the action was so-so and the plot holes are grating. Geoff Johns is a great writer, but this issue felt half baked. I’m having a feeling it won’t, but check back later today to see if it’s good enough to make it into our 10 dollar budget in our ComiX Weekly reviews.
Is It Good?
Sure isn’t.
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