The Justice League of America continues to reveal its new members as this week Killer Frost joins the fray. Wait…isn’t she a villain? Not since Justice League vs. Suicide Squad! We review to determine the answer to the question: Is it good?
Justice League of America: Killer Frost Rebirth #1 (DC Comics)
So what’s it about? The summary reads:
SPINNING OUT OF THE PAGES OF JUSTICE LEAGUE VS. SUICIDE SQUAD! What happens to a super-villain on their last day in Belle Reve Prison? Against all odds, Killer Frost is up for parole from the Suicide Squad, but you can bet Amanda Waller isn’t going to make it easy for Frost to join the new JLA.
Why does this book matter?
Steve Orlando and Jody Houser did a great job with the Vixen Rebirth issue so why not with Killer Frost? She’s currently in Belle Reve and this issue focuses on Amanda Waller testing her ability to not kill. If she makes it out by the end she can be a hero. But maybe it’s not so simple.
Fine, you have my attention. What’s good about it?
A hero we can trust?
Orlando and Houser continue to write meaningful character exposes with the Rebirth issues due to strong captions and good plotting. The characters are tested, as Killer Frost is here, and shades of the character are revealed well. This issue has Waller testing her as she’s awaiting release from Belle Reve. The problem is, the only way Killer Frost can eat is if she steals the heat off a person (which typically kills them). Waller attempts to crack Killer Frost in this issue with a few surprises and it’s a good way to establish the inner goodness of this character. She fights the urge to suck the energy out of folks, partly because she doesn’t want Waller to win and have her stay in prison, but also because she wants to prove she’s capable of being a hero.
Of course, things aren’t so simple as we learn there’s a layer to the story we didn’t see; Orlando and Houser do a good job pulling off a sequence that disproves some of what we saw which helps establish the wildcard nature of the character moving forward.
Mirka Andolfo draws this issue with colors by Arif Prianto who together do well to make Killer Frost sympathetic. There isn’t a lot of action in the issue, though Andolfo does well to make that not apparent with solid facial expressions and character acting. After reading this issue I wouldn’t be surprised of Killer Frost cosplay sprouts up with her look in this one.
It can’t be perfect can it?
Waller comes off as more of a screaming bully than ever, which is curious considering the character work being done in the main Suicide Squad book. She’s one dimensional and cruel – which isn’t a surprise in some respects – but it makes the dynamic between her and Killer Frost rather boring.
This issue is a big test.
Is It Good?
Justice League of America: Killer Frost Rebirth #1 establishes Killer Frost’s sympathetic nature, but also the fact that she’s the wildcard of the JLA. The character work here is solid and should get folks ready to go for the main JLA book next month.
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