Justice League of America (2005 Series) #48

September 13, 2010

Title: The Dark Things Part Five (A Brightest Day crossover)
Writer: James Robinson
Pencils: Mark Bagley
Inks: Rob Hunter, Norm Rapmund, Don Ho, Derek Fridolfs & Rich Perrotta
Colorist: Ulises Arreola & Zarathus
Letterer: Rob Leigh
Cover: Mark Bagley, Jesus Merino & Nei Ruffino
Editor: Eddie Berganza
Publisher: DC Comics

The Justice League and Justice Society (along with Kyle Rayner and Mr. Miracle) face off against a hyped-up Alan Scott. Jade and Obsidian have merged into a new being, and Mr. Terrific’s plan to save the universe will hinge on a couple of girls named Kara.

This really is a fine conclusion to this story arc, bringing everything you were excited about to a boil in the finale. Dr. Mid-Nite’s rescue of Starman is well done, and the cavalry storming in works really nicely. There are some great bits in here with lasting changes for Alan, Jade and Obsidian, clearly establishing their roles in the DC Universe in general and their respective teams in particular. In fact, the Justice League we’re presented with by the end of this issue is an interesting group. I think Robinson has put together a nice core team to build his tenure on this title around.

Mark Bagley’s artwork works, but as I’ve often pointed out, it works better on the young heroes than the Justice Society. It’ll be nice next issue when they return to their own stomping grounds and he’s left with a pretty young team to depict throughout the book. The color team deserves some special recognition here though, I think, really turning out some eye-popping pages.

Then there’s the backup story…

Title: Cogs Part Three
Writer: James Robinson
Pencils: Pow Rodrix
Inks: Ruy Jose
Colorist: Zarathus
Letterer: Rob Leigh

While the Starheart was making all the elementals on Earth go crazy, Cyborg had just finished upgrading Red Tornado’s systems in a way that makes him virtually indestructible. Great idea, until the Starheart pits him against his friend. This issue is mostly an extended battle scene, with Cyborg doing whatever he can to stay alive long enough to – temporarily – put Red Tornado down. It’s an okay sequence, but doesn’t really add much to either character, save for building up the friendship between the two of them. It’s nice, but as neither of them promise to be part of the regular cast of the title, it feels sort of inconsequential.

Rating: 7/10

Booster Gold (2007 Series) #35

August 28, 2010

Title: Destiny! Destiny! No Escaping That For Me!

Writers: Keith Giffen & J. M. DeMatteis
Pencils: Chris Batista & Pat Olliffe
Inks: Rich Perrotta & Pat Olliffe
Colorist: Hi-Fi
Letterer: Sal Cipriano
Cover: Kevin Maguire
Editor: Michael Siglain & Mike Carlin
Publisher: DC Comics

Continuing his journey to the past, Booster Gold and his former Justice League teammates Blue Beetle, Mr. Miracle, and Big Barda, find themselves battling the dreaded Hieronymous the Underachiever for the future of an alien world. This book is wonderfully demonstrative of just how much Booster Gold has evolved as a character. Mr. Miracle and Big Barda both treat him as though he’s still the sort of buffoon he was back in the day, but his best friend Ted Kord can tell the difference between “his” Booster and the one adventuring with him at the moment. In both cases, that shift is pronounced.

The interaction between these four (well, five if you add Skeets) is plenty funny, but it also works extremely well as a character piece. Even if you didn’t read the old Justice League International series that featured these characters together the first time around, you can easily tell that Booster has grown up a hell of a lot since he interacted with these guys. Considering that the writers of this book are the same ones who wrote Booster back then, that says an awful lot for the people who have shepherded his development since then.

Chris Batista continues to prove himself a worthy successor to JLI artist (and this issue’s cover artist) Kevin Maguire, with a style that evokes the old days but still has a modern flair. Pat Olliffe steps in for a few pages that lead for a pretty dandy cliffhanger, and while the shift is noticeable, it’s not terrible.

If you’re not reading this, you’re missing one of DC’s best books.

Rating: 8/10