Justice League 42 Review and Spoilers

Well dang it all, didn’t this issue of Justice League of America have just about everybody in it, From Challengers of the Unknown to the Power Company??? Just to name a few. Too bad our heroes aren’t sure they want in to be in this Justice League, but they better get ready because it seems they are about to face some sort of Evil New Gods complete with Dr What-is-face ...err I mean Dr. Impossible. Can James Robinson make Brad Meltzer’s throwaway villain relevant or perhaps even menacing? Too soon to tell but since DC Direct and Mattel have both granted this one hit wonder a figure already I suppose someone should try. I wasn’t exactly on board with some of the choice for team members for this team but as things move along, I’m starting to like some of them. So there are some spoilers ahead, so get ready for a New Justice League.

Green Arrow has taken the brunt of the damage dished out in the still yet to be finished Cry for Justice and appears about to make fateful decision at the start of this issue. He has turned to a James Robinson favorite for help in the form of the Shade who tries to talk him out of whatever plan he’s got cooked up. Green Arrow ignores the sometimes villain’s advice and the two fade into the darkness of Oliver’s decision. Whatever it is, it can’t be good if the hundred plus year old Shade doesn’t approve.

Meanwhile Dick Grayson (Batman), Donna, Kory and Hal Jordan spring into action for the first time as a Justice League to battle a rampaging Atlas. Grayson can’t believe he’s finally in the driver’s seat of the League as Batman. Jordan is not sure he fits in with this bunch or why he is there until he remembers he’s looking out for BFF Oliver Queen. Starfire regrets being talked into this by Donna and not sure she can stand to be around Dick without being them being romantically involved. And what about Donna? She just wants to hit things, which she does superbly on Atlas’s chin. After almost packing it in permanently last issue, she seems to be the only one of the four who is sure they are a team. Grayson gets to give Jordan the order to finish off Atlas which weirds both of them out but Hal admits he like this Batman much better.

We get our first flashback of the issue, as we get a look at the Challengers of the Unknown finishing up a battle with Volcano Man, Kra and yes the Multi-man. I warned you everybody was in this issue. It seems that like last issue’s Tomahawk and Miss Liberty that the Challengers have unearthed another weird piece of alien technology that is too dangerous for any human to touch. So one call Doctor Magnus and it the Metal Men to the rescue. The Doctor decides that there is only one place that this thing had be held safely, so new place called STAR Labs.

Back to present day STAR Labs, we get a really unexpected cameo of Josiah Power and his Power Company about to have their heads handed to them by some Orion want -to-be called Hunter and Dr. Impossible. While Josiah tries to hold them off over his fallen team, The Atom (Ray Palmer) checks in with fellow nerd scientist Darwin Jones from last issue’s attack who warns Ray that the missing artifact that was stolen was only a piece of the whole puzzle. The Atom seems much calmer, rational and in control than he’s been lately, that purple voodoo from Indigo tribe has worked his magic on him and he’s appears to be a new man. Maybe finally doing in that harpy Jean Loring helped too.

Returning to the satellite Guardian and Dr Light brings us up to speed on what Mon-El had to do to save the Power Company leader’s life and all I can say is yuck. As the Atom, Dr. Light and Guardian try to figure out what going on, I am relieved to see one long time member is still on the team as Black Canary and Hal discuss where the heck is Ollie? Canary is still smarting from Hal trying to form his own League and undermining hers but seems to be more in shock over what happened to Roy. Both heroes are worried about their guy Oliver. Another familiar face (pun intended) appears in the bodiless Red Tornado who was torn apart again a few issues ago. New team member Cyborg is busy scanning files for clues on the bad guys but promises to rebuild Reddy and make him indestructible this time. This surprises the android and causes him to question why Cyborg would do this for him? The likeable Cyborg responds because “we are teammates now and that what teammates do”. Maybe some of this Titan camaraderie is a good thing. Their mentors in the League seem too busy fighting and secretly hating each other and could use some reminding that they are a family.

Cyborg has a lead that brings another flashback of Uncle Sam, the Blackhawks, Plastic man and the War Wheel of all things. This issue is a comic book nerd’s paradise. Another piece of the alien tech is discovered and since the Blackhawks are involved that leads to it being stored on Blackhawk Island. Cut to the present again, more evil New Gods (one of whom has a like Metron like chair) are beating the living hell out Congorilla and Mikaal Thomas (Starman) and are about ready to kill them. Luckily for them our new Justice League shows up via a gorgeous splash page of Bagley art to save them. I got to say, despite missing some big pieces (Superman and Wonder Woman) these guys look good together especially with the addition of Black Canary. I’m even warming up to Guardian, go figure?

You would think that would be enough for this issue but there is more; the satellite is being broken into again by more evil New Gods. Again? Fix that security system up there, everybody and his brother is breaking in lately. Looks like Impossible and his buddies have a free shot at looting whatever they want but guess who is late to the meeting and just beams up? Green Arrow. Whoops, our archer is alone and out numbered. This can’t be good but we’ll have to wait until next time to see how Oliver gets out of this one. This issue was pure fun for me, and I hope it will be for you too.