Justice League 44 - I am not happy.

This issue of Justice League spends a lot of time trying to convince us that a four-person team is a Justice League. Can you call a talking Gorilla a person? I don’t know the answer to that one but I’m not buying this as an official version of the Justice League just yet. At least a fifth member shows up at the end of the story and while I am happy with her inclusion in the new League this is far from a complete roster. Justice Leagues need to have at least 7 to 10 major members if not more. We were promised a larger League but we are not getting it yet. James Robinson confirmed at C2E2 that he was told most of his starting cast would be temporary and it appears that Dan Didio has been meddling again. Isn’t this what drove the last writer off the book? He was so frustrated with Dan’s editorial tampering and not allowing characters to be used he blabbed it to all of us on the internet which made Dan and DC look bad and then he got fired.  Are we headed down the same road again? Certain writers will not share their characters; I’m talking to you Geoff Johns. Time was Superman and Batman could be 12 places at once yet Hal Jordan and his fantastic ring along with the super speedy Barry Allen can’t be anywhere outside a John’s penned book? Horse Hockey!

The only thing worse than that is all the really cool characters that have been brought back from the dead are now tied up with Brightest Day that John’s is also writing. No Aquaman, Martian Manhunter or Hawk people for you Justice League fans no matter how bad you want them. You will just have to read Brightest Day. Speaking of which, for some reason Brightest Day is slapped all across the top of this issue but I can’t see a single reason for it inside. So we can’t have the big guns, who do we have? Well there’s Batman the Dick Grayson version. That’s cool but who does he get to interact with here? Superman or Wonder Woman? Nope, but here’s something you haven’t seen before he gets to hang out with Donna Troy. Oh no wait, I have seen that.

What about Donna Troy? Well a considerable part of the issue is spent trying to convince us that Donna is large and in charge and finally able to cut loose with all her powers. While a part of me really wants to like the affable Miss Troy because she was the mother hen to all the Teen Titans and the glue that held the family together, the other half of me is kind of bored to tears with her. Every time I see her in the book, it just makes me think, why the hell is Wonder Woman so busy that she can’t be in this book. I’d much rather see Grayson interact with Diana and Clark but it is not to be. Don’t get me wrong I don’t blame James Robinson for this, I blame editorial. Robinson assures us he has cool story ideas enough for 5 years and is happy to work around not using some bigger characters but how long can anyone be expected to put up with such nonsense? I guess we’ll see.

Wait isn’t this supposed to be a review and not a bitchfest? Yes, it is but there is not much story to review. Basically the Starheart falls to earth, the Demon wants it for reasons he can’t explain and a pointless fight occurs. Don’t pointless fights usually occur in comics? Yes but there seemed no reason for the whole issue other than to have Starman Mikaal and Congorilla explain their powers to newbs who aren’t familiar with them. It may seem that I don’t like these characters but that’s not true. Well the Jury is out on Donna Troy because I’m still trying to decide if she is useful or useless. I like Congorilla and Mikaal but they seem more of supporting players rather than lead actors. Oh and somebody needs to tell Donna that Starman is gay. Quick before she makes a fool out of herself. Or is he bi-sexual? Who knows? He’s an alien! The story also includes a look at what is going on with the JSA and apparently that whole Nazi taking over the world thing is wrapped up and Obsidian is back on the team just in time for his dad’s powers too go nuts. Thanks for killing the suspense but did you really think I bought a Nazi takeover of the world outside a Roy Thomas penned book? Memo to JSA writers, he did it better without stupid monikers like General Gestapo and Doctor Dachau.

It appears that Alan Scott’s powers are out of control and Geoff John’s has decided that the Starheart much be factored into the “emotional spectrum” and this will explain where it fits. Sheesh! Must everything fit into the emotional spectrum? Can’t some stuff be unrelated like Alan Scott and Jade’s power that have always been magically based? Guess not. Anyway the Starheart or meteor or whatever it is splits in two at the end of the issue and Jade is inside. Hello fifth member and fake tie-in to Brightest Day. I am happy someone loves Jade as much as I do to make her a member of my favorite team but I have to say the Demon is correct when he says “League you say? I see but zeroes. Rabble more like substitute heroes.” Maybe that is a bit harsh but this team needs some serious beef to it right now. A mere two issues ago there were tons of potential members and now we have just 5 people or err... 4 and a Gorilla. I hate being this negative about my favorite team but beside Jade showing up there is not much to holler about this issue.

Comments

[Matt Orsman]

Best things in the book... I*like* Congo Bill... and Hey! Sebastian Faust is back! Aces!

Worst thing? "Good thing is Donna and me can use this time..." Seriously, Dick? You were trained by one of the smartest men in the world, and you use language like that?