Justice League Dark Annual, #1

[CBR News]

Nanda Parbat is the location for Jeff Lemire and Mikel Janin to pit John Constantine's team against the forces of Nick Necro in "Justice League Dark Annual" #1.


Full article here.

[matt levin]

Can't say I'm disappointed, but that's because I've become dis-enchanted with the series as a whole, beginning with the introduction of John Constantine-light. JLD Ann.1 is certainly a full issue, with a large cast of characters given room for most to be more than token appearances, but characterizations fall short of my expectations for them, based on long-time familiarity from pre-New 52 DC, and from a year's worth of new DC series. This is perhaps best illustrated by Amethyst's remark to Frankenstein (no longer Frankenstein's monster?), calling him a "Liar" when she has only just met him (as far as I can tell); the person she is, both from pre-52 and from her newest series as well, seems very unlikely to so-call anyone, especially upon such short acquaintance. The annual makes a good conclusion to the series for me, (financial considerations are cutting about a third of my titles from my usual list), and as such, while satisfactory, is not exciting enough to make it onto my must-get list.

[Bookem Danno]

Can't say I'm disappointed, but that's because I've become dis-enchanted with the series as a whole, beginning with the introduction of John Constantine-light. JLD Ann.1 is certainly a full issue, with a large cast of characters given room for most to be more than token appearances, but characterizations fall short of my expectations for them, based on long-time familiarity from pre-New 52 DC, and from a year's worth of new DC series. This is perhaps best illustrated by Amethyst's remark to Frankenstein (no longer Frankenstein's monster?), calling him a "Liar" when she has only just met him (as far as I can tell); the person she is, both from pre-52 and from her newest series as well, seems very unlikely to so-call anyone, especially upon such short acquaintance. The annual makes a good conclusion to the series for me, (financial considerations are cutting about a third of my titles from my usual list), and as such, while satisfactory, is not exciting enough to make it onto my must-get list.

Yeah, this issue did have a lacking with characterization besides the three main players in their used-t-be-in-love triangle. While Dr.Mist's silence did speak volumes by inferrence and I never read a Frankenstein story yet - so it was neat to meet him - none of the other players really had a genuine moment. The intriguing opening of the BOOKS of MAGIC (TECH!), exciting cliffhanger, and next issue blurb did offer a big amount of welcome intrigue though. To learn the name N'Aall was such a cruel bitty treat when the anticipated appearance by Amethyst was disappointing on a bigger scale. The large cast of players was decent element of eye candy fun. Although Tim Hunter is clearly player to watch now with that revealed peer potential to Mordru and Merlin!

[FanboyStranger]

It's not a bad comic on its own-- actually it's a pretty good comic, and Janin definitely has skills-- but that twist at the end that suggests spoilers:

Tim Hunter is going to either New Genesis or Apokolips

end of spoilers was a bit much for me. Things like that, Nick Necro (ugh), etc. have soured me on the book. I actually thought Frankenstein was the best part of this issue. I like to approach the New 52 books on their own terms, but as a fan of Hellblazer and Books of Magic, it's all a bit much. As I said on another site, I can understand where Batgirl fans are coming from, but with good characters...

[Craig M.D.]

I enjoyed both the annual and issue #13. I thought the inclusion of Frankenstein and Amethyst (sp?) felt a bit forced, but overall I've enjoyed this story line. I do wish that we had more of a conclusion to the Books of Magic story line, but the cliffhanger has me interested for issue #14. Love the bit about the broken China dishes. And the Gargoyles attacking the House of Secrets was great.

Also, re-read the opening "In the Dark" story from the series and I'm wondering if Lemire has any plans to bring back Shade and Mindwarp to the book.

[El Sombrero]

Also, re-read the opening "In the Dark" story from the series and I'm wondering if Lemire has any plans to bring back Shade and Mindwarp to the book.

I really doubt it. Milligan created Mindwarp and barely did anything with the character, and Milligan pretty clearly wrote Shade out of the series. It's also likely Milligan was the whole reason Shade was there in the first place, as he wrote the character in the 90s for a long time. Shade didn't do much of note in the book and is kind of a fringe character (even by DC-Vertigo standards) so I doubt editorial really wanted him there for any reason.

[marvelprince]

Hmm, I actually quite enjoyed this issue. Almost didn't pick it up cause of the price, but once I saw that it was the conclusion to the storyline and not a supplementary thing I got it. Normally something like that would annoy me, having to pick up the annual to get the payoff but with how well I thought it wrapped stuff up an set up the next storyline I have no complaints. The New 52 has ben my first exposure to Amethyst so I saw nothing wrong with her characterization, and loved the addition of her and Frank to the cast.

[Arizona]

That first panel of Frank makes we want to catch up on Agent of S.H.A.D.E. I had no idea they made him so frakking cool. I can't disagree more with the complaints about not enough characterization, if anything comics have been overburdened by too much drama. This annual felt like three issues of pure story-line, and considering that no writer worth their ink would make JLD centered on anyone but Constantine that panel toward the end when John and Zee grin at each other is exactly what that relationship has always been.

If I have any problem its that Timothy Hunter got a redeco to distinguish him from the fake Timothy Hunter that has all those movies and the incredibly strange ending and non-magic foreshadowing.

[antsomarching]

Great fun and action with no drama. Loved it!

[MajorHoy]

Haven't bought it yet myself, but if anybody is looking for a preview, . . . http://www.dccollectors.com/2012/10/...dark-annual-1/

[dthib]

This series has totally become one of my favorites, which is funny because I wasn't a fan of Milligan's run. Frankenstein was probably my favorite addition and now I'm anxiously awaiting 14. This and Earth 2 are my favorite team books.

[Talisman]

I really doubt it. Milligan created Mindwarp and barely did anything with the character, and Milligan pretty clearly wrote Shade out of the series. It's also likely Milligan was the whole reason Shade was there in the first place, as he wrote the character in the 90s for a long time. Shade didn't do much of note in the book and is kind of a fringe character (even by DC-Vertigo standards) so I doubt editorial really wanted him there for any reason.

Which is a total shame. From the little bit he was there, I wanted to read more of Shade. Mind Warp can go eff himself, as he never really caught on with me, but I WANT MORE SHADE!!!! And thanks to this book, I'm now going to grab Frankenstein. I know it's ending (boo) but I still want to know more about this character.

[MajorHoy]

Which is a total shame. From the little bit he was there, I wanted to read more of Shade. Mind Warp can go eff himself, as he never really caught on with me, but I WANT MORE SHADE!!!! And thanks to this book, I'm now going to grab Frankenstein. I know it's ending (boo) but I still want to know more about this character.

From what I read in the tpb, Mindwarp sort of felt like a bad clone of sorts of Shade.

[new_onslaught]

Which is a total shame. From the little bit he was there, I wanted to read more of Shade. Mind Warp can go eff himself, as he never really caught on with me, but I WANT MORE SHADE!!!! And thanks to this book, I'm now going to grab Frankenstein. I know it's ending (boo) but I still want to know more about this character.

It's worth getting the trades of Frankenstein. I liked him in JL Dark Annual and I'm glad he'll be in JL Dark as a regular member, but I prefered him in his solo series. I think if you liked him in this, you'll like his series as well.

[MajorHoy]

Finally got around to buying and reading this . . . I didn't read the Lemire issues leading up to this (except for the "0" issue), but decided to try it and see.

I have to vote with the camp that preferred Milligan's version (as seen in the first tpb); this felt too much more like a conventional superhero book, and not a really great one at that. Hopefully we'll never have to see / read about / hear from the boring Nick Necco Wafer again.