Justice League 38, Robinson's first issue: Thoughts and Discussion

[Desaad]

Since someone asked for it, and the other title is a little confusing.

My own thoughts.


JLA 38 -- Reviews seem to be mixed on this one. Lots of people saying 'bad' some people saying 'good'. For myself, it's probably my favorite issue of the title since number 1 of the current volume, or maybe save for a few of the stronger Mcduffie issues.

I'm not thrilled about the characters involved, but that is mostly irrelevant -- this is Robinson doing one last arc to clear away the wreckage before he begins in earnest with his team. The voices are all pretty solid - especially Plastic Man, who is at turns tragic and funny, exactly as he should be - even if the conversation is slightly repetitive and irrelevant, given all that we know as readers (this JLA is going to fall apart, a new one will form).

The issue opens with what I would call a pretty classic set up - An old, forgotten member of the league is seemingly killed by a mystery villain, his internal monologue professing just how dangerous the villain is. But it's the touches that make this more than just a throwaway. Foremost is the character's monologue, emotionally effective and on target. Robinson has always been strong at pensive internal monologue and that serves him will here - in just a few pages, you feel this character's self loathing, the disappointment he feels in himself, and at the same time how important the league was to him, by extension how important the league is to the DCU. The background details reveal old bits of league villainous history, more than slightly ominous given the power of a lot of the objects - The Bell, Jar and Wheel of the Demons Three, an Amazo android, a Snapper Carr robot (foreshadowing?), a dissected Starro (almost certainly leading into the REBELS crossover), psionic helmets, a series of skulls and masks (including an old mask of Red Tornados and what I would bet is Manitou Raven's skull), etc. It's a pretty heavy collection of old JLA toys, and the Starro in particular indicates that they are being taken apart and experimented upon -- boding poorly for the JLA. Of course, the villain's dialog itself indicates that he is somehow familiar to the league. When put in conjunction with Didio's comments, this probably represents a hero or supporting character to villain change, but we'll see.

Anyway, a pretty strong opening I thought. The next part of the book concerns a conversation about the future of the league with a number of it's more disenfranchised members. I discussed above that it was probably necessary, and all the voices were perfectly fine, but hardly dynamic. Suddenly Despero pops up, reminiscent of Justice league of America v1 #1, and this is where I was a little bit worried that Robinson wasn't going to have what it took. He's great an emotional exploration, but his action can be a little bit lacking. Well, thanks to the dynamic nature of Bagely's work, along with his great storytelling abilities, that was not an issue here. Despero is terribly effective and powerful, tearing through the bush-League (ha) as though they were nothing. All the members get in their shots, but ultimately it's useless against the rampaging powerhouse. Then we get an old school, much beloved Leaguer making a Deux Ex Machina appearance, but the fight ends with a bit of a mystery, despite a big gun showing up -- Undoubtedly the villain from the opening took Despero away, and he'll play out a bit further down the line before going off to his homeworld to be killed by Starro. The final part of the issue is a lead in to the Blackest Night tie ins coming up, and I thought it was done pretty elegantly. I love the focus on the old JLA-cover (I have that issue!) and then the last page spread of what they will be facing. Against a fully powered league, the foe would be nothing, but against this one? Oh heck yes!

Bagely's art is a little looser here than I like, and I have to blame Rob Hunter for that. His work in Trinity was much clearer, less sketchy and more satisfying. Even at his best, I would never say Bagley was a 'flashy' artist, though - his covers are insanely mundane - and that continues here. What makes him such a commodity, for me, is his storytelling - which is flawless, especially demonstrated during the Despero fight - and the energy that all of his characters have. And, of course, his speed - the idea that we might get 12 issues in a row PLUS an annual or special all by the same creative team is somewhat mind blowing in this day and age. So I'll take him, and hope that he gets a new inker.

Overall, this fills me with hope for this series. No, it wasn't great, but a lot of the problems I've had with Robinson were not evident, and I think it's a big improvement over the majority of what we've gotten thus far.

7.5/10

[ryerye17]

Who was the Black Lantern that appeared at the end?

DAY IN THE LIFE OF ZATANNA:

7 AM - Wakes up. Decides which outfit she wants to wear this time. Full top or bustierre? Pumps or boots?
8 AM - Pulls a rabbit out of her hat.
9 AM - Justice League beeper. "Hey Zee, we got a lead on Despero. Help us with the chase." Zee yawns and starts putting on fishnets
10 AM - Pulls a rabbit out of her hat
11 AM - Replies: "Hey, listen, I'm kinda busy right now, you know, POTS-ing stuff and all. When you find Despero just give me a call and I'll POTS him too. Or, don't, just think it. I can read minds, remember?"
12 NN - Pulls a rabbit out of her hat
1 PM - Goes shopping for more fishnets (Hey they run/tear easily!)
2 PM - Pulls a rabbit ouf of her hat
3 PM - Sets up a date with John Constantine
4 PM - Pulls a rabbit out of her hat
5 PM - Reads the thoughts of Leaguers "Despero is murdering us! Help!"
6 PM - Pulls a rabbit out of her hat
7 PM - TROPELET into Despero fight. Yells POTS.
8 PM - Leaguers cheer. Small gossip about Vixen's love life and why Dr. Light is so mean and what's wrong with Plastic Man
9 PM - Pulls a rabbit out of hat.
10 PM - Has a mudfight with Scarlet Witch
11 PM - Pulls a rabbit out of Scarlet Witch's hat
12 MN - Sleepytime

[jamesfreeman]

Originally Posted by Desaad

Since someone asked for it, and the other title is a little confusing.

My own thoughts.


JLA 38 -- Reviews seem to be mixed on this one. Lots of people saying 'bad' some people saying 'good'. For myself, it's probably my favorite issue of the title since number 1 of the current volume, or maybe save for a few of the stronger Mcduffie issues.

I'm not thrilled about the characters involved, but that is mostly irrelevant -- this is Robinson doing one last arc to clear away the wreckage before he begins in earnest with his team. The voices are all pretty solid - especially Plastic Man, who is at turns tragic and funny, exactly as he should be - even if the conversation is slightly repetitive and irrelevant, given all that we know as readers (this JLA is going to fall apart, a new one will form).


7.5/10

I don't agree that he nailed the characters. Vixen, despite being optomistic, cheerful, and one of the few characters who wanted to carry on the JLA, doesn't stop whinning and moping about wanting to disband the League. Also, we get very poor uses of powers. Despite being able to flashfry people and move at the speed of light, all Dr. Light does is shoot energy blasts.

And Vixen's leg is broken, DESPITE HER HAVING THE ABILITY TO HEAL.

But aside from the poor characterization, it was an okay issue.
6.5 out of 10.

[Desaad]

Originally Posted by ryerye17

Who was the Black Lantern that appeared at the end?

SPOILER













Evil Doctor Light.

[Desaad]

Originally Posted by jamesfreeman

I don't agree that he nailed the characters. Vixen, despite being optomistic, cheerful, and one of the few characters who wanted to carry on the JLA, doesn't stop whinning and moping about wanting to disband the League.

Yeah, I don't know. She's always had some personal demons to deal with -- this characterization feels more in keeping with the Suicide Squad Vixen, or even the Vixen of her mini series.

I don't think she's whining or giving up -- just facing some very hard facts honestly about their success rate, about how needed they are, about the state of the superhero community as she sees it.

And while her attitude has certainly changed, there seems to have been some precipitating event in between the Mcduffie JLA and the Robinson JLA with Prometheus that we haven't yet been privy to.

Also, we get very poor uses of powers. Despite being able to flashfry people and move at the speed of light, all Dr. Light does is shoot energy blasts.

Her ability to 'flash fry' people is just her shooting energy blasts. Sure, she can absorb energy or change the wavelength, but none of that would really have been especially effective against Despero. "Energy blasts" is basically what she does, just like any basic energy manipulator.

And Vixen's leg is broken, DESPITE HER HAVING THE ABILITY TO HEAL.

But there are limits to her healing ability, aren't there? Poisons nearly killed her in her mini series. She's limited to what, say, a salamander or something could do, isn't she? She's not Wolverine.

[jamesfreeman]

Originally Posted by Desaad

Yeah, I don't know. She's always had some personal demons to deal with -- this characterization feels more in keeping with the Suicide Squad Vixen, or even the Vixen of her mini series.

I don't think she's whining or giving up -- just facing some very hard facts honestly about their success rate, about how needed they are, about the state of the superhero community as she sees it.

And while her attitude has certainly changed, there seems to have been some precipitating event in between the Mcduffie JLA and the Robinson JLA with Prometheus that we haven't yet been privy to.




Her ability to 'flash fry' people is just her shooting energy blasts. Sure, she can absorb energy or change the wavelength, but none of that would really have been especially effective against Despero. "Energy blasts" is basically what she does, just like any basic energy manipulator.



But there are limits to her healing ability, aren't there? Poisons nearly killed her in her mini series. She's limited to what, say, a salamander or something could do, isn't she? She's not Wolverine.

She's taken on the abilities of a worm, which means she could potentially regrow parts of her body.

And I didn't mind the death of Bluejay, but I found it pointless. It had no real impacy. There have been times where I've almost cried when a character has died, but this was not it. He was a Z-list hero who no one remembered, and people are only talking about now out of anger.

It was the same problem as with Starman and the death of the JLE. It didn't make the Mist look good when she killed off Amazing Man , Blue Devil, and Crimson Fox. Superman didn't swear to avenge his comrades. No candle light vigils were held. No one cared about them, and it didn't make Mist into any sort of real threat.

[Desaad]

Originally Posted by jamesfreeman

She's taken on the abilities of a worm, which means she could potentially regrow parts of her body.

Absolutely...but not instanteously. She never had the level of power or control of, say, Animal Man. At least that I've seen.

So depending on how far back the whole prometheus thing happened, it's reasonable to assume that a leg that was broken in four places (and possibly done in some manner other than the standard) would steal be healing. If that healed in a week, that would still be super fast, I would think.

And I didn't mind the death of Bluejay, but I found it pointless. It had no real impacy. There have been times where I've almost cried when a character has died, but this was not it. He was a Z-list hero who no one remembered, and people are only talking about now out of anger.

Well, I agree that I didn't mind the 'death' of Blue Jay, mostly because the character hadn't been used and was pretty inconsequential up until this issue. Even when he was in the JLE, I never found him anything more than...well, there.

I think his internal monologue was strong, it served the character and served the story. We'll have to see if there was any real consequence to his death -- Robinson certainly seems to indicate that somehow, in some way, he'll come back into play, though honestly I hope it's not "oh he wasn't ever dead at all!" and it's more in the way that Blue Beetle became important after his death.

Not all death is going to be big and epic and triumphant. It's not that way in the real world, either. Sometimes people just die. And that's okay to show to. It's basically what they did with Ronnie Raymond, a character I enjoyed.

It was the same problem as with Starman and the death of the JLE. It didn't make the Mist look good when she killed off Amazing Man , Blue Devil, and Crimson Fox. Superman didn't swear to avenge his comrades. No candle light vigils were held. No one cared about them, and it didn't make Mist into any sort of real threat.

I think it DID make her look good, but the wholesale killing of those characters was overkill I think. The idea that she overcame them in terms of planning was the important part, not so much their deaths. But their deaths underscored that she played for keeps, that this wasn't a game or a back and forth cat and mouse game like it was when they first encountered each other.

It may not have been a satisfying thing for you, but it was effective and it made sense in the context of what Robinson was trying to do with, and say about, the character and her relationship with the world around her.

[Desaad]

Just for the record James, I'm not trying to take apart your opinion here. It is, after all, your opinion and you have a right to it.

I'm just giving you my impressions.

[General Grievous]

I thought it has been confirmed on twitter by james that Blue jay is not dead? And people don;t listen

Anyways. This is the first issue of JLA I picked up in 2 years and while it was not perfect by any means, it was still well written and had some cool characterisation and decent dialogue. Much better than his work on cry for justice.

The art is very suitable for this kind of action comic with a huge rotating cast.

At least we know the fate of despero as he was killed in REBELS annual 2 weeks ago

Looking forward to the next issue for the first time in years.

[Will.S]

Originally Posted by General Grievous

I thought it has been confirmed on twitter by james that Blue jay is not dead? And people don;t listen

Anyways. This is the first issue of JLA I picked up in 2 years and while it was not perfect by any means, it was still well written and had some cool characterisation and decent dialogue. Much better than his work on cry for justice.

The art is very suitable for this kind of action comic with a huge rotating cast.

At least we know the fate of despero as he was killed in REBELS annual 2 weeks ago

Looking forward to the next issue for the first time in years.

I didn't think you were going to pick this issue up given your distaste for Cry for Justice.

[General Grievous]

Originally Posted by Will.S

I didn't think you were going to pick this issue up given your distaste for Cry for Justice.

Small week + I dropped Action comics and outsiders for now. Not enjoying them as much as i used to.

I needed something to read.

CFJ is awful.

But I want to read the JLA and gave him a chance and this issue was okay.

[General Grievous]

Found this post.

@TecJohnson I wouldn't assume you've seen the last of Blue Jay. I consider him a little guy with a big future.

Robinson on Twitter

[jamesfreeman]

Originally Posted by General Grievous

Found this post.

Well, Blackest Night is the next issue....

[Will.S]

BTW thanks for the thread creation Desaad.

Seems unfortunate that the book will already be heading into event tie in mode but perhaps Robinson can work with that.

[General Grievous]

Originally Posted by Will.S

BTW thanks for the thread creation Desaad.

Seems unfortunate that the book will already be heading into event tie in mode but perhaps Robinson can work with that.

Thinking the same thing.

Sales wise it might be helpful but I hope robinson uses these Blackest night issues well.

He done a solid job on the Blackest Night: Superman mini so these issues could be good.