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Justice League of America #1-6, October 2006-March 2007

The Justice League has met their match. Their latest opponent can read and manipulate their thoughts and is so determined to exploit their weaknesses that he attacks team members individually, via their civilian lives or, worse, their personal aspirations. He touts an intimacy with the League’s history but betrays no sympathetic investment; he knows the team’s cosmic potential but strategically relegates their combat to a terrestrial level. He isn’t armed with a power ring or Kryptonite armor or a laughing gas gun . . .

. . . just a pen. He is New York Times best-selling author Brad Meltzer, and he is the Justice League’s worst enemy . . .

I’ve been reserving my general impression of the latest incarnation of the Justice League of America until the conclusion of its inaugural story arc, in the hopes that New York Times best-selling author Brad Meltzer would dissuade my initial opinion of his comic book work. See, when I heard about what was happening in his Identity Crisis, I avoided the miniseries and all related titles completely – a decision that continued with the inevitable Infinite Crisis and 52. While death should have a meaningful place in superhero lore, I’m a purist that believes in the timelessness of certain characters for future generations’ sake, and though Sue Dibny isn’t as prominent as her stretchable husband, her rape and murder is by no means appropriate for an all-ages audience. Yes, I know comic books have matured with its readership, but the consistent use of easy literary trappings like death simply evokes a different level of immaturity – the kind that isn’t willing to delve into more complex character explorations than grief. Plus, if you kill Superman or Sue Dibny and bring them back from the grave, future readers will eventually discover that their Man of Steel or Mrs. Elongated Man isn’t the original, but a reincarnated second draft. I had hoped that New York Times best-selling author Brad Meltzer would abandon this trend for such a mainstream comic book like Justice League of America.

Alas, I was wrong. In his first story arc (Warning! Spoilers ahead!)

New York Times best-selling author Brad Meltzer likens Red Tornado to a modern Pinocchio, establishing his desire for flesh and blood as a vulnerability for surprise villain Solomon Grundy to exploit for his own gain. With the help of a band of B-list villains and a few Starro homing beacons, Grundy tricks Dr. Ivo into creating an Amazo/Red Tornado hybrid for his immortal soul, an honest attempt to avoid that nasty reincarnation-in-the-swamp business. In the process, Red Tornado gets taste of humanity; unfortunately, the transformation doesn’t last, and although the adventure brings together a new Justice League, from the first few pages of the first issue to the last page of #6, this story is a tragedy. The worst part is, as I’ve said from the beginning, this seems to be what New York Times best-selling author Brad Meltzer wanted.

I’ve always been a fan of the Justice League, ever since its plastic incarnation as Kenner’s Super Powers action figures, but I only came onboard in the comic books with the Grant Morrison/Howard Porter JLA re-launch in the late ‘90s, a clean entry point for many fans, I’m sure. Since then, I’ve collected every issue of the classic Giffen/DeMatties Justice League International and have become very familiar with the League’s earliest adventures (I own a tattered Justice League of America #5, thank you very much). Whether they’re tangled in a revenge plot by the Legion of Doom/Injustice Gang, or battling cosmic threats in the depths of space, the League has always exemplified the innocence of the superhero genre while exploring the complexities of their team dynamic – a relatable concept for escapist children and cubically-enslaved adults, I reckon. With so many characters, the League is bound to do some talking, but as a unit, its mission has always been action-oriented, tackling those overwhelming odds no single hero could handle.

Apparently, New York Times best-selling author Brad Meltzer prefers personal catastrophe over cosmic calamity. First of all, for three of these six issues, Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman are simply sitting down . . . pushing papers, doing deskwork. By the third issue of the last JLA re-launch, Superman had been captured by the White Martians and Batman had infiltrated their alien stronghold. (And do superheroes really get their headshots done?) Further, for all of their consideration of who should join the new League, these same heroes unite by happenstance anyway, united by Grundy’s unnecessarily multi-faceted plot. Finally, when Red Tornado and Grundy finally square off, the behemoth born on a Monday rips Reddy’s arm off and eats it – a far cry from merely turning it into a tree branch or something. So, sure, New York Times best-selling author Brad Meltzer “cleverly draws upon 40 years of DC history,” according to the WB-owned Entertainment Weekly quote atop issue #2, but he definitely doesn’t draw from its heart. While the dire consequences of super-heroics should be explored in comic books, Justice League of America isn’t intended to be such a gory book. Conversely, because we know people die, the Justice League should offer hope.

The artwork of Ed Benes and Sandra Hope gives shape to New York Times best-selling author Brad Meltzer’s story, with the realistic detail such a solemnly introspective tale warrants. With so many characters to reference, they should be awarded for their diligence alone, and although this is an unashamedly dark story, colorist Alex Sinclair does his best to insert a little light, whether through Black Lightning’s crackling fingertips or Green Lantern’s emerald ring. In fact, with a veritable spectrum of color-based character currently comprising the League’s role call (if Arsenal’s name really is now Red Arrow), Sinclair has his work cut out for him. This series did need more action-oriented splash pages; the full-page panels were seemingly reserved for more shocking or poignant moments, which is obviously where a New York Times best-selling author like Brad Meltzer stakes his claim. Benes and Hope did what they could with each issue’s intended fight scene, and I guess it was meant to be enough.

Admittedly, I do appreciate New York Times best-selling author Brad Meltzer’s roster choice, so much so that I wonder if he and the editors didn’t sift through superhero headshots as Clark, Bruce, and Diana did. With two founding members and DC’s blockbuster trinity, Red Tornado and Vixen represent subsequent incarnations of the League, with pseudo emissaries from the Titans (Arsenal), the Outsiders (Black Lightning), and the JSA (Hawkgirl). Further, since Red Arrow apparently has a quiver for Kendra, therein lies potential for an Arrow/Hawk tęte-ŕ-tęte 2.0. Even further, three women, two black heroes, and an android could make this the most diverse League in a long time, if not then the most like the crew of the Enterprise . . . but I digress. The chemistry for camaraderie and conflict abounds here. I hope it’s used wisely.

Perhaps I’ve been too harsh on New York Times best-selling author Brad Meltzer, dubbing him the Justice League’s greatest enemy and all. Still, as DC has trusted him with the fate of their greatest stable yet again, I cannot help but have a high standard. Just as I created adventures with my plastic League as a kid, I want the Justice League of America to take me on an adventure – but with the unnecessary mystery and abuse of violence that abounds in this arc, I feel more caught in the eye of a storm. Just look at that page in issue #6 on which Red Tornado gets his arm ripped off and try to tell me that’s your Justice League. Speaking of death in comics, when Jason Todd was voted dead, Denny O’Neil has said that the public outcry revealed to him that he and his peers were “custodians of modern folklore.” Custodians are supposed to clean things up... not leave ‘em looking like a tornado’s path.

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You know, it kinda' bums me out to say this, but I gotta' agree with 'ol 'Fanboy... I love the Justice League, truly love them... But, Brad needs to take some lessons from Geoff Johns on how to mix compelling plots with good 'ol superhero fun. Don't agree... Pop on over to the A Comic A Day for more - AD