REVIEW: Justice League of America, #1

[CBR News]

Bryan Hitch pulls double duty as writer and penciller, delivering a somewhat inconsistent but overall enjoyable introduction in "Justice League of America" #1.


Full review here.

[Magda]

Among the outputs of this month under the sign of renewal at DC Comics Justice League of America series by Bryan Hitch was one of the most anticipated. Many issues raised by the very existence of the title are answered by reading this first issue, while others are still pending. We are aware of the continuity of the series takes place in the temporality of the Justice League, and what we can reasonably expect in terms of intrigue after this introduction. However, another question is raised here: what direction the show value or can it take, and if the promise of a DC less subservient to the idea of ​​a common universe is effective in the spirit of the editorial board, can we expect a series to heavy repercussions? Let's start with a little intrigue. Back to the origins, before Forever Evil Trinity War and temporal gaps between the first and second arc of the Justice League of Geoff Johns. The team then consists of seven original members, in a world that has yet to learn to count with them. Place Aquaman is mentioned in the beginning, where the geopolitical role of the spokesman of Atlantis is discussed at the United Nations. Superman and Wonder Woman are not yet set, Hal Jordan is still an official Lantern and Batman has not experienced the events of Endgame or (apparently) those of Batman & Robin, though nothing specific is said about it. The team is suspended in a temporal blur, and confronted with the appearance of a threat that first presents to Superman's eyes.
The story opens with what appears to be a flash-forward. A devastated city and Superman apparently only surviving against a mysterious threat. Then everything explodes, before we find the hero in blue at the Daily Planet, in its everyday life. Summoned by a mysterious society, Superman is presented by an unbearable young scientist, a kind of prophecy of what might happen to him in an uncertain future, his destiny is apparently related to the same threat that could destroy humanity if itself is not able to stop him. Without scientific and her colleague are clearly defined, both seem to detect a secret they are not ready to reveal yet. The story then moves on to a clash of the League with a lambda opponent, a fight in which two members temporarily leave the story before the link between the beginning and the end are made in the last pages, where the plot seems to clarify (without saying too much). If the plot is presented as a clash between a celestial threat and the heroes of Earth, it does not necessarily presage a series of the most original, the execution and intention deployed by Bryan Hitch are quite intriguing. The author believes in the potential of his narrative and distills between scenes skillful transitions preparing the reader to what awaits him at the end number. And whatever pace is a problem, especially because of the fighting that occurs in middle number, we appreciate the writing, very different from that of Geoff Johns, sometimes too automated. If Hitch's most famous designers as very large series of superhero teams (The Ultimates and Authority in the first place), the artist seems to have set the stage for a compelling story. The only regret is sometimes archetypal characters: as writer, perhaps the author retains ownership of such a large team, but given the solo status of the series, he would win to show less restraint in writing Superman, or its scientific caricature. The situations are there, the characters less.
To return to the status of the series, one can wonder what flexibility was left to Hitch in the fallout of its history. Because if no one doubts that the good guys triumph in the end, the disadvantage of a story of two is that there is no real suspense waiting for the end of the first arc. We know if continuity applies whether the heroes of the League managed to overcome the threat from the moment they are still intact and in activity when Johns writes, in the same timeline years later. This does not prevent the series to be well narrated and original at the risk of spoiling the suspense a little - less precisely the DCY policy is fully assumed, and that we can expect scriptwriting choice hard like leaves to think the first issue. We hope in any case that the quality will be accompanied to come to risk taking, so that the series is not a narrative interval whose outcome is already known.
Returning also in the drawings. You could see the many fresco-like covers for the first issue, and if the result is not packed you, you be calm. Solidly supported by three ink in support of his pencils (which can be a sure guarantee against the usual delays Bryan Hitch the drawing), the pages are nice, some very beautiful, busy and obey the serious writing and placid scenario. Sometimes uninspired (the laboratory), the drawing can be empty or poorly served by colorization, also against the current of certain series 'light' of DCY, but still of good quality, and artistically culminated in the dynamism and staging. Regrettably some colors to "synthetic" appearance in the less inked pages, but the JLA series door in its very DNA compulsion to obey certain criteria comics broad audience. This will not prevent fans Hitch to be very satisfied. Without being an upheaval in the way of seeing and writing the Justice League, Justice League of America # 1 appears as a solid input for the team of the most famous heroes of the DC pantheon. Many pages and covers opening on a catchy plot, which we are eager to know what happened and in which we can base some renewed hope, paradoxically rooted in the beginnings of temporality New 52.
Listed on the start of a arc that will anyway have to expand if it is a simple series about the adventures of the JLA as defenders of the Earth, or if the editorial freedom will allow the title to build his own myth complements the usual series of Johns Fabok. Answer in future issues, with the assurance of a good graphics orientation for fans of the designer.