J’onn J’onzz and Stargirl are the only Leaguers not trapped inside a weird world by their own fears. Separately, they wander from place to place, encountering Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Shazam, Madame Xanadu and new Green Lantern Simon Baz. They can’t be reasoned with. Stargirl searches for J’onn, while remembering her beginnings as a hero. Eventually she finds J’onn fighting a manifestation of his own psyche.
On the one hand, Matt Kindt’s script is a by-the-numbers continuation of last issue’s storyline, with more variations on the theme of Justice Leaguers’ secret fears (Aquaman sees the world’s marine life die; Madame Xanadu must embrace the dark side; Baz becomes the terrorist some people think he is, when in fact the poor dear’s only a car thief). Or perhaps it’s not so much fears as secret desires (Wonder Woman has a never-ending battle to engage her; the Hero Formerly Known as Captain Marvel can smash robots to his heart’s content). I’m not too clear on that point.
On the other hand, this almost-throwaway bit of crossover fodder allows Kindt to work on J’onn J’onnz, bringing him closer to the classic, compassionate version than the ruthless guy seen in Stormwatch – an interesting character, but not the Martian Manhunter.
Yay, it’s Yankee Poodle from Eighties funny animal comic Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew. OK, she’s ‘just’ a TV cartoon here, but I know how DC Earths work, somewhere out there a TV writer is receiving dream versions of the real pooch’s adventures on Earth C. I so much prefer this cameo approach to the recently cancelled Threshold’s use of the grrr-tastic Captain K-Rot and Pig Iron.
Courtney is appealing throughout, a bright, non-bratty teenager, and her attitude proves key to the story; I especially like her reaction on meeting Wonder Woman (‘J’onn, I totally just saw Wonder Woman. She is freaking tall!’). I hope Stargirl isn’t grimmed up as the months pass, the more bright, inspirational characters, the better (didn’t Amanda Waller hint that she has A Secret? I do hope she hasn’t – but she likely will have, and it’ll probably involve Pemberton being a depraved casting couch type). That page above, with her soaring over the city, is my favourite piece of DC art in months, all credit to Derenick and inker Dustin Nguyen or other inker Allen Martinez. And the colours of Gabe Eltaeb – who also tones Doug Mahnke’s striking cover – are terrific, it’s just a shame that the last page return to the real world sees the typically muted tones come back too. The entire issue looks great, I’d be very happy to see this art team on the book full time
Justice League of America #9 isn’t an essential purchase if only the so-called big stories matter to you, or if you’re watching the pennies.
Cover by the great Nick Cardy, 1920-3013 |
The ‘superheroes trapped by their own psyches’ is an old trope (my favourite spin remains Teen Titans #38, from the days dinosaurs ruled the earth) but I suppose a new continuity is a decent excuse to roll it out again. Really, though, the reason to buy this book is to enjoy Stargirl, a bright new star in the DC firmament. More please.
I suppose a new continuity is a decent excuse to roll it out again.
Nay, Martin lad. These days (boy, a lot of things sure are getting rebooted) this is a pretty common excuse for new enterprises based on the idea that “well, these characters haven't done X, Y or Z plot before so let's do that now”, but something old hat is still old hat. I stopped watching Star Trek: Voyager around the third or fourth episode when someone said something along the lines of “pretend to be sick and I'll jump the guard when he comes to check.” I actually told my tv to go f**k itself right there and then.
A new continuity is – ideally – where you avoid the mistakes of the past and don't just repeat them.
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I take your point, but maybe there actually are some of these (nicking a term from a clever CBR poster) cryptozoological 'new readers' DC claims who haven't seen this sort of thing previously. Then again, they've likely seen Star Trek, or the final series of the BBC's Being Human, or any number of places the 'I don't want to leave this ideal world' bit has been used.
I resolve to be tougher …
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I read and reviewed it over on AiPT and I had enjoyed it quite a bit. I am a big of Star Girl (I have original series on my shelf) and loved seeing her be such an optimist and heroic individual. Heck, its her optimisim and the fact that she is not held by any dark secret or past like a majority of the heroes that ultimately allows her to escape. It's very nice contrast to everything in the DC 52, which has been pretty downbeat (though I am hoping for the new Harley Quinn series to be more light hearted like the writer implies it'll be).
Speaking of good female heroes, the recent issue of Batgirl was great as well.
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Your suggestion for Courtney's mom made me think, “Huh, we don't see many voiceover artists in comics, yet it's a cool profession. Wonder why?” before realizing that their talents are basically impossible to convey in print.
Glad to hear Stargirl has retained her optimism! I really like that character.
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Is that the Zero Year one? It's sitting here … off to read your JLA review first!
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She did! And it was fun seeing the improvised shirt, very cute!
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