The latest Justice League Unlimited spin-off series promises Power Girl, Green Lantern Simon Baz, Red Tornado, Cyborg, Red Canary and Deadman. Only the first three of these appear in this debut issue. Power Girl and Green Lantern receive a mystery summons while out adventuring, as their JLU membership cards glow red and begin to beep. They’re surprised to find, on a hidden HQ in space, Reddy, who’s recently been the team’s disembodied major domo. And he has bad news.
Reddy claims the League leadership can’t be told about his conclusions.
Despite their qualms, the pair agree to a mission in space.
What looks like a vehicle turns out to be a tad more imposing.
GL and Peege do defeat the robot, only to get a shock as they wait to ensure the thing isn’t going to self-repair.
What the heck is going on? If Reddy isn’t outright lying to his JLU allies he’s certainly a few sandwiches short of a doomsday picnic. He’s definitely lying about one thing, presenting in holographic form when, before Peege and GL arrive, we see him generate a new body in stomach churning detail.
I wouldn’t follow Reddy for a second. I’ve always liked him, but don’t deny he has a terrible record for being possessed by the likes of Kilg%re and the Construct. And he started out as a literal Tornado Tyrant. Also, since when is he a super-intelligent type? He’s an android who can spin his bits! Even if he’s sincere about scenarios in which he shares his fears with his peers turning out badly, he’s not tried this in real life, with actual people who have beat the odds a million times, beings with souls rather than internal spreadsheets.
Writer Saladin Ahmed has my attention, with a decently plotted debut issue and an interesting character pairing. There’s Power Girl, recent portrayals apart a famously independent thinker and computer expert, here challenging the idea that the algorithm is king. And Simon Baz, not the most natural follower of orders. They seem a weird duo if Reddy is out to manipulate.
As for the other promised players, Deadman is famously cynical, Cyborg has access to the same intelligence systems as Reddy – perhaps more, given his links to Apokoliptian tech. And Red Canary… well, Reddy must have dialled the wrong number, given she’s brand new to the hero game, an unpowered teenager with a couple of sticks to wave about.
Clayton Henry’s artwork is outstanding – well composed, sharply finished, stylish, attractive and action packed. Our three leads look equally excellent and the retro robot is a treat. The opening dark visions are disturbing, though less so than that Reddy regeneration I mentioned – if there was a sound effect, it’d be SCHLURRRRRRP!
And the accompanying colour art from Arif Prianto is terrific, with tones blending subtly to tell a powerful story. Regular DC letterer Lucas Gattoni is teamed with a new name to me, Ryan Christy, and I can’t see the join. The unfortunate robot’s shouty font is a treat.
Talking of fonts, the cover logo is boring as heck, won’t someone bring back the Justice League shield? The actual illo by Henry with colourist Matt Herms is pretty good, with only the doubly obscured Reddy head letting the side down.
I’m intrigued as to where Justice League Red is going – Red Tornado’s scheme is so obviously off that there could be a big surprise in store. I’m up for that.
Too Dangerous For a Girl 2 
Hmmm, I might end up getting this one for the Clayton Henry art. I’m definitely a fan of his work.
So, is this a miniseries or an ongoing?
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It has to be a stealth mini, but they don’t seem to be saying.
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I’m looking forward to this one — Henry’s super-sturdy, attractive art is always a draw for me — but I’ll be tuning in a month late on DCUI. Thanks for the review… I’m definitely intrigued!
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Just three weeks to go… blimey, how am I so far behind with my replies, sorry.
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It does feel a bit like someone thinks RT is the DC version of the Vision but I’ll give it a go!
Stu
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See what you reckon!
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I’m probably not gonna last long with this series. First off, Ahmed’s writing succeeded in turning me off permanently (so far) on two characters I had followed since their creation. Then there’s the fact that Henry is just too smoothed out (I don’t know how else to describe it) for me to favor or to keep me on a book with less than Waid or the like.
Maybe the Red Tornado problem is they’re misinterpreting Waid’s use of him. In JLU, he just coordinates. (Which btw, annoys me some. I miss Kathy and Traya and Reddy being the most depressed robot since Marvin) Whichever interchangeable JLA criminal mad scientists created him did not give him a super brain. The stupid Tyrant retcon didn’t upgrade him and the Elemental thing traded boring for depressed. I’m not even touching that abomination of a mini that last featured him. If anything, Redy should betray them in a heartbeat since the people who could whip up new bodies for him between issues now are just letting him languish in a mainframe.
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I get what you’re saying about Henry’s art, there is a kind of perfect sheen to things.
Who did Ahmed put you off? I know his name but don’t think I’ve read anything by him.
A million points for the Marvin reference! And yes, if they weren’t an alien whose name ended in ‘O’, the JLA villains were baddie boffins.
Excellent point about Reddy being neglected; he’s been destroyed so many times that the JLA should have – as with Wildfire and his containment suits – spare bodies to hand.
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First thing I read by him was the Black Bolt mini and didn’t finish it. Then he took over writing the Miles Spider-Man and Ms Marvel. I don’t know how long I lasted on each but it was a bit because I loved Bendis and Wilson’s runs. Now I can’t be bothered to touch a series with either as the solo star. I can’t even pinpoint what I don’t like about his writing. I just range from disinterest to massive dislike for it. It’s like how I feel about Williamson after his Flash run times ten. Williamson I can at least read an issue here or there if you hype it enough. The only thing that could keep me going is love for Red Tornado and the fact it feels like Karen is back in the Power Girl saddle and not Paige.
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