Justice League #1 review

Justice League #1 isn’t just the premiere issue of the new Justice League book. It is the premiere issue of DC’s entire “The New 52” line. It is the “monumental issue” that can be seen as the “beginning of a new universe”, as co-publisher Dan Didio puts it. “Watch as it opens a world of infinite possibilities.”

I’ve finished reading it. So why on Earth does the issue feature mainly only Batman and Green Lantern? For all the hype, wouldn’t it be a better and stronger opening if we saw the entire team?


SOME SPOILERS BELOW


Justice League is written by Geoff Johns and penciled by Jim Lee. It begins with Batman chasing a villain in the rooftops of Gotham City, while being chased by the GC police. The mysterious villain is super powered but luckily Green Lantern is around to lend a hand. We get an establishment of what the world is like through Batman and Lantern’s dialogue. This is the first time they’ve met. The world is afraid of costumed, super powered beings like them (with the exception of Batman who has no powers). It sounds like they’ve all heard of each other through the news. Batman tells Lantern not to interfere in his territory and stick to Coast City. After encountering the villain, they deduce he is of alien origin. They then connect it to the alien in Metropolis called Superman. We get a few pages introducing a star football player, who looks like Cyborg. The end page is a cliffhanger of sorts as Batman and Green Lantern encounter Superman for the first time.


END SPOILERS


I would say that it’s a pretty weak start for a team book. At this pace, it would probably take three to four issues for everyone to get together. Maybe by the end of this first story arc even. The issue isn’t all bad though. It has a clean and crisp feel to it thanks to Jim Lee’s art. I like how he draws Green Lantern’s constructs i.e. firetruck, riot shields, etc., and his work is always great to look at. I won’t say the same about his new costume design for Superman though. Geoff Johns is well known for his event storylines so I am curious to see what he has planned for the Justice League. I do hope he focuses on the other members as well and not just dwell on Green Lantern. The next issue will be arriving soon so we’ll see.