JUSTICE LEAGUE #3 REVIEW

COMIC VINE

Writer: Geoff Johns

Pencils: Jim Lee

Inks: Scott Williams

Warning: This review contains spoilers.

"Who's in charge here? I vote for ME." That's how Aquaman makes his introduction to the Justice League in issue three, which in my opinion is a bold way to make your presence known to the world's best superheroes. The band is getting together and we may see a fully united Justice League battling Darkseid and his evil minions in issue four. Wonder Woman and Cyborg also make their first appearance in Justice League #3, which is another action-packed read from the creative team of Geoff Johns, Jim Lee, and Scott Williams.  

Darkseid has been creating havoc pm Earth and in this issue he has unleashed an army of winged demons that are capturing people and our heroes, sans Cyborg, are battling them furiously. Superman, Batman, The Flash, and Green Lantern are in a fierce battle when Wonder Woman shows up and gives the boys a taste of how they do things in the land of Amazons.

Geoff Johns has quite a bit going on in this issue but handles the various story lines very well. The story is well paced and is an absolute page turner. Jim Lee has done it again and I was truly impressed with his work. For example, we have a great splash page with Wonder Woman taking on the demons and there is also a great page where we see Cyborg online for the first time and Lee mixes in a teaser of Darkseid, which is brilliant.

I've been very impressed with the Justice League which has been one of my New 52 favorites. There are no excuses for missing out on this series.

Justice League #1 Review

Justice League #2 Review



TonyDoug Wright is the owner and editor of Champion City Comics. His webcomics include Dr Death vs The Zombie, The End of Paradise, and Day 165.

JUSTICE LEAGUE #2 REVIEW (CONTAINS SPOILERS)

Writer: Geoff Johns

Pencils: Jim Lee

Inks: Scott Williams

Justice League #2 picks up where the first one left off, with Batman, Green Lantern, and Superman locked in a titanic power struggle. Green Lantern calls The Flash in for back up and Batman realizes there’s been a big misunderstanding. After a few more punches are thrown Batman manages to calm everyone down and they relocate to an abandoned paper mill to analyze one of the boxes Darkseid’s minions have left behind. Meanwhile, Vic Stone (the not-yet-Cyborg) confronts his father about missing his football game. His father gets angry and tells him that his sports prowess is nothing compared to the super humans that are emerging. Vic goes to leave but the boxes begin to show some activity and legions of Darkseid’s soldiers pour out, burning Vic horribly.

This issue definitely fixed the action to story ratio that was a little off last time. A great deal happened, in both story and action, but was kept at a good pace. I like the character they’re setting up for Green Lantern. It’s common canon that Hal Jordan is cocky, brash, and a hot head, but this is really the first time I’ve felt it. With Pre-52 Green Lantern most of his flaws had been worked out by the time I got to the comics, even though they still shone through on occasion. The other characters also have some good, discernible development as well. Batman is a tactician and, at least in this issue, peace keeper amongst the group. Flash is cautious, encyclopedic, and only wants justice for people who don’t get any. Superman’s a little off, at least in this one. We don’t really get much from him, other than him being a total badass in his fight with Batman and Green Lantern. I’m holding out that his infallible moral compass will surface in the coming issues, and his abilities as a leader within the JLA will as well.

The art by Jim Lee is just that, it’s Jim Lee. The panels are gorgeous, and there’s a two page spread inside that is just amazing in both detail and just the subject matter itself.

The end of the comic has something that threw both Michael Newton and I for a loop at first, a transcript of an interview between Amanda Waller and Steve Trevor about his crash landing on Paradise Island. Other than some insight into Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and Shazam that anyone not familiar with the characters would find useful it doesn’t really add much to the experience. What it does do, that I am extremely pumped for, is foreshadow the 53rd comic to the line up that has been announced. Geoff Johns will helm a Shazam book.

Back on point, this issue of DC’s flagship book was a step up from the already solid first issue. And it’s only going to get better from here.

5 out of 5


Michael Knoll is a contributing writer at Champion City Comics. 

JUSTICE LEAGUE #1: A SECOND REVIEW

Writer: Geoff Johns

Pencils: Jim Lee

Inks: Scott Williams

Looking at the cover, it’s evident that Jim Lee (Batman: Hush, X-Men) hasn’t lost his touch in his brief absence from comic art. Other than the missing Green Lantern ring incident, the art is amazingly accurate to the characters, with new designs and personal touches, the new Justice League members look outstanding. Lee’s inker, Scott Williams (All-Star Batman and Robin, X-Men) also brings along great details and shading to the art. Together, the pair brings out greatly detailed, dynamic artwork. Geoff Johns (Blackest Night, Flashpoint) weaves an interesting tale. I’d like to note that this issue is only a starting point, and I think it makes readers a bit confused (especially if they haven’t read Flashpoint). The dialogue is witty, but sometimes it gets taken too far. Green Lantern sort of haphazardly shows up in Gotham (something to do with being alerted of the aliens’ presence), and he and Batman get to know each other. Batman gets irritated at Green Lantern’s sharp tongue and over-confidence. The pair go on to fight aliens and solve the mystery as to why they’re attacking Gotham. Green Lantern thinks they’ll find answers in Metropolis… 

Overall, the art is spectacular, everything you’d want from Lee and Williams, and the writing is solid, although I think Johns has done better.  This is only the first issue, so I think the story being set up will be wonderful and captivating. Stay tuned to Champion City Comics for more heart-pounding reviews from great writers and keep checking out our stunning stories and astounding artwork!

Michael Newton is a contributing writer at Champion City Comics. 

THE NEW 52: THE JUSTICE LEAGUE (SPOILER ALERT)

Justice League #1 (DC Comics) Review by TonyDoug Wright

Writer: Geoff Johns

Pencils: Jim Lee

Inks: Scott Williams 

Two of my favorite superheroes of all time are Batman and The Flash, so purchasing the new re-launch of The Justice League was by no means a major twist of the arm. In this day and age of the four dollar comic book, I felt that DC was putting their best talent together for their re-launch projects and I was sold on a Geoff Johns and Jim Lee collaboration. I was a major fan of Johns' work with The Flash because he did an excellent job in examining the backgrounds and complicated friendships of the Rogues. Lee's artwork for the Batman 'Hush' arc was fantastic and it was that series that got me hooked on collecting anything and everything Batman related.Together, they deliver an action-packed opening issue to see how the band actually got together.

Johns sets the story in Gotham where a strange race of aliens have terrorized the city. Ah, poor Gotham. Somehow, the citizens do not think twice about moving out due to the alien invasions, murderous psychopaths, and evenings filled with endless explosions. Batman is on the case, as usual, and tries to capture an elusive alien. However, the Gotham PD (better equipped than the US Army or Marines) wants to take out both Batman and the alien. Enter Green Lantern. After reading a few panels of Lantern and Batman dialogue, I was wondering if Batman was talking to Hal Jordan or Peter Parker. With a few magic ring moves, Green Lantern is able to protect Batman and to put out the fires caused by the battle involving Batman, the alien, and the Gotham PD.

I need to sidetrack the reader for a moment. If you've read the story then you're familiar with the panel where Green Lantern is able to create some firetrucks and firefighters to put out the numerous fires in downtown Gotham. That was nice of him to help the people out in a time of crisis. Could Green Lantern also have created a giant apartment complex for the homeless and a grocery store for the hungry? Just wondering.

Back to our tale! Batman and Green Lantern follow the alien to the sewers to discover that the aliens are basically Darkseid's suicide bombers. After some witty banter between Green Lantern and Batman, the two decide to check out the alien being known as Superman in Metropolis. A confident Lantern is given quite a welcoming punch from Superman and Johns ends the story with Superman giving Batman a "You wanna fight or what?" ultimatum.

Overall, the story is fun and Johns has set the stage for what could be a cool fight between Batman and Superman. In case you're wondering, Lee's artwork is nothing less than what you expect, so discuss amongst yourselves. For those of you that were horrified by the Ryan Reynolds Green Lantern costume then you should feel better knowing that they have stuck with the old-school style of the outfit. Superman's look has been changed and DC has decided to get rid of Superman's red underwear. It's not easy to appease the masses, but I give The Justice League a stamp of approval for keeping the reader interested and wanting more.