Batman, Green Lantern, and The Flash Vs. Superman! Cyborg's origin continues!
DC's New 52 powers on with Justice League #2. Issue #1 was a bit of a disappointment, but with #2, Geoff Johns and Jim Lee have picked up the slack.
The issue is action packed from start to finish, and Johns still somehow manages to give each character enough page time, character development and, most importantly, dialogue. In the opening pages we're (re)introduced to the character of The Flash/Barry Allen, as the fight between Superman vs. Batman and Green Lantern continues from issue #1. Superman is proving to be too much for the Dark Knight and Emerald Warrior, so Hal Jordan decides to make a call to Barry Allen for help. They are clearly no match for Superman's strength, so Hal assumes that Flash's speed might wear the Man of Steel down. Meanwhile, the origin of Cyborg/Victor Stone continues, and the issue ends with a shocking cliffhanger for next month.
The artwork in this issue is simply beautiful. Jim Lee is my favorite comic book artist and if he somehow hasn't caught your eye then this issue is a good example of his talent. The fight scenes are wonderfully drawn and I'd print and frame some of those panels if I owned a scanner. If I have one gripe about this issue (and the DCnU) it's that I'm not a fan of Superman's new character. It works over in Action Comics because he's much younger, but seeing Superman punch first and ask questions later is too out of character. He's almost kind of a jerk! Definitely not the boy scout he's always been portrayed as.
One of my biggest complaints last issue is that we KNOW what's in store for our heroes, and that it's obvious this is one big (and new) origin story of the famous Justice League. But with issue #2, Johns and Lee have made it fun and exciting enough for me to want to keep reading anyway. Can't wait for #3!!THE GOOD: Great character development and great dialogue. We may know the final outcome, but it's just too much fun to not want to keep reading. The fight between Flash and Superman was especially enjoying.
THE BAD: I don't like the new characterization of Superman. He's completely out of character compared to what I'm used to.
THE ART: I'd pay $3.99 for just the art alone! Seriously - it's Jim Lee and Scott Williams. Some may think I'm biased, but the two of them together are legends in the industry.
FINAL VERDICT: A
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- Batman Annual Issue 1 - The Torment of Mr. Freeze
- Nightwing Issue 1 - Full Circle
- Secret Avengers Issue 21.1 - Hawkeye Leads the Team
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"seeing Superman punch first and ask questions later is too out of character. He's almost kind of a jerk! Definitely not the boy scout he's always been portrayed as."
ReplyDeleteNew 52 was about change and doing things differently... some of us had enough of the golden boy of DC... man, talk about a generation of wimps...