Justice League International #1
Written by Dan Jurgens
Art by Aaron Lopresti and Matt Ryan
Man, I am pumped! I’ve been waiting impatiently for this book ever since Justice League: Generation Lost wrapped up in May! Booster Gold! Fire! Ice! GAVRIL! There’s even Batman and Guy Gardner, and the criminally underused August General In Iron! Sure, Vixen and Godiva are there too, but I guess they can grow on me. I didn’t care about Ice before Generation Lost, after all. Now, sure, Judd Winick isn’t writing this, but Dan Jurgens is instead, and not to knock Winick, but Dan is in my top five all time. Now, let’s add in that Booster Gold is essentially leading this team, and Jurgens is writing it, and we’ve not only got the JLI promised to us at the end of Generation Lost, but we have the potential spiritual successor to Booster Gold!
So I guess I have one big question now that I’ve read this issue, and it’s one that I’ve wondered about since the book was announced, but now I feel justified in asking…but did Generation Lost happen?
This issue establishes that this JLI is the first JLI, and that they are being formed in response to the Justice League. This team is to give the United Nation their own superhero team that operates under the ultimate technique. When the team succeeds, the UN takes credit, but when they fail…the UN blames them. It’s brilliant in its simplicity. Above all else it’s P.R. Hence no masks or secret identities, the unspoken humans only rule, and members being chosen from across the globe in order to broaden their appeal across the world. Hell, Booster is given a boost in his classic characterization, where now instead of being a sponsor and endorsement seeking famehound, he’s a PR savvy….well, Booster isn’t changed too much save for his costume (more on that later), and that’s a good thing. He makes perfect sense for this team with the setup that they’ve given, he knows how to deal with people and garner the right kind of attention.
There’s immediate strife when the team gathers for the first time, and a member storms out in protest to Booster’s leadership. There’s a nice amount of characterization spread across the team, where readers find out things like how Gavril is going to be the comic relief, that Ice always wants everyone to get along, that Godiva is either a flirt or into the Booster-Man, and that Rocket Red and August General are going to be a constant source of arguments. There’s a fun dynamic here, and really, only Vixen feels tacked on. I mean, really, she fills space, she says a few things, she’s getting screen time. Though one of the best moments in the issue will go to Batman’s joining of the team, as Booster makes his way into a taking off jet only to wonder who is flying it. Obviously, Batman, and there’s a nice joke out of him there. Jurgens nails these characters right off the bat and it sets a good tone going forward.
There are two threats, and while one is our cliffhanger, the other just seems odd. Protesters who are mad that the UN has taken control of the Hall of Justice for use as the JLI’s headquarters. And I mean, REALLY mad, and it’s weird and sinister and I can’t help but wonder if they might be something more than really pissed off civilians. To be fair though, while there’s set up for what happens next issue, there isn’t a lot of true conflict in this issue prior to the last few pages. Jurgens creates the team, gathers the members, and sends them off on their first mission all in one issue. It might feel like there’s not a ton of time to breathe, but it’s paced nicely and while unspectacular, it is very successful in what it does.
Aaron Lopresti was one of the three artists responsible for Generation Lost, and while even if that book may have never happened anymore, at least the feel of it is very clearly still around artistically. He showed ability in drawing larger casts and handling the inevitable big fight action sequences that are par for the course for teams like this. Everyone has their own unique look about them and most of the team winds up with new costumes. Save for Ice and Guy Gardner, really, as Ice just got a new costume a few months ago and you’d have to be an idiot to change up Guy Gardner’s look. Fire, Rocket Red, and Vixen all have slight tweaks to their designs; Gavril with a new suit of armor to replace his destroyed old one, Fire with a new costume, and Vixen with animal print. Really, Booster is the biggest change as he becomes an all blue man below the ribcage. Gone are the yellow pants and blue boots, now it’s just…blue. It’s not bad, but it’s going to take some serious getting used to, as there’s not enough gold on Booster Gold.
It’s a shame to find myself asking whether or not Generation Lost actually happened, but simply having this book with this roster, and by a favorite writer of mine, I can look past it. It’s not a mind blowing first issue, but it’s a fine starting effort that does a very nice job setting up the pieces for the coming issues. We’ve got a team that is powerful, while not too powerful, and that features a host of characters who won’t be getting separate monthly titles. which makes this book the only home for most of its cast. It’s hardly the first time that has ever happened, especially with a Justice League, but to be honest…these are usually my favorites. This book is going to be where I go for my Booster fix, just like it’s where I’m hoping to see some rekindled Fire and Gavril romance. I trust Dan Jurgens to manage the cast without pushing anyone too far off to the realm of active limbo (though I won’t care if it’s Vixen, I just don’t care for her).
The Justice League International is here again for the very first time. What will the future hold? Is Ted Kord still dead? Where is Max Lord? Will we have some bwa-ha-ha? I can’t wait to find out!
Overall?
8/10
