Justice League International #3
Written by Dan Jurgens
Art Aaron Lopresti, Matt Ryan, and Hi-Fi
The short of it:
The JLI has broken down into two person groups to try and stop the Signal Men across the globe, or, to be specific, those groups go underground right under the Signal Men’s feet. Booster and Batman, Rocket Red and Ice, Fire and Vixen, and Godiva and August General in Iron are the groups, and for the most part, the groups are immediately overwhelmed and taken down. Meanwhile, Guy Gardner eavesdrops in on Andre and Emerson and goes after the real bad guy up in space. Andre who is already screaming at how the JLI is failing for taking a strategic retreat.
What I liked:
- Red Rocket asking Ice if Fire is available may dig a knife in the wound that is Justice League: Generation Lost never having happened, but it also is Dan Jurgens way of giving a nod to one of the elements of that book that worked.
- Pretty much everyone gets some characterization in this issue. From things we knew like Fire’s personality, to Godiva’s reveal that her presence is completely PR related and she has no idea what she’s doing. Aside from Vixen, the group is really coming together. Even Guy Gardner gets to show off his attitude.
- Batman and Booster Gold teaming up feels natural, and the fact that one of DC’s biggest guns both trusts and respects Booster is something that really does stand out. Sure, having read Jurgens previous run on Booster it isn’t surprising, but it raises his importance in the eyes of newer readers, as well as the other characters in the story.
- Lopresti’s style continues to be awesome for this book. I know at a point I was calling for Joe Bennett and Fernando Dagnino to share art duties for this book, but I really think everyone wound up on the perfect book for them in the new 52.
- Booster as a leader. A few years ago, despite my being a huge Booster Gold fan, I would have laughed off the idea. Now? It’s the most natural thing in the world and I can’t believe that anyone, myself included, ever thought it would go any other way.
What I didn’t like:
- Andre Briggs still isn’t Jackson King.
- Vixen’s character has yet to be defined as anything other than “I’m from Africa”. They may as well have used B’Wana Beast. It would be like Black Panther being on the Avenger just to remind people that he’s from Africa. I don’t even like Vixen and I know she shouldn’t be this flat.
- I still have no idea who this big bad guy is, and I hope next issue we get to see him before the last page. I was hoping to see more of him in this issue after he was revealed las month, so it was disappointing that the only difference is this time knocks someone out during his cliffhanger appearance.
- Booster is still too blue. Not nearly enough gold on Booster Gold.
- The book isn’t horribly paced, but this arc so far definitely feels written for a trade. There hasn’t been nearly as much going on per issue as I’d grown accustomed to over the past few years between Dan’s run on Booster, and the Generation Lost maxiseries.
Final thoughts:
Three issues in and I would have expected a bit more content. The characterization for everyone other than Booster and Bats has been spread pretty thin, with this issue being the first time a few have really gotten a chance to try and shine. Vixen is still a complete and total waste of a character in this book, and she really does feel like she was plugged in so that they would have a black female. I’m not sure if this arc is five or six issues, but I really did get the feeling as the issue ended that we would get some payoff next issue. By no means is this a bad book, in fact, I really enjoyed it. I just feel like it could stand to have a few extra pages, or possibly some more payoff with this new villain. It’s weird though, even with the odd pacing and seeming uneventful nature despite lots of things going on, I really want the next issue. Maybe it’s my complete and utter faith in Dan Jurgens, or maybe it’s because I’m just so used to getting these characters every other week that I’m just spoiled. I don’t want to wait a month!
Overall: 7/10
