Justice League #3 – Comic Book Review

 

Reviewed By: Emma Coverdale

Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist: Jim Lee
Colorist: Alex Sinclair
Inker: Scott Williams
Genre: Comic Book
MSRP: $3.99 USA
Rating: T (Teen)
Release Date: Available Now

Leave it to Geoff Johns to keep us intrigued as he slowly peels off the layers of a mystery foe while even more slowly bringing a band of heroes closer together to become the legendary team known as the Justice League. As we can see from Justice League #3, more members of the team meet for the first time and another is finally born as the real story has yet to begin. All we know right now is that The New 52 is really looking to be the best thing to happen to the Justice League in a long time.

As it was hinted in the last issue, the United States government and its military has become aware of another superhuman only this one has come from a mysterious island the government would like to find. Instead, what the world gets is a young and spirited young woman named Diana whose comes from the mythical race known as the Amazons. Not knowing quite what to make of her, the military has kept her in a base trying to understand why this young woman eagerly wants to fight for justice with a swing of her sword and her magical lasso.

We find out that the rest of the world knows about her now thanks to her attacks on criminals out in public. She has gotten so much exposure that the media has dubbed her Wonder Woman. Unfortunately, not everyone has embraced Wonder Woman’s existence since everyone from concerned citizens to religious fanatics sees her as something of a threat.

Still, this does not stop Wonder Woman from leaving the compound to fight evil as her liaison of this world, Colonel Trevor, finds out that she smashed her way out of the building to look for the creature reported to be attacking innocent civilians. Out in the street, people fear and loathe her … except for a child whose innocent wonder in the Amazonian reveals Wonder Woman’s own astonishment of this world. Everything from ice cream to rock and roll seem delightful and new to her.

As fate would have it, though, Wonder Woman does encounter the winged creature she head about in the news back in the military compound. It doesn’t turn out to be what she thought but judging by the sight of it we can see that it is actually another of the alien invaders showing up throughout the world.

Meanwhile, the Green Lantern, Batman, Superman and The Flash find themselves fighting off the wave of enemy invaders that suddenly appeared. It is The Flash who hears that similar attacks are going on around the world and there are reports that the invaders are taking humans with them. The four do a great job of fighting off the invaders together as we catch a glimpse of their future using teamwork in battle.

Not too far away, Doctor Stone is cradling the badly injured body of his son who has suffered a direct blast that has left his son incredibly disfigured. Realizing that the blast is eating away the flesh, the Doctor convinces his only surviving staff to help carry his son into a room with untested experimental nanite technology. While everyone else protests using said untested technology, the good doctor does not want to lose his only son and begins the procedure that would transform a young high school student into something else. What happens next is something you really must see for yourself.

While watching Victor Stone’s transformation is nail-bitingly intense, the biggest fan moment just so happens to be Wonder Woman joining in the fray involving the other heroes. Better yet is The Flash and The Green Lantern’s reaction to Wonder Woman. Just seeing the five heroes fighting side-by-side simply makes up for the slightly slower and less action-packed pace. We are also given a tease of the next hero that will cross their paths as well.

As I said before, Geoff Johns just keeps us intrigued and wanting more and this is no different. Add the continued brilliant visuals brought to us by Jim Lee as well as colorist Alex Sinclair and inker Scott Williams as we continue to have a great looking series. This Wonder Woman, by the way, looks absolutely stunning.

Justice League #3 wins big points for an interesting re-introduction to Wonder Woman to a world where heroes are not embraced as automatic saviors. Again, the pacing is slow but hardly a turn off seeing as Geoff Johns excels in keeping us intrigued and – let’s face it – excited by the potential of his story and what we could expect from future issues. This one still has us just as jazzed as the monumental first issue.

COMIC REVOLUTION RATING BREAKDOWN

STORY: B+
As reports come from all around the world about invaders attacking major cities, a younger and more powerful Amazonian warrior the public calls Wonder Woman sets out to defend her new home. Eager for a fight, Wonder Woman happens to come across another band of familiar heroes fighting nearby. Meanwhile, Doctor Stone turns to an untested technology to save Victor’s life.

ART: A+
Jim Lee keeps outdoing himself with every issue of Justice League as we can clearly see from this third issue. Once again, the action looks hot but it’s Lee’s version of a younger and feistier Wonder Woman that steals the show. Well, that and the surprise at the end of the story.

OVERALL: B+
While Green Lantern and Batman’s new companions continue to take on the alien invaders, Justice League #3 will be best remembered as the best re-introduction of Wonder Woman to the Justice League roster. While the introduction slows the action down, it is the new Wonder Woman and the procedure that will transform Vic Stone into Cyborg that makes this issue a Must Have.

Review copy provided by DC Comics

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Batman: Noel – Graphic Novel Review

Reviewed By: Ian Mintz

Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: Lee Bermejo
Artist: Lee Bermejo
Colorist: Barbara Ciardo
Genre: Graphic Novel (Hardcover)
MSRP: $22.99 USA
Rating: Teen
Release Date: Available Now

Let’s face it, when you think of Gotham City’s Dark Knight you don’t exactly picture the cheery Christmas holidays and even more so when the murderous Clown Prince of Crime is involved. However, the talented Lee Bermejo – who is pulling double duty as both artist and writer – has envisioned a Christmas story that parallels another familiar Christmas tale by the great Charles Dickens. Batman: Noel is a surprisingly brilliant ode to a classic with a Caped Crusader spin.

To Batman’s eyes, the man sweating bullets as he makes an exchange behind the door of an old-fashioned toy store is nothing more than just another bagman working for the Joker. The truth is that the man – who is the Bob Cratchet of this story – did not want to work for a homicidal maniac but saw no other opportunities to make a fast buck seeing that he hated his job working for Wayne Industries where he was going nowhere. After all, he had a son to take care of and bills to pay.

Still, Batman sees nothing else but just another weak scumbag and he catches up to “Bob” and tries to find out what he knows about the Joker or the package filled with cash. The Dark Knight decides to use the man as live bait knowing that the Joker will come looking for him and the money. Placing a tracking device on him, Batman follows Bob to his rundown apartment where his young son excitedly greets his father with a broken plant he decorated as their Christmas tree.

Oh, but the sight that would pull on anyone else’s heartstrings does nothing for Batman who just sees another criminal and a son who will most likely follow in his father’s footsteps when he grows up. As his sickness begins to turn feverish, he finds himself waiting out in the snowy cold of Gotham’s winter. He touches bases with Commissioner Gordon who tells him that he was tipped off that the Catwoman not only will be pulling of a heist but she also might have information concerning the Joker.

As it turns out, Catwoman did manage to make a score and she is in the mood to play. Unfortunately for her, Batman is in no mood to play but in chasing her across the roof, he begins to remember the old days of chasing her with a lively zeal that is clearly gone. Catwoman begins to represent the ghost of the past … a past that included a partner that is no longer among the living. Even the Catwoman can see that he has changed over the years.

Like Scrooge, Batman is visited by a second visitor, and it just so happens to be Superman (the Superman before the New 52) who has come to Gotham. Representing Batman’s present, Superman shows his friend the things he does not see and the way people such as Commissioner Gordon and the police see Batman. Sure, it’s easy to see the darkness in people’s hearts but there’s also good and it’s the good the Superman believes Batman cannot see.

When Superman leaves, a surprise knocks Batman out as a familiar maniac drags the Caped Crusader into an open grave to be buried alive. In essence, this burial serves as an eye-opener for Batman as he sees a future without him in it. A future where Gotham City will tear itself apart thanks, in part, to the legacy he leaves behind because of Batman’s influence on the city and its people. Oh, and nothing goes well for our Commissioner Gordon whose fate makes a lot of sense.

Like the old miser in Dickens’ tale, however, there’s a turning point that makes Batman come to a realization. It leads to a good climax that is actually quite touching and, in the end, makes it a holiday story that never tries to too hard to drive home the Christmas aspects of the story. In other words, it doesn’t have any cheesy Christmas sentimentality that has been used before in other comics covering a holiday theme.

I always cringe at the thought of a talented artist penning the story as well but Lee Bermejo succeeds where others have failed in spectacular ways. Bermejo does a great job with the writing and making the dialogue sound natural and the interactions between each character works well. Of course, Bermejo is best know for his artwork and he does not disappoint in the very least with his amazing visual style that makes everything from Catwoman to the Batmobile look hot.

Batman: Noel is everything you can ask for in a holiday-themed story starring Batman but, more importantly, it’s a brilliant story that pays homage to a literary classic in its own style that just works. Bermejo clearly has what it takes to tell a story visually as well as with his writing and it shows in this story that makes this graphic novel one Batman fans should not skip out on this holiday season.

COMIC REVOLUTION RATING BREAKDOWN

STORY: A
Mirroring the Scrooge character in A Christmas Carol, a sick Batman finds himself chasing the Joker by way of a down-on-his luck bagman who the Caped Crusader is using as live bait. However, as his illness begins to become severe, he finds himself meeting up with three visitors that makes Batman reflect on his past, present and future.

ART: A+
Visually speaking, Bermejo’s work has always been original and downright impressive so it is not a surprise that Batman: Noel looks so visually-striking with Gotham City in winter being quite a sight to see. It’s also good to see Superman in his pre-New 52 costume. On top of that, Barbara Ciardo’s coloring is sublime.

OVERALL: A
A brilliant take on Dickens’ classic Christmas tale, Batman: Noel is simply a perfectly crafted holiday story with a Dark Knight twist that makes it all work. Lee Bermejo proves that he’s not only a talented artist but he can also spin a good yarn. Whether you’re a true Batman fan or are interested in a different kind of holiday story, Batman: Noel is a graphic novel you should not miss.

Review copy provided by DC Comics

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