Last Issue: 8 out of 10.
This comic opens up with Green Arrow heading to the reformed villain(and perhaps the most awesome supporting character EVER)the Shade and asking him to take GA to wherever Prometheus was hiding. The Shade warns GA that if he goes through with what he was planning, his life would be forever altered, but GA had been pushed to the point where he felt he had no recourse but to kill Prometheus. With that, the Shade takes GA to Prometheus's hideout, and I think we all know what happens from there. From that scene we head out to a battle between JLAers Batman, Starfire, Green Lantern and Donna Troy versus Atlas. After a relatively swift battle, the JLA manages to take Atlas down, and afterwards they learn that Atlas was being mind controlled to act as he was, which disturbs the JLAers since Atlas had such a powerful mind. Next up we go to a STAR Labs facility in Fawcett City which was being attacked by some super-villains who were using New Genesis technology. The bad guys clobber some c-list heroes before making off with some mysterious alien artifact. The JLA assembles... wait, that's the Avengers... The JLA... joins, I guess and discuss what happened in Fawcett. While the Atom tells the JLAers what he had discovered from the attack, Hal and Black Canary huddle together to discuss why Green Arrow wasn't at the meeting, even though he said he'd be there. While the JLA is joining, Cyborg rushes in and alerts the team that he had discovered the location of an alien artifact similar to the ones that had been stolen last issue as well as earlier at STAR Labs, and the full League heads to Blackhawk Island, where they discover two villains using New Genesis technology battling against the blue Starman and Ugh... Congorilla... While the JLAers engage the bad guys in battle, three other villains sneak into the JLA Watchtower using Boomtube tech, and begin to search the JLA's satellite headquarters. This issue ends with Green Arrow teleporting to the Tower searching for his absent teammates.
Once again, this wasn't a bad comic at all. Granted, there wasn't a whole load of action until the end, but this comic set up the showdowns for next issue, with the JLA battling these New God impostors on two fronts. So long as he isn't senselessly killing off little girls, I like James's writing, and I've liked Mark's pencils since Ultimate Spider-Man, so this comic was pretty enjoyable to me. Before I end this post though, I will admit that there is one thing that has bugged me about the new League thus far. With such an expansive team, many characters are kind of appearing and disappearing. For example, Atom wasn't even a part of the last issue, but this issue he had a major role, while Mon-El, who WAS in the last issue did nothing more then stand/float in the background and smile. Methinks there may be too many characters in this comic/on this team right now...
Score: 8 out of 10.
Since the Shade is probably among my favorite comic book characters, it should go without saying that I enjoyed this comic.
Interesting how Robinson seems to be doing a good job on this title at the same time that he's writing something as awful as Cry For Justice. The difference can't be as simple as him using the same characters he used so effectively in Starman, like the Shade...can it?
ReplyDeleteHa, well having the Shade appear here sure doesn't hurt! Seriously though, although Cry was one of the most despicable things I'd ever read, I still do respect James's work(just a little less now...). He is a very good storyteller who makes excellent usage of supporting characters. So long as he doesn't senselessly kill off/ruin great characters like he did in Cry, I don't see myself disliking his JLA run... Or at least I hope that's the case.
ReplyDeleteOne question and one comment.
ReplyDeleteWhen did Shade reform and why did he? And what you said in the other post about terrible grammar made me laugh extremely hard.
From the way I remember it, the Shade was only evil because he was so bored with his life. He'd commit garish crimes during the 50's/60's against Jay Garrick and SAINT Barry Allen simply for sport. Eventually after Jay retired and the SAINT died, he quit and went to live in Opal City. I guess if I was immortal, I'd get pretty bored and do some weird stuff as well. I could be a bit off though since it's been well over a year since I read the Starman series, but that's how I remember it. If I'm wrong, I'm sure somebody will correct me.
ReplyDeleteOh, so you liked my grammar line, did you JT... Hmm, maybe now I'll go after your crown and become the King of Comedy as well as Comics!
Ah, I wasn't aware he'd been around for so long too, new info everyday.
ReplyDeleteYou may if you dare, but just remember. I'm the Alistair of the group, and you're a Sten at best. :P Lol jk
The Shade's story is interesting in that he was a nothing, c-list villain who would pop up from time to time during the 50's/60's acting like a loon, stealing stuff and using his shadow powers for all kinds of dumb things, like driving a shadow car and such. James Robinson took him since he was a character who was very little known in the 90's, had some sweet powers and a great look, gave him a british accent(which always makes things a little better!), and new ways to use his powers and just developed the HELL out of him! You seriously have to look at the Shade from nowadays and the Shade from the 50's as two distinctly different characters.
ReplyDeleteI'm fine with that. Trust me, you DO NOT want to mess with Sten in my game, he's my frigging ass-kicker! When an ass needs kicking, I point Sten over and that business gets taken care of. Anyway, I remember you calling me the Grey Warden, and that's what I'm sticking with!
Wow, I've honestly not seen much of The Shade outside of on the JLA Cartoon which I love almost as much and Batman The Animated Series so that lets you know how good it is. But I'll definitely look up The Shade because he sounds like a vastly improved character.
ReplyDeleteReally? My ass kicker is big Shale. Taking people out with 70 points a hit, and it's awesome. And yeah you can be the Warden, as long as you're not all...Nekon on me lol.
Yeah, in the DCU, the Shade was mainly in the Starman comic, no where else. As a huge fan though I think I've managed to collect just about all of his appearances since his Starman revival.
ReplyDeleteYeah, last game it was Shale and Alistair who served as my ass kickers When you find Shale's fully powered weapons, she's a real force to be reckoned with! This time around though I've pretty much stuck with the same team throughout, and as such, Sten has been my muscle. Nah, I just can't see myself as my evil mage... I'd def be more of my first character then that damned mage...
I got to read a little about him in that Dreadful Cry for Justice, I know he was pretty awesome until Prometheus said Let there be LIGHT! and he just flew back.
ReplyDeleteHm what was your first guy's name anyway?
Yeah, the Prometheus/Shade meeting didn't go down as I would have liked, but at least the Shade didn't lose an arm or something, so I guess I should count my blessings!
ReplyDeleteHe'd be the dashing Bullseye. That's such a perfect name for an archer if you ask me.
Lol true, I loved the air of mystery around Shade, and how you could tell he was helping the heroes but still seems like he may have his own little agenda.
ReplyDeleteBullseye is a pretty good name, just keep Daken, I mean Zevran away from him! Lol
That in a nutshell was the Shade for like the entire Starman series, which is prob why I took to him like I did. There was always this mystique about him where you were never 100% sure what side of a situation he'd be willing to join in on. He's an awesomely complex character.
ReplyDeleteHA, yeah, I let Zevran know right off the bat that I wasn't interested! As for my mage, he just leads Zevran on!
Hm... is The Shade in any more recent stuff besides cry for Justice that you know of?
ReplyDeleteLol my mage is gonna get him and Alistair, only because I want the trophies. Oh and for the record, I killed that Mabari at the Grey Warden camp. Oh I'm evil baby!
Let's see, he was in the Starman BN one-shot, he popped up in the GA series back when Ollie first came back(although that's not very recent), and I can recall him battling against the villains during Infinite Crisis(although he claims he was only doing it for Opal City, not out of any inherent goodness). That's all I can think of for recent stuff, he was in a few other things during the 90's though.
ReplyDeleteWow, not even my evil mage killed the dog! I think I forced the guy to give me a reward before I gave him the antidote. See, for my mage, if he is going to do a good deed, there best be some sort of a reward in there somewhere!
My mage is just a very bitter woman lol, she flirts and tries to take money anyway she can but she'll kill you. I got money from that dude in Lothering who argued with the chantry woman about supplies, then I got him to give me 200 silver then I just killed him for no reason.
ReplyDeleteHA! I did the same thing, except I of course didn't kill him. See, if you do something for my mage, he'll do something for you. If you've got nothing to give(like that poor dying elf in the woods)then you get killed. We'll see if your tune changes after Redcliffe. If you can walk away from them in there time of need, then you truly ARE evil to the max.
ReplyDeleteOh I've already done it my friend, AND killed Conner. Oh and what else? I've decided I'm gonna kill Wynne when I get to her. Why because Sinestra is evil baby!
ReplyDeleteOh, whatever you do, DO not, I repeat X, DO NOT get online yet. They have a new mandatory system update and it freezes Dragon Age. Since I got it my game has just randomly frozen at least 12 times in the past two days. I guess they'll fix it via patch or something man, but don't get the update yet.
Oh, and I mentioned this to Falisha, but you saying Woo Baby! whenever something is good makes me laugh SO hard. It's easily my favorite catchphrase of yours.
Woo baby, Sinestra is one evil mofo!(how could I resist another Woo baby"?)
ReplyDeleteDude, I was going to mention THAT exact thing to you tonight!!! Seriously! I wasn't sure if it was just something wrong with my PS3 or what, but it froze on me 4 times today! Once while I was trying to save! On one hand I'm glad there isn't something wrong with my PS3, but on the other hand, that really sucks!
What do you mean by "one of" your favorite catchphrases for me? How many catchphrases do I have?
Lol well thank ya, that made my day sir.
ReplyDeleteCrap, I was hoping you'd check it out before you got the update. I'm disappointed because I just didn't play all day instead of having to play and save every three seconds.
Lol you have quite a few, that's one, Gobsmacked is one I'm an obvious fan of, um... I can't think of any now but you have about four or five of them.
Yeah, that freezing thing is def getting really old fast! It only froze on me twice today(only... HA!), but the second time was a real bitch because I hadn't saved for a good hour! I beat those two dragon thralls and went to town, did a few missions, and then WHAM, frozen! Man was I pissed!
ReplyDeleteI think Gobsmacked is officially yours now, JT! Now that you mentioned it, I'm dying to know what these other catchphrases are! I guess there's Long Live The Legion, but I can't think of any others! I have to know what they are!!!
Damn man...I know what you mean, I'd be pissed. I'd rather not even play than risk losing alot. Damn you SONY!!!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I wrestled Gobsmacked away from you. Speaking of which how do you like that "Welcome to my Red Hood" line?
Hey, I didn't freeze a single time today! Granted, I didn't really play for that long, but still, that's better then it's been.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE that line! It's such a perfect opening line for a post. It really is! Now let's hope Jason doesn't change his codename anytime soon! :P
I played and mine froze literally five minutes in, I was SOOOOO pissed lol.
ReplyDeleteThanks, glad it isn't as corny as I though. Watch he starts using Blackbird or something haha.
Welcome to Blackbird's nest? :P
ReplyDeleteLol that sounds so lame instead of Red Hood. Here's hoping Jason doesn't change his name unless it leads to him being a HUGE hero, in that case I'll gladly agree to a name change, hell even if they call him Damian Jr.
ReplyDeleteSorry dude, but if they change Jason's name to Damian Jr, that's when I tear out all of my hair, quit reading comics and have myself committed!
ReplyDeleteLol I wouldn't blame you. Hell I almost gave up on Jason when they gave him red hair. They make it so hard to be a fan of the guy sometimes...lol.
ReplyDeleteTrust me, as a fan of Nate Grey, I know a thing or two about character mismanagement! All you can do is hold out hope that one day a writer who was a fan of Jason gets a hold of him and turns him into the next Wolverine or something...
ReplyDeleteLol the way it looks, that won't happen unless I contact DC and write him myself, and the way they use him they'll probably sell me the rights to his character for 20 bucks and a meatball sub!
ReplyDelete