Aquaman Steals The Show
First of all, I would like to apologize for such a lengthy hiatus on my reviews. Writer's block can happen to even the best of the writers. Just ask J. Michael Straczynski!*
*I jest, I jest.
Anyway, let's focus on the show-stealing issue that is Justice League #4.
Well, heck, what can be said about this issue? That it's a continuing testament to the success of DC's New 52 Initiative? That it has turned the King of the Seas into the absolute badass he is meant to be depicted? That Tom Brevoort himself is shocked that Jim Lee made 4 issues on time?
How about all of these statements?
Because not only this issue keeps the momentum that was made from the first 3 issues and keeps it going to the inevitable encounter with a certain New God, but it also renovates the concept of how Cyborg came to be. Granted, it was short display, but it gave just enough to wonder the new capabilities of the former Teen Titan. If anything can be said about Cyborg, it's that he is showing the makings of a hero that deserves to be in the same pantheon that the Justice League is currently in.
Now back to the star of the show, which is undoubtedly, Aquaman. Geoff Johns and Jim Lee took great strides to make the former butt of superhero jokes into a bonafide ass-kicker with the attitude to boot. To those who read Aquaman's current ongoing series, it may seem a little alienating, considering his demeanor is more reserved. But to any that are confused, this is Aquaman in the early stages of the formation of the Justice League. It would be damn near criminal to ignore the contributions of Scott Williams on inks and Alex Sinclair in the coloring, they continue to reinforce Jim Lee's masterful visuals. From the first page to the gripping ending, the art team excels in creating the best interior art in any comic book today, with its only equal being the art team of The Flash.
Geoff Johns, for his part, continues to deliver a refreshing script to accompany the art in this issue. He continues to craft a story that not only drops hints to characters from the past DCU, but excels at creating a team dynamic that is slowly building up to the Justice League dynamic fans know and love. His take on Green Lantern, Wonder Woman and Flash are the highlight of the script, especially when you throw in the King of the Seas into the mix. Surprisingly, Superman seemed pretty restrained here, as he only said a few words and took down army choppers. Johns' usage of Wonder Woman's Lasso of Truth is a clever and funny way to add some humor to the emerging conflict, and it is a welcome addition.
To summarize, this may be called Justice League #4, but if you allow it, this could be mistaken for an issue of Aquaman! And that is a great thing, really, because it shows how much Geoff Johns respects this character.
Justice League #4 is a comic book that is worth its cover price, no doubt about it. The interior art, the script; Johns and Lee, simply put, crafted a winner. Get this issue, it cannot be stressed enough.
5/5 BEST DAMN READ PERIOD.
*I jest, I jest.
Anyway, let's focus on the show-stealing issue that is Justice League #4.
Well, heck, what can be said about this issue? That it's a continuing testament to the success of DC's New 52 Initiative? That it has turned the King of the Seas into the absolute badass he is meant to be depicted? That Tom Brevoort himself is shocked that Jim Lee made 4 issues on time?
How about all of these statements?
Because not only this issue keeps the momentum that was made from the first 3 issues and keeps it going to the inevitable encounter with a certain New God, but it also renovates the concept of how Cyborg came to be. Granted, it was short display, but it gave just enough to wonder the new capabilities of the former Teen Titan. If anything can be said about Cyborg, it's that he is showing the makings of a hero that deserves to be in the same pantheon that the Justice League is currently in.
Now back to the star of the show, which is undoubtedly, Aquaman. Geoff Johns and Jim Lee took great strides to make the former butt of superhero jokes into a bonafide ass-kicker with the attitude to boot. To those who read Aquaman's current ongoing series, it may seem a little alienating, considering his demeanor is more reserved. But to any that are confused, this is Aquaman in the early stages of the formation of the Justice League. It would be damn near criminal to ignore the contributions of Scott Williams on inks and Alex Sinclair in the coloring, they continue to reinforce Jim Lee's masterful visuals. From the first page to the gripping ending, the art team excels in creating the best interior art in any comic book today, with its only equal being the art team of The Flash.
Geoff Johns, for his part, continues to deliver a refreshing script to accompany the art in this issue. He continues to craft a story that not only drops hints to characters from the past DCU, but excels at creating a team dynamic that is slowly building up to the Justice League dynamic fans know and love. His take on Green Lantern, Wonder Woman and Flash are the highlight of the script, especially when you throw in the King of the Seas into the mix. Surprisingly, Superman seemed pretty restrained here, as he only said a few words and took down army choppers. Johns' usage of Wonder Woman's Lasso of Truth is a clever and funny way to add some humor to the emerging conflict, and it is a welcome addition.
To summarize, this may be called Justice League #4, but if you allow it, this could be mistaken for an issue of Aquaman! And that is a great thing, really, because it shows how much Geoff Johns respects this character.
Justice League #4 is a comic book that is worth its cover price, no doubt about it. The interior art, the script; Johns and Lee, simply put, crafted a winner. Get this issue, it cannot be stressed enough.
5/5 BEST DAMN READ PERIOD.
