Persistence
After the six issue opening arc that seemed to plod along for far too long, the done-in-one's of issues 7 and 8 have been a relief, and make me all the more eager for the next longer story. Issue 8 sees Green Arrow try to join the Justice League, we learn why the Justice League are so unwilling to expand their membership, and a classic Leaguer reappears in a very unexpected way.
I'm not going to say much in the way of Shazam. The story is being delivered in piece meal, and I honestly don't have much to say about it.
The Good
I hate Green Arrow. No, seriously, I hate Green Arrow. He is, without a doubt, my least favorite superhero. But Johns really delivers with this character. The format of the issue sees Green Arrow interfere with three different Justice League missions, and get rebuffed every time. Seeing Green Arrow get embarrassed so many times filled me with a mean-spirited glee, but Johns comes around in the end to deliver a take on Green Arrow that honestly makes me want to read more of the character. I still miss Ollie's mustache and goatee however, Green Arrow's facial hair was always his best quality. After spending six issues seeing the team form, it's honestly a lot of fun seeing them easily take down three different threats in the same issue. There's an adventurous tone to it; it's fun and builds up the team for their next real threat. The character dynamics are starting to come together and feel more natural. Every character has a clear, consistent voice. Superman is trusting and wants to induct Green Arrow, Aquaman just hates Arrow for reasons I'm sure we'll learn later, and Green Lanter and Batman are too proud and paranoid to even consider expanding the league. And when we see the reason for Batman's paranoia? Let me just say that Ivan Reis' two page spread is worth the price of the book alone. The Batman/Green Lantern dynamic has grown infinitely more bearable when it became good natured mocking rather than actual confrontation. On the art side, Reis needs to be drawing Justice League. Like, now. Reis draws the last 4 pages and they. are. gorgeous. I'm not going to spoil which character is seen at the end of the issue, but it promises great things lay in store for this title.
The Bad
The biggest issue I had with the issue is the art. Carlos D'Anda and Ivan Reis worked on the story, and they don't really mesh well. I've officially given up on seeing a consistent look for Cyborg. He was drawn with three different costumes, sometimes changing from page to page. One of Cyborg's looks had that C made out of a gear logo that I quite like. I wouldn't mind seeing that symbol being implemented all the time, instead of just 1/3 of a single issue. D'Anda is just not up to par with Jim Lee, Gene Ha, and Ivan Reis. It's a bit too cartoony, anatomy just a bit too exaggerated. Wonder Woman remains a little too one note. She had a great moment in issue 7 when talking to Steve Trevor, but here she does nothing more than wave her sword around and be hit on by Green Arrow. She does finally fly, so at least we can put that to rest. And this is Geoff Johns, you have to know that there's going to be some corny and overwritten dialogue.
Verdict 4/5
Justice League #8, like the seven issues before it, is just downright enjoyable. There's something fundamentally awesome about these seven heroes together fighting bad guys that never stops being fun. This is another enjoyable done-in-one which sows the seeds for future story arcs. And what more can you ask for from a Justice League title?
