"Magic is simply that which is not yet understood."
Synopsis: When magic or the supernatural becomes a problem the Justice League can't handle, call on the experts: The Justice League Dark.
What's Good?
This is one of those series that has a mature outlook to it. The title states "T" for Teens, but something about the supernatural and magic always felt like there was something edgy and darker to it. And that's where The Justice League Dark comes in, taking characters who live for this kind of stuff. For me, Zatanna, Deadman, and Enchantress are characters I'm well familiar with. The other three characters who stood out the most for me in this issue, was the mysterious Madame Xanadu, Shade, and June Moone. Xanadu narrates the entire issue, giving it an omen like presence to it. She also makes it clear that Enchantress is someone the Justice League can't take on and requires a different approach with dealing with her. But then there's June Moone. Isn't she Enchantress? And why are they so many clones of her? And then there's Shade who appears to have some issues of his own. All these characters have unique abilities that really call for a league of their own.
Mikel Janin's artwork is fantastic. There are so many styles in this issue that fits every single character featured. He really gives the issue a mysterious, brooding feel in each page. He also put a lot of details in characters. The spread page with the many clones of June Moone being killed differently on the highway was just ridiculous. I also like the new look for Zee.
What's Bad?
While this issue goes in some detail with some characters, a few characters don't exactly get to shine in this first issue. For example, John Constantine is still new to me coming in the DC universe, and his one page didn't help much. There's also Deadman (with a guest appearance by the lovely Dove) who didn't exactly get much attention. I know this is the first issue, and it will take some time to get familiar with these characters.
Overall: Justice League Dark has serious potential to it. This series should be a huge hit for fans of magic or the supernatural. Instead of seeing characters like Superman or Batman all the time, it's time for these supporting characters to rise.
