Justice League: Generation Lost

     Ever since "Justice League: Generation Lost" started its run, I wanted one thing: To know what the heck Max Lord was up to. No matter how much I enjoyed an issue, I always went back to wondering what Lord was plotting. That said, this issue, despite being a bunch of people talking, succeeded wildly for me, hence the rating, because I got what I have been asking for.
     Max Lord's plan for this ragtag team and his own notions of himself are great. He's stolen the scenes for me so far, and to have the "Invisible Man" around for nearly 2/3rds of this issue just really knocked it into another level. He honestly believes he knows how to keep the world safe and is untouchable. It is those delusions of grandeur really go far in making him a compelling antagonist.
     As for protagonist, they're definitely setting Booster up to take down Max. I don't mind that because they've done a good job of showing us Booster's thoughts and his past with Max. It's good backstory building, and Judd Winick does it in a way that also drives the main story. It's not just the Booster and Max Show either as a lot of the other JLI members also got good character moments too. Ice talking about death was really well done to me.
     I really enjoyed Aaron Lopresti's pencils and Matt Ryan's inks on this issue. The characters look really detailed, and I appreciate that. These characters aren't A-list, but the way they're drawn, in combination with the story, really gives them a somewhat iconic feel. The facial expressions are spot on and really help sell the emotions of the story. The backgrounds feel a bit plain, but I don't mind that as much as I normally would.
     The team gathering felt like an prologue. It was a good prologue, but I feel that this series hit another level now that our table is set. This issue had good plot progression (in a sense that the establishing is finally over), characterization, and art. "Generation Lost" is making the "Brightest Day" bi-weekly look a bit amateurish by comparison because this book really has its pacing, characters, and plot down pat. I'd fully recommend this series as it has been good and looks to be getting better.    

 
(note I do not own a physical copy of this book I am reading it on comics.comixology.com and it is pretty cool and you should try it out.)  
The GOOD    Judd Winick is doing a good job of capturing all of the characters voices with the exception of one but I will get to that latter I like the comedy in this issue it got me to chuckle ( I've never really laughed at a comic so this is how you know it is funny) the art was not anything ground breaking but it was really good for something that has to be rushed out on a bi-weekly bases. The pacing is really good it has a better pacing than brightest day. I really liked the part where the "suit malfunctions" that’s all I am going to say you'll know what I meant if you read this issue.
The Bad 
Not a lot happens in this issue I expected more action but I fine with this the only reason I am mentioning it here is to warn you if you’re expecting a lot of action in this issue but the story makes up for it . But my biggest problem with this issue is the way Winick writes Ice he has her complain in almost every other issue of JL:GL you will hear Ice say "I was dead and now I'm back to the living and I don't want to die" for how much longer are we going to have to listen to Ice complain that she was dead and brought back to life it gets old after a while. 
Overall

This was a good book I liked how it started and ended on a very similar note. you should certainly pick this up (Note to readers and now all the Issues are on comixology the same day they come out in stores for you Iphones, Ipads, or your desktops the first three issues are 1.99 and the last two are 2.99 no taxes that is 11.95, if you buy all of these at a comic shop it is 14.95 plus taxes and that is if you shop does not raise the price of back issues. Try something new you might like it.)

 

  This series continues to impress me!  Giffen and Winick are a great team.  I never though that I'd say this but Winick is killin' it!  and no Winick haters that is a good thing!  The only fault that I really have found with this book is the rotating art team.  Bennett, Dagnino, and Lopresti.  Not that any of them are truly bad but their styles are quite different and I definitely have a strong preference for Lopresti.  Thankfully this issue finds Mr. Lopresti at the helm of the art department.  
 
I have to say it but WOW!  I am truly astounded how much I loved this issue!  No nothing earth shattering happens but it was still an amazing issue.  Humor, action, and great characters.  Yep those C and D list heroes make for a great team that I care about.  Rocket Red steals the show!  Max really solidifies how heinous of a person he is.  Murder does not faze him.  It does however solidify the team.  Booster written here with Winick on the script has a great voice.  The opening peak at Booster's past gives those who might not know a look at his background .  I can't wait to see where we Rocket off to in next issue. 
 
Lopresti's art is amazing.  Smooth flowing panels and action scenes.  His characters are well built and beautiful.  I will miss him for the next couple of issues. 
 
This gets a 5 out of 5 from me.  The series gets a strong recommendation from me!

The Good  

 
Well I like art and the parts were Maxwell lord appeared, he had some interesting moments but that's pretty much it. 
 

The Bad  

 
My problem with this issue, and most of the ones before this, is that nothing happens for most of it. In the first few the team came together but they haven't discovered anything, they are no closer to finding a solution than when they began. I must say that back when Brightest Day started, this number was one of the ones that got me most excited, not because of the heroes but because of the premise and Maxwell Lord. Needless to say, for me, this number is not living up to my expectations. 
 

Finally  

 
I'll keep reading since this is part of Brightest Day and because Maxwell is a pretty cool character but I really hope the story starts moving forward.

Story: Booster is remembering from the future when he got in trouble for staging football games for money or something like that. Back to the present. Our team is Ice, Fire, Rocket Red, Captain Atom, Booster Gold, and Blue Beetle. Max shows up as a hologram talking to the team saying that there is no chance they can defeat him and that they shouldn't even try. They try to trace the signal but no results. It was a self destruct message connected to one of the Rocket Red guys so Captain Atom flys him up to the sky so no one else gets hurt. Ice and Captain Atom have a conversation about death. Fire gets to know a little more about Rocket Red. Booster finds out where Max is. He's at Checkmate. Booster thinks back to when he first met Max and realizes he needs to be stopped. 
Writing: This story is moving very slow but what I do like is the character development in this series. This issue felt like very little was accomplished. I do feel like something big is going to happen next issue. 
Characters: I love the way Booster is written in this series. His character has gotten so much deeper. 
Dialogue: I love Rocket Red's dialogue it is very funny. I have a little problem with Ice's dialogue because her moods always change so quickly and abruptly. 
 
Art: No complaints really.

Cover: This cover says it all. 
Penciling: It is a little boring but it does have a nice look to it. 
Coloring: I think it had just the right shades.

 
Favorite pages and why. 
1 and 2: I liked seeing Booster's past. 
3-8: The whole conversation with Max was great. 
18: We finally know where he is. 
20 and 21: A very sad scene when you think about it. 
 
Reasons to and not to pick up. 
Reasons to pick up: The characters in this story are great and this is a very interesting story. The art is good and you can just jump right into the story without being lost really. 
Reasons not to pick up: This story is moving slow and there wasn't a lot of progress in this issue. 
Verdict: Pick it up. 4 out of 5.