Humph. Russian planes Better.
Gee Willikers everybody! DC’s new 52 is here! And how better to start my journey in
attempting to inform you weather something is good or not with mixed results and charisma that you can cut with a spoon then with the Justice League…… International. The question is "cans a man who has never let his name or likeness be used to advertise adult dippers lead a new team of international heroes?" Or will it all come crumbling down? Let’s pick up Justice League International #1 and find out.
The Issue opens up with a man called Andre Briggs, head of U.N. Intelligence, presenting a statement, via video conference, to various representatives of the United Nations about how civilian confidence in all global authorities is currently at an all time low, and how he believes that the only way to combat this is for the U.N. to form their own sanctioned Super-Hero team. The three select members of the U.N. global Security group are given the final say in the matter, and ask why they should do this, mention how they’ve flirted with the idea before but inevitably turned it down. Briggs mentions that public opinions have changed, and despite the effectiveness of the Justice League, the group is still an Independent one that answers to no one. As Briggs sweet talks his way around the security group he brings up the proposed roster for the team with Booster Gold as leader. As well as Booster, 11 other heroes are brought up, but the council decides to turn down 3 of them (Plastic-Man, Green Arrow and Blue Beetle) for various reasons. The council eventually green lights
Briggs team and end the discussion. Meanwhile, in Peru, a U.N. research team call for help when the ground around them starts to collapse. We then turn to the Hall of Justice, with protesters standing outside it, as Booster Gold makes his landing, asking Andre Briggs where Superman is, as he is joining the Justice League, right. To see how this question is answered pick up Justice League International #1.
It is indeed unfortunate that Justice League International #1 will be compared to last weeks Justice League #1, solely due to the name, but trust me, if you end up doing that it’s more than likely that JLI will come up on top (well that’s my opinion anyway, yours I know will defiantly vary). Dan Jurgens has set up the concept of the U.N. creating their own sanctioned Justice League, with a roster of International super-heroes, with connections both to the Main Justice League and the Green Lantern Corps in hopes of improving public opinion of the U.N. The team’s key players are all assembled, and little details about them are given such as their land or origin and why they were green lit for being on the team, and all done half way through the issue, leaving another half for the team to actually go out on a mission. He also sets up a secondary plot involving the protestors outside the hall of Justice which in itself is interesting. Indeed in this issue alone the focus is
mostly on Booster who’s the leader for this new team. Now in this new revamp he’s still a character who willingly lets his appearance and name be used for advertising and merchandizing, but he’s also a hero who has showed that he’s not going to ignore what people have to say, but also isn’t going to pander to other peoples egos (Guy Gardner). The tension between characters has already started, most notably that between Guy and Booster as Booster was chosen as the leader and not him, and to a much lesser extent a tension between Rocket Red and August General in Iron. Jurgens has also added some humour to this issue which is really fun. Aaron Lopresti’s artwork in this issue is fantastic with a wider verity of different characters appearing and not looking like rehashed versions of other character with a different hair cut / colour. Matt Ryan’s Inks also help define these features and give depth to these characters and surrounding scenery. And of course let’s not forget the beautiful and bright colouring given to us by Hi-Fi. Now despite the praise that I give the issue there are questions that do come up, mostly considering the continuity of the team, as well as characters that have been affiliated with the team before. Most Notably Ted Kord, the second blue beetle and Maxwell Lord, the man who shot him. This is an origin story, as the team has never existed before this issue, yet the blue Beetle that they considered is the third Blue Beetle
Jamie, so questions do arise as to what the relationship between these other 2 characters and other members of the core team are (if any), but I’m sure that will be cleared up eventually in either this title or the Blue Beetle title.
Now I give Justice League International #1 a 4.5/5. It sets up a premise, sets up the players and then sends them out into the game. For those of you who thought that Justice League was to slow (taking a whole issue about the team and focusing it on Green Lantern and Batman only) in the pace, than you’ll like this series. If your one of those new readers that we’ve all been hearing so much about then pick up this issue. It’s good fun, and packed full of stuff. Now as to the fans of Previous JLI titles I’m not so sure. This is my first time venturing into the JLI, so I’m coming at this from a newbie perspective and so am unaware of any big changes or misplacements that may have happened here. So decide for yourself if it’s a buy or not. So in conclusion Justice League International #1 gets a:-
4.5/5
