Justice League of America

A new team and a new direction. James Robinson and Mark Bagley present their latest work in the monthly installment of Justice League of America, issue #42.

While I felt this issue was better than the last, I am still not a huge fan of Bagley's art. Some panels, I really enjoy. Others, feel too bubbly and cartoon-ish, mostly evident in his depictions of female characters - and Donna Troy, in particular.

On a more positive note, the action is well-paced and engaging. However, it is the story of individual dynamics within the new group I find most appealing. Perhaps the most taken-for-granted storytelling device in Justice League is the lettering. This often overlooked element, featuring different colors and lettering styles for each character, allows us to know at first glance whose thoughts we are privy to. In #42, we see a changing of the guard, so to speak, with both Donna Troy and Batman internally referring to "my" League while, Green Lantern thinks it "their" League. We see the awkwardness of new leadership and chain-of-command between Dick Grayson and Hal Jordan, the unresolved romantic feelings between Grayson and Starfire, continued concern from Green Lantern and Black Canary for Green Arrow, and a budding friendship between Cyborg and a body-less Red Tornado.

Bookending issue #42 is Green Arrow. It opens with a prologue featuring Oliver Queen making a seemingly ominous, 'no-turning-back' request of a shady character. The story ends on a cliff-hanger, depicting Oliver returning to an empty Hall of Justice, walking in on unsuspecting super-powered burglars - and a really bad situation! Don't get me wrong, the story of the new League coming together and confronting the mysterious alien technology angle is cool and all, but I think the real story is about Oliver Queen. I'm intrigued to see how this story arc will launch DC's much hyped Rise and Fall Special coming soon!

In my view, #42 is a solid issue, but lacks some of the magic of previous incarnations of the League. Still, I'm interested to see how this team and story continue to progress.    

Personally I love the concept of ex-Teen Titans/Titans "graduating" into the "big leagues."  My only concern is that is this how it's going to be, even if(when) Bruce (Batman) and Clark (Superman) come back.  Are we going to see the present team dissasembled? or are they going to integrate back in?  I guess that all depends on how they come back.
The issue starts and ends with Green Arrow.  In the Prologue of the issue we see Oliver meeting with this character who personally I don't know, maybe he's someone I should know, maybe we're not supposed to know.  Apparently Ollie is making a decision to which he can not turn back from.  Something to think about for the coming months? I think so!
We see this new roster Justice League going out together for the first time.  Both Donna and Dick refer to this league as their own in their thought boxes.  A note about those, while some may find it annoying seeing 4 sets of boxes simultaneously, I found it pretty cool.  Hal's boxes are probably the best, telling himself to remember it's their league.  It get's reiterated through the entire battle.  Hal also thinks about how it's nice to have a "Batman I actually don't mind being around."  Starfire's boxes are kind of concerning, it seems that she really doesn't want to be there, questioning why she is, and of course her little thing she has for Batman (Dick)....that sounded wrong haha.  
Anyway, they take down their opponent, working as a unit.  There's some apparent time travel, some nonsense I didn't wrap my head around yet.  Mon-El and the Guardian have joined the League.  Canary is still there, although she describes herself as being numb when talking to Hal who asks where Ollie is.  Cyborg is there, Red Tornado's head is there.  The Atom is also a holdover from the previous team. 
There's a break-in and then we end with Ollie alone.  How or why is something you have to figure out, so go out and buy it.  
It's written pretty good.
Bagley's art is good for most of the issue, it falls short in some panels.
Overall it was entertaining, We'll see where this heads with the Rise of Arsenal and Fall of Green Arrow coming soon. 

Story:Ollie is thinking about the question about getting in the new JLA.
The Good:There is some kind of a team that is the anti of the New Gods and uses New Genesis technology.It will be really interesting to see the new JLA going agaisnt somebody powerfull enough to take Darkseid and even further but we still don't know what their powers are.
The cover's art is like the artwork in the book.We see three of the members of this anti-New Gods or something like that going against the JLA.We get a little figting of the anti-New Gods against Congorilla.I know his action scenes artwork but I want to see it on the JLA and I am really non-surprised.It's amazing.
The Bad:Where is this team history that this story arc is called like that.We still don't get nothing about the history of the JLA.In the begining they talked about Cry for Justice but this was last issue.It will be really stupid if this story arc is called like that because the new JLA will make the history of the team.
No action and we get something with Ollie but we don't understand what is happening and all that.
Overall:No team history but still there are some flashbacks from the story of the Challengers of the Unknown but after all this is a 3.5/5