The flagship of the New 52, Justice League has a lot riding on the broad shoulders of its squad of superhero protagonists. Despite a solid first issue that teased a few different plot lines and slowly introduced a few members of the team, many felt a little underwhelmed by the offering. I was not among this crowd, but the impression remained that Justice League #2 had to bring more to the table to impress the comic-buying public.
And more has been brought. Writer Geoff Johns and Jim Lee have still only shown a corner of the grand scope of this new DCU in Justice League #2, but the strength of the creative team ensures that the series continues to tantalize and not frustrate.
- THE GOOD
Picking up right where Justice League #1 picked up, this issue drops the reader (once again) directly into the action, and it rarely lets up. Even when the heroes are just discussing what their next course of action is, something is either going on or a sense of tension and dread is being built up. Again, Geoff Johns knows how to weave in important plot elements and backstory without making it feel as if the characters are just spewing exposition for the reader’s sake. That is an impressive feat considering he isn’t only juggling Green Lantern, Batman, and Vic Stone anymore, but Superman and The Flash as well.
Jim Lee once again holds down the art side with aplomb. He opens issue 2 with another epic splash page, and again it’s a beautiful piece of artwork even if it wasn’t attached to a larger story. With the Flash introduced, it gives Lee an opportunity to play around a lot with panel arrangements and his action scenes gain some great cohesion as he renders the scene in a step-by-step “slow motion”. It’s hard to explain in words, but just check out the fight between Flash and Superman if you want a good example.
- THE BAD
The Justice League is taking a purposeful approach to assembling. Here in the second issue, we’ve still yet to be introduced to Wonder Woman, Aquaman, or even Cyborg (in Cyborg form at least). Next issue seems to be introducing Wonder Woman, but it still has to be frustrating for fans of these characters who want to follow the series to have them likely not all be established until around issue 5. I’ll also reiterate that I’m not sure Lee’s artwork will be loved by all. He has a distinctly 90s (though mixed and developed into a contemporary look), which isn’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea. I also think that Scott Williams’ colors go from gritty and dark to outrageously loud in the course of a single page. It just gives the book a bit of a disjointed feel at times.
- THE VERDICT
Justice League #2 adds more to what I felt made the first issue a great introduction to the series. People will still likely find fault in the break-neck pace of each individual issu and some might balk at this first story-arc’s purposeful assembly to the team itself, but it’s a series that’s easy to recommend. It has a great set of creators working on it, and more than anything, it’s a fun book that’s sure to have all the big name DC heroes duking it out between its pages. If team books are your thing, you should be reading Justice League.
5/5*
IT CAME FROM A RED COUCH! 