A Second Chance For The Justice League?

I have collected every JLA comic since Grant Morrison rebooted the franchise in the late 90’s with his “Big Seven” team. (Superman, Batman, Flash, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Martian Manhunter)

For years, this was one of the best titles to read, featuring the most iconic heroes of the DCU. But in recent years, this trend changed. Various writers came and went, some of whom DC probably thought would be great for the book but turned out to be duds. Likewise, the art began to suffer more and more. It seemed as though DC forgot that a book like this deserves top talent behind the wheel.

In the last 3 years specifically, the team roster changed and began to feature 3rd and 4th string characters like Vixen and Red Tornado. And the latest reboot by James Robinson that started with the “Cry For Justice” mini-series, began adding the likes of Starman (the alien one that no one remembers) and Congorilla to the line-up. (Yeah, I’d never heard of him either.)

Although the story was fairly solid, it seems that Robinson is operating based on Grant Morrison’s “Final Crisis” playbook, using obscure, long-forgotten characters and assuming we all know and care about who they are.

I dropped the book after one issue of Robinson’s run on the main series because things didn’t look like they’d be getting any better.

Meanwhile, I’ve had problems with the Justice Society book for similar reasons. (Line-up was fine. Writing was terrible.) But the creative team on that book is changing this month and I’ve been curious about the crossover storyline Robinson wrote in both books in recent months featuring Alan Scott (Golden Age Green Lantern) and his family.

I also listened to the convention panels for DC at the San Diego ComiCon. It sounds like Robinson’s JLA book is selling very well and he’ll be on it (along with his second string line-up) for a while to come.

Now, I’m no grump. There may not currently be a proper JLA book to read, but if Robinson really is telling good stories about DC Comics heroes, then I want to read them. Even if a book like the one he’s writing has no business being called “Justice League Of America”.

Last weekend my comic book store had a crazy sale. 50% off everything in the store. A perfect opportunity to get caught up cheaply on a few back issues and give James Robinson a real chance to prove himself to me with two complete story arcs.

In the hardcover collection titled “Team History”, Robinson spends about six issues modifying the roster almost every issue, with a “story” featuring obscure villains who are never introduced properly. The art is okay, but takes some getting used to. Not as polished as I think it should look for a book like this.

I've just started the next story arc and have already noticed that the plot is more structured and the roster seems a little more "settled". The art also seems to have subtly improved in some way I can't identify. This could be a turn for the better, but it's too soon to tell.

Hopefully I'll find some time to read the rest of the "Dark Things" storyline and have an update of my assessment ready for the podcast this weekend.