Art By: Scott Kolins
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: October 1, 2014
Getting Acclimated
Last time we waltzed through the pages of Justice League we saw our team taking on The Doom Patrol for possession of Jessica Cruz and the Earth-3 Power Ring. While Chief of The Doom Patrol figured he'd conduct some sort of brain surgery on Jessica to get the Power Ring off, Lex decided that the best way to stop the ring was to shock the shit out of Jessica until she was unconscious. Both were dick hole plans and in the end all it took was Batman talking to her to calm her down. That's right folks the one hero that uses fear as his power was able to stop Jessica from being afraid and saves the day through talking. I'm still not sure if I'm okay with that ending, but it is what it is. Cyborg got a bit scrambled when he tried to interface with the ring, but besides for that all was well and Jessica was taken to the Watchtower to get more help from the Justice League and the issue ended with Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman deciding to let Lex Luthor into the League in order to keep a closer eye on him. So let's check out this strange world where Lex is a member of the Justice League and I'm okay with it. Strange.
Explain It!:
Our issue begins with just a really fun page of Superman and Lex Luthor teaming up to fight Gorilla Grodd. The fight isn't really important, it just looks really cool. The point is that Superman is trying to explain to Lex what it means to be a hero and a member of the Justice League.
Lex continues to get acclimated to the team and ponders on the idea of being more than just powerful and wealthy when Wonder Woman and him transport supplies to a village in need. It's all just judging Lex's character and trying to see if he really intends to be his reformed self or if he has something more planned for his induction into the Justice League. On top of the really cool page of Superman and Lex fighting Grodd, we have a really amusing scene with Lex and Wonder Woman where Lex wants to get to the point of them working together and says " Now tie me up and let's talk". I giggled a bit. It's also in the beginning where we see Captain Cold trying to acclimate to his new life as Lex's head of security, but we're left wondering his true motives when Mirror Master appears and our would be hero tells him that he's working on the score of the century. You can take the boy out of the Rogues, but you can't take the Rogues out of the boy. I kind of like the idea of a "good" Captain Cold and I hope this was just to save face in front of his fellow scumbag. But really, what are the chances of that?
Back on the Watchtower, Flash tries to explain Jessica Cruz's situation to her and you know to try and keep her as calm as possible, since Power Ring doesn't really need that much to get all flamey. But the idea that you're pretty much a killing machine puppet, has the tendency to put people on edge and Flash has to out run his death by a reengaged Power Ring.
Eventually Jessica calms down and has the fortitude to want to master this ring instead of going to STAR Labs and trying to have it removed. Man this Justice League is getting crazy.
In the end Bruce Wayne agrees to become partners with Lex Luthor and to merge their two company's technology together, but we find out that at Lex's induction into the League the next day, Bruce plans on having Luthor arrested. For what? I have no idea yet, but it seems like a grand plan between Batman and Superman to take the mogul down. But whatever it is I think Lex suspects something because we see him in his office later that night making a deal with Owlman to help him out. So yeah, Owlman's back and I can honestly say I have no idea where this might be going. Whatever it is that Owlman is supposed to do for Lex, apparently his payment will be Super Woman's baby once it's born, so pretty much shit is getting crazy in the world of the Justice League.
So that's it for this title that is desperately trying to catch up to the rest of the New 52, so hopefully we'll see another issue this month.......... Well I'm being hopeful. I can't get enough of Geoff Johns' stories and I know that makes me an awful fanboy so I guess I'll be stalking him later this year to get the point across. That's the normal transition right? Now I really enjoyed seeing Lex getting the superhero pep talk from different members of the Justice League and I wish we'd see it more and really start believing that Lex has changed his ways, but with this ending I doubt we'll see anymore pep talks, or Lex being trusted by anyone. Hopefully the Amazo Virus story arc we're getting into next will keep the Lex story going and not just see him becoming his old self again.
Bits and Pieces:
I'm really enjoying this strange roster of Justice League members and I really don't know how to feel about it. We've got villains in the Justice League and it still feels so right........ I don't get it. This issue we get Scott Kolins on art and he does a fine job showing off our favorite heroes and if he's to remain I wouldn't be opposed. Just a solid job by Johns and Kolins in keeping me a awful Justice League fanboy and I can't wait to see where the story goes from here. Go check it out and get your info on the new Power Ring and what the future holds for Lex Luthor and the Justice League.
8.7/10
I'm surprised that no one anywhere has mentioned Captain Cold's dream sequence at the beginning, where both he and the Flash are wearing Pre-New 52 versions of their costumes. Those versions of the costumes have not been shown to be part of their past in the New 52. Could it have been a Pre-Flashpoint memory forcing its way through in Cold's psyche? It wouldn't shock me...
ReplyDeleteI think it does mean something especially since so many books are starting to have pre New 52 "leaks". I am with a bunch of people that another Crisis is on the horizon.
DeleteIt's definitely a possibility since DC seems to be bringing back the old universe, at least as something that still exists. But usually when I see stuff like this, I immediately think of it as just a mistake and don't give it much of a second glance. Good catch though.
ReplyDeleteWell, Kolins did such a good job on Flash's costume in the rest of the book, very clearly making every New 52 aspect of the uniform clear (the yellow separation seams, the chin strap, etc.). Kolins also gave Snart his old snow suit which has never been seen in the New 52 at all. My opinion is that Kolins did a great job on all of the New 52 costumes throughout JL #34, it seems that this might not be an art mistake.
ReplyDeleteNegociando con Hombre Buho? Los buhos se aprovechan de los murcielagos, y esta negociando con este tio, parece que recuperaremos al antiguo Luthor.
ReplyDeleteUn Luthor "bueno" no me disgutaria, no me chocaria simplemente, aunque siempre me gusto esa armadura, suerte que el Joker sigue siendo el mismo.
In English:
DeleteNegotiating with Owl Man? Owls prey on bats, and is negotiating with this guy, it seems that we will recover the old Luthor.
A "good" not disgutaria me, Luthor did not just crash, but I always liked that armor, so that the Joker is still the same.