Comic Review: Justice League #1

Before launching into the review, I just wanted to give a preface about DC Comics and their whole "New 52" goings on.

In an effort to attract new and lapsed readers (while snagging a little media attention), DC came up with the crafty plan to take 52 of their most notable titles (including Batman, Superman and
Wonder Woman) back to their roots by starting over with all new #1 issues and releasing them digitally on the same day of their in-store release. Some comic fans were outraged by this move ("What about continuity, DC! Are you saying that everything I've read up to this point doesn't matter?"), while others were optimistic ("Man, they chose some great writers to reimagine my favorite superheroes!").

Because I am not drowning in cash, I wasn't able to pick up each and every issue of the New 52. But I managed to snatch up a good chunk of the heavy-hitters, and I will be giving you the spoiler-free play-by-play on whether or not they are worth your hard-earned dollars.

Let's do this!

Justice League #1

Script: Geoff Johns

Pencils: Jim Lee

Ink: Scott Williams

Price: $3.99/$2.99 digital

Publisher: DC Comics

Story
As the first issue of DC's hyped-up relaunch, Justice League should have been stellar. It should have featured the seven folks you see to your left rushing toward some world-destroying foe and kickin' tush. Unfortunately, what we get here is an oversized issue dedicated to the first meeting of Batman and Green Lantern, and a smidgen of Superman thrown in for good measure. Geoff Johns can write superhero banter well enough, but that's just it: it's all just fine, when it needed to be great. A few clever one-liners aside, there is nothing that lingers after the book is closed. 

 Score: 3

Art

Let's just get this out of the way: I am not a fan of Jim Lee's redesigns on these costumes. Superman's collar looks tacked-on and awkward, Batman's armor is busy as all-hell, and the stylistic similarities from hero to hero indicate that they all went to the same tailor. Don't get me wrong, the guy can draw a swell iconic pose, but other than a few nifty-looking panels featuring BAAAMMM and BABOOOOOOOSHHH, it all feels like more of the same. 

Score: 3.5

New-Reader Friendly? – Since we are witnessing the first meeting of The Dark Knight and Hal Jordan, it's pretty easy to jump right in and witness the creation of the Justice League from the ground up. However, DC could have given new readers a little more bang for their buck. To any newbies out there: superhero comics are not always this uneventful, I promise! 

Overall Score: 3

Next: Superman gets back to basics in Action Comics #1!