Mania Grade: C+

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Info:

• Title: Justice League of America #38
• Written by: James Robinson
• Art by: Mark Bagley, Rob Hunter
• Colors by: Pete Pantazis
• Letters by: Rob Leigh
• Cover by: Mark Bagley, Andy Kubert
• Publisher: DC Comics
• Publication Date: October 21st, 2009
• Cover Price: $2.99
• Series:

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #38 Review

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #38 Review
© Mania

Vixen gathers a group of heroes together to try to figure out a way to keep the Justice League together. Recent events have left it's active roster in a shambles and no one besides a very messed up Plastic Man, an injured Dr. Light and the Red Tornado have answered Vixen's call. Meeting up at the cave headquarters of where the League originally formed, a discussion starts between them about the state they're in and what to do (if anything) to assure the Justice League continues. Before the conversation gets too far though, they're suddenly attacked by Despero!

The Good

This book has been a neutered mess of a title for a long time. With all of the big guns like Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman not in use, the JLA has been a gathering of 2nd and 3rd stringers for a long time now. New writer on board, James Robinson, looks as if he's attempting the start of getting the title back in shape. Having the characters aware that they're usually referred to as the back-up heroes is a good start. Even though he goes a little overboard with the set-up of them proving to themselves that they're better than what they've been given credit for, it seems like a perfectly logical place to start.

The Bad

It's still just a bunch of underperformers as far as the lineup so far. For the past year (at least) the book has had to aim it's focus on heroes that just don't seem to be catching on with the readers. Vixen as the leader of the JLA?! Really? If the intent is to show the reader why they should be excited about an adventure where Vixen, Red Tornado, Firestorm and Dr. Light take on the evils of the world, they've kind of failed terribly. It's fine when a writer wants to use someone that's a personal favorite of theirs, but if it's an obscure or none too popular hero, you'd better bring some serious writing chops to show the reader why they should get as geeked as you are to see that person.

Cover art to JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #38 by Mark Bagley

The Bottom Line

With Robinson's Cry For Justice series getting ready to meld into this one, the Justice League should be establishing it's new lineup directly. James Robinson has been hit and miss with a lot of the stuff he's been writing but still seems more than capable of turning this back into the adventurous and entertaining book the readers would love it to be again. There's probably a lot riding on it though. With fans having already reached their breaking point with giving the title the benefit of the doubt and hoping for a return to glory with every new story arc, this may just be the last chance a lot of readers are going to give the book. One more chance is warranted though. He might not want the responsibility, but now this book is James Robinson's to either turn it around or put it 6 feet under once and for all. I'm going to grade this at a C+. The "+" being given because of the way Mark Bagley drew Despero and the rage that accompanied his attack. Bagley absolutely nailed it to the point of me upping the books grade a notch because of it. Cross your fingers everyone because this would be a fantastic book to read with the $2.99 price point still on it.