DCU Comic Book Reviews

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #2

Tornado's Path, Chapter Two:  Tornado - Red/Tornado - Blue

November 2006

Written by Brad Meltzer

Pencils by Ed Benes

Inks by Sandra Hope

Covers by Michael Turner and Phil Jimenez

Synopsis

In Colorado, two mysterious figures stand over the old shell of the Red Tornado, waiting for his friends to arrive.  In the batcave, Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman continue to debate who should be on the team.  Meanwhile, Black Canary, Arsenal, and Green Lantern continue to hunt for Red Tornado’s body.  In Hub City, Electrocutioner and Plastique (aka The Bomb Squad) steal Vixen’s animal totem.  In St. Roch, The Cavalier leads Black Lightning to a possible clue on the Bomb Squad.  Elsewhere, Red Tornado leaves home in search of his former body.  In St. Roch, the Black Lightning visits the Parasite, who recognizes him even without the costume.  Suddenly, two figures come via Father Box to take the Parasite.  In Colorado, Black Canary, Arsenal, and Green Lantern reach their destination.  They find Doctor Ivo, who then unleashes a multitude of Red Tornado robots. 

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

Dialogue boxes:  grey (Batman), blue (Superman), and red (Wonder Woman). 

You know it, I know it.  Comic books in this day and age are not only written for the monthly reader but also for the trade paperback reader.  Stories are rarely told in 22 pages.  Now they are told over multiple issues so that when 6 or 8 of them are printed together the reader will get a complete story in one setting.  So, in essence, comics book are written on two levels:  obviously as part of the whole, but also, they must work individually.  In this case, the issue must be written knowing the previous “chapter” was read 30 days (or more) ago and that the next chapter won’t be read for another 30 days.  Unfortunately, this is where Meltzer fails.  This issue, and indeed the first issue as well, is part of a larger story but as an individual piece of that story, it fails miserably and that is why many will have trouble with it.  The first time I read this issue, I felt lost as if I had jumped into the middle of something without any guidance to where I was.  The second time I read it, it felt more familiar and far more enjoyable.  I really think that those who read this story from beginning to end will probably love this story; those reading it every 30 days or might not.  Your mileage may vary. 

I am curious about the red skin from the Red Tornado.  Now that he is human, how did he change to his robot colors?  The close up of the hands indicate it may be an outfit, but it doesn’t look as if it connects to the head.  So, how did he get red? 

I am also curious about the Parasite.  The last time the original (or perhaps most famous) parasite had been seen he had been defeated by Superman and was no longer parasite.  Just a short time ago a new parasite had been created, but this was a teenage girl.  The parasite in this issue is not a teenage girl. 

I am not sure I like the mask on Arsenal.  It may take some getting used to. 

Where is Hawkgirl?  She’s on the cover, but MIA for these two issues.  For some reason, DC has decided to showcase the new line-up all of the cover pages.  Yet, within the story, the Justice League has not been settled.  While I understand DC's decision, I think it undermines the series and removes the question of who or who is not in the story (which the Trinity are still debating).  The question of who is in or out would be interesting, if it weren't for the covers.  Unless DC is throwing us a curveball, but Hawkgirl's absence in the comic couple with her presence on the cover kinda shoots that theory down.

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