DCU Comic Book Reviews

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #11

Walls

September 2007

Written by Brad Meltzer

Pencils by Gene Ha

Inks by Gene Ha

Covers by Michael Turner and Gene Ha

Synopsis

In the midst of a battle with Dr. Polarity, the Watergate Hotel somehow falls into the Potomac River, with Roy Harper (aka Red Arrow) and Mari McCabe (aka Vixen) trapped inside.  Both are crushed by the building’s debris, unable to easily swim away.  Mari, however is in position to dig herself out, with the help of Roy’s arrows.  Mari is able to get free enough for her to swim to the surface, but she returns to report she could not find it.  It is then that Roy realizes they are upside down.  He then digs up and is able to free himself and Mari.

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

This was a tense, claustrophobic, thrilling issue with a lot of great character moments that is easily one of the best Meltzer has produced during his run on this book.  It helps that Meltzer has focused the story on two people and sticks to them the entire time.  The plot and story takes away some of Meltzer’s trademarked writing tricks (overlapping dialogue and parallel storytelling) but the focus he gives Roy and Mari strengthens the story.  We get to know these two people and who they are.  Meltzer effectively shows their fear and urgency as they try not to get overwhelmed by the situation while the struggle to find a way out. 

Gene Ha’s pencils are perfect for this story.  Rough and dark, it mimics the feeling of being trapped without much light and without much room to move.  I liked the way the page and the narration boxes got turned around when Roy realized which way was really up. 

Melzter also pulls out elements from earlier issues, touching upon Vixen’s powers (and explaining how she ran as fast as the Flash).  It will be interesting to see if another writer will take her current situation and work with it or if she will get her animal powers back. 

The odd part about it is that I think it would have been even better if this issue had followed a storyline or even a single issue that had some action to it.  Meltzer’s run has been characterized by a lot of talking and character moments.  The “Lightning Saga” didn’t even have a villain for the team to fight and defeat.  I am not saying that every issue should be like that; hell, this issue was great as is and there are no fights or battles.  But I think that this is part of the problem.  We haven’t seen the Justice League fight anyone, except for a brief battle against Amazo.  This issue would have been kick ass if it had followed the issue where we saw the fight with Dr. Polarity and witnessed how and why the hotel suddenly toppled into the water.  As it is, we are left with a battle off-panel. 

 I am curious why Meltzer would specifically use the Watergate Hotel.  Was it because it is famous?  Or because it was infamous?  Why need to specify the building at all.  And since it was in Washington D.C., why not connect it to Amazons Attack rather than make it an attack by Dr. Polarity?

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