DCU Comic Book Reviews

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #15

Unlimited, Chapter 4:  Unleashed

January 2008

Written by Dwayne McDuffie

Pencils by Ed Benes

Inks by Sandra Hope

Covers by Ian Churchill and Norm Rapmund

Synopsis

Lex Luthor has Superman and is threatening him with a piece of Kryptonite.  Firestorm, however, arrives in time to transmute the Kryptonite to something less harmful.  Luthor applauds the tactic, but with the Injustice League behind him, Firestorm’s life is in danger.  However, Firestorm was able to give Batman a ballpoint pen, which he used to pick the locks and free the Justice League.  The two leagues battle each other with the Justice League able to capture many of the villains.  Afterwards, Amanda Waller and Task Force X arrive to take them into custody.  Batman then offers Firestorm a position into the Justice League.

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

This issue was a rather predictable ending to a rather lackluster story.  Even before I opened the book, I knew what was coming and it did not disappoint.  I mean, how else could this story have ended other than to have a large scale battle?  While I can’t complain about Benes’ art or the way McDuffie handled the large-scale cast, I could not muster much enthusiasm for the action or the outcome.    It was nice to see all of the action after the sedentary stories from Meltzer, so as a c change of pace, it was a good choice.  Hopefully, McDuffie can now find a good middle ground between the two kinds of stories. 

There were two things I liked about this issue.  I liked the characterization of Batman from the way he announces what he can do with a ballpoint pen to his decision to go after the Joker.  Batman as presented here reads the way Batman should read.  But, I also like the way Black Canary handles Batman by letting him know disobeying orders will be dealt with.  Of course, it would have been nice if it had been Black Canary at the end speaking about Firestorm rather than Wonder Woman (since it makes it look like the decision was made without her), but I do like the fact that McDuffie is making sure Dinah stays as the leader of the team. 

The ending to this issue is interesting.  McDuffie (and DC editorial) is attempting to tie this into Salvation Run by having Waller take them into custody and then shuttle them off to wherever it is they are going.  Taken on that level, the ending works.  But on the very next page, we get an editorial note telling us these events that place before the Black Canary/Green Arrow wedding.  Fine.  Well, except for the fact that many of the villains that were just captured appear in the wedding special in an attempt to attack the heroes.  This is includes some of the villains in this issue, including the Joker, whom McDuffie makes a point about Batman running out to capture.  So, it doesn’t quite work out, now does it? 

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