DCU Comic Book Reviews

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #19

Sanctuary, Part Three

May 2008

Written by Alan Burnett

Pencils by Ed Benes

Inks by Sandra Hope, Mariah Benes, Ruy Jose

Cover by Ed Benes

Synopsis

After learning that Earth’s criminals were being transported to another planet, the Justice League America decides to investigate.  When they reach the planet, however, they find no one there.  The team splits into groups to search the planet, but they are all captured by a strange form of energy.  Their captor is revealed to Kanjar Ro.  However, thanks to Hawkgirl’s nth metal, the league is able to escape and defeat Kanjar Ro. 

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

Let’s see.  There is good news and bad news.  The good news is that the editors managed to avoid writing a story that conflicted with Salvation Run, which had been my fear after reading the last issue in which the team decided to head to the prison planet.  The bad news is that we got this issue instead.  I am at a loss to describe how annoyed I am that all of the build up with the villains seeking sanctuary and the heroes searching for the prison planet lead to a fight with Kanjar Ro.  And, really, that is exactly all it was: A fight with a minor character not related to the first two parts of the story in any way.  No mention was made in this issue of the villains who requested sanctuary.  No mention was made of the fight with the Suicide Squad and, indeed, Flagg was even part of the “rescue” mission.  Worse, nothing further (in this book, at least) will be done with the prison planet.  Done.  Forgotten.  Let’s move on.  Ugh.  If you are going to tie-in into another series or another story like this one was leading up to, then just do it. Don’t pull back at the last minute and don’t do it.  Why even bother setting the stage for a rescue mission and then drop it?  Hell, why couldn’t the editors at least provide an editorial box telling the readers where to find the rest of the story.

The other problem with this issue is the relationship between Red Arrow and Hawkgirl.  I can understand Hawkgirl getting upset around Christmas because Roy wants his daughter’s mother there for the holidays.  But now it is just getting overblown.  Roy’s obsession with Chesire, or Hawkgirl’s obsession with her perception of Roy’s obsession, is getting to the point where it no longer feels character-driven, but writer-driven.  You can almost hear Burnett saying, “I need conflict within the group, so let’s make Roy obsessed about Chesire.”

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