DCU Comic Book Reviews

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #20

Baked To Speed

June 2008

Written by Dwayne McDuffie

Pencils by Ethan Van Sciver

Inks by Ethan Van Sciver

Cover by Ethan Van Sciver

Synopsis

In Keystone City, Wally West (aka The Flash) snuffs out a fire burning over 400 acres, but in the meantime manages to get the water helicopter caught in an updraft.  However, Wonder Woman is in the area to bring the copter safely to the ground.  Afterwards, Diana questions Wally on he hasn’t been active with league activities recently.  Moments later, Black Lightning calls with an urgent message that H.I.V.E. is planning to steal a equipment at STAR Labs.  Together, Wally and Diana run to STAR Labs and together save the scientists the Queen Bee hypnotized, as well as the Queen Bee herself.  Later, Wally takes care of a few things before going on monitor duty for the Justice League of America. 

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

It is frustrating to realize that if McDuffie weren’t editorial constrained to write tie-in books, or relegated to back-up status so another writer can write tie-in stories, we might be getting stories like this instead of what we have been getting.  This is a good story, featuring two lead characters who are characterized fairly well, especially the scenes showing them in action as they work well together.  Granted, this felt more like a Flash issue (or even a Brave and The Bold issue) rather than Justice League of America given the other team members are missing, but a good story is a good story.  On top of that, the story manages to work in the Flash’s current situation as someone who was invited into the league but as not really been part of any of the stories, so it doesn’t feel like filler.  Even though it is, since next month it looks like we’ll get a Final Crisis tie-in.

The opening sequence with the Flash explaining how he fights the fire was intriguing (and although it sounded like it was real, I am curious if the physics of what he is saying is correct or just pseudo-science) and I liked the way Wally and Diana planned their attack rather than just rushing in.  Or rather, I liked the way McDuffie showed Wally and Diana planning their attack rather than showing them doing it and then having one say later, “It all worked out like we planned.”  The core of this issue isn’t the fight against the Queen Bee, but Wally and Diana’s relationship and I think McDuffie did a goo job with it.  Their initial conversation abut Wally and the league was wonderful for the way Diana was serious about what she was telling him, but humorous and light enough to show that she understood his situation.   

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