DCU Comic Book Reviews

JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRY FOR JUSTICE #2

The Beginning

October 2009

Written by James Robinson

Pencils by Mauro Cascioli

Inks by Mauro Cascioli

Cover by Mauro Cascioli

Synopsis

In Gotham City, Green Lantern and Green Arrow discuss the city and its protector while they wait for their meeting to begin.  On Blackhawk Island, Mikaal Thomas and Congorilla are fighting each other.  When they take a break, they realize they are both seeking justice.  They decide to team up and seek justice together.  Meanwhile, Green Lantern and Green Arrow meet with Jason Bard, who tells them that the stolen technology is at the behest of Prometheus.  He also tells them that Prometheus’ men are nearby.  Elsewhere, Ray Palmer is trailing Prometheus when he hears about the destruction of the Flash Museum.  There he meets with Jay Garrick, who informs him that only thing taken was technology from the cosmic treadmill.  They are then join by Freddy Freeman, who tells them a similar attacked occurred at STAR Labs in Fawcett City.  The trail leads to Gotham.  While Freddy and Ray fly there, Jay decides to follow up on his own lead.  In Gotham City, Green Lantern and Green Arrow have defeated Prometheus’ men.  They are then joined by Ray and Freddy.  And then by Supergirl.   

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

As much as I like the art and I like the story and the writing, I think both of these lack a verve or spark to make the issue really stand out.  The best word I can think of is static, as is standing still and not really doing much of anything.  The images by Cascioli on the page are drawn and painted beautifully, but there is no sense of movement to make the characters come alive.  Usually when I read a comic, my brain implants additional images to create a moving image of the scenes in front of me.  For this comic, that doesn’t happen.  Yes, it is drawn nicely, but it is flat.  It is telling when the fight scenes happen off panel.  It might not be that bad, except the writing is just as flat.  The story itself is playing out nicely and the plot is, to this point, constructed well, but overall it just kind sits there.  Robinson, I think, is trying to write scenes that help to flesh out his characters, to give them depth and a little bit of personality.  Instead it comes across as extraneous bits that don’t fit into the story.  The thing with character development is that it needs to be done in concert with the story.  It doesn’t feel that way here.  Instead, it feels like an additive.  The scene with Jay Garrick and Ray Palmer is a prime example as it seems to go on forever, when really the entire thing could’ve been done in just a few panels.  My memory may be hazy, but I think Jay told Ray (and then Marvel) at least three times that he was going out on his own.  And if he didn’t, I still think the fact that I think he did, is a sign that the scene has overstayed its welcome.  And I think that sums up the entire comic; each scene drags on a little too long.  Perhaps if the editor had made some wise cuts to the story, then perhaps we might have something.  As it, the issue feel flat. 

I am torn regarding my feelings with the Gongorilla and Starman scene.  On the one hand, I like the way Robinson plays with the cliché of heroes who fight under misunderstanding, then team together to fight for the overall good.  But on the other hand, it read stupidly.  I don’t quite get what Robinson is trying to do with the two taking a “time out” during a fight and then somehow bonding during that time out.  Maybe if one of them was truly a villain, then I could get it, a little bit, but they are “heroes” and therefore the scenes play out a little silly.  I mean, iced tea?

Charles Bukowski is a writer who wrote about ordinary lives and ordinary people.  His works were often called dirty realism.  The film Barfly was about Bukowski, starring Mickey Rourke as the writer. 

And before I forget, yes, I did not like the “threesome” reference on the opening pages.  It was just plain stupid and I think the only people who got a kick out of it were pre-teens.  Besides, the characters in question would never do that.  Now if it were Ollie, then I could understand, but even then, it doesn’t belong in this comic.  What does it have to do with justice.  You want to flesh out the characters, it might’ve been a better choice to have them talk about failed justice.

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