JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #30
Writer- Dwayne McDuffie/ Artist- Ed Benes
JLA in the hands of Dwayne McDuffie is good. It’s not going to be the most talked about run, it’s not going to make you more attractive to the opposite sex, and it’s not going to make you rich. It will however tell a good JLA story and in this case finish the arc where he’s reintroduced the Milestone Universe characters into the DCU proper.
For those of you who don’t know McDuffie not only was one of the creators and architects of Milestone (including his baby Static, you may be familiar with the animated version Static Shock!), but also worked on Justice League Unlimited writing some great episodes of said series. The only negative effect of the latter is that experiencing the animated JLA tends to make one think of the series and long for it. Plus, he finds himself at a bit of an disadvantage with the frequent crossovers and events of the past year or so, working around them and working with them when he can. If anything, he’s proven to be resourceful and versatile in his stories. Even when he swings and misses, he is at the very least writing JLA as opposed to juggling a handful of characters and working against them.
Issue 30 is the close of the first chapter involving the return of Starbreaker, the sun vampire who’s more a world devourer than a traditional “Dracula”. The JLA and Shadow Cabinet face off against an amped-up Shadow Thief and a shadow army of JLA “Shadows”, as Shadow Thief tries to use the moon’s “shadow-mass” slamming it into the Earth. Icon and Superman drop their charade as Superman tries to stop the shadow moon. It’s mostly an issue filled with dust-up’s, but there is a few nice character moments with Superman and Icon, as well as others.
In several weeks (or months) of books rife with controversy, it’s nice to just kick back and read something fun like this once in a while.
MYSTERIUS: THE UNFATHOMABLE #2 (OF 6) (WILDSTORM)
Writer- Jeff Parker/ Artist- Tom Fowler
Mysterius is a counter-culture Doctor Who, fixing supernatural “problems” for a hefty fee (as he puts it, “I hate when poor people have a paranormal problem”). Where John Constantine frequently runs afoul of the supernatural leaving a bodycount in his wake along with heaping trauma to himself, Mysterius walks tall and carries an investigative proactive stance making things right, so long as the check clears. Plus, former “companions” seem to do all right in the end (as far as we know so far). There are some who do end up in bad situations indirectly (though not necessarily by his fault), but then again we wouldn’t really have much of a story without people getting into trouble!
Issue two puts Mysterius and his newly acquired companion or “Delfi” (you’ll have to read the book to understand) on the case for auctioneer Gerald Ormond, of whom has a penchant for the ladies as much as priceless (or “pricy”) antiques. Unfortunately, he’s crossed a witch (a real one, not like those eyeliner clad earthy-crunchy hippie Wiccan types) regarding an auction transaction and happens to be married. So the current curse affliction where he’s broken out in a rash of names of the “other women” has become a bit problematic, so far as he’s had to take to dressing in suits and even full pajamas when bedding down. And that’s just one of the poor unfortunates wandering around the story.
After some field work, Mysterius, Delfi, and thir client perform a little breaking and entry into Tina Van Hurrs (said witch, probably not even her real name) to get more info. Via a mystic lamp, they manage to find not only a practicing pentagram set up, but also a look into the recent past seeing the previous “ceremony” featuring Van Hurrs and her fellow witches, all completely nude of course.
Also, we get a glimpse into Mysterius’ “mysterious” (sorry, couldn’t help it) past in the form of a flashback to the 60’ featuring Jem, the Delfi of the time and San Franciscan satanic cult leader Vinton Dulac (an obvious riff on Anton LaVey). “M” (I tire of typing his full name) was contracted by millionaire Roland Horscht to retrieve his niece Maddie and “destroy the cult” for double the fee (if possible)! All of this of course leads into a much larger story, as events and people begin to connect via yet another series of “unfortunate events”.
Really, to tell you any more, I’d be cheating you out of a great story. Do yourself a favor and pick up this new gem of a series by Parker and Fowler.
For a preview of Wildstorm Preview: Mysterius The Unfathomable #1, click “here” and select “Download Preview” !
DC COMICS FOR 2/25/2009
DC
BATMAN: GOTHAM AFTER MIDNIGHT #10 (OF 12)
BLUE BEETLE #36
GREEN LANTERN #38
JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #24
REIGN IN HELL #8
SGT. ROCK: THE LOST BATTALION #4 (OF 6)
SHOWCASE PRESENTS: SUPERMAN FAMILY VOL. 3
THE STARMAN OMNIBUS VOL. 2
SUPERMAN #685
SUPERMAN: CAMELOT FALLS VOL. 2
TALES OF THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS VOL. 1
TEEN TITANS #68
TRINITY #39
THE WAR THAT TIME FORGOT #10 (OF 12)
WONDER WOMAN #29
JOHNNY DC
BATMAN: THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #2
CARTOON NETWORK BLOCK PARTY #54
VERTIGO
JACK OF FABLES #31
MADAME XANADU #8
UNKNOWN SOLDIER #5
WILDSTORM
PUSH #6 (OF 6)
RESISTANCE #3 (OF 6)
WILDCATS #8
WORLD OF WARCRAFT: ASHBRINGER #4 (OF 4)
DC DIRECT
WATCHMEN MOVIE: ACTION FIGURE: ASSORTMENT 2, featuring–
CLASSIC NITE OWL (HOLLIS MASON)
CLASSIC SILK SPECTRE (SALLY JUPITER)
DR. MANHATTAN
THE COMEDIAN
As I’ve added to the weekly list of DC comics, I’d like to know if anyone would like me to branch out into not only reviewing other non-DCU books (as with Mysterius: the Unfathomable), but possibly DC Direct figures (I buy enough of them, I’d review DC Direct replicas or anything else for that matter, if DC would like to provide me with any materials for review as my budget is limited in today’s unfortunate recession “WINK” “HINT, HINT”). Is this all too much? Like it? Hate it? Lemme know!
As always, thanks for reading!