JediKermit's Full Review: Keith Giffen and J. M. Dematteis - Justice League ...
At the end of the first volume of 1987's Justice League International, the Justice League expanded its roster to include two new heroes: Rocket Red was to represent the interest of the Soviet Union, and Captain Atom was joining as an inside man for the United States. Even though most of the other team members were already Americans. This let both the USSR and USA sanction the League as an international organization, and they proceeded to set up embassies in dozens of countries. No longer operating out of a cave in Rhode Island, a bunker in Detroit, or a Hall of Justice in Metropolis, now they could have a presence in Moscow, Paris, or Rio de Janeiro, helping settle conflicts around the world.
That's the setup for heroics and conflict in Justice League International Volume 2. A collection of comics originally published in 1987 and 1988, it includes Justice League International issues 8-13, JLI Annual #1, and Suicide Squad #13. These issues cross over with a DC Comics "event" that has Green Lantern's Manhunters invading the DC Universe, kind of robotic body snatchers that infiltrate the lives of our heroes. This and the Suicide Squad crossover make for a sometimes confusing volume, not as entertaining or fluid as the first volume in the series. Before each "crossover" chapter there are a few paragraphs explaining what came before, but it still makes for a messier book than Volume 1.
The Justice League here is a good mix of the historic, the powerful, and the newcomers: Batman, Martian Manhunter and Black Canary have all been heroes for years, and in previous incarnations of the League; Blue Beetle, Booster Gold, and Mister Miracle are all newcomers. Green Lantern Guy Gardner, who's normal personality is an obnoxious boor, has now become compliant and sensitive, after repeated blows to the head in the previous arc. This defuses some of the infighting that dominated the previous book, but it also removes some of the best comedy material from writers Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis. It's still a funny "funny book," relying as much on jokes as adventure to hook the reader. Most of the comedy still works, with the team uncertain about the motives of Russkie Rocket Red (he ends up being one of the most loyal of Leaguers), and Black Canary still having 1980's feminist angst as the only woman on the team.
One of the things I like best about this version of the League is the leadership of Martian Manhunter. Often written simply as a (more) alien Superman, Giffen and DeMatteis delve into the notion that the Justice League is the only family that J'onn J'onnz has left. The last survivor of a Martian apocalypse, he cares deeply for the League, and will do anything to ensure their survival and success. Where many of the Leaguers are part-timers (like Batman, splitting his attention between Gotham City and the JLI), Martian Manhunter emerges as the heart and soul of this Justice League, and it's a characterization that he'll keep throughout several more incarnations of the team.
Because of the many different storylines cobbled together for this volume, the art is more uneven than in JLI Volume 1; the pages by Kevin Maguire are still brilliant, with a focus on facial expressions to heighten the drama and comedy. The faces aren't interchangably bland, they're unique, expressive, and frequently hilarious. The other artists, including Giffen, Bill Willingham, and Luke McDonnell aren't bad, but they're a jolt when they pop up in seemingly random pages.
The collection and reprinting of this series is a welcome one, on good quality paper with vibrant colors and clear printing. I owned most of these comics back in the late 1980's and early 90's, and it's good to be able to revisit these adventures in such a nice format. These pages also include the first appearances of Green Flame and Ice Maiden, who will soon be joining the Justice League as the girl power team of Fire and Ice. They end up becoming some of my favorite heroines in the DC Universe, all due to their membership in this often silly version of the Justice League. If you're a fan of DC Comics, Batman, or the Justice League, you'll enjoy Justice League International.
In 1987, a new generation of the World s Greatest Super-Heroes took center stage. But they were the most unlikely grouping of heroes you d ever expect...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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