Comic Review: JUSTICE LEAGUE #7

 

Tyrants!

We’re back with Justice League #7, the first of the new JLA series with Jim Lee doing only the cover art. Geoff Johns remains on the story end. Does it rock? Does it suck? Let’s find out, shall we?

Review:
This issue jumps ahead to the present day where the Jutsice League is now an official team with a shiny Watchtower orbiting the Earth and such. The difference between the New 52 Justice League and the Pre-Flashpoint JLA is that there seems to be a closer affiliation to the US government, with Col. Steve Trevor serving as the team’s military liaison.

The Justice League gets a throwaway villain to play with this issue and we get to seem their refined teamwork when taking on a foe. But the main focus of the issue is on Trevor’s struggles in his new position as he tries to keep the League members happy as well as assuage the egos of the increasingly anxious Congressional panel that wants more control over League affairs.

And in what I felt was a nice addition to this tale, Trevor is also dealing the public and media who feel that the government and US Armed Forces are pretty much useless as the JLA would do a better job in their places. Yes, as in ruling the USA and dealing with military affairs. A portent for a future storyline, perhaps? Maybe something similar to the Justice Lords storyline in the JLA cartoon? I’d be all for it, but back to Steve Trevor…

Trevor seems weary of all the politics and diva demands (Batman’s request to get rid of JL International was pretty hilarious) plus the daily belittling from the press and public in regards to the military’s effectiveness. Not to mention that as a soldier, working behind a desk does not suit Steve. So why does he stay? Mind you, this is a question that Wonder Woman herself asks him.

For starters, Trevor realizes what the League represents, which is a new hope that the world has not known for a while. And Trevor seems to know that he is the only thing preventing the US government from attempting a fear-based land grab at JLA’s operations and the JLA reacting rather aggressively. Plus, Trevor is in love with Wonder Woman, but it seems to be unrequited.

As the issue ends, we see an unseen villain who wants to bring down the League. But he/she will be targeting Steve Trevor in order to do so.

Along with this story was a short cameo that served to introduce Captain Marvel into the New 52 Universe. I’m not as familiar with Captain Marvel as I am with other more mainstream DC characters, but from what I’ve heard this Billy Batson might not be as well received.
Regardless, it should be interesting to see where Johns and company take this new Captain Marvel.

What worked:
The time jump was a smart choice. I was all for the origin of this new Justice League, despite how rushed it felt, but with  that out of the way we can get down to truly fleshing out the team dynamic and any changes in how this team operates compared to the Pre-Flashpoint version.

Not to mention, I did enjoy seeing the various politic entanglements and behind the scenes aspects of the Justice League since they seem to be a government-sanctioned entity like Marvel’s Avengers teams.

One of the best parts was, of course, deconstructing Steve Trevor. He has always been mainly a Wonder Woman character, but introducing him into the Justice League world was a smart choice. Adding his and Wonder Woman’s love story also gives the Justice League comic an emotional arc that in my opinion Justice League comics have been missing. And now that Superman is no longer involved with Lois, how’s about a love triangle between him, Trevor and Wonder Woman? Sounds enticing, no?

What didn’t work:
I miss Jim Lee’s artwork. But Frank Cha gave the panels a fitting moody look that I didn't dislike, especially during the League's fights with this issue's villain.

Conclusion:
Things are moving in the right direction. I’m definitely excited to see who the League’s next villain will be. Hopefully it will work out better than Darkseid did.

No author bio. End of line.
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