Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist: David Finch
Colors: Sonia Oback with Jeromy Cox
Cover: David Finch
Publisher: Jack Mahan
DC has got something going on within the pages of Justice League of America #1 (released Feb. 20th, 2013). The team of Geoff Johns (Final Crisis: Rogues’ Revenge #1-3, Teen Titans) and David Finch (Batman: The Return #1, Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America – Spider-Man) is like a match made in writer/artist heaven. By the end of this first issue, readers will be left wanting more…and soon. DC and the New 52 movement have been moving along strong and JLA #1 is a surefire look to something great in the months to come.
JLA #1 titled “World’s Most Dangerous” tracks a meeting shared between Colonel Steve Trevor and Director Amanda Waller. Their objective: recruit a new team of operatives to form the Justice League of America. With this new team, government group A.R.G.U.S. will have “more hands in the pot” to keep tabs on super-powered beings like the Justice League who choose to operate above the Earth’s atmosphere. Fear that the Justice League, with powerhouses such as Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, would obtain too much power puts the country – and the world – at risk which is why Director Waller approaches Colonel Trevor with the task of recruiting superheroes that could stand toe-to-toe with knowledge of their super-counterparts. Rounding out the team are DC veterans Catwoman (Selina Kyle), Martian Manhunter (J’onn J’onzz), Green Arrow (Oliver Queen), and Hawkman (Katar Hol). In addition to these DC staples, the new Green Lantern (Simon Baz), Katana (Tatsu Yamashiro), Stargirl (Courtney Whitmore), and Vibe (Paco Ramone) join the team. Their primary objective: to defend the USA from any imminent threat posed by the Justice League. Geoff Johns’ writing throughout issue #1 reaches its climax when the team is finally revealed. Readers will be left eagerly wanting issue #2 after having read “World’s Most Dangerous.” What more does Geoff Johns and team have in store for us?
Geoff Johns delivers with this suspenseful first issue of JLA. The book is packed with insightful dialogue that doesn’t drag at all. On top of a wonderfully written back-story, Johns builds up the suspense right until the end of the book. Along with John’s precision writing, David Finch does a spectacular job with the illustrations. Describing how every image in every panel captures the drama that John’s writes about doesn’t do Finch’s artwork justice. In addition to Finch’s art, the color team of Sonia Oback (X-23: Target X) and Jeromy Cox (Batman: The Dark Knight Vol. 2 #11) act as the mortar to this well-constructed comic book. While some readers may complain about the heavy use of black in nearly every panel, it is the black that intensifies the feeling of suspense and drama that has already been laid by Johns and Finch.
Justice League of America #1 is a sign of good things to come for DC and the title. If the story is as good as issue #1 leads it to be, then readers will definitely be invested for the long haul.