JLA Classified 38 - 54

JLA Classified #39
Written by Peter Milligan
Art by Carlos D’Anda

Um… so is Kid Amazo’s girlfriend like the biggest bitch in the world or what. Give me a break, she just dumps him because she finds out he is a robot. Who does that?! Okay issue.

JLA Classified #40
Written by Peter Milligan
Art by Carlos D’Anda

I might have to agree with Flash here, Wonder Woman prolly did not have the right to tell Kid Amazo’s girlfriend anything but I could be wrong. I liked this issue, especially the idea that Batman has technology that responds to his individual psychological make up. But I still am not a fan of the art.

JLA Classified #41
Written by Peter Milligan
Art by Carlos D’Anda

You know, this story should have been published in graphic novel format (with better art) as was originally planned. The ending works great as a precurser to the break up of the Justice League during Infinite Crisis and the relationship between Kid Amazo and Ivo’s daughter is really interesting this issue. Too bad it was published in serial where a lot of probably didn’t wait till the end.

JLA Classified #42
Written by Justin Gray
Art by Rick Leonardi

In case you did not know, JLA: Year One is one of my all time favorite stories. Post-infinite Crisis, that story has at least been slightly retconned, which pissed me off, so this story which flashbacks to Martian Manhunters first meeting with Superman and the JLA kinda pisses me off but I am dealing with it. I do like the characterization of Martian Manhunter though.

JLA Classified #43
Written by Justin Gray
Art by Rick Leonardi

Okay this is retarted, the JLA came together to face the Appalexian invasion, not Starro. Way to pay attention to continuity, and this is even confirmed post-infinte Crisis continuity. I am not even going to bother saying anything else. Extremem laziness on the part of Justin Gray. The rest of this storyline isn’t worth reviewing cause it just pisses me off too much.

JLA Classified #44
Written by Justin Gray
Art by Rick Leonardi

Not worth it…….

JLA Classified #45
Written by Justin Gray
Art by Rick Leonardi
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JLA Classified #46
Written by Justin Gray
Art by Rick Leonardi

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JLA Classified #47
Written by Mike W. Barr
Art by Randy Green

This was a nice start for this story which seems like it would happen to the Silver Age Justice League. Unlike the last story arc, there weren’t any continuity breaches - in fact Green Arrow is shown in the right costumer here as well. I wish the cover art was what was inside the book though.

JLA Classified #48
Written by Mike W. Barr
Art by Randy Green

Eh that was a cute little story but nothing to write home about. It was fun. That’s all. I really don‘t have much to say, except, at first I was little turned off by the betrayal of Wonder Woman as being so, I dunno, stupid. But I realize this was one of her earlier appearances chronologically so she should be a bit naive.

JLA Classified #49
Written by Andrew Kreisberg
Art by Paulo Siqueira

Um….this was really good….until the ending which made no sense. By the time that roster of the Justice League was together, Lois was very aware of Superman’s identity…she was married to him! The art was good and Kreisberg seems to be a pretty good writer here but he needs to pay attention to continuity. WTF this series is full of continuity errors.


JLA Classified #50
Written by Roger Stern
Art by John Byrne

Byrne’s art is as good as ususal and the writing here makes a pretty good Justice League story. I am anxious to see when the League fought this monster before. Wally’s hair is yellow in this, that’s definitely a coloring problem.

JLA Classified #51
Written by Roger Stern
Art by John Byrne

The idea of a self-procalimed “God” coming to earth and challenging the Gods of the religions of the world is really interesting and I am suprised no one has thought of it before. This story is really good so far.

JLA Classified #52
Written by Roger Stern
Art by John Byrne

Okay now this is how the Justice League is supposed to work. Teamwork and great characterization and great fighting…awesome work Roger Stern. Maybe this guy should be the regular JLA writer. Byrne’s art was fantastic as well. In the last story arc of this series, there is a finally quality writing and art….wow.

JLA Classified #53
Written by Roger Stern
Art by John Byrne

Stern really gets each of the JL characters here, especially when he writes them as possible Gods, he shows that he understands what makes them tick as he shows that Titus understand it. I am really enjoying this a lot.

JLA Classified #54
Written by Roger Stern
Art by John Byrne

Well I am happy to say that JLA Classified ended on a high note thanks to Roger Stern and John Byrne. Stern wrote a team of good heroes who had flaws but ultimately triumphed. This is the way the Justice League should be. The ending was inspirational. I wish more of the story arcs in this series were like this. Unfortunately, they were not and I imagine that is why the book has been canceled. Anyways, if this storyline gets collected, I will definitely be picking it up!

Justice League 11 and 12

Justice League of America #11
Written by Brad Meltzer
Art by Gene Ha

Um…ya. Well, this wasn’t really a Justice League Story. It was more of a story featuring two Justice League members but um..ya. Weird. But anyways, it was okay. You do get a very caustophobic experience reading this, you almost feel like you are right there with Red Arrow and Vixen, but that is more because of Gene Ha’s amazing art and not Meltzer’s writing. We learn that Vixen has lost her powers and is now using other metahuman’s powers for her own. But ya, not a Justice League story.

Justice League of America #12
Written by Brad Meltzer
Art by Ed Benes

Thank God! This is Meltzer’s final Justice League issue. After the wonderful Identity Crisis, I expected this run to be amazing. But it has been consistently slow, bland, and full of annoying narraration boxes where you are not sure who is speaking. Not to mention that no one in the League calls eachother by their code names. Now, this issue had all of those problems but there was some light in the darkness. I liked the whole day-in-the-life monitor duty thing and the art was good. I was also happy to see Martian Manhunter and Aquaman making their cameo roles but damn am I glad to see Meltzer leaving. Dwayne McDuffie will be much better than this (Let’s hope). Oh and is Geo-Force a League member or not! And was Black Canary a founder or not!

Say Good Bye To Your Face, Black Manta

Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis #53
Written by Tad Williams
Art by Shawn McManus

Tad Williams’s EXCELLENT run on Aquaman continues this issue. Yes, people this is EXCELLENT. Why aren’t you reading it? It is that good. Well-written, funny, clever, action-packed…it has everything. Williams is writing the best Aquaman stories I have ever read while still continuing the mystery and intrigue started with Busiek’s run. There was so many good things this issue that I don’t know what to focus. Aquaman turning into water, Black Manta’s villainous dialogue, King Shark’s violent attack on Black Manta, the new Aquaman’s clever escape plan…oh and Topo is still around so that is great too. The art is fantastic and fits the tone of the series perfectly. Please people, give this series a chance. I am begging you.

Action Comics 850 and 851

Action Comics #850
Written by Kurt Busiek, Fabian Nicieza, and Geoff Johns
Art and cover by Renato Guedes

This was a nice look back at the life of Superman up to the present day and at first, I found it only okay…I mean when Superman yells Justice League Together I rolled my eyes. Since when do they say that in the league?! But on a second read I really saw how wonderful this issue was. I love how it is Supergirl and the Legion looking at the past through a what did he call it…Chronex? And we do get some hints of the future but like Brainiac 5 said, it could be altered timelines. This was a nice anniversary issue.

Action Comics #851
Written by Geoff Johns and Richard Donner
Art and Cover by Adam Kubert

I gotta hand it to them for the idea of making all the phantom zone scenes in this issue in 3D. It was a really cool idea…I just don’t know how well it was executed. I found it kind of annoying at times, especially those glasses. But I give them kudos for trying. Story-wise, it is okay. I think it is definitely over-hyped…I don’t really have any complaints about it but it doesn’t really excite me either. Maybe because I don’t harbor any strong emotions about Zod…I don’t know. The Mon-El Stuff was pretty cool though and the ending with Luthor was good too.

A Quicker Way To Travel

Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis #51
Written by Tad Williams
Art by Shawn McManus and Walden Wong

Tad Williams continues his so-far brilliant run on Aquaman this issue. In just two issues, he has expanded the new Aquaman’s supporting cast and introduced a new fun sidekick as Topo. Who is also handy by introducing the others to the concept of Hatches or magical portals in the ocean. It is about time. I always wondered how the old Aquaman got around the ocean so quick. Maybe he knew about hatches too? But no, I don’t think the old Aquaman is dead, just comastose. He will be back. And the re-introduction of Aquagirl is just perfect. She has been missed and I am glad she is back along with Subdiego (although didn’t it get raised above water in WWIII?) Black Mantus may be incredibly overused as an Aquaman villain but I trust that Williams will do something different and fun with the character than what has been done before. Highly recommended. Everyone should give this book the chance it deserves.

PS: Why is The Flash in the scene visiting the old Aquaman with the Justice Leaguers? Bart is not a member of the League and he was never really close with Aquaman, what is the deal with that? Weird.

The Grand Debut Of An All-New Topo

Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis #50
Written by Tad Williams
Art by Shawn McManus and Walden Wong

Tad Williams begins his run on Aquaman with one giant fantastic issue. Seriously, more happens in this issue than in all nine issues of Busiek’s failed run. I loved it. Every moment either made you smile or laugh or at the end, frown. It was a hell of a ride. Williams is the perfect match for the new Aquaman and the Aquman mythos. He has fun with the concept but does not turn it into a joke. We are introduced to the Deep Church, an evil underwater cult along with a powerful villain who my guess is really Aquaman’s supposedly dead son, Koryak. But the best part about this issue has to be Topo! Yes, the octopus sidekick to Aquaman back in the fifties and sixties is back! Williams reimagines Topo as a very funny humanoid octopus creature who instantly wants to be the new Aquaman’s sidekick. I really dug the character from the moment he first speaks. This was a wonderful issue. I hope Williams sticks to this quality throughout his run.

Aquaman 48 and 49

Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis #48
Written by Kurt Busiek
Art by Phil Winslade and Butch Guice

Busiek’s penultimate issue is probably his best yet. We get to see what the Fisherman has been up to in the missing year as well as explore some of the new Aquaman’s past. And the best part of all, a map of the Atlantic Ocean without the water. Very Very cool. The Oceanscape is really another world. A world within a world and I am surprised that no one has thought of taking Aquaman in this direction before.

Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis #49
Written by Kurt Busiek
Art by Ricardo Villagran

This issue is Busiek’s last on the title. Next month a new creative team starts. Busiek’s run was pretty good, not perfect, but pretty good now that I look back on it. I am excited to see what Tad Williams will do with this title. This issue focuses exclusively on the fight between the New Aquaman and the Fisherman. Busiek really makes the Fisherman into a lot less of a lame villain now that we know he is a parasitic alien creature that attached himself to people. Very Starro-like but very cool.

JLA Classified 30 - 32

JLA Classified #30
Written by Howard Chaykin
Art and Cover by Killian Plunkett and Tom Nguyen

The story that involves the JLA in an international conflict continues this issue. I enjoyed this issue too. Not bad bad, but not amazing or anything. It was good. Martian Manhunter should still be in the JLA, that’s all I gotta say. This issue shows that well.

JLA Classified #31 Written by Howard Chaykin
Art and Cover by Killian Plunkett and Tom Nguyen

This story could have been a lot better now that I look back at it. It concludes this issue well, the JLA helps the two countries get back to normal and keep the metal from getting into any government hands. At first, I thought Chaykin was writing from the perspective that America is always right type of thing, but I am happy to say that this issue shows that it is not like that. The JLA do not give the metal to the US gov even though they asked for it. So this story arc over all was better than I thought at first, but still just okay.

JLA Classified #32
Written by Dan Slott and Dan Jurgens
Art by Jurgens and Trevor Scott

This issue was much better than the last story arc and it is great to see Plastic Man again. But, it got a little boring at points and we see more of this new character, Darren Profitt, than we do the JLA and I am not particularly fond of parelell universe stories. So there were definitely some pros and cons. This issue was a little long, 40 pages was kinda unnecessary. There were a lot of great moments though. I will have to read the next issues before I make my decision if I like this story arc.

More Of A Story From The Past

Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis #47
Written by Kurt Busiek
Art by Phil Winslade and Butch Guice

The art really distracted me from the story this issue. There was some strange coloring and I think there was just too much going on in each frame. It was annoying. The story was confusing and I think the art made it a lot more confusing. I liked the ending though and I hope this story ties into what happened to the Old Aquaman because if it doesn’t it was just a big waste of space. I like King Shark as a character though and it was cool to see the Old Aquaman when he was king. It just wasn’t exciting enough or even interesting enough of an issue for me to reccomend it to anyone. Maybe it is a good thing that Busiek is leaving this title. His run started out very strong but the last few issues haven’t really been up to par. Albeit, I look forward to next issue where the new Aquaman faces the Fisherman.

Aquaman’s First Meeting With King Shark

Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis #46
Written by Kurt Busiek and Karl Kesel
Art by Phil Winslade and Butch Guice

This issue tells the tale of the Classic Aquaman’s first meeting with King Shark. This issue is also a hell of a lot better than the boring last issue. While I like the new Aquaman, this issue really made me miss Orin a lot as the flashback shows how great of an Aquaman Orin was. Maybe he should be king of Atlantis again? (And yes I know Atlantis no longer exists as a nation anymore) The fight between Aquaman (the original one) and King Shark was good and well-written. The mystery is also pretty interesting. I love the girl with the jellyfish-like stinging hair. That was cool. The only problem I can see with this issue was the fact it really doesn’t get us closer to the mystery of the new Aquaman or why Orin is now the Dweller of the Depths. I think Busiek should concentrate on answering those questions instead of writing flashbacks, but that is just my opinion. Definitely a good issue though.