[net.comics] Review of JLA ANNUAL

nova@abnjh.UUCP (Scott D. Allen) (07/03/84)

[Atomic Batteries to Power -- Turbines to Speed -- Batmobile ready to move out]

I haven't seen any other reviews of this comic yet so I'll stick my neck out
for the initial article (abestos turtleneck in hand).

Yesterday, I picked up my weekly shipment of comics and the cover for the
JUSTICE LEAGUE ANNUAL caught my eye.  I had seen a picture of the new JLA in
DC's sampler and didn't like what I saw.  Another group of "weirdo's and freakks",
whatever happened to the "normal super-hero" in the skin-tight long-johns and
bulging muscles.

I was so interested that I read the thing in the Comic Store's parking lot.  What
a surprise!! It was really good.  SPOILER  SPOILER!!  Here's the basic plot.  The
JLA satellite was trashed in the Mars/Earth War and is really beyond much help.
Aquaman (current chairman) is so depressed that he tells the Leaguers to meet at
the UN for a meeting.  We then learn that Mera has left Aquaman (again!) because
he has no love for her  (I thought this came out of the blue; has there been any
mention of this anywhere else?).  At the UN, Aquaman speaks to the general assembly
and tells them that they need a League who will be full-time heros, not part-t-
timers  like the current lot  (He mentions that Superman, Wonder Woman, Flash,
and other big-Leaguers were absent from the Mars/Earth war).  This catches the
other Leaugers off-guard (The scene with Firestorm is very well done.)
So out of the old League, only Aquaman, Elongated Man, and Zantanna stay.  They
are quickly joined by the Martian Manhunter and several new members:  Vixen 
(Evidently who has been around, but I haven't seen her), Steel (a cyborg-like
kid), Vibe (a chicano kid with vibration wave control), and Gypsy (a young
invisible girl).

That's enough of the general plot.  Here are some of the changes I liked:

*The new Headquarters is in Detroit.  That's right, Detroit.  So much for
	heroes being based in New York, Washington, LA, or Chicago.  The HQ
	is underneath an old factory and they try to keep things a secret but
	Vibe and Gypsy both walk in.  At the end of the issue, the whole neigh-
	borhood shows up for a block party.  Nice touch.

*The characterization is at a much more adult level.  First of all, the women
	are allowed to take interest in male bodies around them.  Vixen thinks
	J'onn J'onz is cute and Zantanna asks one of Steel's friends (who is
	black) if he talks in his sleep.  It looks like DC is joining the real
	world.  Now maybe we can get some interesting character development from
	someplace other than Wolfman.

The thing I didn't like was the accent they gave Vibe.  He keeps saying "chu"
and it took me a while to figure out what he was saying.  At one point,  his
accent disappears.  I don't know if this is supposed to be ethnic but I think
they missed on this.

All in all, I think this book now has a lot of possibility.  It will be interer-
esting to see what the other big Leagers will say when they get back.
Okay, That's it.  All comments are welcome.  Easy on the flames.  I burn easily.



 

Scotty

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Scott Allen
ATT-IS
Orlando, Florida
..!abnjh!ncoss