By Alex Ross, Doug Braithwaite, Jim Krueger, & Todd Klein. Cover by Ross.
Overview
Justice was a 12-issue limited (or maxi) series (published bi-monthly) released in 2005-2007. It was conceived by Ross to be a "Superhuman war. The superhuman war." Because I haven't read this since it was first published, I wanted to reexamine this series. To read previous posts, click the link.
Synopsis
A young woman writes a letter to her parents, trying to explain why she went to live in one of the domed cities, "Don't I deserve this, Father? To be here? If I were as happy as you said I was, why would I choose this place?"
In the dome under the ocean, the Legion of Doom have gathered to celebrate their victory. Grodd walks to the event with Giganta, at first insulting her and then commenting how he expects both Luthor and Brainiac to cast him aside once he's no longer useful. The Atom silently observes this.
Luthor toasts his compatriots, telling them, "We won this time." Brainiac, however, is celebrating his agenda of creating a new world, with Aquaman's son -- his son -- the first of the new Coluans. Sinestro demands Green Lantern's power battery from Luthor, as was promised for the use of the Qwardian yellow power ring. Atom discovers why Brainiac's nanoworms can't affect Luthor: he's using a force field. Atom is detected by Grodd, who tries to warn the group, but at that moment he is mentally attacked by Brainiac. Grodd announces, "You planned this, didn't you? Et tu, Luthor?" It is then that the Justice League attacks!
During the fight, Zatanna transports both Black Canary and Green Arrow away because they have their own mission. Grodd, however, senses them in the vent system and orders Clayface to go after them. Elongated Man is able to slow Clarface down enough for Black Canary and Green Arrow to access the area where the Leaguers' loved ones are being held and watched by Supergirl, who states, "Oh good. I get to kill superheroes today, after all." Black Canary warns Green Arrow that his kryptonite-tipped arrow could kill the Girl of Steel, who easily avoids the shot, saying, "Next time, don't talk about what you're going to do. Super-hearing?" Dinah announces, "Ollie? You just killed John Stewart."
The Teen Titans and Marvel Family have defeated the Doom Patrol, and Joker arrives with a picnic basket and blanket that he spreads on the ground next to Robotman's head. He pulls a detonator out of the basket and tells the young heroes to find a good seat and, "It's the fourth of July. And you know what that means!" He then detonates several bombs he's placed around the domed city.
Batman distracts Luthor, while Atom is able to disable Luthor's force field and knocks him out.
John Stewart stands up because Green Arrow's shot didn't kill him but instead delivered John's power ring. John materializes his Green Lantern uniform and tells Supergirl she isn't going to kill anyone and, "You're going to help us save the world."
Reaction
Despite the fact that a lot of the panels are the groups fighting one another, this is really background action to show Batman's counteroffensive. Because of this plan, it appears that they have captured Luthor and other villains, freed the captives (and soon the other mind-controlled heroes), and have the rest of the Legion of Doom on the run. Green Arrow's and Black Canary's ruse was the most satisfying, no matter how improbable the arrow shot to slip John's power ring onto his finger was, but that's superhero comics and I love it! What I'm not loving is the Joker's role in this story. I feel like I've seen this depiction before (or maybe I'm just recalling this story?). Regardless, his panels are just wasted space to me unless something is made out of his petulant chaos-bringing.
Besides the fight, there are some other good moments here:
- The opener with the young woman and what she represents is a missed opportunity of this series. Would it matter to any of the people like her what the ideologies of the "villains" and "heroes" are if they are able to live their lives without disability or pain? I hope we get more of this in the final two issues, but I doubt it. It also feels like this should have come sooner in the story, if for nothing else than a blow to morale for our heroes.
- When I first read the scene between Grodd and Giganta, I had forgotten or didn't know that she was once an ape, hence Grodd's comment, "It disgusts me to look at you." Giganta, however, does not engage and simply walks silently beside Grodd and above his contempt. I love this quiet dignity about her or maybe it's shame?. Either way, has this relationship ever been explored elsewhere? Because I want to read about this rivalry.
- I do love the two-page spread of the assembled villains. While most of the people are wearing their villain garb, Sinestro is wearing a high-collared cape that looks like formal wear for Korugarians, Giganta has on a long black dress with a high slit, and Grundy is wearing a tux!
- After Brainiac's soliloquy, Luthor makes another toast in counter to it, declaring, "To a free humanity." The word balloon of that overlays the following panel of Grundy taking a drink of wine. That's a nice dichotomy there, but wouldn't it have been more effective if it were Grodd?
- Aquaman appears to stab Black Manta with his trident (just moments after he did the same to Parasite) as he says, "You will never come between me and my son again, Manta!" Is Manta dead?!
- Earlier in the issue, Green Arrow makes mention of his "shadow" and we find out it is Elongated Man in ninja-like garb. Ollie compliments Ralph to himself, "Some look at Ralph as a joke. Next time anyone says anything about him, I'll tell them of this moment." It is a heroic moment (he contains Clayface so Ollie can get where needs to be), but it's undercut by a couple things to me: 1) Just after the reveal that Ralph is present, he says, "I want to see Plastic Man do this." Of course he can! This whole thing between Ralph and Plastic Man just seems like Ross and Krueger having a bit of fun at Ralph's expense and I'm not having it. 2) After he's enveloped Clayface, Ralph announces, "He's ... trying to eat his way through me." That line should increase the tension, but it just comes across as jokey to me. So, does Clayface eat through Ralph? What does that mean to a guy who stretches like that?
- After Atom takes down Luthor, Batman compliments him. Atom reciprocates, "Your idea, Mr. Wayne. You know, I'm going to feel bad having to go back to calling you Batman after this is all over." And while Batman's face is completely hidden by his armor, you can just sense the daggers he's throwing with his look. That was a wonderful placement of dialogue and close-up panel.
Private Files
Batman compliments, in his own way, Green Arrow in his file on the man, writing, "Queen's story is different from mine, yet in many ways we reached the same place. He has no enhanced abilities or magical weapons save what has been possible through the application of design and skill." He also calls him a "valuable ally". It's far cry from what Batman has said to Ollie (in Green Arrow v3 #5) in reference to the Arrow-cave and Arrow-car: "Good lord, man. Have you ever had an original thought...?"
Batman's assessment of Black Canary is somewhat sexist because most of what he writes about her is in relationship to Green Arrow. However, he does imply her strength at having her world drastically altered, both when her husband died and when she gained her canary cry, and he compliments her on her ties to the community in which she serves both as an entrepreneur and costumed hero, saying she is closer to the lives she has saved "than perhaps anyone else in the League".
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