This is far from the funniest issue of this series, and to be honest, this side trip into Hell has not been as strong a plotline as I had hoped. This issue does stand out as a highlight of the recent revivals of the humor-era of the Justice League, though, in that Giffen and DeMatteis demonstrate that there's more to the characters and plotting than just running gags and spittakes. There's some real human emotion to be found in this issue. Unfortunately, it's hidden under a ludicrous premise that was funny in the short term but has lost its effectiveness the longer it's gone on. The art is as strong as ever, of course, as Maguire, like the writers, shows us he's capable of far more in the range of emotion than comic confusion and consternation.
Guy Gardner, complete with yellow power ring, and Power Girl venture into the hellish world to which the Super-Buddies were banished in an effort to save them. Meanwhile, Booster Gold realizes their situation may not be as dire as everyone suspected. The heroes, once reunited, are offered a means of escape and are permitted to take a precious treasure back to the real world with them, but there are strict conditions attached.
Maguire does an excellent job of conveying the vastness of the infernal setting and the seemingly infinite nature of the demonic residents. Where he really shines, though, is in communication of the heart-wrenching emotions of Guy Gardner and Fire. For those of us who read the original Giffen/DeMatteis Justice League stories, their tears make a lot of sense, but the huge splash page, a tight close-up on two characters, at the end of the issue tells newer readers everything they need to know.
I'm pleased John Byrne ditched the rhyme scheme for Etrigan in the new Blood of the Demon series, because Giffen and DeMatteis remind us here of how distracting and annoying the always-rhyming dialogue can be. I had to resist the temptation to skip all of the Demon's dialogue. Booster's theory seems to be a moot point by the end of the issue, so I wonder why the writers brought it up in the first place.
Giffen and DeMatteis pull off some great characterization when it comes to Guy Gardner. Sure, he's the same sleazy blowhard we remember, but he's not portrayed as a moron. He's actually far more on the ball and prepared in this story than Power Girl, for example, and he's creative with the use of his ring's powers. Furthermore, we see an interesting complexity in some key relationships among these former Justice Leaguers, and I hope that the writers expand on the emotional context of the final scene in the final two issues of this story arc. 6/10
