JUSTICE LEAGUE ADVENTURES #8
"New Moon!"
Recommended (7/10)
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DC Comics
Writer: Mike W. Barr
Pencils: Min S. Ku
Inks: Rob Leigh
Colors: John Kalisz & Heroic Age
Letters: Kurt Hathaway
Editor: Dan Raspler
Price: $1.99 US/$3.25 CAN |
In the early 1980s, one of my favorite titles was The Brave and the Bold, as was its successor, Batman and the Outsiders. And so, Mike W. Barr was one of my favorite writers. He handled super-heroes -- the fun and the melodrama -- well, and it's a pleasure to see his name on a new book. This story is definitely geared toward younger readers, but Barr doesn't talk down to the audience. This captures the fun and energy of the Cartoon Network series nicely.
Moonquakes are wreaking havoc on Earth, and after the Justice League prevent disaster all over the globe, they discover the cause. The moon is some kind of incubator for a gigantic and ancient alien creature. When it hatches, the moon will be destroyed, and the Earth with it. The heroes have a difference of opinion over what to do -- destroy the creature and save the world, or preserve an innocent, albeit enormous, life?
Ku's artwork holds true to the animated style and maintains a clarity in the visual side of the storytelling. This is something of a busy story, with plenty of panels, shifts in setting and characters to juggle, but there are no awkward transitions. The only thing keeping this from looking as sharp as its televisied counterpart, I think, is the low grade of the paper. It mutes the colors somewhat
The larger-than-life action quality of the JLA is maintained here, and it's balanced with a delightful Silver Age sensibility with the appearance of a somewhat familiar super-villain. It's also nice to see a clash in personality arising among the heroes. It makes for a more balanced read and adds a degree of credibility to an incredible story with incredible characters.
Sure, this story isn't exactly going to make the entire comic-book industry sit up and take notice, but it's a fun read that's bound to be of interest to new and young readers. My friend's five-year-old recently what the Justice League home video release, and he was captivated by the characters. This is just the sort of comic book he'd want his dad to read to him.
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