This first issue of a long-anticipated teamup/showdown is primarily about setting up the rather strained premise that "allows" the meeting to take place, and yes, it stretches one's suspension of disbelief more than a little. But this book isn't about plausible plotting. For fans of mainstream super-heroes, it's all about the fun of seeing this diverse array of icons interacting. The real "draw" here, though, is George Perez's artwork. He is the acknowledged master of such epic crossover stories, and as an added bonus, this is the first time in quite a while that we've seen him ink his own remarkably detailed pencils. The time and effort that went into this landmark project shines through.
Two cosmic beings from different realities encounter one another, and to achieve their own ends, they enter into a grand game of chance that will decide the fates of both of their universes. They recruit the greatest heroes from both worlds -- the Justice League and the Avengers -- to compete in a race to gather 12 items of power -- six from each reality. The Batman is concerned about how they're being manipulated, but the heroes can see no other option but to play along, given their mistrust of their counterparts. Meanwhile, the purest souls on each team seem to be succumbing to uncharacteristic rage and paranoia.
The visual detail and energy that Perez brings to this story is stunning. If you have a copy in your hands, flip it over, and just look at the detail in the Scarlet Witch's hair on the back cover. Throughout the book, you can find a multitude of similar examples of the meticulous nature of Perez's artwork at play here. The script calls for a dizzying array of characters, effects and settings, and Perez brings them all to life with no hint of shortcuts. The characters all have distinct facial features; there's no single male or female template to which he resorts. Smith's colors bring out the surreal, cosmic feel of the energy thrown around in this story as well.
Let's be honest here... this isn't going to be the most cerebral super-hero story ever to grace the shelves of your local comic-book shop. This is an action-oriented story that celebrates the extensive histories and traditions of two distinct forces in pop culture: Marvel's and DC's super-hero universes. The setup is a stretch, yes, but it's damn fun too. When I was a kid, this was the sort of teamup epic I dreamed about.
Speaking of my childhood, I was in junior high when Crisis on Infinite Earths was released. I was a diehard DC fan, but that Marv Wolfman/Perez series opened my eyes to whole new worlds within the DC multiverse. One might argue the extensive array of characters and cosmic nature of the story might make for an inaccessible read, but it dazzled this particular reader. I think JLA/Avengers boasts a similar quality, and I hope the high price of the prestige format doesn't keep it out of the hands of younger readers. Sure, not everyone will pick up on all of the references -- the Khunds and the Brood are never identified by name, for example -- but if new readers today are like I was years ago, their curiosity will be piqued and they'll seek out more stories featuring the colorful figures.
The one aspect of the story I found the most intriguing was Busiek's comparison of the perception of heroes in the two separate universes. In general terms, he points out that DC heroes are beloved by those they protect, whereas in the Marvel Universe, there's a greater sense of mistrust when it comes to the world's colorful champions. Sure, it's an oversimplification, but the point is well taken. It all stems from the origins of each continuity. The DC Universe has its roots in the 1940s, when American pride was strong and trust in the country's leaders was unequalled. Marvel's characters, on the other hand, really took off in the 1960s, when its readership was immersed in philosophies of rebellion and growing corruption in government.
