I think it's safe (yet surprising) to say that this super-hero team story stands out as the strongest of Dini and Ross's oversized tributes to the icons of the DC Universe. Before, they focused on Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel, and while the title points to a whole team of heroes, there's still a focus on a single character to be found here. The Martian Manhunter is the focal point, and he symbolizes some of the key themes that the creators explore here. This seemingly ordinary super-hero story is dense and challenging, and the storytelling techniques are novel. Even if one is new to the art of Alex Ross and these oversized volumes, any super-hero fan would be well advised to check this clever and visually stunning book.
A meteorite crashes in the heart of the Congo in Africa, releasing an alie virus that quickly strikes down entire villages. The Pentagon's early detection of the meteor and the subsequent contagious threat leads the defence organization to bring in the Justice League of America, given the unique and extraterrestrial nature of the circumstances. As the heroes scramble to save lives and find a cure, another threat begins to grow. Fear of the alien virus evolves into fear of the heroes, some of whom look like monsters or alien threats themselves.
I don't know how he does it, but Ross's realistic and occasionally dark painted artwork nevertheless manages to capture the energy and wonder of the Silver Age of super-heroes. One can feel the artist's awe and appreciation of these characters on each page. He balances that innocent and excited quality with maturity. One can see the reflective and intelligent qualities of the main characters in their eyes. There's an oddly peaceful tone throughout the visuals, but Ross still conveys the overwhelming nature of the crises as well. His work is a study in contrasts, and I envy those readers who are experiencing his work for the first time. There's nothing quite like the first time one samples Ross's richly detailed work.
There are interesting parallels to be found between the narration and the events of the plot that unfold in the art at a couple of points in the book. I also enjoyed the socio-political fallout that unfolds on various television screens as the world's populace hears the rumors and half-truths about the new threat it faces. There's an intelligent tone to the script, and though Dini employs some purple prose, the words are carefully selected to achieve the greatest impact.
Continuity cops might not take too kindly to this story, as Dini casts aside those restrictions to include an entertaining array of DC's better known characters. One shouldn't dwell on the notion that Wonder Woman and Barry Allen were never members of the JLA at the same time in current continuity, but rather just immerse oneself in the classic nature of these characters and the more conventional trappings of the plot.
I'm not entirely sure, but it seems to me that Dini's script explores the notion of authority and trust in our leaders. In a time when cynicism and suspicion go hand in hand with one's perception of the establishment and those that govern, Dini turns our attention to possibility. He suggests that just because we don't fully understand what our leaders are doing on our behalf doesn't mean we should distrust them. Just as one eyes a police cruiser with suspicion, the colorfully clad heroes in this story because the target of anger, fear and hatred far too easily. Dini's vision is a simplified and extreme one; I certainly don't believe he's calling for his readers to buy into the war on drugs or the Iraq invasion. Ultimately, this book -- like the other oversized Dini/Ross books -- is about idealism, not realism. And that's fine.
