Finally, this series has its first strong, solid issue. Adam Beechen's script in last month's issue was entertaining and inventive, but the issue was hindered by some subpar backup stories, stock material used to pad out the issue and justify a higher cover price for one month. Here, Beechen flies solo again, and he demonstrates last month's story wasn't a fluke. He delivers an accessible story here, but more importantly, he offers up a fun one as well. For all intents and purposes, Beechen is telling Silver Age Justice League stories here, and it makes for well-done, all-ages comics storytelling.
A Justice League team -- composed of Superman, Batman, the Martiam Manhunter and the Elongated Man -- has travelled to the planet Rann to help Adam Strange, the planet's Earth-born champion, to thwart the evil plans of Kanjar Ro. Ultimately, the showdown came down to Strange and Ro once again, and Rann's citizens end up celebrating the courage and skill of their adopted hero. A young Rannian isn't so enthused about an outsider being the focus of so much glory and adoration, and he hatches a plan to become the planet's home-grown hero.
I'm enjoying Barberi's work on this title more and more with every issue. He captures the Bruce Timm style of the cartoon upon which this title is based quite well, but he doesn't ape it completely. Sometimes, his work here reminds me of Tim (Batman: Gotham Adventures) Levins bright style. What sets Barberi's work apart here is his combination of thin and thick lines to bring these iconic characters to life. His Elongated Man boasts all of the personality he should, and the action throughout this issue is dynamic and exciting.
The manner in which the villain is defeated in the story's climax is corny as hell and seems to come all to easily, given the troubles the bad guy gives the better known, more powerful heroes. Still, I love how well balanced the script is. Every hero gets a moment to shine, but the focus remains squarely on Adam Strange and his new "competition." Another strength of this series and the cartoon is the incorporation of one or two new characters in every story. When I was a kid, I would have loved meeting a new hero in every issue, in every episode, and I'm sure younger readers today will enjoy the same experience through this title.
What makes this story work is the plausible premise. A young man rejects the notion that his people must rely on an outsider for peace, for justice. The plot unfolds in a corny way, but the message is a solid one. The idea Beechen explores here is one of the reasons there is resistance in Iraq to U.S. efforts to bring democracy to the country. The people feel the Americans have usurped control of their destiny, and that's why they're treated as enemies as opposed to being perceived as the heroes the Bush administration wants them to be. 7/10
