Here's the New 52 Metal Men for the Silver Age Geeks!

The solicits for the Justice League books for February 2014 have been released and it featured something retro...

So yeah, it looks like Will Magnus has finally completed the Metal Men...

Here's the solicit:

JUSTICE LEAGUE #28
Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art and cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO
1:25 Steampunk variant cover by DAN PANOSIAN
On sale FEBRUARY 19 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $4.99 US

“FOREVER EVIL” continues! With the Justice League gone, new heroes continue to rise up throughout the DC Universe! The Crime Syndicate tried to kill him, but now Cyborg is back to settle the score — and with him are The Metal Men!

This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.

*** I like the fact that after being a failure of EPIC proportions in Justice League # 18 Platinum returns to lead the Metal Men and with Cyborg to boot. 

Oh yeah and there's still the matter of Forever Evil.

JUSTICE LEAGUE # 23 Spoilers

SPOILERS UP for JUSTICE LEAGUE # 23 by Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis and Joe Prado

I was wrong. So wrong in subscribing to the theory that SUPERMAN was replaced. Anyway I loved the latest issue of JUSTICE LEAGUE as it's the final leg of TRINITY WAR and the major reveal of who's really responsible for all this commotion.


10. Heroic Pandemonium

With the exception of Batman and Constantine, looks like the corrupting influence of Pandora's Box has seeped into the heads of the members of the three Justice League teams and it's giving us page after page of awesome fights. One of the best was when a really weakened Superman threatens to kill Batman after thinking that Wonder Woman will go for the Dark Knight if ever he dies. I'm also citing this as the number 1 silliest thing from the entire TRINITY WAR crossover.

9. ATOM revealed as TRAITOR

Wait, hold up, we already know that the female ATOM is the traitor right? Well the answer is partly yes and partly no. Yes she's a traitor and a mole but not for either the Justice League or the Justice League of America. She's been working undercover for The Crime Syndicate.

Meet GRID

It's next to impossible to take down Cyborg except if you separate his tech half from his human half; something that Atom (really Earth 3's ATOMIKA) exploited the moment she reveals GRID, a virus that's been inside Vic Stone for years now.

The Butler Did It

Yes, apparently the reason why the ring was easily stolen inside the Batcave was because it was the evil version of Alfred Pennyworth that did it together with Atomika.

Owlman (Thomas Wayne) and evil Alfred Pennyworth

Putting a Sliver of Kryptonite

That's easily one of the easiest thing you could do to take down Superman. And because of Atom's kryptonite to the brain trick, the Heat Vision surged which also cost them the life of Dr. Light.

A Dead Aquaman

Bad ass as he may be, he's actually dead already.

Imagine my surprise when we first see the Earth 3 version of Aquaman emerge from the portal that came from Pandora's Box

The Mystery Man

Who could this mystery man?? Why is he so important that the Syndicate needs to bring him/her along. Clues, probably are in FOREVER EVIL.

THE CRIME SYNDICATE!

Our first look at the CRIME SYNDICATE of EARTH 3. Nuff said.

Damn! Now we move on to FOREVER EVIL! 

Justice League # 22 Review

Reviewing Justice League # 22 written by Geoff Johns with art by Ivan Reis with special thanks to Castle Geek and Comicx Hub!

This issue officially begins the new crossover "Trinity War" which pits the three existing Justice League teams against each other (namely the Justice League, Steve Trevor's Justice League of America and John Constantine's Justice League Dark).

I want to say that I loved this first issue but I'm caught between uh-uh to yeah. There's a ton of nice things about this issue but there are some major let downs as well. I loved the art for this book, Ivan Reis is just kicking ass in this book. He definitely shows us why he's the main man for a book/crossover this big. Rod Reis is also showing us that he's a great wingman for his brother's pencils. Loved how everything about JL # 22 ran on thing lines; really fine tuned for this big war.

Johns' writing here is so-so. Nothing really outstanding although I do admit that like Madame Xanadu, I did not see that particular attack coming which gives merits to the DC big boss. Still it rather feels contrived the way things are coming together. This issue also stands as another example of Batman being weird and badly written. Imagine Superman just gets zapped by some magical doohickey and he brings him to a League mission in Kahndaq not knowing what might happen to the Man of Steel when pressed hard; which by the way really happens.

Speaking of Superman. I'm sick and tired of DC turning Superman into a shadow of his former self. The guy was a rock and an absolute. He was a cornerstone, so turning him into a killer (whether premeditated or not) is just awful. In the years to come, when Superman smiles and talks kids into dropping the gun, said kid would probably laugh and shoot hostages. Yes, because Superman is a killer and they do not have to listen to stone cold killers like the Man of Steel. Obviously somebody at DC did not think things through on this end. 

SPOILERS HERE 

Mr. Johns also loves to tease us with things that might be more confusing rather than helpful. Things like the future fate of the mysterious Pandora just left me scratching my head. And while on the subject of Pandora, I feel like the character isn't exactly reader friendly. She's been running around the DCU even after Flashpoint but she's never pulled her weight. I suddenly get this feeling that she'll be fodder again much like the maligned casualty of this war. 

In terms of action, I am completely satisfied with this issue. If I were all for mindless hero versus hero fights this would have been a winner. The number of splash pages featuring fights between the two leagues were numerous and again thanks to the art by Reis, it makes for some great eye candy. 

At the moment, it's too early to predict whether "Trinity War" will be a dud or if it will soar. I'm going to consider all the pitfalls and negativity from this issue as 'birthing pains' and hopefully when Justice League of America # 6 swings into the local comic shops, everything becomes more clear. 

Verdict: 8/10

Justice League # 22 is still available at all Castle Geek branches (The Collective and Glorietta). You can still order JUSTICE LEAGUE # 22 online thru Comicx Hub by clicking HERE

Justice League # 22 - Who Dies? What Starts Trinity War

Spoilers before my official review for Justice League # 22 (which is part one of Trinity War).

Superman and Wonder Woman square off against Shazam... in Kahndaq no less...

The Justice League makes an appearance and tries to get Shazam (Billy Batson) to leave with them...

Then the Justice League of America makes an appearance as well.

It's during this encounter between the two teams that Dr. Light's powers decides to go haywire (which was allegedly caused by being near Superman, who is a living, breathing solar battery).

Check back in a bit for my official review of Justice League # 22 from DC Comics. 

Advance Spoilers for Justice League # 19

Spoilers up from Justice League # 19 by Geoff Johns, Ivan Reis and Joe Prado.

Spoilers after the cut...

Three Justice League Teams Tangle in Trinity War

Here's some astounding new details regarding DC Comics' next title spanning event 'Trinity War'.

- It's going to be a crossover on three different books (Justice League, JLA and Justice League Dark)
- The main story and plot will be done by Geoff Johns for all three books.
- Pandora is going to fully figure into this 'war' as she tries to right a wrong.
- Still no word on whether The Question will make his appearance here, Phantom Stranger on the other hand is a YES!
- The end of Trinity War will again have huge ramifications for the entire universe (like we've never seen that happen before). 

All in all, I'd say, dammit DC, shut up and take my money already! 
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Justice League # 16 Spoilers- Cyborg's Shining Moment of Awesome

In this week's issue of Justice League from DC Comics, Cyborg takes the centerstage as he does something cool. This is the third part of the ongoing "Throne of Atlantis" by Goeff Johns and Ivan Reis.

And there's this horrible looking variant cover as well...

Check out the spoilers after the cut...

10 Thoughts on Justice League # 15

DC Comics has released parts 1 and 2 of the crossover arc "Throne of Atlantis" which pits The Justice League against Atlantis with Aquaman caught in the middle. Here's a look at the first part which is Justice League # 15 written by Geoff Johns with art by Ivan Reis. 

Also Jim Lee departs from the book that he started but he did leave a nice variant cover...

Check out my thoughts on this book after the cut. 

Ivan Reis and Joe Prado to Take on Justice League

With Jim Lee leaving "Justice League" for another new secret project for DC Comics, Ivan Reis and Joe Prado are stepping up to the plate and delivering art starting with Justice League # 15.

Aquaman # 12 Spoilers - Death and Despair for the Other League

Spoilers for Aquaman # 12 from DC Comics by Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis.

Aquaman Actually Killed Black Manta's Dad in Aquaman # 10

Aquaman # 10 really did prove that Aquaman murdered Black Manta's father which was the second part of their lifelong feud.

Aquaman # 9 Spoilers - Why Black Manta Hates Aquaman

Spoilers for Aquaman # 9 by Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis.

In this issue we get to see more of Prisoner of War as he battles Black Manta for the golden manacles he keeps, plus see Aquaman and Ya'Whara battling Black Manta's minions in the jungle.

This chapter of "The Other League" is pretty interesting and I cannot wait for the collected edition to be released as I would definitely order that. PLUS its got the feel that Green Lantern had when it was started by Johns a few years ago.

While the other members of the team are being summoned, Mera does her own investigation into Aquaman's past and it is there that we find out that the first encounter between Black Manta and Aquaman was caused by Dr. Shin and that it resulted in more death than what the two were expecting.

Who are the Members of Aquaman's Other League

Aquaman writer Geoff Johns whet fans appetite with the release for the cover of Aquaman # 7 which will be part of a new story arc entitled "The Other League". This will basically detail a earlier team of metahumans that was led by Aquaman.

The book has continued to provide a great amount of creative energy and it definitely provides a good amount of intrigue. 

Ivan Reis and Joe Prado do the Variant Cover for Earth 2 # 1

Here's a quick look at Ivan Reis and Joe Prado's variant cover for Earth 2 # 1 which will be written by James Robinson and art by Nicola Scott.

The cover is a re-envisioning of sorts for what has transpired in the current story arc for Justice League minus of course the other characters and retaining only the DC big three which are Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman. 

So this is going to look like a great looking book together with Batman Inc. which will be again written by Grant Morrison and his old posse.