Lemire's Justice League United Adds New Members, Flies off to Space

The upcoming Jeff Lemire written Justice League Canada gets a major facelift as announced today. The book will become Justice League United (which was reported months ago by Bleedingcool.com).

According to Newsarama, the book will be bouncing between the team's new headquarters in Canada to outer space and it's thanks to new member Adam Strange and his Zeta beam. The first story arc will also feature an established roster with former JLA-ers Star Girl, Martian Manhunter, Green Arrow with new members Animal Manm, Supergirl and Strange.

Thing about this is that the new version of Adam Strange isn't a space-McGyver but rather a science nerd that will share equal parts of heroism with his alien wife Alanna. Oh and the team will be visiting the planets Rann and Thanagar which might see the return of Hawkman into the fold.

Finally, the team will also introduce a new Canadian superheroine who joins the team shortly. We still don't know what she'll look like though.

The Justice League Timeline Prior to the New 52

Thanks to the decades worth of continuity for DC Comics, it became pretty hard to track down or at the very least understand the changes that have happened to the Justice League/ Justice League of America. Luckily for us, Comicvine had the time and the manpower to create an infographic featuring the entire Justice League timeline until the start of the New 52 in 2011. 

I apologize this being rather small but I'm sure you can zoom in the chart to the point where you actually understand what's written on it.

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! 

The JLA Moves Operations to Canada and Renames Team as JUSTICE LEAGUE OF CANADA

DC COMICS' premiere superteam the JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA will be recuperating from the events of TRINITY WAR and FOREVER EVIL in the Great White North aka Canada and will also be going through a name change and a new writer by 2014.

According to the news, most of the team from the current roster will be there with a couple of new local flavor. Oh and the book will no longer be written by Geoff Johns as current Justice League Dark writer Jeff Lemire will also do the scripts. 

I'm seriously OK with transplanting the team to Canada but I just couldn't help but laugh at the idea of the JLA rebranding and renaming themselves the JUSTICE LEAGUE OF CANADA. That's just plain stupid. And I do not mean to offend or insult Canadians or Lemire; rather I intend to insult DC for even thinking about going through with this or even  having an inception of this notion.

But it does get interesting in the sense that why is this team moving from the US to Canada after the events of FOREVER EVIL??? Does something sinister befall on one of their members? Also got any news with the real JUSTICE LEAGUE? 

Yes, things are definitely going loco for DC Comics. 

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA # 6 Review

Review for last week's JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA # 6 by Geoff Johns and Doug Mahnke.

Picking up where we left them off in Justice League # 22, we find the two leagues knee deep in fighting after what Superman did to poor Dr. Light. The fight continues till Superman determines that he's had enough, thereby surrendering to the JLA while his teammates are shocked and confused. Things escalate while Wonder Woman is away in search of John Constantine and the rest of the Justice League Dark. Plus The Question finally makes contact with one of the League's trinity. 

I've always applauded the premise behind JLA about a ragtag group coming together for Uncle Sam while aspiring towards the greatness that the Justice League has already achieved. Since it connected with Justice League for the ongoing TRINITY WAR, it gets twice the applause that I usually give it credit. And why not, it's got all the things you'll look for in a good book. 

There's a lot of great character and story moments here. Plus it's dropping bombs left and right when it comes to what's going to happen next. Issue 6 also allows us to get inside the heads of some of the other characters and members of each league such as the female Atom and how she is slowly breaking down due to the pressure of being part of two Justice League teams (she's basically the Amanda Waller's mole inside the JL). 

You may or may not like it but there's also a small part where Wonder Woman takes the center stage. She's written as a warrior AND a woman not wanting to see her lover suffering; this of course leads her right into the Society's plan. There's also the BROMANCE between Superman and Batman here as we even see Bats hanging around Superman's cell and looking out for his friend. I'm sure the yaoi/ fanfic loving female populace would be screaming with fangirl glee... maybe.

The payoff to this issue is good as we get a peak into what's driving The Question. Of course we're never treated to an origin but we certain read why he's compelled to do what he does. All those panels with The Question was EPIC I tell you.

Verdict: 9/10

Justice League of America # 6 is still available at Castle Geek and Comicx Hub (order your copy HERE). 

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. 

Justice League of America # 5 Spoiler Review

Justice League of America # 5 review by Geoff Johns and Brett Booth. This review was done in partnership with Comicx Hub and Castle Geek. 

In this issue, Catwoman's not so dead after all, Martian Manhunter confronts the mysterious big boss of the "Secret Society". Steve Trevor and the rest of the JLA including Green Arrow and Star Girl team up to take down the Shaggy Man. Green Lantern Simon Baz also joins the team. We also find out that A.R.G.U.S. agent Chronos is the power source for the Society's teleporting mansion.

On the Geoff Johns: It took five issues for the slam bang action to really kick into full gear. I should be mildly annoyed by such a long time but I'm going to let it slip thanks to the satisfying fights all packed in this issue. The tease is also killing us. Johns had the good idea of answering some questions but leaving readers with more. Like who is that pale man calling the shots? Who is the man still in the shadows? Where did the the Society teleport to? Still great exposition.

On the JLA fights: I just loved all the fights here in this issue. the first round between Hawkman and the Shaggy Man was very painful to watch though. But the moment back-up arrived, things just went swell.

On the apparent death of Catwoman: It sucked and it's also a very predictable plot point (which was also very neatly discussed briefly in the Matt Kindt written backup story featuring Martian Manhunter). It also sucked that none of the conspiracy theories that were released and revealed were true. Too bad.

And yes, it was the Martian Manhunter...

On the art: I do not mean this as an offense but I would really wait each month for the release of Justice League of America with Brett Booth on art duties as opposed to seeing David Finch's work. Finch's work is fine and all but it really doesn't suit the story and the energy of a title such as this. In short, I'm officially a fan of Booth's work here in JLA. Want to see more.

Finally, I know we've already seen Doctor Light in the teasers for Trinity War but this is the first time he's really going to show how he plays ball with A.R.G.U.S...

Verdict: 8/10

Grab your copies of Justice League of America # 5 from all Castle Geek branches nationwide (The Collective, Glorietta and soon in Greenhills). Or if you want to order online thru Comicx Hub just click HERE. 

Justice League of America # 4 Spoilers - Is She Really Dead?

Spoiler discussion for Justice League of America # 4 by Geoff Johns and Brett Booth for DC Comics.

Solicit:The League uncovers the leader of The Secret Society of Super-Villains—but can such a diverse group of heroes defeat the collective might of the Society? And in the backup story, Manhunter goes behind the scenes to learn more about the Secret Society!

Okay, before we proceed, this one's going to be filled with lots and lots of spoiler talk. Now that it's clear, proceed past the cut.

Doug Mahnke Officially Onboard Justice League of America

News for fans of JLA or Justice League of America; Doug Mahnke formerly of Green Lantern is now sitting in as a regular artist for Geoff Johns' Justice League of America. 

More details from CBR. Oh and I just finished Green Lantern # 20 and I must say, that's one of Mahnke's most exceptional work within the past two years. Mind blowing stuff.

Justice League # 20 Spoilers

The Atom-centric storyline closes the Despero arc but leaves us more questions instead of answers and it's all thanks to Geoff Johns and Gene Ha.

Read the rest of the 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 of America # 1 Spoilers

Spoilers up for Justice League of America # 1 by Geoff Johns and David Finch from DC Comics.

As usual, spoiler alert:

Justice League of America Gearing Up

Here's a teaser for the upcoming New 52 book Justice League of America book which will be written by Geoff Johns with art by David Finch.

I wonder why they didn't include Steve Trevor in this teaser. Hmmmm. So If you still don't know who the members of Justice League of America are here's the rundown: Catwoman, Katana, Vibe, Green Arrow, Green Lantern, Star Girl and Hawkman.

Some Thoughts on the New Justice League of America

I was checking out the only existing image of the upcoming DCnU book "Justice League of America" set for 2013 and I thought of several things about this interesting set of characters led by Team 7 member Steve Trevor.