JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #6

[ MAGICAL DISCOUNT ] 

There are times that you need to pay the ultimate price. Which I know isn't very-very nice. John agrees with me too - just like Madame Xanadu - plus the musician known as sporty-sporty-spice.  Want to know more? Then you best ask Writer: Peter Milligan; Artist: Mikel Janin; and Publisher: DC Comics in March 2012.

So what’s the STORY morning glory?

In the post mortem of 'In the Dark', we see everybody's favorite team of mangy mages having a right nightmare.

For example, John Constantine is plagued by visions of his own nefarious machinations. Zatanna is terrified that her own backward spells don't seem to work for her anymore. The Shade sh*ts himself when his M-Vest malfunctions, causing his made-up love to fight back. And Deadman is p*ssed off that he inadvertently caused the death of Dove. 

So what do they all do about their dreams as soon as they wake up? Correct - they go to Madam Xanadu place, so she can sort his mess out for them.

However, this does not really play out in the way that they had hoped. Well, after fighting a combined dream apparition who was brought back to life, Xanadu says that these dreams will become real, unless they band together and form a team.

Err - it could be worse I suppose - they could be involved in a cross-over event with 'I, Vampire' next issue.

Ooops!

What is the most memorable SENTENCE OR CONVERSATION spoken in this issue?

There was a lot to like dialogue-wise within this story. Though, for me, I liked Johns and Deadman's conversation at the door of Madam Xanadu's place.

JOHN: I make is a rule not to talk to ghosts when I am sober.

DEADMAN: And I make it my business to mess up guys who kill innocent women.

Ha! You can only get sentences like that on a book like this.

What was the BEST thing about this issue?

My personal favourite thing about this story was John Constantine's surly attitude all the way though it. It just seemed so apparent that he does not want to have anything to do with this team at all, that he just takes 'the p*ss' out of them at the drop of a hat. The dogs b*llocks!

What was the WORST thing about this issue?

I suppose the only thing lagging within this story, is the way in which 'the nightmare sequence' overpowered the main thrust of 'the solution'. It was just a tad exposition top heavy for my own liking, because I would have preferred the resolution to hold more weight than the setup.

What was the most CREATIVE thing about this issue?

STORY: This book has attitude and style - there is no doubt about it. All in all the vibe that this title brings is both unique and encompassing, and it really does out shine a lot of the more 'colorful' books out there. Moreover, I love the team's brash dynamics, and I hope this stays on this title for a long time to come.

Hint, hint!

ART: Out of all the things I enjoy about Mikel Janins artwork, what I like the most are those nice little touches he adds here and there. For example, the cobweb-like panelling - his bold human compositions - and his cinematic layouts which make certain scenes feel as if they have just come out of a movie or something.

'Army of Darkness' perhaps?

If you had to CAST TWO CHARACTERS in this comic book, who would they be and why?

SHADE: Maybe it is because of his shaggy hair, or maybe it is because he always looks a bit thick, but I always felt that Owen Wilson looks a lot like this extraterrestrial nut job. Or is it just me?

MADAM XANADU: If you look at this magical maiden real closely, don't you find that she shares a similar resemblance to Lisa Edelstein from the doctorial drama 'House'.  I do.

If this issue had a MOVIE TAG LINE, what would it be?

If You Are An All Powerful Magician - Please Do Not Eat Cheese Before You Go To Sleep - Or Else You Might Kill Someone By Accident. Call XANADU 8000 For Support Now.

If this issue were a MOVIE, an OBJECT, or a piece of MUSIC, what would that be and why? 

This issue has a very anarchistic and heavy flavor to it, which shares a parallel to rock bands, Rhapsody of Fire, gala anthem 'Sea Of Fate'.

One hundred percent.

FINAL thoughts...

Like Suicide Squad, Teen Titans, and Batman, this book really does deliver each and every month. There is character, there is story, there is personality, and there is action. I just hope that this trend continues when new writer, Jeff Lemire, takes over from Peter Milligan. So far I have heard very good things about Jeff's work on Animal Man, but this team book has a different dynamic, right? One that relates to the alternate and feisty kind.

MARKS out of 10? 8.5