JUSTICE LEAGUE #20

[ DESPERO FOR A BARGAIN ] 

Will the Trinity War be a boar? Or will it be something that's very-very sore? Superman has his doubts. Wonder Woman screams and shouts. Whilst the rest of the League yearn for Alan Moore. Well, it's either him, or the not-so-bad creative team of Geoff Johns, Gary Frank, Zander Cannon, Gene Ha, Andres Guinaldo, Joe Prado; plus Publisher: DC Comics, in April, 2013.

Using GENERAL terms, answer the following 5 questions about this STORY entitled 'Secrets'.

• WHAT'S THE MAIN THRUST OF THIS TALE: Firestorm the nuclear man, The Atom, and Element Woman, all thought that they were going to meet the Justice League today. But no. They don't. They have to fight off Despero first, and then stop the Watchtower from going splat!
• ARE THE MAIN OBJECTIVES ACHIEVED: Yeah. I suppose they were. All with a little outside help from... from... errrr... that green chap. What was his name again? Melvin?
• ANYTHING ELSE HAPPEN: Once this adventure comes to a close, the League figures out that the aforementioned attack was instigated by an unknown hand.  
• HOW DOES THIS STORY END: With a lot of secrets being unveiled. Hahahahahah!
• WHAT'S THE BACK-UP FEATURE ABOUT: Before Black Adam squashes his head like a grape; he explains to Billy Batson how the Wizard bestowed him with the power of Shazam all those many years ago.

All in all, what is the most memorable SENTENCE OR CONVERSATION spoken in this issue?

I have to admit, I mirrored Firestorms feelings towards Element Woman when she said to him...

'You could breath me if you need to'

... during their battle against Despero. Well, if you think about it, folks, this phrase does sound rather perverse if you say it out loud.

What are the BEST bits about this issue?

(+) Has Geoff Johns taken something recently to step up his game? You know. A little pick-me-up perhaps? Because in this issue and the last one, he's really-really propelled this title into the stratosphere and beyond. Making this book a must read book bar none.

(+) Personally speaking, I did like the way that the majority of this tale was centred on the three new recruits. Either directly, or indirectly, this slant gave this story a much more personable edge, thus bestowing this series with something it desperately needed. More personality. 

(+) The Shazam back-up feature this month was a right hoot for me to read. Conceptually it was an origin story. But in execution it was a very dynamic and bold adventure that makes me want more-more-more. Good job. 

(+) There were a number of 'surprises' scattered throughout this issue that really did float my boat. The Atom revelation was a right turn up for the books. Plus I can say exactly the same thing about old green genes and when Batman gave Superman... errr... no. Let's leave that for my conclusion, shall we? Ha!

What are the WORST bits about this issue?

(-) Now if you're a regular follower of this blog, you must know by now that one of my pet peeves is a multi-artist issue. Not if there is some sort of justification for this to transpire of course [like in an anniversary issue for example]. But when it's done just for the sake of doing it... well... why? Huh? Please. Don't get me wrong. I liked the majority of artwork drawn by Zander Cannon, Gene Ha, Andres Guinaldo, and Joe Prado. It's just that I couldn't see any justifiable reason for this to happen, unless something went wrong editorially at DC. Hmmm? Tut-tut-tut.

Choose TWO CHARACTERS out of this comic book, and then compare them to two MUSICIANS.

ALY OR AJ AS ELEMENT WOMAN: To perfectly honest with you, it doesn't really matter all that much which of these two pretty-ladies would play this elemental-woman. No. It's not because they both look the same. It's because at one point or another, they've both used the expression 'You could breath me if you want'. Ah-ha! Say no more.  

ELVIS AS SUPERMAN: Simply put, The King of Rock and Roll is a super man in the eyes of the whole wide world. Thank-you-very-much!

What QUOTE would be appropriate to sum-up this story?

'Study history, study history. In history lies all the secrets of statecraft' -- Winston Churchill

What SONG, THEME-TUNE, or MELODY, would complement this tale, as well as add and extra dimension to it by default?

'SPACE ODDITY' BY CHRIS HADFIELD: Hey! Did you see the news a couple of weeks ago about that spaceman, Chris Hadfield, singing this David Bowie classic? No? Oh! If I was you then, I'd check out the following video. Having in mind that this story and this song are both dynamic and out of this blooming world.

ANYTHING Else?

Without giving too much away, at the end of this issue, Batman gives Superman a box, containing something in it, which could kill him if ever the need arouse. But what could it be, huh? Perhaps something like...

• The gun that killed his parents.
• A very strong cheese.
• Simon Cowell's ego.
• A monkey playing the bagpipes.
• The bagpipes.
• A dildo.
• Nine hundred herring's with a 'death ray' implanted on their foreheads.
• A sex-tape of him and Paris Hilton.
• Christopher Nolan's up and coming plans for 'Batman on Ice'.
• A kalashnikoff shaped like a cuddly teddy-bear.

Alright. That's enough of that for the time being I think. All I have left to say is that this issue of the 'Justice League' was f*cking brilliant overall. The artwork was mixed. The story was both evolving and intriguing. And generally speaking, this tale was one cracking tale to read; full of surprises and bold revelations that'll make me want to come back next month for sure. 

GIVE IT, IT'S DUES: If This Comic Book Was a Pizza, It Would Be Topped Off With Some Herbs, Some Spice, And an Awful Lot of Gorgonzola Cheese. Sniff-Sniff! Ohhhhhh!