JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #21

[ A COUPON KISS ] 

Throughout history, many different people have died in many different ways. I once knew of a stripper who died of suffocation whilst being trapped inside a giant birthday cake. Plus I also knew of a scientist who blew his top when he read this adventure created by Jeff Lemire, and Mikel Janin; Published by DC Comics, in May, 2013. Not sure why though.

Using GENERAL terms, answer the following 4 questions about this FINAL PART of a STORY entitled 'Horror City'.

• WHAT'S THE MAIN THRUST OF THIS TALE: Whilst the Flash does a spot of jogging, the Justice League Dark attempt to stop Madame Xanadu's son, Doctor Destiny, from blowing up the world with the House of Mystery.
• ARE THE MAIN OBJECTIVES ACHIEVED: We're still alive, aren't we? So what do you think?
• ANYTHING ELSE HAPPEN: Yes. The House of Mystery gets a face lift care of Frankenstein and Swamp Thing. 
• HOW DOES THIS STORY END: With Xanadu deciding match.com isn't for her.

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

When the Flash said to himself...

'How the hell did I get myself in this mess? One minute I'm the Flash. A member of the Justice League, fighting shoulder to shoulder with big guns... Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman. The next I'm in the sewers with Frankenstein. Yes, Frankenstein'.

... a small part of me wanted to reply back to him with 'Well Flash, this is most probably because DC want you to establish a relationship with JLD before the "Trinity War" crossover event'.

There? How's that sound? Ha!

What are the BEST bits about this issue?

(+) Please keep Frankenstein and Swamp Thing on this book for a long as possible, DC. If you do, I promise that I will spell Dan Dididididododos name correctly in the future, and take down my effigy of Jim Lee in my kitchen. Not! Seriously though. These two characters were a right blast to read in this adventure. In many ways they gave the overall premise a bit more spice than normal.

(+) To paraphrase 'The Godfather' if I may -- I believe in Mikel Janin. I believe in him because he is one of the greatest artists to come out of the DC Universe since this New52 malarkey began. His art is bold, expressive, cinematic, and has a depth of field that makes it shoot out of the page like the Flash with a bowel movement.

(+) Even though the Flash's appearance in this story was quite cosmetic on the surface, I did like how he 'dug' the Justice League Dark, going so far as to earnestly define them within pantheon of 'Justice League' titles. Oh! Bless him. Someone give him a biscuit.

(+) OK, so let me get something straight. It's quite possible that Deadman and Xanadu may be an item in the future, yet she doesn't want this to happen because of a prior failed relationship. Hmmm. Yeah. That sounds reasonable. Been there. Done that. But wait up! What about that past relationship? Could it be... no... not now. Conclusion time methinks.

What are the WORST bits about this issue?

(-) My only slight gripe with this story is that I would have liked it's ending to be a lot more punchier in execution. Aesthetically, it just read like 'You've been a naughty little boy, Destiny. Now for trying to blow up the world I'm going to chop your block off, and not date any more'. Heartfelt, I know. Yet not as 'in your face' as I'd liked it to have been.

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

A QUEEN BEE AS MADAM XANADU: It's a little know fact that the Queen Bee lives for many-many years, and if need be, kills her own children with a big ass sword. Hmmm. Sound familiar to you? Hehehehe!

A LOOFAH AS SWAMP THING: Alright. I know what you're thinking to yourself folks. 'A loofah isn't an actual animal-animal'. But did you know that this entity is a living breathing hybrid of sorts! Capable of growing and thinking for itself at a very base level!

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

'Now that the House of Commons is trying to become useful, it does a great deal of harm' -- Oscar Wilde

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

'TO KILL THE CHILD' BY ROGER WATERS:  Tonally this song and this story have absolutely nothing in common. One is bold and expansive. Whilst the other is gritty and harrowing. However, the one thing they do share is a message about death and kinship that's hard to ignore. Here. Check this out...

ANYTHING Else?

OK. So who is Destiny's Pappy? What dirty sod stuck his wick in Xanadu long enough for her to pop a sprog? No. Surely not... 

• Jason Blood -- If you read 'Demon Knights', you'll know where I'm coming from with this remark.
• Bill Clinton -- Possible. Even though he did not have any relations with this woman. Allegedly.  
• Bruce Wayne -- He was young, she was lonely, and they both wanted to play the 'Can you guess what's in my utility belt' game.
• The Phantom Stranger -- Wow! Now that's a porno I'd love to see!
• Brad Pitt -- She was his stop gap between Jen and Angie.
• Superman -- Hmmm. For some reason the phrase 'Faster than a speeding bullet' springs to mind.
• Skeletor -- Oh! He has his father's eyes and protruding cheekbones.
• Barry Manilow -- And that is why he sung 'Could this be magic?'.

Alright. That's enough of my sh*t for this months, folks. All I have left to say is that this issue of 'Justice League Dark' was a fairly 'nice' conclusion to a fairly 'play it by numbers' tale. The art was amazing. The story had merit. And the only thing letting it down was its overall sassiness.

Ouch! Nuff said.