JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #22

[ WAR OF THE WALLET ] 

Whenever superheroes get together, they always seem to find something to fight about, don't they? Who's got the prettiest costume? Who's got the fittest side-kick? And who's spilled strawberry jam on somebody's cape? Yet, for the life of me, I can't help but wonder what the superheroes in this adventure are fighting over! You know. This one created by Jeff Lemire, and Mikel Janin, Published by: DC Comics, in June, 2013.

Using GENERAL terms, answer the following 4 questions about this THIRD PART of 'Trinity War'.

• WHAT'S THE MAIN THRUST OF THIS TALE: Once they hear what the Phantom Strangers has to say for himself, Batman and the Mega-League attempt to stop Wonder Woman and Justice League Dark from tracking down Pandora and her magical box.
• ARE THE MAIN OBJECTIVES ACHIEVED: No. Not at all. Certain team members swap sides as quickly as they swap spit, and Johnny boy even manages to slope off with Captain Marvel in toe.
• ANYTHING ELSE HAPPEN: Yeah. The Question informs Superman what vile-villain could have made him see red. Prompting him and the remaining members of the League to vamoose double-time from Waller's compound.  
• HOW DOES THIS STORY END: With a captured Madame Xanadu bleeding from the eyes.

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

When the Question said to Superman...

'Now the question is, what will you do next?'

... to me, this understated phrase kind of summed up the essence behind this issue. What will the hero's do next? And why are they led to do it in the first place? Also, what faction of the League is right, plus what faction of the League is wrong? Hmmm. Food for thought. Isn't it?

What are the BEST bits about this issue?

(+) Good on you Mikel Janin. You are a star. A mega-star. For being able to draw so many bold and lavish characters and make them all seem very consistent throughout this entire issue. How do you manage to do it, pal? I'd love to know your secret. Plus is there any chance of DC making your 'Team Batman' splash page into a poster any time soon? Hint-Hint! Grovel-Grovel!

(+) Even though the scene in itself felt slightly wedged into these proceedings, I've got to mention that the Constantine / Shazam partnership did intrigue me, and I can't wait to see how this strange union unravels in the future.

(+) I'm a right sucker for a tale chock full of colourful characters asking very intriguing and pertinent questions. Who's right? Who's wrong? What will happen after this 'event' transpires? How can Doctor Light help the League if he's dead? Plus who's the mole that the bad-guys have planted in the League? Hmmm. You gotta love those questions.

What are the WORST bits about this issue?

(-) OK. I know that this may sounds very biased coming from a Bat-Fan like myself, but admittedly, I wasn't very happy with how 'Team Batman' was portrayed within this story, especially that part where some of his member's decided to join forces with Wonder Woman's team. I mean, why, huh? None of their motivations were conveyed on the page. And the whole scenario felt a bit too contrived in tone. Too 'play it by numbers' just to balance out the plot and the respective rosters.

(+) Now the two more subservient parts of this storyline -- the Superman part, and the Xanadu part -- managed to integrate themselves within the other part of this story to such an extent, I would have preferred if they took precedence at times, as they did captivate me on a much more emotional and visceral level.

(+) Why is Wonder Woman acting like a b*tch all of a sudden? Plus why won't she listen to reason? Granted, I know that she feels for Superman's plight. That's a given. Yet that alone can't justify why she won't take a blind bit of notice to whatever anyone else around her says or does. She's an Amazon Goddamn it! Not a harpy.

Choose TWO CHARACTERS out of this comic book, and then compare them to SOMETHING YOU CAN BUY ON EBAY .

A TIARA AS WONDER WOMAN: Whenever I think of Diana, I always direct my attention towards her tiara first and foremost. OK. Maybe not on every single occasion. Here and there I may take a slight detour at her breast and waist area first. Still. I get there in the end.

A MENS TRENCH COAT AS THE PHANTOM STRANGER: Like Diana before him, whenever I think of The Stranger, I always direct my attention towards his trench coat first and foremost. OK. Maybe not on every single occasion. Here and there I may take a slight detour at his hat region first.  Still... ahhh... you know what I'm going to say.

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

'Some people see the glass half full. Others see it half empty. I see a glass that's twice as big as it needs to be' -- George Carlin

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

'LIVING IN A BOX' BY LIVING IN A BOX: I personally thought it was a good idea to compare this song to this story because they're both about boxes and perceptions. Simple as that really.

ANYTHING Else?

Now if like me, you accidentally clicked on the 'Trinity War' trailer on the DC Comics website, and saw who the true masterminds behind this cross-over event really were, what I would like to know next, is how do these f*ckers step into what's been presented to us to date?

Do they just pop up from underneath Pandora's cape and say 'Hi! It's us!'? Or do they reveal themselves through Doctor Psycho or the Outsider's machinations?

Me, I like to think that all of these scenarios are interconnected somehow. And that they only get kicked into touch because Captain Marvel and Constantine decide to throw a spanner in the works.

Granted, I'm also sure we haven't seen the best of 'Team Batman' yet either. One of the main reasons why I tolerated the disrespect bestowed onto them is because I suspect that this is nothing more than a 'plot detail' that'll propel them onto the plate in a issue or two's time.

Anyway, that's enough from me for this month, folks. All I have left to say is that this issue of 'Justice League Dark' was a pretty decent read. The art was amazing. The story was intriguing. And the only thing letting it down was its overall b*tchy tone. 

Nuff said.