REVIEW: JUSTICE LEAGUE #16

(w) Geoff Johns
(p) Ivan Reis
(i) Joe Prado

Last fall, a number of DC creators, editors, and executives started talking about how 2013 was going to be a year full of changes for the 'New 52'. Geoff Johns' epic "Throne of Atlantis" could have been a simple crossover between Justice League and Aquaman -- a natural move since Johns writes both series -- but it's slowly transforming into a turning point for the entire DCnU.

Justice League #16 sets up the final pieces for the inevitable war between Atlantis and the surface world. The issue is thick with anticipation -- the difference between war and peace lies with Aquaman's ability to temper the Justice League's justifiable anger over the tidal wave that decimated the eastern seaboard against his brother Orm's anger over the perceived attack on Atlantis. At some points, Aquaman is literally standing between the League and Orm, stopping all hell from breaking loose. Aquaman's ethical quandary over how to proceed -- standing with the League and demanding justice from Orm, or adhering to Atlantean tradition by forsaking the entire surface world -- is a central theme for the entire sequence. The one unfortunate element of this situation is that all the character behave in cliche superhero fashion of punching first and asking questions later. Batman, in particular, acts particularly out of character for a hero who understands the intricacies of how fear compels people to do unspeakable things. But traditional superhero tropes aren't enough to detract too much from this stellar issue. 

But there's a lot more to Justice League #16 than just the beachhead confrontation between the League and Ocean Master. For one, Dr. Shin has been an important and central character in Aquaman since the first issue, so it comes as no surprise that he's a target of a team of Atlantean assassins who believe Shin is a key figure in turning the tide of the coming war. Being the foremost human expert on Atlantean physiology puts the Doctor in the unique position of finding a weakness to exploit. Johns also properly introduces Dr. T.O. Morrow into the 'New 52' with his suggestion that S.T.A.R. Labs employ his nameless "android" to take control of the weather from Orm, who has used his mystical staff to conjure up a series of deadly storms. It's just a passing remark, and the idea gets shot down by Cyborg's dad pretty quickly, but not before a certain Dr. Magnus and his Metal Men are also mentioned. Being the Chief Creative Officer for DC, Johns has a lot of freedom to include little nuggets of foreshadowing. Of course, the biggest "holy sh*t" moment comes with the final splash page that points to a bold new direction not only for Justice League, but also the DCnU at-large.

Justice League #16 is a fun issue full of intense action, plot-advancing story, and an ending that will get most any DC fan excited for the future of the series and the 'New 52'. Already, a tidal wave has destroyed the east coast of the United States. That's going to last for a while, and a war with Atlantis is going to change the landscape even more. Since last Free Comic Book Day, we've known that 2013 would bring "Trinity War", the first major 'New 52' crossover that would effect the entire line. "Throne of Atlantis" may or may not be a prelude to this massive event, but it's setting the standard for 2013 being about big ideas and big changes.

GRADE

9/10

(COMIC) AQUAMAN #7

Written by Geoff Johns
Artwork by Ivan Reis and Joe Prado

Aquaman has been getting some amazing treatment from Geoff Johns in the 'New 52'. With an amazing four-issue opening arc and subsequent focus on Arthur's wife, Mera, Aquaman has been heavily praised as one of the best titles currently featured by DC Comics.

This month's prelude to "The Others" introduces Black Manta into the 'New 52' with a murder - fitting for one of Aquaman's oldest and deadliest enemies. Manta kills a woman named Kahina the Seer and vows to kill her family before taking out Arthur and "everything he loves", which I'm sure includes Atlantis. Meanwhile, Aquaman and Mera round up some ships stuck out at sea during an oddly violent storm before paying Dr. Stephen Shin a visit concerning the Atlantean relic Arthur found last issue. In the middle of their discussion, a mysterious woman attacks them, claiming Shin fed Black Manta information about Kahina and "the others".

Geoff Johns is a master storyteller who can give readers just enough information to make them think without giving too much away. Where writers like Brian Michael Bendis have a knack for creating stories more suited for graphic novels, Johns' talent lies in month-to-month, episode-style writing. Shin's photograph on the last page shows Arthur working with a group of warriors (at least that's what it looks like) teases readers by revealing a new chapter in Arthur's life without telling us anything about it! Anticipation counts for a lot when it comes to monthly series', and Johns does it so, so well.

GRADE:

A

(REVIEW) Aquaman #6

Written by Geoff Johns
Artwork by Ivan Reis and Joe Prado

Most characters throughout DC history have some sort of world built around them. While each publisher's universe mostly exists as a coherent setting for a majority of their books, individual characters bring their own villains, their own back stories, supporting cast and their own, unique set of problems to solve. Aquaman's "character world" is one of the most interesting. Atlantis, as a comic book idea, exists as a world removed from our own - much like aliens, only living under our oceans.

Aquaman #5 is all about the disconnection between the sea and the surface. Instead of focusing on Arthur, Geoff Johns chose to highlight Mera, Arthur's wife. In the 'New 52', Mera has never ventured into human civilization, which gives Johns a whole world - literally - to play with. Unfortunately, he chose to talk about sexism. Now, I'm all for tackling social issues in comic books. DC has a long history of making social and civil issues a part of their stories. But in this case, Johns misses the mark and it comes off as paltry. It's a bit disconcerting, on her first visit to actual human society, that Johns would immediately put her in a situation to be objectified. It's pandering to an idea that Atlanteans must have a bad impression of surface-dwellers due to bad experiences. Honestly, I'd hoped Johns would have taken a more experimental route with his Human-Atlantean relations.

All in all, it was still a great issue. Mera's show of force is so much fun to read, and Ivan Reis' artwork is fantastic in conveying the action. The water looks like it's moving and has more density than normal, facial expressions are rich and textured, while the lanscapes are subtly shaded and colored. Unfortunately, exceptional art can't save the story from being a tad boring. I'll wait patiently to get back to Atlantis' origins...until next month.

GRADE:

B-

Review: Aquaman #5

Review




Aquaman #5
Written by Geoff Johns
Artwork by Ivan Reis and Joe Prado

Geoff Johns really loves Aquaman. For a character who's traditionally been one of the least popular and least nurtured in DC history, Johns has been consistently delivering dynamite material for Atlantis' lost son. One of the main problems with Arthur Curry is that no writer tried (much) to delve into his characterization beyond the surface anger. Instead of becoming a more well-rounded hero through the years like Batman, Green Lantern (not including the forever-thick Hal Jordan), and Superman, Aquaman has always had a case of arrested development. It's for all of these reasons that I've loved the 'New 52' Aquaman so very, very much.

Issue five begins the second story arc for Aquaman since the relaunch. After the events of "The Trench", which stands by itself as an amazing story, the first page shows three panels of Arthur falling through the sky only to land in a desert. It's a perfect use of panel space because the reader immediately knows something isn't right and wants to know what happened, all without any dialogue. Ivan Reis and Joe Prado have been bringing their A-game since issue one and this month is no exception.

Flashing back to 12 hours earlier, we find out that Arthur has been called in by Commander Clay, the de-facto military persona who gave Aquaman grief during the events of "The Trench", because the navy done gone and started poking at something shiny. Aquaman arrives and quickly identifies the piece as Atlantean, though it was ancient, even by their standards. Arthur realizes that it came from a time before Atlantis was sank. The artifact becomes the main point of conflict between the Navy and a mysterious new enemy as the issue continues.

This issue has solidified Aquaman as one of the premier titles of the 'New 52.' Letting the first four issues set up Aquaman's world before diving into the origins of Atlantis was a fantastic strategy and it's allowed for Arthur Curry to develop at a pace more fitting in this new era of comic books. Where once readers needed only a few pages and a narrative exposition to give them characterization, it now takes whole arcs to flesh out characters, as well it should. Johns understands the craftsmanship behind developing a character beyond their most prevalent elements. Of course Superman can fly, but how does he feel about the national debt crisis? Wonder Woman flies an invisible jet, so does she have a license? These anecdotes might seem trite, but they serve as examples for the kind of ideas Johns is using to create a deeper, richer character experience. And Aquaman is all the better for it.

Grade: A+