Justice League of America #5

Writer: Steve Orlando

Artist: Andy MacDonald

Colourist: John Rauch

Publisher: DC Comics

Few books in Rebirth have had such troubled starts as this book. It first started at a time when Steve Orlando's writing seemed to have improved. Five issues in, Orlando seems to be faltering and not exactly knowing what to do with these characters and their team.

The most admirable aspect of the book is its approach to social justice in its purest form. It isn't about the typical, cliched evil white man and more about the corrupt individual who will take advantage of a town's unemployment rate in order to bolster his underground firearm empire. It's more personal in that regard compared to, say, Benjamin Percy's current Green Arrow story. The characters will honestly interact with the people they are saving, which is nice, but this comes at the expense of the story. Shouldn't they be trying to fight and stop the villain, Aegeus? What are they doing hanging out with citizens? It makes no sense. Superman does the same, but there's a balance. Ensure the safety of everyone before taking a breather. A team doing this is even worse, since there are places to be with so many heroes to spare.

Much like Lord Havok of the first arc, Aegeus is a villain with predictable aspirations. Aegeus seems to be even worse though, as his character isn't explained in the slightest, and his gladiator-themed costume makes everything all the more confusing.

The name of the arc, Heart of a Bastich, clearly indicates that Lobo will play a big part in the story. Lobo and Batman even have a conversation before the action starts, with Lobo theorising that Batman is hiding something. Whatever it is, it needs to be addressed quickly because Lobo's involvement in the team is hard to swallow.

Andy MacDonald is on art. Why Ivan Reis was even put on this book boggles the mind, as he's done two or three issues so far. Having this a monthly book with a better writer would be the best move.

While obviously made with good intentions when it comes to social justice, this issue sacrificed important storytelling for the sake of hammering home the point of the JLA being a more human and personal group. They seem to completely ignore the villain in order to conversate. The art was good but Reis' involvement seems to be for the sake of name recognition alone.