Justice League 3000 #1

Writing Keith Giffen + J.M. DeMatteis Artist Howard Porter

Justice League 3000 has hit a lot of controversy even before the series properly launched. There were a lot of people that were jazzed about the project just because of the creative team involved. J.M. DeMatteis and Keith Giffen bring interesting concepts and ideas to each of their stories. Hopefully the duo will have something interesting to show off with a brand new Justice League title that should build off some piece of what they started in their joint 80’s Justice League run. That series had some of the best ideas that got spun into some shocking humor situations with great results. Unfortunately, Kevin Maguire has recently left the comic before the first issue had even shipped, and delayed the property to the point where a new artist was introduced in the form of Howard Porter. This curve ball disappointed a lot of people, and also meant that the full Justice League team was not reuniting on the title.

Writing

Due to the League not being as noble as it once was, some of the writing fall flat here. The New 52 iterations of Batman and Superman just had a giant brawl in their joint series that made this comic feel less effective as a whole. Taken without some of the New 52 baggage as a whole it would definitely have read better. Fortunately, the characters all have some really distinctive personalities that are flying off of the page. This is great that everyone is established so firmly in the course of just one issue. A scene with each character being interviewed in a mockumentary esque setting is the best thing that comic has going for it. Unfortunately, it is hard not to get that vibe that he scene was written for Maguire, especially after re-reading the old Justice League issues. If this comic is read in a vacuum void of everything else it would be the ideal condition to experience the series. The addition of the Wonder Twins is a great twist that capps of the story being told here. Another sequence breaks down the differences between the new and old incarnations of the League to great effect. The last scene boils down to a classic Giffen and DeMatteis funny moment.

Art

Howard Porter delivers some really distinctive artwork here, that proves he is unlike anyone else in the industry. The art has some Eastern sensibilities with harsh lines, and interesting facial expressions. Environments of the different placements look interesting in every location the comic is set in. Many are having issues with the manner Porter draws Wonder Woman, but it is just a matter of how he interprets the character in question. The amazonian does look like a strong Warrior Princess, even if she is lacking the beauty that a character of her stature should possess. Analyzing this and some of the other issues of Porter’s art proves most of them to be void. The artist has a great storytelling sense and he makes most things look really unique, even if they may not be the ideal version of each character.

Conclusion

When diving into this book, leave all baggage checked at the door. DeMatteis and Giffen nail down a future incarnation of the Justice League that feels fresh and organic, yet similar to the classic 80’s run. Those looking brevity in the New 52 should be ecstatic between this series and Action Comics.