Justice League #6
Written by: Bryan Hitch
Art by: Matthew Clark & Tom Derenick
Colored by: Ariano Lucas
Ink by: Sean Parsons & Trevor Scott
With the Extinction Machines behind him, Bryan Hitch looks to pave new roads with Justice League #5. The League is unified and ready to take on any adversary that would dare threaten earth, so I suppose that means it is time for something to do just that. Who or what this unknown, unperceived adversary is or how they plan to take down the League, and one assumes earth, remains to be seen but emotional manipulation seems to be their go to move. All that is certain is that when fear is on the agenda, it helps to have two Green Lanterns by your side.
The issue opens in media res, with a frightened Batman running away from some unseen terror like one of the so many villains in Gotham he has battled over the years. While this alone might be comical, the fact that the entire League is behaving just as cowardly let’s us know that something mysterious is at work. Fortunately Earth’s newest Green Lantern overcomes her fear long enough to notice that something is affecting the entire League, and with their help, she and Simon Baz are able to defeat it. As the team celebrates their emotional victory, Jessica Cruz uses her newfound courage to do the unthinkable and ask Barry Allen out on a date. Bryan Hitch has long foreshadowed the pairing of these two since he took over the comic and to see it come to fruition is a little bit satisfying, if only because it provides one of the most uncomfortable first dates ever. Just as the League is goes back to their everyday lives, one by one they begin to exhibit strange behavior that is most certainly linked to the unseen menace the fought at the start of the issue. Batman begins to agonize over not having enough friends, Jessica Cruz reacts to a pushy waiter with a will powered constructed critique, and Barry Allen becomes a great example of a guy who cannot take a hint. The final bit of strange behavior this issue comes in the form of a declaration from Superman that will undoubtedly cause fireworks in the next issue. In short, things are starting to get a little crazy.
Besides starting a new story arc, Justice League #5 also provides the introduction on new artistic talent as Matthew Clark and Tom Derenick share this issue. Avoiding the pitfall that so many books with multiple artists have, these two work well together and draw a consistent issue that is both direct and a beautiful compliment to Bryan Hitch’s story. His dialogue remains top notch and each character is really allowed to shine in this issue, even if it just for line or two. It is clear that this arc will focus more on the members’ internal struggles as much as battles with external enemies, and following an earth shaking previous arc where the conflict was with cosmic giants, I think it just the change of pace that this series needs.
Art by: Matthew Clark & Tom Derenick
Colored by: Ariano Lucas
Ink by: Sean Parsons & Trevor Scott
With the Extinction Machines behind him, Bryan Hitch looks to pave new roads with Justice League #5. The League is unified and ready to take on any adversary that would dare threaten earth, so I suppose that means it is time for something to do just that. Who or what this unknown, unperceived adversary is or how they plan to take down the League, and one assumes earth, remains to be seen but emotional manipulation seems to be their go to move. All that is certain is that when fear is on the agenda, it helps to have two Green Lanterns by your side.
The issue opens in media res, with a frightened Batman running away from some unseen terror like one of the so many villains in Gotham he has battled over the years. While this alone might be comical, the fact that the entire League is behaving just as cowardly let’s us know that something mysterious is at work. Fortunately Earth’s newest Green Lantern overcomes her fear long enough to notice that something is affecting the entire League, and with their help, she and Simon Baz are able to defeat it. As the team celebrates their emotional victory, Jessica Cruz uses her newfound courage to do the unthinkable and ask Barry Allen out on a date. Bryan Hitch has long foreshadowed the pairing of these two since he took over the comic and to see it come to fruition is a little bit satisfying, if only because it provides one of the most uncomfortable first dates ever. Just as the League is goes back to their everyday lives, one by one they begin to exhibit strange behavior that is most certainly linked to the unseen menace the fought at the start of the issue. Batman begins to agonize over not having enough friends, Jessica Cruz reacts to a pushy waiter with a will powered constructed critique, and Barry Allen becomes a great example of a guy who cannot take a hint. The final bit of strange behavior this issue comes in the form of a declaration from Superman that will undoubtedly cause fireworks in the next issue. In short, things are starting to get a little crazy.
Besides starting a new story arc, Justice League #5 also provides the introduction on new artistic talent as Matthew Clark and Tom Derenick share this issue. Avoiding the pitfall that so many books with multiple artists have, these two work well together and draw a consistent issue that is both direct and a beautiful compliment to Bryan Hitch’s story. His dialogue remains top notch and each character is really allowed to shine in this issue, even if it just for line or two. It is clear that this arc will focus more on the members’ internal struggles as much as battles with external enemies, and following an earth shaking previous arc where the conflict was with cosmic giants, I think it just the change of pace that this series needs.
A Look Inside
