Justice League of America #41

Justice League of America #41

James Robinson, Writer
Mark Bagley, Pencils
Rob Hunter, Marlo Alquiza & Walden Wong, Inkers
Pete Pantazis, Colorists
Rob Leigh, Letters
Mark Bagley, Rob Hunter & Pete Pantazis, Cover
Adam Schlagman, Associate Editor
Eddie Berganza, Editor

Warning: Contains Spoilers

In previous reviews I have mentioned you see common themes in team books (such as "Justice League of America," "Justice Society of America," or the "Avengers" as examples). One trend is the "gathering" issue. It is where the heroes, who will star in the next run, come together and we are introduced to the new villain.

"Justice League of America" #41 was that.

However, what has made this issue interesting is that it is the first post-"Blackest Night" comic I have come across, as well as being a post-"Cry for Justice" comic as well. With those two series behind the current roster of the JLA (though either of the series have yet to play out and even this issue spoils the last issue of "Cry for Justice"), a new group is formed sans Superman, Wonder Woman or Bruce Wayne Batman.

Instead we get former JLA members (Green Arrow, Green Lantern, Atom and Doctor Light), members of the Teen Titans/Titans (Donna Troy, Dick Grayson Batman, Cyborg and Starfire) along with some new faces like the Golden Guardian and Mon-El (from the Legion of Super Heroes). With Donna Troy taking the lead, she is asked by Wonder Woman to assemble this current roster.

While not much is in it regarding character depth and the like, this new group of JLA is pretty cool to see. And frankly, with Vixen leaving and some new villain popping up, I think this will be a nice run.

My only fear is that we get this great assembalage of characters and it lasts for six issues before "BOOM!" a new league is formed. I hope DC allows writer James Robinson to tell the story he wants, and I hope he continues with the amazing character development and interaction as we have seen in such classics as "The Golden Age."

With his writing and artist Mark Bagley playing "skipper and first mate" on this comic, I think the series could go down as one of the best runs since Grant Morrison's mid-1990s "JLA" days.

Pick up the issue, the promise of what it is to come helps make it worth the cover price.

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