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Alex Ross' artwork is the one single thing that maintains my interesting in comic books these days. Ever since Marvels I've been blown away by his painted comic book artwork. Combining this with some of the biggest DC characters ever is just the coolest thing.
Looking at his artwork, I can't even begin to imagine the time it takes his to craft each page. Remarkably talented individual.
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My son received Justice, Vol. 1 for Christmas. Just recently, he received Justice, Vol. 2 and Volume 3 for his birthday. He has really enjoyed them.
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I'm going to start by saying the artwork is flat out amazing and the series is worth getting for that alone. The story is at a lesser level but, not that much lower. The basic premise is that Heroes are bringing in end to the world and the villans set out to ruin the heroes in an effort to save the world. This is an absoluetly great book and any comic fan should pick it up.
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Reprinting the first four issues of the 12-part "Justice" limited series, plus bonus pages, "Justice Volume 1" is the beginning of one of the great epics in JLA history, set fairly early in the team's history, and involving reams of outstanding classic DC Universe characters. I'll admit I'm not exactly sure when - or even if - this fits into continuity; I decided from the beginning to take this as a stand-alone story, one of those 'may be continuity/may be Elseworlds' tales that DC occasionally comes up with.
Horrible dreams of global destruction are occuring to several characters - but not to the characters one would expect to be so deeply troubled by them, but to the kind of people who are usually Plotting the mayhem. People like Lex Luthor. And Luthor decides to take action, aligning himself with an array of other unlikely champions - Black Manta, Gorilla Grodd, etc. Luthor presents to a host of the world's supervillains the same case he's preparing to bring directly before the people of the world: if there are these godlike beings like the Justice League looking after things, why is there still poverty and starvation in the world? Why is there government oppression all over the globe? Why is there disease? Why do wars still rage? Logically they should be able to bring an end to it all, so goes Luthor's arguement. But they don't. Or won't. Such an omission invalidates any right on the part of the 'superheroes' to your trust, Luthor maintains. Don't trust them; trust Us. Join us, and we'll bring you utopia.
The thing is, this time, how can Luthor be countered? The efforts of the planet's superhuman defenders against the kind of miseries and injustices Luthor outlines have been tackled from time to time, but rarely. I've always assumed that the ongoing battle on these fronts takes a larger slice of the superheroes's efforts than we're being shown, and that efforts to eradicate these ills are counterbalanced by other larger-than-life circumstances (or to put it another way, every time Superman delivers enough food to a drought-stricken region of Africa, an Imperiex clone or something devastates another large area, making it a constant game of catch-up). But that is just an assumption, and to the general populace of the DC Universe Earth, wouldn't it look like the League and its allies are willing to defend the planet from monsters and hostile aliens, but perfectly willing to let the other parts of the picture slide? ARE they willing? Is Lex right this time? COULD a concerted effort by the superheroes have made much more of a difference on these fronts? When Luthor and his allies begin to make that difference themselves, it begins to look uncomfortably plausible.
Meanwhile, in the midst of all this, Luthor co-ordinates a huge coalition of some of DC's biggest and baddest to make synchronized strikes against the superheroes around the globe. And what is behind the dreams in the first place? Are larger forces at work, pulling strings? Where, exactly, Do the superheoes draw the line between what's saving people and what's controlling them? And is that line justified? It's a book of questions, that's for sure.
Everything about the saga excels. The sheer volume of players involved - Superman, Batman, Solomon Grundy, Poison Ivy, Red Tornado, Wonder Woman, Grodd, Aquaman, Luthor, Flash, numerous others...and other characters who aren't in play Yet but whose appearances are foreshadowed in the cover art. The innovative ways we're seeing characters use their powers. The gorgeous art in every panel. The flawless dialogue. I could go on.
The bonus pages here that weren't in the original issues consist (in addition to some preliminary artwork) of profiles and portraits of a number of major characters, in the words of Superman and Batman themselves. Superman provides brief intros to a number of core League members. Just a few words on each are remarkably insightful on both the subject and on the mind of Superman himself. Batman, being the cheerful, happy-go-lucky optimist we all love, naturally delves right into the twisted psyches of some of Earth's foremost villains. But, all sarcasm aside, these files provide a glimpse of surprising compassion for some of the worst of the worst; a side of the Bat that sometimes gets lost beneath the ominous exterior. Batman also covers a couple of heroes for good measure, and again there's as much insight into the profiler as the profiled.
"Justice Volume 1" begins what's looking to be one of the best DCU-wide sagas since...well, ever. High praise indeed, but well earned. The "Justice" series is an essential for any DC fan.
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This comic is perfect. Story, Art, Etc. Kudos to the creative team. I can't wait for the next installment!
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