Wicked Comic Con Recap

I was at Wicked Comic Con earlier this month. This is still a young convention, only 4 years old, and I think is going through a little bit of growing pains. If you look back at my prior coverage, you can follow its history.

Back in 2022, it seemed like a modest con with a couple of creator draws. But it also was big for vendors with a main ball room comic vendors and the bigger creators, a small artist alley for locals, and a whole hall for non-comic merchandise. In 2023, it seemed to explode with a guest list that might rival bigger, more well known cons. It was big enough I needed two review posts and got two commissions from well known comic artists. I thought it might suddenly rival some of the bigger con shows in the area. Last year, seemed to stay the course with a very large footprint in the venue with an entire massive room for non-comic merch as well as a great creator guest list with both newer and classic creators in attendance. Again, it seemed to be growing ... or at least stabilizing to a very solid, medium sized con. 

So I was a little surprised when I saw this year's con description. Only one day. A smaller, more modest guest list. Free attendance. 

This seemed more like a 'year one dip your toes in the water' strategy rather than a 'year four, we had stars like Jeph Loeb and Adam Hughes in the past' con. When I got to the con, it had also shrunk in physical space, now just occupying the main ball room as well as a nearby hallway. 

I am not complaining. There were a couple of creators there I wanted to meet. I went with friends and had a great time. And I bought comic books, always the best part of shows. And there seemed to be very good traffic there, although now everyone was in one room instead of dispersed. 

I just worry that such a dramatic ...well ... downsizing doesn't bode well. Boston needs a true comic con of its own. And Fan Expo doesn't feel like a true comic con. So I hope this style of production for Wicked Comic Con works out. I hope it is around next year.

On to some details.

Review: Justice League United #4

I have been continually impressed with Jeff Lemire and Mike McKone's Justice League United comic, the perfect mix of action and characterization, a blend of modern comic story-telling with Silver Age historical nods. I will admit that I was drawn to the title because of Supergirl, having been vexed by the other League books since the New 52. But I am glad I am here. This book is wonderful.

Justice League United #4, the conclusion of the first arc, came out this week and continued that trend. This felt more like an epilogue to the first story as the heavy action all played out last issue. But that meant that Lemire was able to take the time to look at each character, adding in nice moments of character growth, and having the team remain together after the crisis at hand. And, as I have said in prior reviews, Mike McKone is able to add flourishes to his art that deepen those moments.

And, to add to the mix, we finally get to see a little bit of Equinox in action.

While the League is on Rann dealing with Ultra, the Multi-Alien, Byth, and the Rann/Thanagar relations, Alanna is on Earth, having been zeta-beamed to the Rannian base on Earth.

We learn a number of things here as she finds Miya's friend Heather and springs into action. Some things I like. Others, I am neutral about.

On the positive side, it looks like Alanna is going to be an active member of the team rather than hanging out on the sidelines. Like Adam, she has donned an  Rannian rocket suit and wields a 'ray gun'. I like this idea of her being just as much an adventurer as Adam.

On the neutral side, we learn that she is Alanna Strange, having married him in a quiet ceremony. Given the teacher/student relationship between her and Adam, the two have kept things hidden. I don't know. I suppose love is love. But I did have to suppress a bit of a cringe.

On the negative side, it is strongly implied that Alanna is from Earth. I always liked her as a Rannian citizen, making her relationship with Adam a sort of star-crossed love affair.

Still, a flying Alanna is great!

The big part of this book is seeing the Leaguers respond to the aftermath of this adventure.

Now Rann and Thanagar have historically never gotten along and this whole Ultra/Byth mess just adds gas to that combustible relationship. Thanagar blames Rann for the death of Hawkman and the creation of Ultra. Sardath blames Thanagar for the disaster as it was Byth, a Thanagarian, was the force behind the corruption of Rann's noble aims. I don't think these two planets will ever be true allies.

What I did like was how quickly J'onn stands up for Ultra. He won't let him be killed or captured. He will defend him. In fact, we learn that only J'onn's telepathy that is keeping Ultra in check. He has to defend him, from himself.

I also like how Ultra is aging quickly and taking on his more classic Silver Age appearance.

Green Arrow and Animal Man have been teasing and jabbing each other throughout this struggle. Here, sitting by while J'onn, Sardath, and the Thanagarians hash things out, there is a moment of introspection and sympathy.

Ollie admits he is a loner, not well suited for teamwork. He offers condolences for the loss of Cliff. It is a peek behind the brash, sarcastic Ollie. It also plants the seeds of how these two become great friends (as seen in Futures' End).

I especially love Buddy's response ... to hug it out. It breathes a little levity into what could have been a maudlin or suffocating moment. Great characterization by both.

When the book was first publicized, Lemire described Supergirl as an angry, bull-headed loner. He described Stargirl as the youthful face of DC's optimism. He said the two would have a hard time being friends.

Now Supergirl has been a bit impetuous. But she hasn't been overly angry. And, during the crisis, she actually did what she should do (try to save people) rather than what she wanted to do (chase and pound Lobo). I have been happy with seeing Lemire's Supergirl as being someone who wants to be proactive.

Here however, we see a bit more of what Lemire talked about prior to the series. While Stargirl is all 'golly' about what has happened, Supergirl seems a bit more world-weary and mature. She storms off, basically telling Courtney to grow up. Seems a little harsh to me.

McKone adds to the moment, casting all of Kara's body into the shadow of her cape. It is a dark moment; she even looks dark.

And we continue our rounds, looking at the other Leaguers and learning more of their characters.

J'onn is beating himself up for configuring the team in a way that ended up with Hawkman killed. I like this introspective J'onn who constantly wants to improves his strategy.

But what I love is Adam's response. This guy is a anthropology professor. You think he would be completely floored by this whole escapade. But he seems at ease here. And he tries to help J'onn work through this. Who can truly know how things would turn out if the crew was sent out differently.

J'onn, it seems is going to be more than a defender of Ultra. He might end up as a father figure. We learn that only J'onn's telepathy that is keeping Ultra in check. He has to defend Ultra from himself.

So Ultra is going to be part of the crew. Fascinating.

But the Rann connection won't be over. Sardath, a sort of scientific father to Ultra, will also be a visitor. I am glad that Sardath will be connected to the team. I feel like there has to be a link to the Silver Age Adam Strange.

And my Ladyhawke guess about Adam and Alanna turns out to be right. The two can't be together right now. Adam is stranded on Rann.

Ahhh ... they are star-crossed lovers. And Adam being 'stuck' on Rann is a nice throwback to his classic incarnation.

One thing I was surprised at was the Hawkman remained 'dead' this whole issue. I suppose we will have some sort of resurrection next issue, some sort of 'I expended all the energy of the Nth metal to revive me; I am no longer merged with it'. This way we get back to a more classic Katar.

I was glad that Byth and Lobo simply didn't just disappear. While Lobo does leave to chase down the other Lobo's out there, Byth commandeers the Thanagarian ship bring Katar home. Byth wants the Nth metal himself.

Byth is too great a cosmic villain to waste. I want to see all those characters here - Kanjar Ro, Hyathis, Manhawks, etc.

On Earth, Miya finally says her magic word to become Equinox and lashes out at the Wendigo spirits that have been haunting the area. She does say that she is worried about what will happen if she activates her powers. I wonder if there is some sort of 'Spawn' or 'Doctor Strange' like aspect to her powers, tapping into to dark magic as well as light.

It was great to finally see her in action, even if she passes out right after this scene.

McKone shines here, making her costume and capes seem alive, making her seem as much like a winged faerie as a young sorceror.

For me though, this was the best moment.

After the Rannian heroes get Zeta'd back to Canada, they have to decide what to do next. Do they stay together as a team? Use the Rann base as their HQ? Didn't the Justice League of America just fail? But didn't they act like a unit in saving people?

Kara's response is wonderful. You can see how much she wants to belong to something, especially after her recent Red Lantern time. She asks how the team would be different from teams .... not that she will stay of course. I think she is protesting too much here. She wants to stay.

And J'onn puts it succinctly and perfectly. The team needs to be a symbol of heroism, selflessness, and sacrifice. Don't like it  ... there's the door. Great leadership and great sentiment.

Of course everyone decides to stay. And Courtney gives them the name Justice League United.

But before they can share a group hug, Alanna bursts in with the unconscious Miya. Nice cliffhanger.

Whew ...

For a comic that had only one action scene (Byth slaughtering Thanagarians), this was riveting. It was a way for Lemire to show us where he is going with these characters, what he thinks of them. And this origin, a group of heroes coming together to fight evil and then staying together, smacks of the most classic origins - JLA and Avengers included.

Add to that the smooth, slick, nuanced art from Mike McKone and you have a winner.

No complaints here.

Overall grade: A

Review: Justice League United #3

Justice League United #3 came out on Wednesday and continues to be one of the best comics that DC Comics is publishing right now. Writer Jeff Lemire and artist Mike McKone have been firing on all cylinders since this book started. There has been the perfect mix of action and characterization. There has been silver age homages and tones in the midst of new 52 dismemberments. And there has been a wonderful sense that these heroes, brought together by chance and just a short time ago, are actually acting like a team.

Good characterization. Heroes acting like heroes, acting like a team. Silver age goodness in a modern story. These are elements that is rare in DC titles these days. And so this is like delicious treat.

And I have to apologize to Jeff Lemire. When he was promoting the book before the first issue, he talked about Supergirl being an angry loner, the opposite of the bright optimistic Stargirl. I worried that he might be taking Supergirl back a couple of steps in the progress we have recently seen in her. So far, that hasn't happened. Kara might be fiery and passionate, but she has her heart in the right place here. And Lemire gives her some very big moments in this issue.

But she isn't alone. All the featured characters have great moments here. I am loving this book.

And Mike McKone continues to shine here, adding little flourishes to panels that add so much to the story. 

The main action of the book is in deep space, around Rann and Thanagar. But Lemire keeps us up to date with Equinox, the new character he is bringing to the book.

Last issue, she was captured by a shape-changing Whitago demon. In this issue we see her iced up like Luke Skywalker in the Wampa cave in Empire Strikes Back.

A vision of her Grandfather shows up saying he is 'one of the seven'. And he says she has the Whitago inside her. He then changes shape into the monster we saw earlier in this arc.

For me, I am pretty excited for this character. I feel like I don't know much about her right now. But I like diversity in comics. I like being exposed to new mythologies so learning about native Canadians will be great. And it sounds like their might be a darkness within her powers she'll need to control. That's always adds nice friction to a character.

Last issue ended with Ultra awakening and Byth's facility exploding. Luckily Sardath activated his Zeta technology to pluck the Leaguers out of the blast. But Lemire adds an interesting wrinkle. For one, the beam grabs Byth and Ultra as well as the heroes. And second, the beam is erratic taking some to Sardath's lab and sending some out into the Rannian desert. Given how quirky Sardath has been, this seems plausible.

We don't exactly know Ultra's powers are but he seems to be able to lash out with force energies. And he seems to just be lashing out. Here he actually strikes the Zeta generator, leading to even more insanity.

Great art here. You can feel the blast as Adam Strange and aliens get blown back.

Out in the desert, Green Arrow, Animal Man, Stargirl, Supergirl, and Martian Manhunter skirmish with Lobo who also was grabbed by the beam.

After initially being dropped by Lobo, Supergirl rises and retaliates. I love this moment. I like that Lemire at least references the Kara/Lobo history by her commenting on her hate for him. Secondly, it is great that Supergirl is the muscle here. Nice left hook knocking Lobo out of sight.

Prior to this punch, there is a funny moment between Animal Man and Green Arrow where Buddy verbally jabs Ollie about his power set. I think this relationship is going to be a fun part of the book.

This is more a J'Onn moment than a Supergirl moment but I thought it spoke volumes of how Lemire is going to treat Kara. Initially Supergirl is going to fly after Lobo to continue to pound him. But J'Onn reminds her that there is something bigger they need to take care of - Byth and Ultra. Supergirl needs to decide is she part of the team and part of the big mission? Or is she out for herself and revenge and violence?

She makes the right choice and joins the team. Hurrah!

But I also love the art here. Again, I always wonder if I am overreading things. But by putting the whole team in silhouette, it really cements the concept that they are one unit, a team. This panel could have been drawn many different ways. But by making them all equal in weight on the page, they are a team.

Sprinting to Sardath's headquarters, the team is united with Hawkman and Adam Strange. The Zeta generator being damaged has been wreaking some havoc. Adam and Alanna keep teleporting and switching places. And more, when they are together, they can't seem to survive.

I wonder if Lemire is setting up some sort of Ladyhawke relationship between Adam and Alanna. The are in love but can never be together. (Man, I am dating myself with my references.)

Sardath says the Zeta core is unstable and about to explode.

During the chaos, Byth grabs Ultra and escapes.

The Manhunter takes charge, splitting the team. He takes Supergirl, Stargirl, and Green Arrow with him to face Byth and Ultra. The rest will help with the core.

I love this moment. Initially Hawkman wants to join the fight with Byth but he is put in his place by J'Onn. It both shows the leadership of the Manhunter and how easily a soldier like Hawkman can be refocused by following orders.

I think J'Onn is going to be the tactical leader of the group. But I think Buddy is going to be the 'leader' of the team.

Approaching Byth and Ultra, Supergirl decides not to waste time with words and simply grabs Byth and flies off. It shows maybe a touch of impatience. Maybe a bit of feeling too invulnerable. But it also shows she is a young hero who maybe acts before she thinks. I thought it was perfect.

There is a great fight scene where Byth challenges Supergirl's resolve. He changes into her Red Lantern form, telling her she is filled with rage, and asking her to join him.

No such doing. In fact she is quite poetic as she rebukes him.

Great action. And I love that first panel with Supergirl just entangled and looking awkward.

Meanwhile, J'Onn tries to calm Ultra by entering the multi-alien's mind. Ultra is growing physically, now more like a toddler, and looking more chimeric like his Silver Age appearance.

But this moment where J'Onn says he will stop Byth from hurting Ultra, that he will help Ultra, is touching. Both telepathically and physically he hugs Ultra. It really shows the depths of the Manhunter, from brusque team leader to gentle empath.

Remember the Zeta Core is going critical and Hawkman decides the best way to save the city is to fly the thing as far away as possible. Unfortunately it explodes while still in his hands.

One last great Supergirl moment, all in 3 small panels.

Lobo comes and grabs Byth and two fly away. At the same moment, the core explodes. We see Supergirl see both events. She needs to decide what she is going to do. Is she going for the action? Or is she going to help?

She decides to help. Fantastic!

The issue ends with a great cliffhanger that I won't spoil here.

I can't help but reiterate how great I think this issue is. The characterization here is phenomenal. Supergirl and Martian Manhunter really get the spotlight (which is fine with me) but we see snippets of the others which are consistent and natural with their personalities. And it feels like this group would work together, despite how different they are. This feels like how a Justice League book should feel.

Add the new twists in Zeta tech, the Byth/Lobo team, the ongoing Equinox mystery, and some hard core action and this was completely satisfying.

Plus, Mike McKone and the whole art team of inkers and colorists really shine.

Overall grade: A+

Review: Justice League United #2

Justice League United #2 came out last week and acted the way a third chapter of an arc should. There was a lot of exposition. And there was a major step forward in plot bringing us closer to the finale.Writer Jeff Lemire and artist Mike McKone continue to put together an exciting and entertaining opening story bringing the members of this League together to fight an intergalactic threat.

Lemire also is starting to build up some of the relationships that will define the team. We see (as we have seen) the teasing one-upping between Animal Man and Green Arrow. We have seen Courtney hugging an uncomfortable J'Onn. And finally we have Supergirl in the mix and we see how she differs from Stargirl. Unlike the general prickly feeling Johns has given all the relationships in the main Justice League book, Lemire has already made this team more likable and more realistic in how they interact.

McKone continues to bring his very smooth style to the proceedings. In particular, I like the way McKone makes aliens seem alien, from both physiology and fashion. And we get to see a beautiful shot of his Supergirl.

Last issue, we had the bulk of the League fighting the ever changing Unimaginable in Canada only to be somehow teleported off to Rann.

I love this interaction which actually is a whole page of similar panels, Courtney trying to interrupt the bickering between Buddy and Ollie. I think it is amusing how they belittle each other ... but without an edge of hatred or angst. I don't think they are friends yet. I do think they mean these words. But it feels more like banter than the distrust and anger we occasionally saw between the big 6 in Justice League.

And after insulting each other, it is completely ironic that Green Arrow calls himself one of the grown-ups. He is completely childish here!

Unfortunately (or fortunately for Earth), the Unimaginable has also made the trip.

I really like that second panel with Buddy channeling some Rannian winged monkey to fight this thing. And the coloring works well here to. For some reason the orange background with the red ape works for the action more than a simply starry background.

As the team struggles, a helping hand streaks in!

At last Supergirl joins in!

She 'heard' the battle from half a galaxy away and came over to help. I suppose that is a good thing. It means Lemire writes a Supergirl whose first inclination is to help people even if she is far away. Now why she was out there anyways. It seems like a little too much serendipity.

I don't know how to take the 'my name is Kara'. Is she being friendly, telling Courtney her real name? Or is she shying away from the Supergirl moniker? The semi-irritated expression makes me think the latter.

We heard about how Stargirl is the epitome of the 'young, bright, optimistic' DC Universe. And we heard how Supergirl is the 'angry bull-headed loner'. Here is their first interaction.

The bubbly Courtney recaps the last issue in one balloon. She even throws in the 'cute' Animal Man comment. But Supergirl can't wait for the lengthy retelling. She tells Courney to breathe and then just wants to spring into action.

Not a bad contrast. Although I think Courtney seems a bit too naive.

Before Kara can smash the thing, the creature is imprisoned in a force bubble. And the League is also put into a separate bubble.

The Rannians have arrived to take control of the situation. They are responsible for this creature. Isolating it in the field robs it of its energy source so it quickly devolves back to the little baby we saw before.

Meanwhile, the League won't stay imprisoned. Even though the Rannians and their leader Sardath want to just find out the League's intentions, J'Onn won't stand for it. He walks through the field and threatens them.

This seems a little dark for J'Onn but I will admit I haven't read much of his New 52 persona. Maybe this is par for the course?

And is this Sardath going to be Alanna's father in the New 52?

Meanwhile, in Byth's lab headquarters, Lobo has been tasked with killing all the prisoners who were being experimented on. With Ultra the Multi-Alien born, there is no need for genetic material.

Before the Czarian can get to the wetworks, Hawkman re-arrives, his hand regenerating. It's round 2.

The explanation is the Nth metal is healing Katar. But is the hand itself made of Nth metal? Does his Nth metal armor heal him? Boy, a touch of explanation here would have gone a long way.

We head back to Rann where we get an extremely dense, quite wordy section of exposition where Sardath explains to the League about the lab they stumbled across and Byth. There are very big, stuffed word balloons the rest of the way.

As in the past incarnations of the DCU, Rann is in the middle of a very chaotic area of space. War has torn the place apart. Thanagar fighting Czarnia fighting Tamaran fighting Psions fighting Dominators fighting Daemonites.

Rann tried to keep the peace, remain neutral, and become a place of refuge for the displaced. With a peace treaty signed, Sardath came up with an idea. Why not create a being from all the genes of the peaceful races, a symbol of peace and unity, a 'child of all worlds'.

And so they gathered samples from everywhere, even races not involved in the peace treaty, even people not willingly giving samples.

I do like this page, Sardath recounting the gathering while we see different environments.

This is the best Supergirl moment of the book.

She isn't going to let Sardath gloss over the fact that he was taking from beings without consent. While it might not have been kidnapping, or harmful, it still sounds like a violation. Good for Kara for stepping up.

Turns out Byth took over the operation for nefarious reasons. He escaped ARGUS and decided to use the experiment to make a weapon. Hmmm ... was Byth mentioned as an inmate of the Circus in Sterling Gates' Vibe?

Knowing Byth has probably made a terrible weapon, Sardath decided to bring these heroes to Rann with the Unimaginable to try to convince them to help.

It is a nice moment. J'Onn says the group is helping not for Rann because it is what is right. They are the Justice League. They fight for what's right.

I would love just a little bit more of this scene. Does Ollie really want to go? Does Supergirl just join in? Or does everybody just give the little nod and jump in?

Anyways, glad Supergirl stuck around. An earlier Kara might say it didn't involve her and simply fly off.

Instead we head straight to the action, bringing us full circle to the opening scene of JLU #0.

With a skirmish in the lab ongoing, Adam finds Alanna.

But Ultra awakens!

I am really enjoying this book. The story line is of a grand scope and involves the more cosmic pieces of the DCU. But more importantly, the interaction of the characters is great. This isn't simply an action story. This is a team book with personalities and characterization. I am enjoying that stuff as much as the punching and blasting.

And this issue kept the wheel turning. We know the whats and whys of Byth's plot. We have the team intact. And we have a cliffhanger, prepping for a nice action piece and heading to the finale.

So far, this title is a nice mix of Silver Age plots, great characterization, and superb art. While this is a denser issue than the past, we needed that exposition to fill in the details. No complaints.

Overall grade: B+

Review: Justice League United #1

Justice League United #1 came out last week, the last of 6 issues from that week I needed to review. So I am a little late to the game. JLU will be on the review list because at some point Supergirl will join the team. We aren't there yet by writer Jeff Lemire is building the team slowly and showcasing some of the foundation of character interaction.

I definitely liked the zero issue of the book because I felt there wasn't the mean streak that I have seen in the New 52. These were heroes, brought together by chance, working together for good, with very little angst, paranoia, or negativism. Even the snarks between Green Arrow and Animal Man felt like good natured ribbing as opposed to anger or aloofness. As a result, it felt more like a Silver/Bronze age vibe dressed in modern sensibilities. That is definitely a compliment. I have talked about the mono-tone nature of the DCU. This book felt different.

For the most part, this issue continued that feel. Unfortunately there is a 100% New 52 nonsense moment in the middle of this book that it jarred me out of the story.  More on that soon.

Mike McKone continues to do a great job on this book. There is a slick clean feel to the book and McKone uses panel shapes and splashes to keep the reader engaged. Colorist Marcelo Maiolo uses the 'bright red' contrast background in this issue ... but maybe too much. I think it should be reserved for just 1-2 panels a book.

The plot is split between two sites. One is Canada where the earth bound heroes have stumbled across an alien genetic lab and are battling a monster. The other is Alana and Hawkman on a planet near Thanagar.

I have always liked the 'teammates by chance' origin stories in comics, heroes brought together at random to fight an enemy. Here we see some members of the JLA with Adam Strange and Animal Man coming together as a team.

The creature seems unstable ... enraged and mutable. Blasts of cosmic energy by Courtney change it from fire to stone to wind and wood. I couldn't help but wonder if its forms are a subtle homage to the Appelax meteor creatures in the original JLA origin.

This is one of those red panels that seems a bit excessive.

Within the battle, Adam Strange finds a closet of rocket-suits within the lab. And just like that we have Adam Strange, hero of Earth. Nice splash page showcasing him.

I don't know if I like the fact that this is simply a mass produced uniform as opposed to something more special. And at least Lemire has Strange struggle with using it at first. He shouldn't be able to simply strap this thing on and be spectacular flying.

J'onn attempts to link to the creatures mind and we get a glimpse into its tortured past.

This is another failed experiment in this lab. It is an unstable creature, flipping between forms. Prior failures have been 'disposed' by Lobo. But this one was kept alive, probably for a reason like this ... to release as a weapon/distraction.

I have to say, it made me feel bad for this thing.

Note, another red panel. Could this be worthy of the extreme coloring?

And then the New 52 happened.

On the other planet, Alana is leading a prisoner revolt. Amid that, Hawkman fights Lobo. And then ... gasp ... Lobo cuts off Hawkman's arm!

It seems to be a running theme in the new 52, especially recently, that characters get dismembered. It has become such a standard operating procedure that it is simply no longer shocking. In fact I find it either depressing or laughable. Is there a quota? Do we need a one-armed Hawkman?

This New 52 moment is so different than the tone of the rest of the book that it felt out of place.

I do suppose that if one panel was going to have the red background, this would be the one.

Back on Earth, the creature takes off and the heroes need to give chase.

One thing I like about this book, even in its short history, is the relationship between Buddy and Ollie. They snark and tease each other leading to a nice crackle between them. That is made even more powerful when thinking of Buddy's eulogy in Futures End. You know these pointed comments at one point become more friendly barbs.

I love just how embarrassed Ollie is at needing to be carried by Buddy. Fantastic.

In the issue, Courtney really gets a chance to shine. We have heard that Lemire wants her to be the bright optimistic face of the DC youth and she sure sounds it here.

Sent on ahead since her cosmic staff is the only thing to effect this thing, Courtney really wants to prove herself. I am a fan of young heroes trying to live up an ideal and learning the ropes. So my guess is I will like Courtney in this book.

Blasting it into several forms (a red-paneled close-up of her face each time), she finally makes it into wood. And J'onn shatters it into so much splinters.

I do like that Courtney hugs J'onn afterward. She wants him to be proud of her. She is thrilled he is okay.

McKone does a great job here in that first panel - J'onn stiff, his hands open while she clutches him. He is clearly uncomfortable.

I wonder how J'Onn fans feel about this unemotional, distant reaction. I will admit I haven't read enough of him in the New 52 to know if this is consistent.

And I suppose it could be that he was switching amongst elements. But we saw fire, wood, stone ... was I reaching with this Appelax meteor idea?

Turns out I was, but I might have been on the right track. On Twitter, Jeff Lemire said his inspiration was another old JLA villain, The Unimaginable.

And on the moon near Thanagar, Byth has changed shape to be Adam Strange to try to lure Alana into his clutches. And it works.

I love this panel as he reveals himself. This multi-pseudopodded tongue is completely evocative of how Tim Truman drew him in Hawkworld. That Byth was scary-creepy. So this was fantastic!

And finally we get to the heart of the matter, what Byth has been trying to create with all these experiments. He has wanted to create a slayer of worlds ... and he has with Ultra, the Multi-Alien!!

Oh my god! Ultra the Multi-Alien repurposed for the modern comics! I have said that there is this delicious fudge ripple of Silver Age embedded in this book. And is there anything more Silver Age-y than Ultra? This is inspired.

So no Supergirl but still a very entertaining, fun, and beautiful comic. If only that dis-arming didn't happen!

Overall grade: B/B+

Review: Justice League United #0

I am still catching up on last week's comics as it was a Supergirl and super-title heavy week. I will never complain about that.

The last book on the review pile is Justice League United #0, by writer Jeff Lemire and artist Mike McKone. I am thrilled that this book finally came out because I am sick of wondering about it. My brain was starting to hurt. I consider myself a Lemire fan, enjoyed his Animal Man and love his Green Arrow. The team make-up seems quirky enough to be a lot of fun and engaging. And the hints of the stories Lemire has given makes me think there will be a dash of cosmic and a hint of Silver Age to make this very pleasing.

All that said, his comments about the 'bull-headed loner' Supergirl who is the opposite of 'bright' has given me pause. It seems clear Supergirl is the dark foil to the sunny Stargirl and the inexperienced Equinox.

And so we get to the book itself. For an opening issue it does it's job, introducing us to the main characters and setting up a story with several decent hooks. Lemire also does a nice job revamping the origin of Adam Strange (at least what we see of it).

I have always like McKone's work. His style is clean and precise which works well here. He does get moodier and inkier at the right moments as well.

Lemire does a nice job bringing the reader into the book, dropping us into the middle of a fight in some eugenics lab outside of Thanagar. The battle scene ends with a nice cliffhanger, one of the baby aliens in this lab unleashing some devastating attack. It is a nice little technique to grab me. What is this place? How did these heroes get here? How did they team up? It makes me curious and wanting more.

Don't blink though or you'll miss Supergirl's part in this issue. She only appears in this scene, silent and battling.

We also meet the new Alanna, now a young person of color. Is she still from Rann? I hope so. Her origin is as crucial to Adam's story as his own.

Of course, we know have to answer those story questions. So we flashback 3 days to a super-hero convention in Canada where Animal Man and Stargirl are signing autographs. I wonder if this would actually happen ... conventions for heroes.

One of the people in line to meet the heroes is Adam Strange who asks for their help. He is an Anthropology professor and on a recent dig with Alanna she simple disappeared. For readers in the know, it sounds like Zeta beam technology.

The fact that Strange seems surprised by this makes me think his origin has been significantly tweaked. (I suppose he could be lying.)

I also chuckled a bit at the scene as it sounded a bit like a comic con. People are nervous. There are cosplayers. Others are angry when Adam talks to the two heroes for too long.

It also makes me think the security at these things is a little lax. Strange not only shows them an alien skull from the dig site. He also brings out a rather Kirby-ish looking device. This could have been a bomb! The device seems to self-activate in the presence of Courtney's staff, briefly teleporting them elsewhere.

It is enough to make the heroes agree they need to investigate.

I know I am the wrong demographic. But do we really need to update Adam Strange's origin?

Elsewhere in Canada we finally meet Miiyahbin (or Mii for short).

Walking into her home, she is confronted by someone begging her for help, to stop what is happening. He then transforms into a monster saying the Whitago is her. Threatened, she seems to activate her powers and blasts the thing. After a battle (where the thing morphs into a monstrous version of Equinox) it disappears leaving her home perfect.

There is very little about Whitago to research even on the internet!

But this scene is more mystery. We meet Mii and see her in action. But what are her powers exactly? What are the Whitago? Is this connected to the Strange story? I am intrigued.

And I like Equinox' costume more and more. It also has some Kirby elements to it. Feels cosmic.

Nearby, at the dig site, aliens appear out of the ground and end up attacking Courtney and Buddy.

It turns out that Courtney activated her old JLA communicator, asking for help. I forgot about that JLA. Green Arrow and J'Onn show up.

There is some nice friction between Ollie and Buddy. Each seems to enjoy teasing the other about the limits of their power sets. As someone who grew up with an ornery Ollie in the JLA, I don't mind this. It felt a little classic.

As I said before, the makeup of the team is a little quirky. Unlike the 'Big 7' all of whom are heavy hitters (you can decide yourself if Batman is a heavy hitter), this team has layers of abilities. So I liked how McKone shows how useful that is. Depite there being a cosmic weapon, someone with animal abilities, and a juggernaut telepath, it is only Ollie who notices tracks and fresh snow.

This leads to the discovery of an underground lab similar to the one we saw in the opening.

And then we get another wrinkle. They were planning on J'Onn arriving. The 'master' has something special for him. A huge flame spirit wraps J'Onn up and takes him out.

But this is clearly some big operation, preparing for specific heroes and multi-centered.

Hmmm. Lots to consider.

And it looks like some of these aliens costumes look similar in design and color to Equinox. Maybe I am reaching?

Then we learn who the master is. Byth is at the other lab, in the Thanagar sector. As an old school guy, I love that Byth is in the mix here. The shapeshifting alien has always been a classic Hawkman rogue. I wonder if he is making some genetic cocktail which will explain his power set.

But he discusses a 'birth' as well. Maybe that is the baby alien from the first scene?

But Byth! Hurrah!

The prisoners on this lab that Byth has been experimenting on are no longer needed. So Byth sends his 'main man' to eliminate them. That's right, the all-new Lobo is working for Byth and will do the wetwork.

Except one of the prisoners is Hawkman. Looks like we'll have a brawl!

I do like that Alanna, teleported there, seems to have been trying to organize a revolt. Nice!

Anyways, I always talk about what certain issues should do ... the first issue, the second to last issue of a big arc, etc. This issue did what a first issue should do. We have plenty of hooks to get me curious. I want to come back and see where this goes. And we have the players on the chess board.

Add to that the very polished art of McKone and this was a winner.

But what will Supergirl be like??

Overall grade: B+