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Last Updated: Jul 5, 2008 - 8:12:15 PM

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Justice League of America #19 By Hervé St-Louis Apr 15, 2008 - 10:08:52 AM

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Justice League of America #19
DC Comics
Writer: Alan Burnett
Pencils: Ed Benes
Inker:  Sandra Hope

The Justice League decides it will go to planet Cygnus 4019 where it will investigate the fate of the villains transferred there by Amanda Waller and the American Government. The Justice League wants to see if the human rights of the prisoners are protected. Not opposing their endeavour Amanda Waller sends Commander Flag to help out. But what the League founds on Cygnus 4019 may be worse more dangerous than a bunch of exiled villains.

I like how this storyline makes the Justice League a more proactive organization, instead of a bunch of demigods waiting for the crisis of the week to erupt.  Since Brad Meltzer’s run has ended DC Comics has made the Justice League series more dynamic rather than a team that responds to events. This is more in line with what the Justice League should be about. Of course, DC Comics had to figure out how to make the team more relevant by getting a cue from the animated Justice League series.

I think it shows the lack of creativity and forward looking approach when it takes the animated team from and adaptation of a cartoon series of the Justice League to show the regular comic book writers at DC Comics how to write a comic book that will be compelling to readers.

This issue was not about seeing the grandeur of the characters but more about continuous series of events that move the narrative along issue after issue. Although it seems that Alan Burnett will be replacing previous writer BBB from now on, he has not stopped the motions started by his predecessor, who was a director for the Justice League cartoon.

This type of storytelling is more in line with the issues 205 – 225 of the first Justice League of America series published in the 1980. I’m glad that DC Comics figured out that part of the team’s best moments were when stories had a lasting impact on the characters’ lives. Although it might seem formulaic, how Red Arrow and Hawkgirl interact with each other and develop a budding relationship.

I still don’t like how Benes draws and find that his storytelling is weak. However, he is taking more chances by attempting to give each of his characters individualize features. Does he succeed there? Not really. They still look like a bunch of testosterone ridden cardboards. As for his interpretation of Kanjar Ro, I have to say it is worst I have seen in years. Instead of being a little dwarf hunch back with mischievousness in his demeanour, Kanjar Ro is your standard seven feet tall football player with a shark grin. A better artist would have run miles with the little runt that Kanjar Ro is supposed to be and made him believable and threatening, without having to make him a clone of Despero or Darkseid.

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