Comics / Comic Reviews / DC Comics

Justice League: Elite #1

By Koppy McFad
June 25, 2004 - 14:23

The first issue of this JLA spin-off has the newly-created team trying to infiltrate a cabal of super assassins. It is a genuinely intriguing situation for a team with a mysterious background and questionable allegiances. There are some really interesting characters in this tale and even a guest shot by Deathstroke, not to mention Mahnke and Nguyen's art which remains highly detailed, extremely distinctive but also very exciting and well laid-out.

But there is also an over-reliance on artifice and gimmickry in this issue. Fake-outs abound, to the point that the reader may feel cheated when he reaches the end of the issue. Much of the dialogue is forced in an attempt to make certain characters "kewl" or clever. Kelly seems to be too satisfied with his originality in coming up with such concepts as a Saudi Arabian who bankrolls the team, the plaque above the toilet seat or the change in Manitou Raven. Yes, they are new, fresh ideas but they aren't completely credible. They are clearly intended to impress the reader even if they don't really contribute to the story. The whole premise of an "underground" super-team, taking the missions that the main League cannot handle, is still not convincingly explained either. This is the first issue so such tricks may be necessary to hook the reader but Kelly might find it wise to look up Ostrander's old SUICIDE SQUAD stories, which also covered the same cape-cloak and dagger world, without confusing the reader.

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12