...And Justice For All!

OK, just about everywhere you go now it�s...JLA this!...JLA that! Now don't start me out with the wrong foot here; I like the JLA, but (of course there had to be a but), as with everything else that happens in the comics medium (notice I used the word medium and not Industry. After reading Park's column I figured I'd better choose my words carefully), it gets beat seven feet into the ground. After my last visit to the local comic shop, I left feeling like I just visited some JLA museum or should I say the Hall of Justice? There were old Justice League of America comics scattered amuck the comic plastered walls as well as some Leaguer artifacts, in spite of all this, I managed to keep focused to just the recent JLA stuff. like...

GREEN ARROW #133

This is part two of two of "Like a God" storyline, that guest-stars the JLA. Well, at least some of them. How many are there now? Anyway, Green Arrow gets help from Green Lantern, Superman Red (I'll be glad when I don't have to define Superman by a color.), Zauriel (a guy I feel that shouldn't have upgraded his costume; the rags worked for him.), Flash, Wonder Woman, and Martian Manhunter to stop alien drug pushers. Besides being a storyline that's been used like public restrooms at the beach on an August weekend, it also shows that not everybody can write for the Worlds Finest super-team. I like Chuck Dixon's style, but I think somebody secretly switched his coffee to decaffeinated when he wrote this.

STARMAN #43 "Knight's Past"

Jack meets the JLA (again just a select few.), to see if he can borrow a spaceship...{yawn}. To start with, I hate misleading covers. If a character isn't going to appear within the pages, don't put 'em on the cover. Case in point: Aquaman and Wonder Woman, neither could be found inside. Not only that but, the cover states "Featuring the JLA." I guess "featuring" means different things to different people, because Flash, Superman Blue (here we go again with the color descriptions), Batman, Green Lantern, and Martian Manhunter only lasted four pages, I'd hardly call that "Featuring." They were very weakly written into it, I might add. Obviously, just to boost sales by the core seven gracing the cover.

JLA #19

This story is titled "Out of Luck," and let's just hope that title doesn�t become prophetic of the JLA's future. So far, so good. This story lives up to the expected level of the JLA, helping to give reason for this title to be the best of the lot. This was a good story right up to the end, where we have to agree that things DO happen for a reason. For a brief moment we have Bruce Wayne at peace with his unmurdered (I know "unmurdered" isn�t a real word, but giving the circumstances..!) parents, but for the greater good of...ah, humanity...well, let's just say we still have Batman. I wasn't just entertained with this piece, but I learned something too. Like a good sci-fi story, this was based on an actual scientific discovery, the Geneva Experiment. Here's an excerpt from Mark Waid's write-up in the back of this comic, which questions, how random is "random chance"?

"In 1997, a physicist at the University of Geneva divided photons and, using optic-fiber cables, sent the pairs of light particles over six miles apart. Reaching the ends of these fibers, the two photons were forced to randomly choose between different pathways. In every case the choice of any one photon mirrored its partner, even though there was no physical way for them to communicate with one another."

WOW! Way to geek-out Mark! I, too, share your enthusiasm.

WIZARD #82

One of it's two cover features the JLA. It comes with a Green Lantern Poster promoting issue #100 of that title and more JLA stuff...stickers. Who drew that crap? Like Wonder Woman's stubby arm, the wimpy Martian Manhunter, John Travolta as Superman (not really, but it looks like it.), and then there is that mysterious alien head at the bottom. I don't get it; is that the fifteenth member? Inside we find an article "Under Pressure" which takes a look at why that writer thinks the JLA is "Doomed to Fail." Well I guess it's right, everything does come to an end...eventually. But it's way to early yet! The JLA book is still a good read, and besides, there is way too many products for the JLA franchise to seep into; crappy stickers are just the tip of the iceberg.

JLA: YEAR ONE #7

This book takes us across the halfway mark of the maxi-series. Twelve issues to complete this year, and so far it's been mostly character building. Not that I'm complaining, it's good enough writing to keep me coming back to pick up the next one. And that's not usually like me; I bounce all over picking up whatever I see that looks might be good. Sometimes I'm wrong, and sometimes, like this one, I'm not.

DUE OUT SOON:

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA ARCHIVES #4

More Reprints of the classics for those of us who can't afford, can't find, or just want another copy of the original book.

JLA: THE NAIL

It's a world without Superman. Apparently he's the nail that holds the league together, or something like that. That's all that stuck in my head from what I read on it, so that sounds pretty lame to me. I don't get what makes people buy some stories and not buy others. I'm sure that there have been many of good stories overlooked while we get fed stuff like this. I hope this isn't the bomb that I think it's going to be.

Speaking of bombs...

JLA: WORLD WITHOUT GROWNUPS

This is a two issue mini, premising a new monthly featuring Robin, Superboy, and Impulse. Oh, boy! If I was a cheerleader I'd break out the pompoms for this one (That's sarcasm, I don't really own pompoms). Rumor has it that the on-going series is to be written by Peter David. If Rumor knows what he's talking about, that would mean that Mr. David left Aquaman and the Hulk for this. Do I need to point out how stupid that sounds?

Well, that about wraps up another Wally's World. I leave you on a shifted note...Although Hollywood gossip states that the Nicholas Cage Superman movie has been canceled, they're speeding up the production of the next Bat-film. To most people the last flick was pretty watery, I have a feeling we might be in for a surprise with the next one; it appears Kurt Russell might don the Bat-garb. I think Kurt can pull it off, but I'm sure anybody will be better than Clooney, who, by the way, still has a contract for another Bat-film. SOMEBODY PLEASE PAY HIM OFF!!!

-Wallace "Wally" Frost
The only 15 letter word that can be spelled without repeating a letter is "uncopyrightable."

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