The magical corner of DC’s universe has a Justice League of its own.
General Information
Title: Justice League Dark #1
Author: Peter Milligan
Illustrator(s): Mikel Janin (art) and Ulises Arreola (colours)
Cover Date: November 2011
Cover Price: $2.99
Buy the digital edition.
Premise
Enchantress is starting her plans for the future. Fortunately for the world Madame Xanadu has looked into the future, even if it did look right back and her and tell her to mind her own business.
High Point
Batman: “You might have a point. We’ll go in together.”
Zatanna: “And that’s what I thought you’d say. See, the problem is… the world just can’t afford to lose you. Me, I reckon it could get along just fine without. Dnib sih teef!”
Low Point
Again, we have a time book with characters that are hard to like and care about. At first, only Xanadu and Zatanna seem likeable, but then Xanadu takes a dive as well.
The Scores
This is an original concept for sure. I can’t think of another magic based team from either company, particularly with the “Justice League” or “Avengers” branding. Even the origin feels more “Avengers” than “Justice League” so far. I give it 6 out of 6.
The artwork is mostly good. The storytelling and the poses are great, but some of the facial expressions (especially for Wonder Woman) just don’t seem right to me. I give it 4 out of 6.
The story is just getting started. The characters are nowhere close to each other, so by the time they are established and the main Justice League guest stars, there’s not a lot of room left for new plot. Some stuff happens, but it feels mostly like it’s there to establish that the main Justice League are out of their element and that this group will have the blessing to use the name. I think this would have been a stronger title without the franchise brand so that those six pages could be reclaimed to establish this team for who they are instead of who they aren’t. I give it 4 out of 6.
The characterization is weak. Xanadu seems to vary from page to page, and Zatanna is the only other character who is clearly defined. I give it 4 out of 6.
The emotional response is not what it should have been. I was originally planning to follow this title, but this first issue changed my mind. There’s other great stuff out there (Aquaman!) that I need to make room on my pull list for. I give it 3 out of 6.
The flow is smooth enough for most purposes. The characters are so far apart that there are a lot of sudden scene changes. I give it 4 out of 6.
Overall, this just failed to deliver in the ways I’d hoped it would. I give it 3 out of 6.
In total, Justice League Dark #1 receives 28 out of 42.
The New 52
Here are handy links for the reviews of all 52 new #1 issues:
- Action Comics
- All-Star Western
- Animal Man
- Aquaman
- Batgirl
- Batman
- Batman and Robin
- Batman: The Dark Knight
- Batwing
- Batwoman
- Birds of Prey
- Blackhawks
- Blue Beetle
- Captain Atom
- Catwoman
- DC Universe Presents
- Deathstroke
- Demon Knights
- Detective Comics
- The Flash
- Frankenstein, Agent of S.H.A.D.E.
- The Fury of Firestorm
- Green Arrow
- Green Lantern
- Green Lantern Corps
- Green Lantern: New Guardians
- Grifter
- Hawk and Dove
- I, Vampire
- Justice League
- Justice League Dark
- Justice League International
- Legion Lost
- Legion of Super-Heroes
- Men of War
- Mister Terrific
- Nightwing
- O.M.A.C.
- Red Hood and the Outlaws
- Red Lanterns
- Resurrection Man
- The Savage Hawkman
- Static Shock
- Stormwatch
- Suicide Squad
- Superboy
- Supergirl
- Superman
- Swamp Thing
- Teen Titans
- Voodoo
- Wonder Woman
Shadowpact, which came out of Infinite Crisis, has been kicking around since (pre-reboot), and had their own mini-series. They were principally a magic-based team investigating magic-based crimes, though their roster included Detective Chimp.