REVIEW: Justice League, Volume Two: The Villain's Journey

PLOT: Now that the team's origin story is complete, we shift to the present-day Justice League! What has changed? Who has joined the team since? And why does Green Arrow want to join those ranks so badly? Plus, the birth of a new super-villain! Someone is out to get the Justice League and he is determined to show the world how mortal these godlike beings really are!

REVIEW: I'm no longer that surprised anymore when I read a New 52 graphic novel, and find it to be so great that I just can't believe it took so long to do what they've done with all of these heroes. The first volume of Justice League was great, and probably the easiest and quickest read of all the New 52. It sets up their origin for how they came to be with each other, and it pits all of their personalities against one another and shows how dynamic of a group they are. One of the strengths in this book is the display of that very same thing, the bond and familiarity they have with one another's quirks and personalities is great. Everyone has a different way of speaking, or going about things, and in small arguments they use those to make fun of each other or bring someone back to reality. There are quite a few directed at Batman, which I really enjoy, because to this Justice League they're all pretty aware that Batman is the best of them and that's why they've agreed that he's the leader. That however, does not keep them from making fun of him, as he's often on the receiving end of this team's humor.

There are a lot of other things I love about this volume of Justice League, one of them being I think in the second issue of the collection where Green Arrow will stop at nothing to keep trying to butt in and join their team in a battle to prove he's worthy of the League. The way they show it battle after battle, from each page to the next really added to the humor of it and is probably really great set up for what is to come. Also, the villain was awesome. He goes by Graves, and he is able to bring the Justice League to their knees with weakness because his power is showing people their loss, and using it to incapacitate them. He's a great villain for them because no one in the Justice League is short on loss, and missing a loved one. I just also love the dark storylines that New 52 has had no problem incorporating into their new world, and making it really accessible for adults, as much as teens. As usual, I would highly recommend this volume of New 52 Justice League, as well as any other New 52 title out there right now. In addition, I'm not sure what all of the fuss was about with Wonder Woman kissing Superman. I get it, and it doesn't bother me, but it did come out of nowhere and in a pretty much cookie cutter chick flick moment between the two at the end of the volume. They could have at least used a little creativity in putting them together, but hey they might just be super wonderful together. Who knows.

WRITING : ( 9 / 10 )

ARTWORK : ( 9 / 10 )

STORY : ( 9 / 10 )

COVERS : ( 8 / 10 )

AWESOME : ( 9 / 10 )

FINAL RATING : ( 9 / 10 )

REVIEW: Aquaman, Volume Two: The Others

PLOT: Long before the King of the Seven Seas joined the Justice League, Aquaman was a part of another super-team: The Others. These young costumed adventurers traveled the globe, each trying to find their own individual road to redemption. Six years later after a grisly murder, The Others are reunited. They know only one man could be responsible: Black Manta. Aquaman must lead the charge to stop his arch-nemesis, but will the years have fractured The Others just enough to keep them from bringing this villain to justice?

REVIEW: After the stellar debut of Aquaman under the New 52 title, it was a big question as to whether or not one of the famed comic authors Geoff Johns could keep going full steam ahead with a character that seemed dead in the water. Aquaman has always had the stigma of being fruity, or lame, or just plain dumb as a super hero that comes from the depths of the ocean. I for one, was never a huge fan of the character, but Johns has brought such life to the character in these new volumes that it's definitely amongst some of my favorite titles now. In the first volume, The Trench, I was extremely impressed by not only the introductory story to the character but also the detailed and beautiful art by Ivan Reis and Joe Prado. This wasn't a title I expected to like at all, but after this second volume, it's been proved enough to me that the first was no fluke. The art again was completely breathtaking from regularly paneled pages, to the amazing covers and even the double page panels. The characters are all perfectly illustrated and just the attention to detail with all of the aquatic elements is just amazing. One thing that I really loved about this volume that the first volume didn't have was the story with The Others, and one in particular named Prisoner. I've never heard of him before but his storyline ending at the end was kind of touching, and really great and added to the story of Aquaman himself and who he's become. I'd highly recommend Aquaman to any of the New 52 fans out there looking for the better titles, and anyone looking for an overlooked series because this could easily be one of them for most. Geoff Johns, you are one of the masters. Not anyone could do what he's done with the character, and that's make the silly Aquaman character into a complete and total badass.

WRITING : ( 10 / 10 )

ARTWORK : ( 10 / 10 )

STORY : ( 9 / 10 )

COVERS : ( 10 / 10 )

AWESOME : ( 10 / 10 )

FINAL RATING : ( 10 / 10 )