Month: January 2022

Written by Mark Waid; Chuck Dixon; & Scott Beatty.

Art by Mike S. Miller; Bryan Hitch; Darryl Banks; Cliff Rathburn; Paul Neary; Dave Meikis; Wayne Faucher; David Baron; Laura DePuy; Ken Lopez; & Bill Oakley.

Cover Art by Bryan Hitch; Paul Neary; & Laura DePuy.

SUMMARY:

Released by DC Comics in 2002, this 144-page paperback  collects JLA # 55-60 from 2001-2002.  The team roster consists of: Superman; Wonder Woman  (presently stripped of her royal tiara); Wally West’s Flash; Plastic Man; Kyle Rayner’s Green Lantern; Martian Manhunter; Aquaman (Issue # 60 only); and a reinstated Batman. 

Like ghosts escaping the JLA’s closet, Earth’s sleeper cell of White Martians awaken to seek bloodthirsty vengeance.  With the Martian Manhunter as their tortured captive, the shape-shifting White Martians seemingly anticipate the short-handed League’s every counter-move.  Overpowered, the team goes into desperation mode, as even the nebulous Phantom Zone may not be a safe refuge. 

Guest cameos include: Firestorm; Krypto; Impulse; John Henry Irons’ Steel; Zatanna Zatara; Alan Scott’s Green Lantern; and the Atom.  Terror Incognita’s four segments are: “Came the Pale Riders;” “The Harvest;” “Mind Over Matter;” and “Dying Breath.”

Facing off vs. a Joker-ized Doctor Polaris in the Arctic, even the JLA’s firepower may not be enough in “Bipolar Disorder.”  Batman and Green Lantern disagree on combat tactics, as both boast familiarity with different aspects of this unique adversary.  On Christmas Eve, Plastic Man tries coaxing his friend’s skeptical little boy to sleep with a tale of how Santa Claus joined the JLA.  In “Merry Christmas, Justice League — Now Die!,” the League needs Santa’s help taking down the nefarious Neron’s forces in his demonic underworld workshop.    

REVIEW:

Aside from an unnecessary human brain-eating sub-plot (gore is only inferred), Terror Incognita’s four-part adventure is a solid read.  For instance, this sequel’s continuity utilizing earlier storylines from this particular JLA series is well-played.  Mark Waid’s scripting takes some welcome twists, as the art squad’s visuals are consistently good.  Though it is often standard JLA storytelling, Terror Incognita is still satisfying and occasionally unpredictable. 

The same assessment applies to “Bipolar Disorder,” especially as Plastic Man’s amusing Three Stooges tribute late in the game is worth catching.  Arguably, the artwork for Chuck Dixon & Scott Beatty’s one-shot tale is this book’s best.  While his Santa vs. Neron caper goes darker than necessary, Mark Waid’s goofy JLA/Santa team-up is something of a comedy gem – wait for the last panel!  This last story’s visuals seem reasonably good, too.    

Though this compilation isn’t a must-have, Terror Incognita (including the two bonus stories) delivers on its moderate potential for adult fans.    

Parental Note: There are some horrific inferences for young readers (i.e. J’onn J’onzz’s nude torture; and Batman observing the White Martians harvesting brains from their telepathic human captives).

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

There’s a three-page cover gallery.  The covers are presented in a half-page format (Issues # 55-58 artists: Hitch, Neary, & DePuy; Issue # 59 artist: Bill Sienkiewicz; and Issue # 60’s artists are Cliff Rathburn & Paul Neary).  

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                 6½ Stars

Written by Mark Waid.

Art by Bryan Hitch; J.H. Williams III; Javier Saltares; Phil Jimenez; Ty  Templeton; Doug Mahnke; Mark Pajarillo; Mike S. Miller; Paul Neary; Mick Gray; Chris Ivy; Kevin Nowlan; Drew Geraci; Walden Wong; Armando Durruthy; Laura DePuy; John Kalisz; & Ken Lopez.

Cover Art by Bryan Hitch; Paul Neary; & Laura DePuy.

SUMMARY:

Released by DC Comics in 2001, this 208-page paperback compiles JLA # 47-54 from 2000-2001.  The JLA roster presently consists of: Wonder Woman; Martian Manhunter; Superman; Wally West’s Flash; Plastic Man; Aquaman; and Kyle Rayner’s Green Lantern.  After Tower of Babel’s controversial events, a malcontent Batman is now exiled from the team. 

Introducing the wicked Queen of Fables, the storybook sorceress transforms DC’s New York City into a medieval fantasy-land upon mistaking Wonder Woman as her hated step-daughter: Snow White.  Without Batman’s leadership, the League struggles to improvise an effective strategy to thwart the Queen.  The storyline’s three issue titles are: “Into the Woods;” “Truth is Stranger;” and “Unhappily Ever After.”   

Describing the team’s struggle with trust issues vs. Doctor Destiny, the Man of Steel privately implores Batman to make things right with the League in “Dream Team.”  Yet, the Dark Knight won’t compromise his privacy unless Superman is also willing to play by these new rules.

With the team’s secret identities now revealed to their teammates, an extradimensional entity known as ‘I.D.’ splits Superman; Batman; Green Lantern; Flash; Martian Manhunter; & Plastic Man from their alter egos into separate individuals.  As conveyed in costume changes by the Flash and Superman, without their mortal personas, the League finds itself eerily more efficient than ever before. 

Yet, the six powerless ‘secret identities’ conclude realize they must end I.D.’s possibly irreversible damage to Earth.  Could old-school mobster Patrick “Eel” O’Brian (aka Plastic Man) be their unlikely catalyst?  Does Metamorpho’s bizarre predicament tie in?  Divided We Fall’s four related segments are “Man and Superman;” “Element of Surprise;” “It Takes a Thief;” and “United We Fall.”    

The outcome secretly sets up the next volume’s main storyline: Terror Incognita.

REVIEW:

Boasting often stellar visuals, the Queen of Fables’ storyline excels with an assortment of inspired twists, even if its outcome is hardly in doubt.  In that sense, writer Mark Waid has a field day playing up macabre elements of familiar fairy tales. 

By comparison, the split-personality caper is a dose of formulaic JLA storytelling with sporadically above-average artwork.  Still, the role that Plastic Man’s alter ego contributes is well-played.  Bridging the two halves is a good Doctor Destiny adventure that allows the team to briefly escape Batman & Superman’s enormous shadows.  As with the scripting, the artwork isn’t remarkable, but it is easily more than sufficient. 

Ultimately, JLA: Divided We Fall isn’t a must-have read, but this collection is reasonably good DC entertainment.  

Parental Note: The grotesque fates of the Queen’s first victims (a mother and young daughter) are presumably undone, as inferred by a comment made by Wonder Woman.  Still, Waid should have been more overt updating what has happened to them.     

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

Rendered in full-page format, Hitch & Neary’s eight covers are provided.  

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                 6 Stars

Written by Brian Azzarello.

Art by Jim Lee; Scott Williams; Richard Friend; Sandra Hope; Matt Banning; Eric Basaldua; Danny Miki; Trevor Scott; Tim Townsend; Joe Weems; Alex Sinclair; Rob Leigh; & Nick J. Napolitano.

Cover Art by Jim Lee; Scott Williams; & Alex Sinclair.

SUMMARY:

Released by DC Comics in 2005, this 160-page paperback compiles Superman # 210-215 from 2004-2005.  Previously, one million random humans (including Lois Lane) have ominously vanished from Earth.  Even Batman & Wonder Woman suspect that this baffling enigma is irreversible.  Weeks later, having previously confided in a terminally ill Father Daniel Leone in Metropolis, a disturbed Superman brings his new friend to visit the Fortress of Solitude. 

Among its possessions is a silvery metallic orb containing ‘The Phantom Zone.’  Having deduced Superman’s intentions, Batman dispatches Wonder Woman to thwart the Man of Steel from potentially recreating ‘The Vanishing.’  Further complicating matters is the enigmatic spy-mercenary, Elias Orr, who is deployed by a shadowy organization with evidently sinister motives.  Orr’s objective is revealed to cross mortal lines into both super-technology and ancient magic. 

The Fortress is destroyed by Superman’s Arctic battle with Wonder Woman.  Still, she reluctantly allows him to continue probing the secret of ‘The Vanishing.’  Within a reconfigured Phantom Zone of his own design, Superman explores a seemingly idyllic paradise intended as humanity’s refuge in the event of Earth’s destruction. 

Contemplating his role as Earth’s self-appointed savior, the Man of Steel finds that not all its residents forces worship peace within this sanctuary.  Along with robot duplicates of Jor-El, Lara, & Clark Kent, a reunited Superman & Lois must face off vs. his father’s worst foe in a fiery showdown to save a million lives.

Meanwhile, an abducted Father Daniel’s fate may be linked to the destruction of Superman’s fabricated dreamworld.  With the meaningful location of a new Fortress revealed, it is indicated that the world will move on soon forgetting the mysterious ‘Vanishing.’

Note: This title was also previously released as a hardcover.

REVIEW:

Jim Lee’s art squad conjures up a veritable trove of visual magic; their work is equal to what Michael Turner’s Aspen Comics team does illustrating the futuristic Superman: Godfall.  Hence, the best asset of Superman: For Tomorrow, Volume 2 (i.e. the cover image) consistently speaks for itself.    

Yet, much like Turner & Joe Kelly’s iffy plotting in Godfall, fault lies with Brian Azzarello’s top-heavy storyline.  Azzarello strives for a thought-provoking impetus where Superman tries re-engineering Jor-El’s strategy to save all rather than just one.  Aside from its biblical allusions, For Tomorrow’s pretentious second half is a slog to read before bursting into apocalyptic combat for the outcome.  It’s really then no surprise then that neither charm nor some humorous relief matter in Azzarello’s dark script.  Instead, along with occasional profanities, he opts for Orr’s misogyny directed at Wonder Woman and the enigmatic villainess, Halcyon, as a dubious bonus for readers.

More indignity comes at the expense of Father Daniel, who would have likely made a welcome addition to Superman’s recurring Metropolis cast.  Horrifically bio-engineering Daniel into a monstrous super-soldier makes little sense, let alone conveniently casting him off the way Azzarello does.  All it does is further spell out how condescending Azzarello’s melancholic Superman is — no matter the good intentions from either Azzarello or the Man of Steel himself. 

While For Tomorrow’s creative team merits credit for trying to concoct an ambitious storyline, Volume 2 is a downcast reading experience.       

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

Jim Lee pens a two-page afterword.  All the Lee-Williams-Sinclair covers are reproduced in a full-page format.  Lee provides a two-page project sketchbook.  Azzarello, Lee, Williams, & Sinclair offer their various acknowledgements.  Lastly, there’s a single biography page introducing the creative team’s four main players, as well as Leigh and Napolitano.  

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                 5½ Stars