Written by (See Below).
Art by (See Below).
Collection Cover Art by Jim Lee & Tamra Bonvillain.
SUMMARY:
In 2024, DC Comics released this 124-page hardcover consisting of twelve short stories, plus assorted bonus materials. The 2018-2021 reprints were compiled from: DC Pride # 1; New Year’s Evil # 1; Mysteries of Love in Space # 1; and Young Monsters in Love # 1.
The tales are:
- Batwoman / Alice: The Wrong Side of The Glass (10 pages). Writer: James Tynion IV & artwork by Trung Le Nguyen & Aditya Bidikar. Kate Kane’s Batwoman wistfully recalls a childhood ‘looking glass’ game she had played with her twin sister, Beth. After Beth’s supposed death, this game’s mirror-like influence would take an emotional toll in shaping Kate’s womanhood. In the present-day, Batwoman and Beth (now called Alice) are compelled to play a different game against the Mad Hatter.
- Extraño, Constantine, & Midnighter: By The Victors (8 pages). Writer: Steve Orlando & artwork by Stephen Byrne & Josh Reed. In a London pub one night, John Constantine attempts to hook up with a married sorcerer, Extraño – Gregorio De La Vega. De La Vega subsequently recounts a date night team-up with the Midnighter against a neo-Nazi vampire, Count Berlin. Afterwards, Constantine isn’t by any means romantically deterred.
- Renee Montoya’s Question: Try The Girl (4 pages). Writer: Vita Ayala & artwork by Skylar Partridge, José Villarubia;, & Ariana Maher. The Question tries to avert a bleak ending for Gotham defense attorney, Valeria Johnson, who has evidently been abducted by thugs with an unknown motive. The sparkling end teases a possible new relationship for Renee Montoya.
- Poison Ivy & Harley Quinn: Another Word for a Truck to Move Your Furniture (8 pages). Writer Mariko Tamaki & artwork by Amy Reeder, Marissa Louise, & Ariana Maher. In battle against a monster plant threatening Gotham City, Poison Ivy prods Harley Quinn into taking their romance more seriously.
- Alan Scott’s Green Lantern & Obsidian: He’s The Light of My Life! (8 pages). Writer: Sam Johns & artwork by Klaus Janson, Dave McCaig, & Tom Napolitano. Meeting his son Todd’s boyfriend, Alan Scott (also now publicly out) reveals a poignant glimpse of his first love prior to his destiny as Green Lantern.
- Future State Flash: Clothes Makeup Gift (8 pages). Writer: Danny Lore & artwork by Lisa Sterle; Enrica Angiolini; & Becca Carey. Facing a new Mirror Master, Jess Chambers’ Flash finds she might run short on time preparing for her imminent date night with Andy Curry – Aquaman & Mera’s daughter.
- Pied Piper: Be Gay, Do Crime (4 pages). Writer: Sina Grace & artwork by Ro Stein, Ted Brandt, & Aditya Bidikar. In Keystone City, the Pied Piper thwarts Drummer Boy’s mind-controlled heist, only to find they have a common adversary.
- Dreamer: Date Night (8 pages). Writer: Nicole Maines & artwork by Rachael Stott, Enrica Eren Angiolini, & Steve Wands. Before her movie date with Brainiac Five, Nia Nal (Dreamer) honors a prior commitment taking down a League of Shadows cell group in National City. Note: Dreamer’s transgenderism isn’t referenced.
- Monsieur Mallah & The Brain: Visibility (8 pages). Writer: Steve Orlando & artwork by Nic Klein & Tom Napolitano. To end a hostage crisis, Metropolis SCU Captain Maggie Sawyer tries to bargain with Monsieur Mallah and an uncooperative Brain. The Brotherhood of Evil duo’s intertwined origin is also presented in flashback.
- Crush: Crushed (8 pages). Writer: Andrea Shea & artwork by Amancay Nahuelpan, & Trish Mulvihill. In Portland, a furious 15-year-old Crush seeks vengeance after her date ends in a sinister double-cross.
- Renee Montoya & Harley Quinn: Little Christmas Tree (8 pages). Writer: Vita Ayala & artwork by Elena Casagrande, Jordie Bellaire, & Dave Sharpe. Prior to the Christmas weekend, Detective Montoya intervenes in saving Harley Quinn from a bad arrest by the Gotham City Police. Sensing Renee’s loneliness, an undeterred Harley won’t take ‘no’ for an answer in reciprocating the kindness.
- Jackson Hyde’s Aqualad & Justice League Queer: Love Life (8 pages). Writer: Andrew Wheeler & artwork by Luciano Vecchio, Rex Lokus, & Becca Carey. Jackson & Sylvan “Syl” Ortega’s first date at a Pride parade is marred by Eclipso’s menacing presence.
Notes: This title is also available digitally. Though he appears on the collection’s cover, Apollo appears only in a brief cameo in the last story.
REVIEW:
Starting with the varying artistic styles, the visuals are generally a welcome asset. None of these twelve stories skimp on their caliber of artwork, but, as one could expect, it’s a matter of visual preference. As for the scripting, however, it’s obvious that readers are getting glorified back-up tales. For efficiency’s sake, it’s best to rate these stories individually.
- “The Wrong Side of The Glass.” Rating: 8 Stars.
Quick Take: James Tynion IV’s insightful deep dive into Kate Kane’s psyche blends well with the low-key visuals.
- “By The Victors.” Rating: 3½ Stars.
Quick Take: Love and Justice’s best artwork is frankly squandered by Constantine’s blatant effort flirting with a married sorcerer. Ambiguity stems from his actual objective: is he seeking an undefined team-up against an evil force or just merely a tawdry fling? As it’s evidently the latter, good taste precludes from revealing the last page’s unnecessary inference.
- “Try The Girl.” Rating: 8½ Stars.
Quick Take: Given only so much can transpire in four pages, Valeria Johnson’s introduction suggests definite potential as Renee Montoya’s potential new love interest. Vita Ayala’s well-played writing and the art team’s terrific visuals make this entry likely Love and Justice’s best read.
- “Another Word for a Truck to Move Your Furniture.” Rating: 6 Stars.
Quick Take: Considering the amount of exposure that DC already allots Poison Ivy & Harley Quinn’s romance, this tale doesn’t contribute anything new. Aside from its double-entendre title, it’s just an okay read. Still, the story’s quirky entertainment value should please the duo’s fanbase.
- “He’s The Light of My Life!” Rating: 6 Stars.
Quick Take: It’s an intriguing read, as Alan Scott reconnects with his estranged son over a newly acknowledged common bond. The story’s visuals are reasonably good. What might give fans pause, however, is DC’s retroactive tinkering with Alan Scott’s established backstory approximately eighty years after the character’s Golden Age debut.
- “Clothes Makeup Gift.” Rating: 6½ Stars.
Quick Take: Supported by nice artwork, the plotting should appeal to the Future State Flash’s fans.
- “Be Gay, Do Crime.” Rating: 4 Stars.
Quick Take: The story is quickly forgettable, but the artwork is still pretty good. As for the awful title, it’s the less said the better.
- “Date Night.” Rating: 8 Stars.
Quick Take: Scripted by the actress portraying Dreamer on the Supergirl TV series, readers get an entertaining action romp with great artwork.
- “Visibility.” Rating: 7 Stars.
Quick Take: Along with appropriate visuals, the script supplies this compilation’s most poignant and original storytelling. Conversely, DC’s Vertigo-era update of these Doom Patrol antagonists (making them an unconventional couple) might not resonate with readers remembering their Silver Age villainy.
- “Crushed.” Rating: 5½ Stars.
Quick Take: It’s an okay read, as the terrific artwork can’t boost an average revenge tale.
- “Little Christmas Tree.” Rating: 7 Stars.
Quick Take: The story’s charm and appealing artwork overcome Harley’s unexplained resourcefulness – which practically implies that she has magical powers. Still, writer Vita Ayala concocts the second of two solid Renee Montoya tales for Love and Justice.
- “Love Life.” Rating: 6½ Stars.
Quick Take: Apart from the implausibility of Aqualad surviving a solo showdown with Eclipso, it’s a fine read. More so, its introduction of Justice League Queer offers ideal closure for this compilation.
Including its bonus materials, DC Pride: Love and Justice, overall, isn’t necessarily a must-have for DC aficionados. This book’s contents, however, presents an intriguing library option.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
Starting this collection is writer Marc Andreyko’s full-page foreword from 2021. In the back, there is a sixteen full-page DC Pride variant cover gallery. Specifically, the cover artists are:
- Apollo & Midnighter (artist: David Talaski);
- Far Sector Green Lantern Sojourner Mullein (artist: Brittney Williams);
- John Constantine (artist: Kevin Wada);
- Secret Six’s Scandal Savage, Jeannette, & Knockout (artist: Kris Anka);
- Kamandi -? (artist: Nick Robles);
- Harley Quinn & Poison Ivy (artist: Sophie Campbell);
- Jackson Hyde’s Aqualad, Crush, Syl, & Traci 13 (artists: Travis Moore & Alejandro Sánchez);
- Batwoman, Renee Montoya, Batman, Ghost-Maker, & Bluebird (artist: Jen Bartel from Batman # 109);
- Superman (artist: David Talanski from Superman # 32);
- Wonder Woman (artist: Paulina Ganucheau from Wonder Woman # 773);
- Nightwing (artists: Travis Moore & Alejando Sánchez from Nightwing # 81);
- Future State Wonder Girl (artist: Kevin Wada from Wonder Girl # 2);
- Poison Ivy & Harley Quinn (artist : Kris Anka from Harley Quinn # 4);
- Teen Titans Academy (artist: Stephen Byrne from Teen Titans Academy # 4);
- Crush & Lobo (artist: Yoshi Yoshitani from Crush & Lobo # 1); and
- Harley Quinn & Poison Ivy (artist : Jen Bartel from DC Pride # 1).
Last are the live-action DCTV Pride profiles from DC Pride # 1. The character profiles each include interviews with Batwoman’s Javicia Leslie (for Ryan Wilder / Batwoman); Supergirl’s Nicole Maines (for Nia Nal / Dreamer); DC’s Legends of Tomorrow & Arrow’s Caity Lotz (for Sara Lance / White Canary); Constantine’s Matt Ryan (for John Constantine); Black Lightning’s Nafessa Williams (for Anissa Pierce / Thunder); and Doom Patrol’s Matt Bomer (for Larry Trainor / Negative Man).
The last page is an advertisement for other DC Pride-related graphic novels and collections.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 7 Stars
