Written by Adam Beechen & Paul D. Storrie
Art by Carlo Barberi; Rick Burchett; Ethen Beavers; Gordon Purcell; Jim Royal; Lary Stucker; Bob Petrecca; Jesse Delperdang; Heroic Age; Travis Lanham; Phil Balsman; Rob Leigh; Kanila Tripp; & Ty Templeton
SUMMARY:
Released by DC Comics in 2008, this 142-page, standard-size trade paperback reprints Justice League Unlimited # 16-22 (from 2006). Though unbilled as Volume 4, its seven stories consist of:
- “Smashing Through the Snow” (Issue # 16). Written by Adam Beechen; Art (including cover) by Carlo Barbieri; Inks by Jim Royal; Colors by Heroic Age; Letters by Travis Lanham; and Cover Colors by Kanila Tripp.
- Heroes: Atom Smasher, Supergirl, Firestorm, Stargirl, Power Girl, & Hawkgirl.
For Christmas Day, the JLU’s youngest members are assigned Watchtower duty. The team investigates a prison break by a Blockbuster-like villain called Girder. Supergirl consoles a grieving Atom Smasher re: his deceased uncle. Learning Girder’s poignant motive for escaping, Atom Smasher & Supergirl are reminded of the holiday’s true meaning.
- “Let Freedom Ring” (Issue # 17). Written by Adam Beechen; Art (including cover) by Carlo Barbieri; Inks by Lary Stucker; Colors by Heroic Age; Letters by Phil Balsman; and Cover Colors by Kanila Tripp.
- Heroes: Superman; Green Lantern (John Stewart); Green Arrow; Atom; Gypsy; Booster Gold; and The Freedom Fighters (Uncle Sam, Phantom Lady, Human Bomb, Black Condor, Doll Man, & the Golden Age Ray).
Ordered by General Mendenhall to discreetly swipe incriminating evidence against the ‘renegade’ JLU from its own Watchtower, the patriotic Freedom Fighters reluctantly battle their friends.
- “Fare 48” (Issue # 18). Written by Adam Beechen; Art (including cover) by Ethen Beavers; Colors by Heroic Age; Letters by Rob Leigh; and Cover Colors by Kanila Tripp.
- Heroes: Superman & guest star Space Cabbie, with cameos by Wonder Woman, Batman, Hawkgirl, Flash, Martian Manhunter, & Green Lantern (John Stewart).
Set prior to the Justice League Unlimited era, this Silver Age-like tale has the Man of Steel desperately seeking a fast getaway after a deep space ambush. With the Psions in pursuit, Space Cabbie takes on the galaxy’s hottest fare.
- “The Justice Rangers Ride Again” (Issue # 19). Written by Adam Beechen; Pencils by Gordon Purcell; Inks by Bob Petrecca; Colors (including cover colors) by Heroic Age; Letters by Travis Lanham; and Cover Art by Ty Templeton.
- Heroes: Wonder Woman, Vigilante (Greg Saunders), Elongated Man; Jonah Hex; El Diablo; & Bat Lash.
A freak time-traveling accident propels Wonder Woman, Elongated Man, and the Vigilante into an Old West showdown vs. the Time Commander. In 1879 Wyoming, the JLU posse recruits Jonah Hex, El Diablo, and Bat Lash. The stakes are even higher, as there’s some potentially chaotic Back to the Future issues to contend with. Note: The Justice Rangers Ride Again isn’t billed on the book’s back cover.
- “Just Us Girls” (Issue # 20). Written by Paul D. Storrie; Art by Rick Burchett; Colors (including cover art) by Heroic Age; Letters by Travis Lanham; and Cover Art by Ty Templeton.
- Heroes: Mary Marvel; Supergirl; Black Canary; Hawkgirl; Dr. Light (Dr. Kimiyo Hoshi); Huntress; and Wonder Woman. Cameos: Captain Atom; Elongated Man; Blue Beetle (Ted Kord); Fire; Martian Manhunter; along with JLU Watchtower cafeteria cameos by the original Crimson Avenger; Vigilante (Greg Saunders); Hawk & Dove; Crimson Fox; Shining Knight; the alien Starman; Dr. Mid-Nite; Creeper; Mr. Terrific; the original Question; Superman; and B’wana Beast.
Seeking out Wonder Woman for advice, new recruit Mary Marvel is befriended by another teen powerhouse. The world’s two mightiest teenage girls aid an all-ladies JLU squad in battle vs. Gotham gangster Maxie Zeus and his New Olympians.
- “Stormy Weather” (Issue # 21). Written by Adam Beechen; Pencils by Carlo Barbieri; Inks by Jesse Delperdang; Colors (including cover art) by Heroic Age; Letters by Travis Lanham; and Cover Art by Ty Templeton.
- Heroes: Vixen; Green Lantern (John Stewart); Black Canary; and Green Arrow, with cameos by Hawkgirl, Fire, and Captain Atom.
Reminiscent of the JLU animated episode, “Double Date,” Black Canary & Green Arrow team in a storm-plagued Star City with Vixen & Green Lantern. The opposition, courtesy of Heat Wave & Killer Frost (who are arguing over whether or not she is seeing Mr. Freeze on the sly) includes a massive storm.
- “Outside Looking In” (Issue # 22). Written by Adam Beechen; Art by Rick Burchett; Colors (including cover art) by Heroic Age; Letters by Phil Balsman; and Cover Art by Ty Templeton.
- Heroes: Gypsy, Flash, and Captain Atom, with back-up from Aztek; Huntress; Atom Smasher; Supergirl; Mr. Terrific; Atom; the Ray (Ray Terrill); and Martian Manhunter.
Apparently botching a warehouse raid, Gypsy tries to make amends for her mistake. Her efforts impact a robotic ambush on the JLU at the Global Defense Summit.
REVIEW:
Featuring a nice assortment of tales and terrific artwork mimicking the TV series’ animation, this compilation should be construed as JLU adventures between episodes. The book also proves an undemanding read for adult fans who prefer a kid-friendly ambiance in reading comics. Two stories even echo the TV series’ ongoing storylines (i.e. the anti-JLU conspiracy and the Green Lantern-Hawkgirl-Vixen love triangle, etc.), as “Let Freedom Ring” and “Stormy Weather” could easily have been stellar episodes. Overall, The Ties That Bind is an excellent buy for Justice League fans.
Note: This book shares the same cover as the digest-sized Vol. 1: United They Stand (which reprints issues # 1-5).
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
For this book’s conclusion, there’s a two-page spread of portrait-sized replicas of the covers.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 8 Stars
