Written by John Ostrander
Art by Val Semeiks; Prentis Rollins; John Kalisz; Heroic Age; & Ken Lopez
Cover Art by Val Semeiks; Prentis Rollins; John Kalisz; & Heroic Age
Role Call: Green Lantern (Hal Jordan); Black Canary (Dinah Laurel Lance); Aquaman (Arthur Curry); Flash (Barry Allen); Martian Manhunter (J’onn J’onzz); Batman (Bruce Wayne); Superman (Clark Kent); Zatanna Zatara; Firestorm (Ronnie Raymond / Professor Martin Stein); Red Tornado; & Elongated Man (Ralph Dibny).
SUMMARY:
Published by DC Comics for October 2001, the 40-page fourth installment of this seven-part mini-series is entitled “Balance.” After Aquaman & Zatanna thwart some zany pirates, the League’s implosion begins with Batman’s bitter departure. Awaiting an opportune time, by using stealth technology, the alien Debris is in position to destroy the JLA’s satellite HQ before conquering Earth.
In Atlantis, it’s up to Aquaman, Zatanna, Green Lantern, and Elongated Man (along with Martian Manhunter) to quickly devise a counter-strike to save the planet. The League’s uncertain future hangs in the balance, as founding member Aquaman resorts to a bombshell decision that changes everything.
Note: This series’ continuity builds off 1998’s Justice League: Year One twelve-part mini-series, so Wonder Woman hasn’t yet joined.
REVIEW:
If anything, writer John Ostrander’s storyline cohesion re: this series is a major asset. Per a comment from Black Canary, it is indicated that five or six years have lapsed since JLA: Year One. By smartly pointing out the League’s evolving personal lives: i.e. the Flash’s murder trial, Aquaman’s new secret identity, Black Canary’s loss of her mother, etc., Ostrander reminds readers that most Leaguers aren’t full-time heroes. He also does smooth work setting up a plausible transition from the pre-Crisis era to Issue # 5’s Crisis/Legends era.
Keeping up with Ostrander’s inspired storytelling, the art squad enhances his work with likely some of the best DC visuals from that time. This creative team clearly cares about ensuring that this series merits top-caliber attention, and Issue # 4 is no exception. As of this writing, this mini-series inexplicably hasn’t been collected by DC Comics as a trade paperback. If one wants proof positive of why there should be one, JLA: Incarnations # 4 (not to mention, the first three issues) makes a most convincing case.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
Reviving the “JLA Mail Room” column, the last page offers more fan correspondence for JLA: Incarnations # 1.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 9 Stars
