Written by (See Credits Below)
Art by (See Credits Below)
Cover Art by Andy Smith; Ernie Colon; & Carlos Badilla
SUMMARY:
Published by DC Comics for September 2011, this 56-page one-shot celebrates DC’s Earth-Prime with a ‘lost’ 1970s-style Justice League adventure. The League roll call consists of Wonder Woman; Green Lantern; Flash; Zatanna Zatara; Green Arrow; Hawkman; and Red Tornado. Also included is a reprint of 1975’s original Justice League of America # 123, which is the first half of a JLA-JSA team-up. Its six-member JLA consists of Black Canary; Batman; Hawkman; Green Arrow; Flash; and Aquaman. The JSA representatives of Earth-Two are Dr. Mid-Nite; Hourman; Wonder Woman; Johnny Thunder; Wildcat; and the adult Robin.
“Enter Justice League Prime” (33 pages): Writer: Cary Bates, with art by Gordon Purcell; José Marzán Jr.; Andy Smith; Carlos Badilla; & Wes Abbott.
The League intervenes upon discovering that Kanjar Ro has intercepted Adam Strange’s Zeta-beam. Reaching Earth, the beam splits by sending Strange off to Earth-Prime and Ro to Earth-One’s surface. While Green Lantern & Hawkman search for Kanjar Ro, Flash leads an undercover retrieval team to retrieve Strange from Earth-Prime. The League’s best hope lies with the Flash’s most trusted associate in that dimension. To thwart Ro’s power grab, the League must reunite to stop him.
“Where on Earth am I?” (22 pages): Writers: Cary Bates & Elliot S! Maggin, with art by Dick Dillin; Frank McLaughlin; and Ben Oda.
On Earth-Prime, DC Comics writers Cary Bates and Elliott Maggin unwisely bumble with a cosmic treadmill left behind by Barry Allen’s Flash during a prior visit. Bates inadvertently lands on Earth-Two where he becomes a reality-warping super-villain bedeviling the Justice Society. Attempting to retrieve Bates, Maggin teams with Earth-One’s Justice League. A stunning plot twist on Earth-Two awaits them.
Note: The reprint’s cover image by artist Ernie Chua and credits have been omitted. The credits above are cited from 2006’s Crisis on Multiple Earths, Vol. 4 trade paperback.
REVIEW:
Veteran writer Cary Bates is on his game on the lead feature, as this joint homage to the Justice League and Adam Strange is pure nostalgia. Bates ingeniously sets up his retro-storyline that it doesn’t seem remotely dated (short of recreating Zatanna’s hokey sorceress outfit). Speaking of dubious fashion choices, there is even an amusing gag re: one of Wonder Woman’s costume updates from that era. Perhaps another gag is the art team’s choice to depict Barry Allen’s blond hair as reddish-orange, which makes him look more like Wally West.
As a parental advisory, a mental institution’s controversial use of electroshock treatment is the plot’s explanation for a character’s amnesia. How Bates’ League cures temporary amnesia can only be described as comic book logic. Including the delightfully low-key visuals, the lead feature otherwise delivers a kid-friendly gem well worth reading.
As for the reprint, readers can interpret this crossover one of two ways: either it’s ridiculously self-indulgent of the writers, or just enjoy Bates & Elliot Maggin spoofing themselves. Although the story is an intriguing JLA-JSA team-up, the writing duo allot themselves too much screen time.
Also, it’s a shame that this one-shot doesn’t go the extra mile as an 80-page special by including this story’s conclusion: Justice League of America # 124. As compared to contemporary mainstream comics glorifying bloody violence and profanity-spewing dialogue, Retroactive 1970’s: Justice League of America # 1 is still a welcome gem to read.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
Ian Sattler’s single-page DC Nation column hypes the 2011 San Diego Comic-Con.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 8 Stars
