Written by Dwayne McDuffie
Art by Carlos Pacheco; Jesus Merino; Pete Pantazis; & Rob Leigh
Cover Art by Carlos Pacheco; Jesus Merino; & Alex Sinclair
SUMMARY:
Entitled “The Gathering Crisis,” DC Comics released this Sightings tie-in for July 2008, as a precursor slowly building towards Final Crisis. Within an interdimensional conference room hidden at the Hall of Justice, Wonder Woman, Batman, & Superman undermine team leader Black Canary’s authority by resuming their tradition of secret meetings. Against a D-List threat in The Human Flame pulling a late-night solo bank heist in Baltimore, Hawkgirl & Red Arrow encounter far more than they bargain for.
Along with Jason Rusch’s Firestorm, Red Arrow & Hawkgirl (both now recuperating from injuries) are briefed by Red Tornado re: the threat of Libra. Referenced earlier by the League’s ‘Big Three,’ a long-time Leaguer evidently intends to return to Earth. Meanwhile, Libra’s all-star super-villain squad convenes in an appropriately sleazy Central City hideout to plot and scheme.
REVIEW:
Writer Dwayne McDuffie pens a solid, if not transitional, stew of sub-plots to keep a bigger plot boiling. The only questionable snippet of dialogue pertains to Superman dismissing a snarky Batman comment as “beaten half to death.” Considering the recent (and frankly inappropriate) fate of Earth-Two’s Superman, that seems like a cringe-worthy remark for the Man of Steel to make. Otherwise, McDuffie’s story works well enough as is.
Including the cover image, what enhances Justice League of America # 21 are the art squad’s excellent visuals. That element alone makes this issue a keeper.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
DC Senior Editor Mike Marts hypes the Batman R.I.P. arc in the “DC Nation” column. Thumbnail cover reveals are for Brave and The Bold # 13; Cyborg # 1; and Justice League of America # 22. DC goofs by including this issue’s cover as well.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 7 Stars
