Writers: Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis
Artists: Kevin Maguire and Joe Rubinstein
Publisher: DC
You know a writing staff's competent when you don't have to read previous issues of a series to get a grasp of what's going on in current reads. It's the same with Formerly Known As…, which as far as an uniformed reader is concerned---is the first issue of a whole new Justice League. As soon as a reader, new or old, sees the cover, they immediately know that they'll leave this book with a smile. It's the epitome of super herodom, and one of the most welcome titles in a long time. I was also pleased that Mr. Giffen and company didn't feel the need to update the characters---everyone has the same hair, costume, and even the paper looks the same as it did in 1989.
Maxwell Lord is at it again, this time reassembling the old Justice League team for "non-profit" reasons. Messrs. Giffen and Dematteis are such talented writers that they fit an exceptionally convincing script in just twenty-two pages, which feature hilarious interactions between the vast members of the team. In addition, all characters are reintroduced so well, that subsequent issues of this series will fall into place perfectly with their exploits in such good memory. I'm glad I get to escape the more modern Marvel titles this week which play more like movies in six-issue story arcs.
Although Terry Austin isn't inking this time around, Kevin Maguire's art looks practically the same as it did in '89. His characters are so simple, yet so complex at the same time in their facial expressions. Mr. Maguire is so talented that his fight scenes don't need complex colouring and exaggerations to look good. Also, his close-ups are just as convincing as his far away shots, which many modern artists don't have pinned down properly.
I've been looking forward to this book for months; anytime "80s relics" make a comeback, I'm usually the first one in line. But I wasn't sure what to expect from this continuance of the '89 Justice League. I never quite read the original Justice League books, since I was of interesting and it was the first thing I picked up in Closet of Comix in Ellicott City, MD, yesterday.
So why does it get
? Frankly speaking, there's such a great sense and feel here, that readers are sympathetic to the nostalgia at hand. They won't just come back to this book next month to see what happens, but they'll enjoy the talent and stories this extraordinary creative has to offer---a truly remarkable piece of comic literature. This book is the perfect template for any writer, artist, inker, letterer, or anyone trying to break into the business. The creative team is one of the most talented ever (re)assembled---this is reminiscent of days when comics were still be considered great, even if they weren't dark or controversial. I thoroughly enjoyed this Justice League, and so will you. It had me smiling, shaking my head, and oh, you have to love the scene between Max and Beatriz. That scene alone could go up on my refrigerator. I only wished the current JLA---heck, most comics in general, were this much fun.
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