"The Simultaneous Effect"
Writer: Matt Howarth
Artists: Aluir Amancio(p), Rob Leigh(i), Tom McCraw(c)
Publisher: DC
Eh. Matt Howarth creates an impressive science fiction puzzle in Justice League Adventures, but the ending fizzles.
"Time is out of joint." Space isn't doing so hot either. It's up to the Justice League to put things right. They investigate and treat the symptoms affecting the earth, and a witty bit of characterization shows in the tradition of the mystery genre Batman's fundamental curiosity that helps make him "The World's Greatest Detective" leading him straight into trouble.
Batman and Wonder Woman are the focuses for this issue. The villain of the piece is one of Batman's old rogues from the forties, and Howarth suggests that this incarnation of the Bat has met the villain before. The implication that this version of Batman holds the history of the pre-Crisis is a delightful and amusing supposition. The Batman rogue also provides Wonder Woman with a powerful diversion that lets Mr. Howarth spotlight her martial prowess.
There's a definite Brave and Bold vibe from the team-up. In fact most of the other Leaguers' actions could have been incorporated into the talents of Batman and Wonder Woman. In most respects, Batman's and Diana's teammates are superfluous. On the other hand, Aluir Amancio draws Hawkgirl, and that enough is a reason for her existence in the book if not the story.
Mr. Amancio illustrated an impressive run of Superman Adventures, and he has lost none of his talent or thirst to present the DC icons with the sense grandeur and majesty that they each deserve. His Wonder Woman in particular is just awesome in every sense of the word.
The clutter of heroes is forgivable. The crippling blow to the book comes from the ending. After creating an intriguing problem for the League to solve, Howarth bases the solution on the worst of cut-rate sci-fi spectacles. Furthermore, there's no really good reason why the solution would work. Just the opposite could have occurred.
Justice League Adventures is usually a superior comic book, but this issue is lackluster. The story gains a little more respect thanks to the artwork, but the payoff is a huge letdown.
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