"Syndicate Rules" Part Four--36 Hours The Calm Before
Writer: Kurt Busiek
Artists: Ron Garney(p), Dan Green(i), Sno Cone(c)
Publisher: DC
Again, three bullets is not a bad score, and this issue of JLA is a borderline call between four bullets and three bullets. Technically, you cannot fault the writing. Kurt Busiek definitely had his Wheaties when smacking this out on his word processor. On the other hand, I have to say that there's just too much Crime Syndicate.
The joke of the Crime Syndicate posing as the JLA wears thin very quickly, and I really couldn't get into the proper frame of mind to enjoy villains battling villains. More fun is the Qward Weaponeers and Thunderers getting fighting some creatively concocted watchdogs.
Blink, and you will miss the League, but their true presence acts like a blast of crisp clean air. I find it odd though that the Trouble Alert--or whatever it's called now-- hasn't directed them to the battle between the Rainbow Riders and the disguised Syndicate Members. Perhaps, next issue.
The best thing about the book is how the people of the DCU react. This is how the populace should react when super-heroes start pulling their fat out of the fire. I like the idea that the people of the DCU are neither portrayed as worthless wastes of skin or mindless drones who attach themselves to the flavor of the month. I suppose some would argue that our reality's populace is different, but despite the presence of the Red States, I'd like to think differently.
Ron Garney excels his best. The scenes that blew me away was the visual representation of the Syndicate's arrogance. Even posing as heroes, you can see that these people are the bad guys. Garney does not rely on simple tricks to perform this act. Instead, he gives them different body language and creates unique expressions of anger, depravation and greed throughout their faces. For once, Batman actually looks like the noble hero he is because we can contrast him with his counterpart. Not a pretty sight.
This is the chapter I would have probably edited the most. The Syndicate outstays its welcome, and maybe that was Busiek's intent, but more Justice League is needed.
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