"Syndicate Rules": Part Six--Divided
Writer: Kurt Busiek
Artists: Ron Garney(p), Dan Green(i), David Baron(c)
Publisher: DC
The narrative in JLA is a bit of a mess, but it's difficult to dislike a book that has set-pieces that make perfect sense.
The space scenes unwittingly mimic the last issue of JLA Unlimited as well as the absurdly bad Our Worlds at War, but Kurt Busiek gets it right. Given the beam widths, Power Girl has a shot at blocking the entirety of the blast. Given her toughness--as opposed to invulnerability--she as well has a chance to be undamaged by that beam. Her actions exhibit not denseness but courage and intelligence.
When the firepower proves too much even for the invulnerable--a stand out scene for Garney--the heroes use what? Paradise Island? Atlantis? No! Asteroids! Space is filled with them. Superman, Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel just grab some and use the objects to confuse the targeting sensors of the Void Hound. The beams destroy the asteroids not the heroes. Thank you. Finally, somebody has remembered to use his brain.
Meanwhile, Batman leads an away team to The Crime Syndicate's Earth. The use of separate teams alludes to classic JLA technique. The friction between Green Arrow and Black Canary, on Batman's team, is definitely a post-Crisis nod, but Busiek's recognition of the era gives Black Canary more dignity and backbone than that of previous versions of the character, which kept ignoring Green Arrow's cheating heart and returning to him. I should point out that during the pre-Crisis their philosophies caused friction in their relationship, but they loyally remained a couple. Simple times of course cannot apparently be re-experienced.
Busiek's Batman was better served in JLA/Avengers. In this issue, his dialogue sounds off. Busiek does however know what to do with him. His job is to create fear and dissension in the dictatorship of the Crime Syndicate, and nobody better instills fear. His off characterization could be an example of Busiek's confusion regarding Batman's place in the mess that DC calls continuity.
Busiek always attempts not to step on anybody's toes. His Batman in JLA/Avengers was based on the classic model, but somebody who actually believes every book DC puts out can still work together as one happy, cohesive universe would definitely feel perplexed by Batman's behavior--psychotic bastard in his own titles; "the world's greatest detective" whenever Morrison has him; witty in Giffin's tales. Sooner or later, Busiek will find his own voice for Batman and abandon attempts to incorporate everything. It just can't be done. I recommend ignoring the psychotic bastard characterization.
The whole concept of JLA Elite rankles me. The Elite isn't like Section 31 in the newer Star Trek series. The Federation does not condone the actions of Section 31. Section 31 are essentially vigilantes within the organization. The JLA however acknowledge the Elite.
Busiek brings in the Elite on this case to once again be nice to everybody. To disregard the Elite's existence would slight whoever's writing the book and the hypothesis that DC is still a unified front rather than satraps of deteriorating continuity stuck in a maelstrom of chaos having a singularity comprised of Hawkman, Power Girl and the Legion of Super-Heroes.
Fortunately, the Elite could be replaced by just about anybody: The Outsiders for instance. The important player in the battle against the Crime Syndicate is the Red Tornado. Busiek employs some pre-Crisis continuity that has yet to be specifically tampered with in order to give the reader a surprising jolt and an amused grin.
Not a perfect chapter in JLA, and the plot doesn't exactly flow, but the parts of the whole entertain.
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