"Castle Perilous"
Writer: Adam Beechen
Artist: Carlo Barberi (p), Walden Wong (i), Heroic Age(c)
Publisher: DC
Well, you can only expect super-hero goodness from Justice League Unlimited, but some issues just really excel with a point. In this tale, Adam Beechen shows that no hero is worthless. No hero is powerless, and no hero given a writer who cares needs to be a loser. Okay. Vibe will always be a loser, but he's the exception that proves the rule. What can you expect from a character inspired by Menuedo?
Vixen is a fan-favorite character that was created in the pre-Crisis by Gerry Conway and Curt Swan in Action Comics and later relegated to the weakest of all Leagues--Justice League Detroit. Vixen did get some payback when Batman rejoined in the post-Crisis to give that League some dignity and credibility. She really gained strength when Grant Morrison in Animal Man took her over; maybe he could have done something with Vibe, but I think even he has limits. The animated Vixen is a consolidation of the pre-Crisis and post-Crisis versions but with an excellent haircut and shock of all shocks a decent costume.
The plot to this issue of Justice League Unlimited involves time travel to King Arthur's Court. One may ask why Vixen a character who thanks to her magical talisman has the power to take on the abilities of animals would be necessary on a time travel mission, but Beechen provides the smart answer and lays to rest in the animated inspired Adventureverse the idea of A-list and B-list heroes. If you're in the League, you're simply a hero, and Beechen has them all act that way within parameters of their distinctive characterization.
While the focus this issue is on Vixen, Beechen and cohorts Carlo Barbieri and Walden Wong amuse also with action-packed drama involving the rest of the League. Black Canary gets a superb scene. Beechen actually and plausibly make Batman a source for amusement. The humor here is laden with subtext and parallels to the Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman triumvirate.
Satisfying from beginning to end with potent imagery and dead-accurate characterization, this extra thick issue of Justice League Unlimited should not be ignored by any fan of the old DC comic multiverse or the Cartoon Network series.
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