Justice League International Annual #1 review

JLI members Batwing, Godiva and Guy Gardner save hostages in Africa, but back in Washington DC, team leader Booster Gold isn't entirely happy with how the mission went. He's hoping rookie members Blue Beetle and the Olympian will usher in a new era of glory. We learn why each has signed up before all heck breaks loose - evil computer Brother Eye has control of OMAC and plans to take down the JLI as practice for attacking the 'real' Justice League.

OMAC displays the stupid attitude that's permeated the just-cancelled JLI series - the idea that the global heroes are second stringers compared to the Justice League. Again and again we've seen Booster Gold's gang step up, with heroism and heart. Heck, I've found them a deal more admirable and effective than the Justice League of Frat Boys. The news that this annual, the JLI's final fling, was to be written by JL writer Geoff Johns, and DC co-publisher Dan DiDio, had me worried. The man who runs the 'real' Justice League and the chap who's overseen DC's descent into a darker universe. What's more, Johns isn't shy of maiming and killing B-listers for the sake of a shock splash panel in a big story.

Would anyone this side of fan favourite Guy Gardner survive?

But I forgot one thing: Johns adores Booster Gold. He took him from B-lister to star via the weekly 52 series and Booster's own spin-off. So Booster gets a great moment. And that love for Booster seems to have sparked goodwill towards his team - I won't reveal the fates of the various members, but it's safe to say that August General in Iron, Godiva, Olympian, Guy, Batwing, Blue Beetle and even that nasty OMAC live to fight another day. The OMAC plotline is being transferred to the Justice League title, while a surprise guest outlines the future of a few members, and it's one of which I heartily approve.

One thing I really like is that this issue loops two threads of pre-DC New 52 history into the new continuity: one involving Booster, the other Batman. Also heartening is that the JLI members aren't treated like losers, they're heroes through and through, with Godiva emerging as my favourite - compare the wimpy woman from JLI #1 to the brave Brit of this issue and you'll see she's come a long way. No, it's the regular Justice League members who come across as asses, and apart from Batman, none of them actually appear.

As Johns seeds future storylines left, right and centre, I cheered at the assertion by Surprise Guest that the Wonder Woman/Superman hook-up in this week's Justice League #12 is A Very Bad Thing. I could have told him that.

We don't have any reference to absent members Ice, Vixen and Fire, so I'm going to assume they're pretty much recovered from injuries sustained in the regular series, and about to leave hospital.

I don't know how the workload breaks down, but Johns and DiDio deserve credit for a fast-moving, satisfying, always entertaining script that caps the JLI's time together with style. And extra credit to whoever assigned Jason Fabok to this book - presumably editors Mike Marts and Brian Smith - because he makes the script sing. There's a power and grace to his characters that adds a sense of the epic to the tale. His storytelling is spot-on, his action scenes explode with energy and his quieter moments convince. I've a couple of favourite visuals: the tense confrontation between Godiva and the Olympian (click on image to enlarge), and the creepy aftermath of OMAC's encounter with August General in Iron. If memory serves, Fabok is off to one of the Batman titles; on this showing, I'll be following him. Colourist Jeromy Cox adds an extra dimension, his well-chosen tones upping the dramatic mood, while Travis Lanham's letters are well-placed.

So it's farewell to the Justice League International, gone, but in a blaze of glory the likes of which would warm Booster's heart.