DC Comics reviews for 6/28/17

Justice League of America #9

Steve Orlando wraps The Man From Monster Valley in two quick issues. Whatever issues this title has had since its inception, Orlando has been smart about going with shorter story arcs. Not that there was a lot of meat on the bones on this one anyway.

Gradually, the League learns Makson isn’t as innocent as he claims and is conspiring to kill his relatives for murdering his Monster Valley family. Orlando almost seemed to want to stick to a PG tone as it seems unlikely that a wild man in a locked room full of people wouldn’t have savagely taken out a few before the JLA rescue.

Most of the issue is an uninspired JLA vs Makson battle, which quickly becomes one-sided since Makson lacks powers. The epilogue plays out better with the League members considering their place on the team. Surprisingly, the Lobo/Atom pairing resulted in the issue’s most earnest and enjoyable segment.

I’m still waiting on Orlando to explain more of Batman’s ties to Vixen and why he trusts her to keep the others in line. Black Canary largely seems wasted and has less to do here than in either Green Arrow or Birds of Prey.

Felipe Watanabe’s art was an improvement this issue, but inconsistencies like Batman’s pupils and Lobo’s facial hair prove as equally frustrating as the stiff action sequences.

The growing pains for Justice League of America continue to be tough. Orlando seems on the verge of stringing along a good run on the book, but it remains just out of grasp. This issue was another step in the right direction though there’s still many miles left to go before this book reaches must-read status.

Rating: 7 out of 10