Bruce really likes adopting kids.
Creative Staff:
Story: JM DeMatteis, Keith Giffen
Art: Colleen Doran
Colors: Hi-Fi
What They Say:
Evil Zeus of Injustice League 3000 has returned, and he’s created a new race of the most bizarre New Gods in DCU history! And a new threat enters U.P. space and they’re systematically eliminating any and all obstacles to their master’s conquest. Plus, the most unexpected super death in super history. No. Really. You’ll never guess.
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
Justice League 3001 continues with its main story in this installment, but it comes with a welcome twist. Howard Porter gets a little time off, which is certainly warranted considering the work he does here, and we get Colleen Doran guesting this time around. Having thoroughly enjoyed her work for far too many years I’m definitely glad to see her step in for this issue. She brings such a fun approach to the characters while sticking to the overall designs and style of the series that it just adds a lot of little grin moments, particularly with the expressions that Superman has and how he carries himself. Doran would be easily welcome back anytime, along with previous guest artist Scott Kolins, to bring this book some great work when Porter needs a rest. She simply hits it out of the park here.
The bulk of this issue again takes place on Takron-Galtos as it works through what Bruce and Kara discover there the last time around with young Tina Sung. Kara’s attempts at getting Tina arrested for what she did to them is comical considering the location and I just love the way Kara’s expressions work here as she really wants to beat the snot out of smug young Tina all while Bruce is trying to keep the peace. There’s some good info dump material brought in here – which is saying a lot considering the general amount of dialogue in this series – but I just loved the twists of it all. Especially as Bruce decides to adopt another orphan here with Tina. You can see it working in its own 31st century way of course, but it’s a nice nod to the familiar character trait and it adds reason for some of the general frustration all around with bureaucracy. Of course, Tina’s story goes a bit further and I’m not exactly keen on the connection established here, but it’s standard superhero coincidence stuff.
While we had the Tina batsuit action component last time, this time we get a group of silver android-ish smoothies known as Scullions that have arrived to eliminate Batman and any associates. There’s humor in their style of speech with the analytical side, but they back it up with some solid power and moves, making it a challenge for both Bruce and Kara. Where the book goes with it though is clear early on when they encounter the “obstruction” of this future Harley Quinn, who actually has a great backstory tied with Tina. While we see her quick end off panel, the same can’t be same with the other character killed later on. It’s something that isn’t too much of a surprise in a sense since we know people can be brought back through the technology (edit: having not read the original series I wasn’t aware that it was only Superman that Cadmus could resurrect and the Scullions kind of eliminated that. This series needs a flowchart!), but it’s just so beautifully played here with humor and horror tied to disbelief that you read the page before it again just to make sure you saw that right. I had to laugh and just love the shock factor even knowing in its own way that it’s meaningless since we’re here in the 31st century.
In Summary:
Justice League 3001 is firing on all cylinders here even if I can’t figure out what it is that it’s exactly powering. There’s a silly, crazy, and wacky approach to what’s done and it absolutely works – if you’re able to connect with this particular style. I’ve read so much of DeMatteis and Giffen over the years that I know I’m a fan of it, though sometimes it takes a few issues to get in sync with it. This issue has so many great lines, so many reaction shots and a lot of great action to it that it’s a fast read even with all the dialogue. Colleen Doran does her usual excellent work here and helps to elevate the work as a whole as she does with any project she works on. A very, very, fun book and a series worth checking out for something different.
Grade: B+
Age Rating: 13+
Released By: DC Comics via ComiXology
Release Date: November 25th, 2015
MSRP: $2.99