rashthedoctor's review
3.0
I just ... I just can't come to terms with the fact that Scott Snyder is writing these books , because really it's one disappointing book after another . And sure it's still much better Justice league book than the New 52 or the Rebirth JL books but that doesn't mean these are the kind of good books you expect from someone like Scott Snyder .
The Good Part - Well the book started off really good with the Joker vs Legion of doom story , I have complained about the lame handling of Joker by Snyder in the justice league book's previous 2 volumes , so this was pretty satisfying and much more realist to Joker's behavior . We also learned more about what this whole mess is about . The Jarro bits are still good to read (even if they are mostly one dialogue bubble per volume)[can I start an online petition asking for more Jarro?]. I'm still very happy that Snyder is giving every JL character enough merits for each of the volume . So far all the stories in this JL universe has had all member's contributions and this wasn't all that different with the focus mainly on Martian Manhunter and Hawkgirl.
The Bad part - The Hawkgirl bits were boring , The exposition heavy writing is still way too long and dull and honestly there's way too much plot convenience going on in here. And while I liked how Joker left the story , I'm wondering why exactly was he bought into the story in the first place when his whole contribution in the 3 volumes can be limited to 25 odd pages . The Green Lantern bit was awful and honestly I'm still fuzzy about what this story is all about or where it's headed .
Conclusion - I understand what Snyder is trying to do , he's having fun with the characters while trying to make JL like the animated shows everyone loved watching , except the story is too convoluted and the writing is too much filled with exposition . It's all so dull and tiring to read .
The Good Part - Well the book started off really good with the Joker vs Legion of doom story , I have complained about the lame handling of Joker by Snyder in the justice league book's previous 2 volumes , so this was pretty satisfying and much more realist to Joker's behavior . We also learned more about what this whole mess is about . The Jarro bits are still good to read (even if they are mostly one dialogue bubble per volume)[can I start an online petition asking for more Jarro?]. I'm still very happy that Snyder is giving every JL character enough merits for each of the volume . So far all the stories in this JL universe has had all member's contributions and this wasn't all that different with the focus mainly on Martian Manhunter and Hawkgirl.
The Bad part - The Hawkgirl bits were boring , The exposition heavy writing is still way too long and dull and honestly there's way too much plot convenience going on in here. And while I liked how Joker left the story , I'm wondering why exactly was he bought into the story in the first place when his whole contribution in the 3 volumes can be limited to 25 odd pages . The Green Lantern bit was awful and honestly I'm still fuzzy about what this story is all about or where it's headed .
Conclusion - I understand what Snyder is trying to do , he's having fun with the characters while trying to make JL like the animated shows everyone loved watching , except the story is too convoluted and the writing is too much filled with exposition . It's all so dull and tiring to read .
subhamroxx's review
4.0
This was so good!
It tellls the tale of how Lex recruited Joker into LOD and their war and then the history of Hawkgirl and Martian Manhunter as they go to Thanagar prime and the terrible and hard accepting secrets of the planets and its ruler Shayera, Hawkgirl's past self and its so well done. And finally as they attempt to seal the breach in source wall and the disaster that follows and the big villain's rebirth and the consequences that follow and whatever past J'onn and Lex have and whatever is Brainiac doing with LOD?
Its a big volume and has so much exposition and it can feel overwhelming for sure but its the part that makes the direction of the run so much better and catapults into some of the best JL stories ever and I love it and the work done on Martian Manhunter is awesome and the art is a treat to the eyes, some of the best there is. Plus the way they add so much to the DC mythology its excellent and ugh its so good and I have fond memories associated with this volume and wow its so worth it! A must recommend!
It tellls the tale of how Lex recruited Joker into LOD and their war and then the history of Hawkgirl and Martian Manhunter as they go to Thanagar prime and the terrible and hard accepting secrets of the planets and its ruler Shayera, Hawkgirl's past self and its so well done. And finally as they attempt to seal the breach in source wall and the disaster that follows and the big villain's rebirth and the consequences that follow and whatever past J'onn and Lex have and whatever is Brainiac doing with LOD?
Its a big volume and has so much exposition and it can feel overwhelming for sure but its the part that makes the direction of the run so much better and catapults into some of the best JL stories ever and I love it and the work done on Martian Manhunter is awesome and the art is a treat to the eyes, some of the best there is. Plus the way they add so much to the DC mythology its excellent and ugh its so good and I have fond memories associated with this volume and wow its so worth it! A must recommend!
sans's review
3.0
I wonder, does Bruce ever feel bad about breaking the Source Wall? If he’d sat down and shut up when everyone told him to, none of this, from Metal forward, would have happened.
the_rox13's review
3.0
Synopsis: There's a lot of exposition in this volume so bear with me. Joker departs from the Legion of Doom on account that Lex is talking to the Batman Who Laughs, leaving them down two members. Lex insists that they have as many people as they need since he's reviving Brainiac. Meanwhile, Martian Manhunter, Hawkgirl and Green Lantern John Stewart arrive on Thanagar Prime with the intention of seeing the Martian Keep, the only other green Martian in existence and keeper of their history and culture. Shayera Hol (yes, there's two of them, don't ask me how) informs them the Martian Keep has died but J'onn, of course, sees that they are lying.
Basically, Shayera has been using the Martian Keep as a way to make Thanagar Prime appear to be more prosperous and inhabited by more citizens than it actually is. The three of them break into the Vault and J'onn finds his way to the Martian Keep. She tells him about Perpetua, the creator of the multiverse and what was imprisoned by the Source Wall. Before giving him all of her knowledge, she warns him that it will come down to a battle between justice and doom - telling J'onn he must be the messenger and tell the universe which form to take.
The Justice League arrives with a healed Starman to take them to the Source Wall to fix the break. The Omega Titan's purpose is to fix a break in the Source Wall by eating worlds until they have enough energy to seal the break. The New Gods bring the remaining Titans to the wall while Starman pieces it together by channeling his power through Kendra's wings. But, of course, the Legion of Doom shows up in Brainiac ships and fucks the whole thing.
Brainiac diverts the power to power Perpetua instead of fixing the wall by breaching Starman's mind. They succeed and Perpetua is released. The Justice League goes home with their tails between their legs and everyone in the universe pissed off at them. The Legion has Perpetua back at her headquarters. Martian Manhunter tries to convince Lex that humans are good through this series of shared memories that both of them had removed. Lex convinces Brainiac to believe in the side of doom and together they are able to turn the Totality doorknob and presumably, awaken Perpetua's mind.
Review: I tried with that synopsis, but that was as vague as I could be without it being confusing as hell, and it still is. There's a LOT of information in this volume, and a lot goes down, but goddamn, it feels like a slog, man. I'm getting tired of the cosmic level stuff and miss just plain Justice League fun. Not only that, it's so dense. This book took me so much longer to read than a regular comic. It really is like reading a novel and I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing. A bit of both at times. And the problem is that it's all important information that probably warrants multiple readings, which I'm not going to do.
I did enjoy it for the most part. There's so much here, but it feels like it has direction, which this title hasn't had since the New 52. It felt like this was a stepping stone book that we had to get through to get to more fun stuff (hopefully). I thought the information presented made sense as well in its context, even if it can be confusing. The settings are also fun - I've grown to appreciate Hawkgirl and Hawkman and all that comes with them, including Thanagar. I thought the idea of the Vault was pretty cool, even if I still don't really understand how there are two Hawkgirls.
The art is incredible the entire way through - can't say enough nice things about that. Regardless of the story, the book always looks fucking incredible and I love that about. It fits well with the cosmic level of the story. I continue to be annoyed with Lex's persistence with doom and Perpetua. I'm not sure how he thinks this is all going to work out for him, but hey, I'll never turn down watching the man being taken down a peg or two.
You know what keeps bugging me, though? What the hell, exactly, is doom? Like what does that entail? They keep talking about it like I'm supposed to know what it means, but I don't. Maybe that's the point. Necessary volume. Not the best, but very informative.
Basically, Shayera has been using the Martian Keep as a way to make Thanagar Prime appear to be more prosperous and inhabited by more citizens than it actually is. The three of them break into the Vault and J'onn finds his way to the Martian Keep. She tells him about Perpetua, the creator of the multiverse and what was imprisoned by the Source Wall. Before giving him all of her knowledge, she warns him that it will come down to a battle between justice and doom - telling J'onn he must be the messenger and tell the universe which form to take.
The Justice League arrives with a healed Starman to take them to the Source Wall to fix the break. The Omega Titan's purpose is to fix a break in the Source Wall by eating worlds until they have enough energy to seal the break. The New Gods bring the remaining Titans to the wall while Starman pieces it together by channeling his power through Kendra's wings. But, of course, the Legion of Doom shows up in Brainiac ships and fucks the whole thing.
Brainiac diverts the power to power Perpetua instead of fixing the wall by breaching Starman's mind. They succeed and Perpetua is released. The Justice League goes home with their tails between their legs and everyone in the universe pissed off at them. The Legion has Perpetua back at her headquarters. Martian Manhunter tries to convince Lex that humans are good through this series of shared memories that both of them had removed. Lex convinces Brainiac to believe in the side of doom and together they are able to turn the Totality doorknob and presumably, awaken Perpetua's mind.
Review: I tried with that synopsis, but that was as vague as I could be without it being confusing as hell, and it still is. There's a LOT of information in this volume, and a lot goes down, but goddamn, it feels like a slog, man. I'm getting tired of the cosmic level stuff and miss just plain Justice League fun. Not only that, it's so dense. This book took me so much longer to read than a regular comic. It really is like reading a novel and I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing. A bit of both at times. And the problem is that it's all important information that probably warrants multiple readings, which I'm not going to do.
I did enjoy it for the most part. There's so much here, but it feels like it has direction, which this title hasn't had since the New 52. It felt like this was a stepping stone book that we had to get through to get to more fun stuff (hopefully). I thought the information presented made sense as well in its context, even if it can be confusing. The settings are also fun - I've grown to appreciate Hawkgirl and Hawkman and all that comes with them, including Thanagar. I thought the idea of the Vault was pretty cool, even if I still don't really understand how there are two Hawkgirls.
The art is incredible the entire way through - can't say enough nice things about that. Regardless of the story, the book always looks fucking incredible and I love that about. It fits well with the cosmic level of the story. I continue to be annoyed with Lex's persistence with doom and Perpetua. I'm not sure how he thinks this is all going to work out for him, but hey, I'll never turn down watching the man being taken down a peg or two.
You know what keeps bugging me, though? What the hell, exactly, is doom? Like what does that entail? They keep talking about it like I'm supposed to know what it means, but I don't. Maybe that's the point. Necessary volume. Not the best, but very informative.
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