talon1010's review
2.0
Though less so than some DC comics, it feels like a children's comic with adult content papered over. I read this after reading James Tynion IV's indie project, Memetic, and while the edginess and blood (and even certain cosmic horror analogues) carried over, the quality of the story and narrative did not.
In a comic, I look for fun, compelling art, which this had a reasonable degree of, over a complex, interesting, well-told story, which this lacked. It's a prescriptive case of magic causing all of the problems and solutions, while the reader is left entirely ignorant to what magic is. Fixes to problems, especially in the second half of the collection, were pulled from absolutely not precedent or context, so they seemed tactless and unimportant. Soft magic can work, but not when magic is every part of the plot, characters, devices, etc. And what's more, most of the problems didn't even really seem solved to me, despite the characters' acting relieved at the end of an arc.
Most strangely, I found the use of omniscient narration both confusing and very strange. This is perhaps the widest difference from Memetic, which had very dynamic, multi-point narration from the limited first person, where it was ambiguous who was speaking for several points of this book's. Sometimes, the narrator was eventually made obvious as a character, though sometimes it was just Tynion IV, which felt very noir-cliche.
In a comic, I look for fun, compelling art, which this had a reasonable degree of, over a complex, interesting, well-told story, which this lacked. It's a prescriptive case of magic causing all of the problems and solutions, while the reader is left entirely ignorant to what magic is. Fixes to problems, especially in the second half of the collection, were pulled from absolutely not precedent or context, so they seemed tactless and unimportant. Soft magic can work, but not when magic is every part of the plot, characters, devices, etc. And what's more, most of the problems didn't even really seem solved to me, despite the characters' acting relieved at the end of an arc.
Most strangely, I found the use of omniscient narration both confusing and very strange. This is perhaps the widest difference from Memetic, which had very dynamic, multi-point narration from the limited first person, where it was ambiguous who was speaking for several points of this book's. Sometimes, the narrator was eventually made obvious as a character, though sometimes it was just Tynion IV, which felt very noir-cliche.
drewmay97's review
adventurous
dark
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
andrewgraphics's review
2.0
Ugh: endless set up for more comics (some not even in this series..!), giving little character/plot development.
The art gives it a star
The art gives it a star
megankb's review
3.0
This was a pretty solid collection. The story is intriguing but nothing mind-blowing. Martinez's art is good - his Swamp Thing and Man-Bat are excellent but his grasp on human faces can be tenuous at times. I love Sampere's work and Brad Anderson's colors are on perfect display here. My only complaint is that the cast is a little ragtag - I don't really care for Detective Chimp or Man-Bat and prefer Deadman and Madame Xanadu as JLD members. And just throwing Traci in as a cameo is killing me!!! LET HER JOIN!!!! Interested to see where this goes.
dominicangirl's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
nicolet2018's review
3.0
I stumbled upon this while browsing Wonder Woman titles as Diana has her own graphic novel set aside from this storyline, Wonder Woman & Justice League Dark: The Witching Hour. Thanks to the review by Anne, I knew to read these two titles together.
I enjoyed this though it was filled with horror - scary monsters and things we would not want to come across. An unlikely band of heroes are torn together to try and stop magic from being destroyed, while dealing with their own issues and things more powerful than them. I thought the John Constantine and Zatanna thing was weird. Maybe because I just finished watching him on Legends on Tomorrow.
Great pick if you enjoy graphic novels, horror and the mystical. I do hope good prevails.
I enjoyed this though it was filled with horror - scary monsters and things we would not want to come across. An unlikely band of heroes are torn together to try and stop magic from being destroyed, while dealing with their own issues and things more powerful than them. I thought the John Constantine and Zatanna thing was weird. Maybe because I just finished watching him on Legends on Tomorrow.
Great pick if you enjoy graphic novels, horror and the mystical. I do hope good prevails.
nerdinthelibrary's review
3.0
Review also posted to my blog.
3.5
content warnings: violence, death, torture
representation: bisexual main characters, sapphic side character
The fact that we don't have a live-action Justice League Dark movie yet is a crime. I read the first volume of Peter Milligan's run a few months ago and enjoyed that far more than I expected, and I was going to finish that before starting the new run but when I saw this on Edelweiss I couldn't resist.
James Tynion IV's run follows Wonder Woman as she attempts to form the Justice League Dark team in the face of something - or someone - tampering with magic and those who use it. Team members include Zatanna, Man-Bat, Bobo, Swamp Thing and Constantine (kind of).
I was unfamiliar with most of the team members but was endeared to them very quickly. Surprisingly, Bobo quickly became my favourite of the bunch (apart from Zatanna and John, obviously) and I loved his narration in particular.
That's another thing that was really good about this volume: the writing itself is much better than I thought it would be. The plot is very fun as well, if convoluted at times. The art style also worked for me, which is good because we all know that bad art can ruin an entire comic for me.
On the whole, this is really fun and I would recommend checking it out in a couple days when it comes out if you can.
I received this book for free from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
3.5
content warnings: violence, death, torture
representation: bisexual main characters, sapphic side character
The fact that we don't have a live-action Justice League Dark movie yet is a crime. I read the first volume of Peter Milligan's run a few months ago and enjoyed that far more than I expected, and I was going to finish that before starting the new run but when I saw this on Edelweiss I couldn't resist.
James Tynion IV's run follows Wonder Woman as she attempts to form the Justice League Dark team in the face of something - or someone - tampering with magic and those who use it. Team members include Zatanna, Man-Bat, Bobo, Swamp Thing and Constantine (kind of).
I was unfamiliar with most of the team members but was endeared to them very quickly. Surprisingly, Bobo quickly became my favourite of the bunch (apart from Zatanna and John, obviously) and I loved his narration in particular.
That's another thing that was really good about this volume: the writing itself is much better than I thought it would be. The plot is very fun as well, if convoluted at times. The art style also worked for me, which is good because we all know that bad art can ruin an entire comic for me.
On the whole, this is really fun and I would recommend checking it out in a couple days when it comes out if you can.
I received this book for free from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
haunted_air's review
4.0
I'm so glad there's an ongoing JLD book. Magical stuff + superheroes is something I'm always here for. And it's written by one of my favourite comic book authors.
While this is volume 1, [b:Wonder Woman & Justice League Dark: The Witching Hour|40996676|Wonder Woman & Justice League Dark The Witching Hour|James Tynion IV|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1552443796l/40996676._SY75_.jpg|63965544] comes between issues #3 and #5, so it's worth reading alongside this one. I know it's annoying when an event comic/crossover interrupts a series. Sometimes all you want to do is pick up a trade and read it in peace without feeling confused because you didn't read that other thing or keep up with that other series. BUT The Witching Hour is a completed 6 issue story by the same author so, arguably, it's just more JLD.
Adding Wonder Woman as team leader is a great idea, she is a magical/mystical character by her own right and fits right in with all the magic, while also bringing her Justice League experience to the table. (And as a big name character, helps with interest in the series. At least in the minds of the DC higher ups, I assume, but of course that doesn't mean they decided to have her set up the team. Anyway, it's a much better idea than showing Batman everywhere, including in places where he doesn't belong like the Justice League Dark animated movie.) My favourite depictions of Diana are the ones where she's being written as a person without the writers forgetting she's isn't human and basically a god (no matter the origin story about her parentage). This is pretty much what we get here and it makes sense because they're dealing with powerful supernatural entities.
Also, it's amazing to see Zatanna in an ongoing series, it was about time. I love her new outfit, it's a nice balance between casual and showy, and it does away with the impracticality of her running around in her stage costume while being more magical than her initial New 52 look. The blue coat is unexpected but looks neat and the fishnet gloves are a nice touch. I still don't love the bangs, but whatever.
Originally, I wasn't keen on the rest of the team because no Constantine or Deadman, or any other New 52 era JLD members aside from Zatanna. Man-Bat and Detective Chimp are random choices, but this is the series for that and they're more interesting than they seem at a fist glance. Plus, there are fun cameos by magical DC characters and settings and This series promises magic and it delivers.
The "something wrong with magic" main plot is not the most original, but again, what is genre fiction without some tropes. It's done well enough and the future storylines seem promising.
While this is volume 1, [b:Wonder Woman & Justice League Dark: The Witching Hour|40996676|Wonder Woman & Justice League Dark The Witching Hour|James Tynion IV|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1552443796l/40996676._SY75_.jpg|63965544] comes between issues #3 and #5, so it's worth reading alongside this one. I know it's annoying when an event comic/crossover interrupts a series. Sometimes all you want to do is pick up a trade and read it in peace without feeling confused because you didn't read that other thing or keep up with that other series. BUT The Witching Hour is a completed 6 issue story by the same author so, arguably, it's just more JLD.
Adding Wonder Woman as team leader is a great idea, she is a magical/mystical character by her own right and fits right in with all the magic, while also bringing her Justice League experience to the table. (And as a big name character, helps with interest in the series. At least in the minds of the DC higher ups, I assume, but of course that doesn't mean they decided to have her set up the team. Anyway, it's a much better idea than showing Batman everywhere, including in places where he doesn't belong like the Justice League Dark animated movie.) My favourite depictions of Diana are the ones where she's being written as a person without the writers forgetting she's isn't human and basically a god (no matter the origin story about her parentage). This is pretty much what we get here and it makes sense because they're dealing with powerful supernatural entities.
Also, it's amazing to see Zatanna in an ongoing series, it was about time. I love her new outfit, it's a nice balance between casual and showy, and it does away with the impracticality of her running around in her stage costume while being more magical than her initial New 52 look. The blue coat is unexpected but looks neat and the fishnet gloves are a nice touch. I still don't love the bangs, but whatever.
Originally, I wasn't keen on the rest of the team because no Constantine or Deadman, or any other New 52 era JLD members aside from Zatanna. Man-Bat and Detective Chimp are random choices, but this is the series for that and they're more interesting than they seem at a fist glance. Plus, there are fun cameos by magical DC characters and settings and
Spoiler
the lack of Constantine is solved because he shows up. The Doctor Fate stuff is also intriguing and I loved how by issue 2 we're already going to the Tower of Fate because why not.The "something wrong with magic" main plot is not the most original, but again, what is genre fiction without some tropes. It's done well enough and the future storylines seem promising.
carochacord's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5