About Heroes

This Review Was Submitted by Knightwingbk:
Writer: Brad Meltzer
Artists: Ed Benes & Sandra Hope.

So, my big complaint from last issue was that the team was not finalized, whether actually being formed in a first meeting, or decided upon by the Big Three. Is that rectified this issue? No. We only get two pages of more voting by the big three, and they don't even look at people who are on the cover of the book! Nightwing, didn't we cover him in the first issue? Green Arrow. Why are we talking about him, and not Arsenal? Batman. Wait, What? Vote on Batman? That’s right! Seems there is still some distrust in the league about my favorite hero. Why? I want to see the team assembled and put to work! Let's avoid all of this decompression and have four issues of team-work.

Don't get my wrong I DID enjoy this book, but I want the team assembled! There was one more minor thing that bothered me... Last issue we had Hal, Dinah, and Roy acting like they were going to be their Justice League. That is not the case in this issue, as they are going to T.O. Morrow's lab b/c of Red Tornado's body being stolen (in the last issue). Big plot hole there. If they were just helping out T.O. Morrow, then why couldn't Ollie come along? They are not "getting the band back together," they are just going on a mission. Like issue 1, we see more of Red Tornado, Black Lightning, and Vixen. I liked the spotlights in this issue, more than the last. Stuff actually happens in them! Black Lightning follows a drug trail to someone who can disable your meta-powers for a price. Vixen is attacked by the "Bomb Squad," which should really be the "Bomb Duo." Red Tornado goes heroing as a human for the first time, and is afraid. All of these vignettes contain great character moments. I like Vixen now that I understand her powers, although I think it is stupid for her to wear her special totem as a belt, where anyone can steal it. Black Lightning acts like a surrogate detective, and I can't wait to see if he and Batman team up in future issues. Where is Hawkgirl? Is she even under consideration?

I think Ed Benes turned in a better issue this time than the last. His Batman is a little wonky, his chin is HUGE, and the ears are longer than they are in any other DCU title. My only concern is that all the lines in his male faces don't make his art late! Lol. Sure they look cool from time to time, but at times they are too much. If we can keep this book on a monthly schedule, we'll all be very happy. B+