Justice League of America: Wedding Special #1
Writer: Dwanye McDuffie
Artists: Mike McKone & Andy Lanning
Don't let the cover fool you. This is not a crappy girly book like last week's Wedding Planner special. This is the first issue of Dwayne McDuffie's JLA run. It really should be issue #13 of the current series. Yes, the bachelor parties are going on in this issue but that is only for a couple of pages. The rest of the issue follows the formation of the Injustice League led by the Trinity's greatest villains, Lex Luthor, the Joker, and Cheetah. Okay, so Cheetah may not be the greatest Wonder Woman villain, but McDuffie certainly makes her formidable in this issue. I think it's great that the villains mirror the trinity, but also pick the Injustice League with pictures and bickering like the JLA tried to do in their first issue. Come to think of it, the opening shot is of all of their chests, mirroring the first page of Justice League #1 a year ago. We also see Hal Jordan leaving the League to give more time to his GL duties, and let John Stewart take the spotlight for awhile. Aside from the bachelor parties, we see Firestorm get ambushed by Killer Frost and "Evil Trinity" causing Batman and Red Arrow to investigate, and Wonder Woman and Hawkgirl to visit Firestorm in the hospital. That's the main story of the book, is these ambushes, and how the villains are going on the offensive, but by the end of the book, Superman is fed up and tells everyone that the party's over. Hell yes!
I was skeptical about Dwayne McDuffie following up Meltzer on the book, as I'd never read any of his stuff. After catching up on JLU over the past two weeks and reading this issue, I'm now excited. If you had any complaints about Meltzer's pacing, your issue should be solved here. We're in full gear as of the end of this issue, and I can't wait until the next issue of JLA, for the first time in months. Another great aspect of the book is Mike McKone's art. I wish he was the regular penciller of JLA for McDuffie's run, rather than Benes. I will try and hold judgement until I read a McDuffie issue with Benes art, but boy is McKone great here. Now I miss him on Teen Titans and Fantastic Four. DC, what is this fantastic artist doing next? Folks, I really can't stress enough how great this book was, go pick it up, it's worth your 3.99. A
I couldn't agree with you more Brent. This single issue was so much better than all 13 issues of Meltzer's run. This is the fucking JLA!
Dude Dinah was in some lace underwear in that Wedding Planner thing...knock it if you must but...hot!!
I acutally picked this book up and I'm adding JLA to my list as long as Mcduffie stays on as writer. I loved the Justice League/JL Unlimited cartoons and Dwayne played a huge part in making it a sucess. This issue was awesome and I loved all the parts with Lex/Joker/Cheetah. It's nice to see the Injustice League Unlimited so evil and menacing. I didn't care for the Firestorm stuff since I don't know the character but Lex and crew beat the crap out of him so it wasn't a total waste. Batman is still totally awesome and the art was incredible. I'm looking forward to what Dwayne has up his sleeve with this title.
The coolest scene was that shot of the Hall of Doom.
I'm already excited about McDuffie's run on JLA. I thought Meltzer's was pretty bad. I had lost interest and was ready to cancel, but decided to give McDuffir a chance, and so far he's hooked me.