Justice League Adventures #1 Talkback (Spoilers)

[Brian Cruz]

JUSTICE LEAGUE ADVENTURES #1

http://comics.toonzone.net/jla/covers/t-01.jpg (http://comics.toonzone.net/jla/covers/01.jpg)

Written by Ty Templeton; art by Min S. Ku and Dan Davis; cover by Bruce Timm and Alex Ross

In stores November 14. A new ongoing series based on the Justice League animated show on Cartoon Network begins! When a meteor lands in an American suburb, the League is called on to investigate. Soon they are drawn into an intergalactic conflict, but it seems as if the real threat may be one of their own…Green Lantern!

Comments?

Note: See all four versions of the cover here (http://comics.toonzone.net/jla/01.html).

Edited by Jim

[Joker85]

I picked this up today as well. I love the cover and for the most part the art inside. I wasn't all that impressed with the story though. It just didn't flow right to me. Maybe if I reread it , it will make more sense. Maybe because I haven't seen the show yet is why I wasn't impressed. Who knows? Well, thats all I have to say about this particular comic so I think I'll go now!:)

[Clayface]

I have to say I'd agree - I wasn't terribly impressed by the story either. It was average at best, IMO.

[James Harvey]

My cover has the marks on it, too. There were 5 copies on the shelves and all of them had it.

[James Harvey]

Since some comic stores delayed shipment for today, I decided to delay this post as well. So - comments on the initial issue of Justice League Adventures #1?

[Ed Liu]

Howdy all,

Short version: good, solid artwork, excellent character interaction, fair-to-middling story.

Spoilers follow, so skip down if you don't want to see more. Kind of a pain in this BB, but I guess you wouldn't be here if you hadn't read the issue.

Long version: I get the strong sensation that the first issue of the book is really intended to serve more as an introduction to the lesser-known members of the team, meaning just about everybody other than Batman & Superman. Unfortunately, storytelling suffers as a result. Honestly, it wasn't a terrific set-up, and the ending felt kind of rushed and chaotic.

However, I thought it worked pretty well as an introduction to the team. Hawkgirl's personality came through pretty clearly as a level-headed thinker (her cool, tactical analysis of the situation in the gravity ball), but who is not someone you want to cross (the scene where Green Lantern has to hold her back from beating the tar out of the ant alien). The Flash also managed to come off with the right mixture of seriousness and, well, flashy grandstanding, if you'll pardon the pun. Green Lantern came through less clearly as a character, coming off mostly as a serious, no-nonsense type -- the annoyance in his dialogue when Superman gives him the flying tackle to stop him was pretty palpable. In fact, of all the characters that needed introductions, I felt that Wonder Woman got short shrift. It really seemed like the only reason she was there was for her lasso; she could have been replaced by Roy Rogers, and nobody would have noticed. She is a tough character to write, though -- I think the only ones who've gotten her right in a group context are Grant Morrison (in JLA) and Mark Waid (in Kingdom Come).

Two things really kind of bugged me. First: what were 6 out of 7 members of the JL doing sitting around a table at the beginning of the comic? They're the World's Greatest Heroes -- wouldn't someone other than GL have been out saving Coastal City or something? And, since J'onn is a telepath, wouldn't he have been able to at least sense that the alien was lying at the start? I know he doesn't like probing minds uninvited, but I'd think he'd have picked up some sense of duplicity, or at least have asked to do a telepathic mind probe. I know that doing so would have shortened the story considerably, but the devil is in the details.

I imagine Ty Templeton will begin getting into his groove better once he can stop introducing characters and start really getting into the meat of the Justice League. I really liked the work he did on the Batman Adventures titles, and maybe he just works better in solo and duo pieces rather than real ensembles.

The artwork was consistently good throughout, especially if Min Ku didn't have the finalized character designs to work from. Nothing particularly stood out to me, other than the interesting alien character design.

So, in summary, I thought it was a promising start, but disappointing as an issue by itself.

-- Ed/Ace

[Joker85]

Well, I posted this in another post but basically I liked the art and didn't much care for the story.

[DisneyBoy]

Wow...

You know how they say that you should never judge a book by it's cover? Well, I learned that lesson well tonight!

You see, I was so looking forward to the first issue of Justice League Adventures that I refused to read it on the train/bus ride home today. I just looked at the cover and smiled. I was determined to enjoy it. So, I snuggled into my favorite chair and open the cover to read the first few pages (even though I'd already seen them online).

Well, let me say that I was expecting more. Firstly, (and this was a shocker!) Templeton's story was ..Ok, I just can't bring myself to say anything negative about The Guy! . So, instead I'll pick on Ku's art, which is much easier. I don't know if he had the character sheets used for the series to draw from, but it looks like he's trying to copy them. Though there are some great facial shots of Shyara Hol (is that how you spell it?) and Diana, the Flash's eyes just struck me as making his head seem too narrow. Superman is too old (even if that's the way he'll look in the show), the bodies were stiff, and the motions were as well. And when you look at that alien-ant-thing he came up with (I doubt it was written that it had to look like that )... well, the art certainly didn't help the story.

The story itself tried to showcase all the members, but ended up being kinda predictable and rather wierd. Basically, after having saved the issue for the perfect moment, I found myself forcing myself to continue reading after only ten pages. The whole thing was kinda hokey, from the art, the "Oh-my-God-the-alien-lied-to-us-I-didn't-see-that -coming!" plot twist, the rather cliched super-hero admiration backup (come on - "I'm about to die daddy but LOOK...I'M WITH THE JUSTICE LEAGUE:rolleyes: !!!) and the medeocre inking. I was expecting a lot more from this issue. And with Rousseau's art showing up next month, I'm not feeling any better.

I eagerly await the arrival of Aluir Amancio, Bret Blevins and John Delaney...but if their stories aren't much better than this... Listen, I greatly enjoy Templeton's stories (though his art is unparralleled:)), but this one... (deep breath)... fell short of the mark. I am so sorry for having had to say that, Ty! :( :( :(

[Salvor]

I was very disappointed in the art. Ku basically copied the character models (or whatever he could inspire from) and forgot what art is about: a good artist cannot stick to copying, he must create. Honestly I was expecting more from Min Ku. I'm afraid this issue makes it plain he's still a "beginner"...

The story is also a disappointment considering the lack of originality and character development. But I'm sure Ty's next story will be a knockout :)

[Samhaine]

I have the book, and the little black line (as does my roommate's, so I'm assuming it's on every copy).

I'm not reading it until 9 tonight. I'm waiting until I see the show to read the book based on the show. I'm different that way.

[James Harvey]

Well, even though I'm reviewing the issue next week for the website, I'll just breifly touch upon it here. First off, Ty Templeton won't be the regular writer for the series. He'll likely write for the book again, but not for awhile. The book will have a rotating roster every issue (expect for two parters) so Templeton's issue may not be for awhile. X-Man Fabian Nicenzia will be doing issue #2. Anyways...now for the issue...

The story I found to be dissapointing. I've been a gigantic fan of Ty Templeton as long as I can remember. If there was anyone who I thought could handle the issue good and provide a great story, it's Ty. When I got a sneek peek at the first few issues I thought that the first few pages were just set up. I was dissapointed when the entire story just followed that pattern. I was just dissapointed in the issue. Granted, it is harder to juggle an entire leage than a couple of Dark Knights, but after Ty's stellar run on Avengers: United We Stand, I thought he could easily pull this off. I was dissapointed in this issue. Instea dof a great tale, we got this weird, predictable tale.

The art I thought was better than the story. While the art isn't perfect, I found it goo din some places. Ku's rendition of Superman was much better than how he's animated. I'll admit the art wasn't perfect, but I still liked it. I plan to re-read it so I can be a bit more picky about it. Some of his designs come off as a bit static, but overall the art was pretty good. Not amazing or on the level of Burchett - but good nonetheless.

I'll have a full review for this comic online this coming week.

Edit: I merged this thread with Brian Cruz's JL Adv #1 thread.

[Samhaine]

Just finished the issue. I think, even though it wasn't the greatest story Ty the Guy wrote, not by a longshot, I think that it served its purpose, and that was introducing the League in the comic adaptation. Yes, I realize that all we really needed for an intro was the Secret Origins ep, but this helped introduce the animated League to those without Cartoon Network.

I really liked the artwork, but I'm looking forward more to the next issue (MM, yay!) and hopefully a closer look at characterization that we've had so far.

[James Harvey]

I really liked the depiciton of Martian Mnahunter. It just completely fits, I think. It looks really nice. Moreso than the mainstream counterpart.

[Samhaine]

Originally posted by Dick Grayson
I really liked the depiciton of Martian Mnahunter. It just completely fits, I think. It looks really nice. Moreso than the mainstream counterpart.
Yeah, that's one thing that definately stood out to me. I just think he looks so cool now. I'm getting the JL maquettes as they come out, and MM is my most anticipated one. (however, then I'll be eagerly anticipating Batman, The Flash...)

[James Harvey]

MM's design is just one of those that just looks much better than the comic. I reall ylike it and would love to see it somehow intergrated into the current comics.

[Samhaine]

Originally posted by Dick Grayson
MM's design is just one of those that just looks much better than the comic. I reall ylike it and would love to see it somehow intergrated into the current comics.
Which wouldn't be hard, because he's a shapeshifter. Maybe Doug Mahnke will have him look similar. With his style, they may look alike without them even trying.

[James Harvey]

I would definatly like to see that! From early cover designs I can't really tell, but it would be nice. His animated design is just really, really nice!!

[Trent Lane]

Okay, another issue I was late getting. I, like most everyone else, loved the artwork in this issue. The story was less than stellar, but still not too shabby. Next issue should be really good. Storrie writing and Rousseau drawing?! Can't wait for it...

[James Harvey]

I can see why the story would be less than great. The writer hasn't seen a frame of the show yet, so that could be a small reason why. Hopefully Storrie's issue in December will blow our minds!

[zim1342]

I wannnntttt ittt.... :(

[Cyber E.]

No offense Zim but isn't this topic alittle old?

[Green-Ghost]

Originally posted by zim1342
I wannnntttt ittt.... :(

Im toooo... :(
;)

[The Detective]

Well I'm wanting to get caught up in all the JL comic talkbacks so no better place to start than with good ol' number one.


I have to say that when I first saw this I was so excited. Back when JL first premiered was long before I discovered message boards and fan sites and good stuff like that. So I had no idea this series was coming till I saw it sitting on the shelf that golden cover beckoning me to buy it. Ha what a state of bliss I was in.

Too bad the inside of the comic didn't live up to the greatness of the comic. Weak, weak storytelling predictable and the plot "twist" didn't come across as shocking at all. And all the Leaguers sitting around in the Watchtower sitting at a chair? Just a little hokey for me.

Also this kind of seems like you just got plopped down in the middle of a comic series. There should have been more of a beginning. I know SECRET ORIGINS introduced the JL but still.....we could have had more of a beginning for the JL comic than this.

Not to beat a dead horse but I agree with everyone that the all the Leaguers were drawn too stiff and in model poses.

Oh and Batman's line "You wouldn't be pulling our leg?" groan......

Not to be all bad but Hawkgirl and Flash got some good characterzations Hawkgirl real good better than any in the first season of the show.

Over all ** 1/2