Justice League Europe #6 (1989)

Justice League Europe #6 (September, 1989)
"No More Teachers' Dirty Looks...?!"
Writers - Keith Giffen & J.M. DeMatteis
Penciller - Bart Sears
Inker - Pablo Marcos
Letterer - Bob Lappan
Colorist - Gene D'Angelo
Editors - Kevin Dooley & Andy Helfer
Cover Price: $1.00

When I first dove in to the Justice League books some many many years back, I always wondered why they would have a European team.  I kinda felt like it was the West Coast version of the Avengers... and in many ways, it was.  It was a way to have a second team, and perhaps focus on some contemporary stand-outs as well as second stringers in their respective universes.  This was, of course, a time before EVERYBODY is or has been an Avenger or Leaguer, so membership was still something special.

If there's one issue in particular I picture when thinking of the JLE... it's this one.  This is the type of story you can only do once, and it's done to damn near perfection here.  So, let's join the League when they decide (oh yeah, oh yeah) what they need is adult education.

--

We open with Ralph Dibny and Justice League Europe liaison Catherine Cobert having a cup of coffee.  They are discussing Captain Atom's recent decision (at Ms. Cobert's suggestion) to sign the Leaguers up for French classes at a local school.  At the same time, across town longtime JLA foes the Injustice League are lamenting the fact that none of them speak French.  Wouldn'tcha know it, there just happens to be a few seats available in a certain classroom...

In that classroom, we see our venerable heroes all seated and ready to learn.  Captain Atom warns Wally West to take the class seriously... Metamorpho is clad in a trenchcoat and fedora to hide his odd appearance... and Power Girl hints that perhaps Wally shouldn't be checking out their teacher Ms. Kessler's keister.

Led by Major Disaster, the Injustice League enters the classroom... Clock King is quick to offer that they are, in fact fourteen minutes late.  They take their seats, and a strange feeling fills the room.  Both Leagues feel like there's something up... something they just can't put their finger on.  Ms. Kessler catches Multi-Man chewing gum during class... which means he's gonna have to wear it.

Back at the Embassy, the Dibny's and Catherine are discussing the recent reports of a new costumed individual making the rounds.  She goes by La Renard Rouge... which opens us up for a few panels of Sanford and Son jokes... ya big dummy.  This is an early appearance of the hero we will soon know by the nom de guerre Crimson Fox.

It's the BIG one, 'Lizbeth... I'm comin' to join ya honey...

At the Police Headquarters, Inspector Camus is approached by an officer called Francois.  Franc informs him that both Leagues are currently getting their French on.  That's all Camus needs to hear... he calls all units to the school.

Inspector Camus was a Warren Ellis character before there were Warren Ellis characters...

Back at the school, the jig is up... Major Disaster realizes that their classmates are in the members of Justice League Europe.  As such, he does what any other diabolical villain would do... attempts to pass this information to his men via a folded-note.  The note makes it nearly across the room, going from Injustice Leaguer to Justice Leaguer the whole way.

Don't be such an apple-polisher, Animal Man...

This ain't Kessler's first rodeo... she catches the students in the act, and demands the Mighty Bruce hand her the note so she may read its contents out loud for all the class to hear.

Once the note is read, all members of the Injustice League raise their hands... to go to the bathroom.  Ya see, they all drank some bad Mexican water... sounds legit to me.  Before they can go answer nature's call, the sound of police sirens fills the area.

The two Leagues enter into a titanic tussle, which ends in a stalemate when Ms. Kessler bellows out a call for attention.  Camus and crew burst in guns drawn.  Kessler demands the geeks lower their guns in her classroom.

Back at the Embassy, the Dibny's get the call that their entire team was arrested for their conduct.  At the jail, the League spends several hours behind bars.  Catherine Cobert arrives and is confused as to why Captain Atom and company didn't play their diplomatic immunity card in order to get out of jail free.

A fact that the rest of the team wouldn't soon let poor Nate forget...

--

How much fun is this one?

We are firmly in the bwa-ha-ha sitcom era with this one... and it's sooo good.  I miss the days where we could get a story like this every now and again.  These days, everything has to be stiflingly serious... everything has to be dark "like the movie".  A silly throwaway like this does so much more for the reader and the team than most of what fills the shelves today.

In this issue, we were offered the opportunity to observe these (relatively) new teammates in their civilian guise.  Let's not forget, we also saw how a super villain team may act when they're out of costume.  It was issues like this that make the Giffen/DeMatteis era so magical... so fondly remembered... timeless.

This team is the classic dysfunctional family.  Many other groups in comics can make the same claim, however, to my knowledge no other mainstream superhero team book has ever dived this deep into the realm of sitcom... and still not sacrificing characterization to boot!  Save your Avengers sharing trendy-speak rapid-fire "conversation" around the breakfast table... this is how you do comic-as-sitcom.  While on that subject... save the snark, just give me the funny.

My only sticking point with this issue is with the art.  Bart Sears, though incredibly talented, never really did it for me on this title.  I never liked the way he drew women's faces/heads.  They all had such large and pronounced chins that made their faces come across as rather masculine, in my opinion.  His action scenes are great, and the way he draws the male Leaguers looks fine as well... it's just the women that kinda make me furrow my brow.

Definitely recommended.  It is easily found (at least locally) in the cheap-o bins.  It has been collected, and is available digitally and in (apparently out-of-print) Trade Paperback format.  Add this one to your collection, it really is a treat.

--

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Action Comics (vol.2) #51 (2016)

Action Comics (vol.2) #51 (June, 2016)
"The Final Days of Superman, Part 3: Dazed and Confused"
Story & Words - Peter J. Tomasi
Penciller - Paul Pelletier
Inker - Sandra Hope Archer
Colors - Tomeu Morey
Letters - Rob Leigh
Assistant Editor - Andrew Merino
Group Editor - Eddie Berganza
Cover Price: $3.99

Another week, another Superman title that I am incredibly impressed by.  I must sound like a broken record by this point, but I am so optimistic and excited by the direction of the current and upcoming Superman books.  It almost feels as though we are about to enter a sort of golden age for this family of titles.

Again, with this one being so current I will earnestly attempt to remain as unspoilery as possible... I will try to keep the details as nebulous as possible so that anyone interested in nabbing it up can do so without having it completely ruined.

--

We open in National City where Superman is in search of Supergirl.  He arrives at a Department of Extra-Normal Operations facility only to find her slumbering while hooked up to some heavy machinery.  Kal's got no time to chat, and frees Kara from the mechanical apparatus and takes off with her.

She comes to as they fly away, and begins protesting.  After the recent Super-events, including the revelation of the secret identity and the Vandal Savage affair, Supergirl checked herself into the D.E.O. facility to have her power-set studied.

As they squabble, Superman begins to fall.  Kara is easily able to swoop him up, and Clark comes clean.  He tells his cousin that he's not long for this world.

Meanwhile, at the Daily Planet an odd fellow barges in claiming to be Clark Kent.  When he is questioned he becomes extremely violent, causing injury to those who inquire... even going as far as blasting a group of security guards with his heat vision.  Once he makes it to the newsroom, Lois Lane is able to taze the creep, and Perry calls A.R.G.U.S.

We rejoin Kal and Kara as they approach the Fortress of Solitude.  Inside Superman explains the entire situation to Supergirl and asks that she take over for him once he's gone.  After a bit of hesitation, Kara relents.

With the decision made, the cousins attempt to leave the Fortress, only to run into a very upset Wonder Woman...

--

Well, I guess I kinda put the cart before the horse in my opening paragraph... yeah, I really liked this one.  This month's "Superman World Tour" has been an absolute delight to experience.  I always enjoy seeing Superman interact with his allies and supporting cast.  With the urgency behind this current story, it is only made more satisfying.

The odd man who arrived at the Daily Planet was quite intriguing.  I've been avoiding a whole lot of the comics news sites of late... for a multitude of reasons... so I don't know if his purpose is already widely known in internet circles.  It made my ears perk up, and I look forward to where it's going.  The only part of the scene I didn't care for was Perry calling in A.R.G.U.S.  I hate to think that there's an acronym group taking care of all the business in the DC Universe.  One of the reasons I've (for the most part) walked away from Marvel Comics several years back was their over-reliance on S.H.I.E.L.D.  It seriously got to the point where not a single Marvel issue would come out that did not have at least a passing reference to the organization.  I miss comics being full of colorful heroes, instead of monitor-filled darkened war rooms.

Not only do we see Superman relate to these characters... we see him do so for what may perhaps be the final time.  There's a certain tentative melancholy to it... Hesitation... It's as though we know the characters are saying goodbye... yet, they just can't summon the words.  Everyone he's met with during the "Final Days of..." story line has been informed of the situation surrounding Clark's mortality... but, we haven't had a "goodbye".

I've said it before but, this is becoming a far more emotional arc than I had prepared myself for.  Ask me in 2012 and I'd have sworn I'd be dancing on this Superman's grave.  With the likelihood of his passing becoming stronger with each passing week... I can't help but feel kinda bad.  I thank and curse Peter J. Tomasi for finally making me care about this incarnation of the Man of Steel.  I am also completely psyched to see that he will be continuing on the Superman (vol.4) title in the post-Rebirth DC Universe.

Don't just pick this issue up... grab the entire "The Final Days of Superman" story arc, and enjoy a wonderful story that finally made me care about the post-Flashpoint Superman.

--

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Extreme Justice #1 (1995)

Extreme Justice #1 (February, 1995)
"Mad Dogs and Superheroes"
Writer - Dan Vado
Pencils - Marc Campos
Inks - Ken Branch
Letters - Mark Cunningham
Colors - Lee Loughridge
Proudly Presented by - Brian Augustyn & Ruben Diaz
Cover Price: $1.50

It almost feels like I'm in the midst of a full-blown Justice League week.  Between the past several entries here and my Justice League 1997 TV Pilot "miniseries" over at Weird Science DC Comics, I'm in a very Leaguey way.

When looking back through my archives (which, I'll admit I probably do a bit too often), I've noticed I'm kinda slacking on the decade that made me a fan in the first place... the 1990's.  We're going to take a small step toward remedying that today by getting... Extreme!  Because, even the Justice League of America needs an X-Force.

--

We open with a team of special agents investigating an underground passage nearby an abandoned railroad spur.  They are led by Lieutenant Crater, and under orders from a nebulous military "brass".  Little did they know when they agreed to the gig that they were going to come across one bemulleted and bodacious Captain Atom.  Cap warns them against going any further while flashing the camera with his perky oblong backside.

oofta...

They put up a little bit of resistance, and even attempt to "flank" our silver Adonis until Maxima hits the scene.  Unfortunately for the soldiers, she comes equipped with speed lines and globs of flaming energy.  Once the fracas dies down, Nate hints that he might just have more Metas lurking in the shadows, up to and including a certain Man of Steel himself... lucky for Atom, they don't try and call his bluff.

What was it with the energy-leaking eyes all these guys had???

Later, Nate is resting back at his ramshackle digs.  He's got a tray table in front of him, and is about to treat himself to a bottle of aspirin the last residents left behind and a tall glass of blackish water that couldn't possibly be of drinking quality.

His meal is interrupted by Blue Beetle.  He's (seemingly reluctantly) working for Atom in a bit of a techie role.  He's upset that Nate hasn't given him or any of his fellow members anything of a "mission statement" for this team's existence.  Nate snaps up his aspirin and punches his tray table... for some (extreme!) reason.  After threatening to walk, Captain Atom finally comes clean.

Atom discusses how past incarnations of the Justice League worked under more casual means.  They were heroes because they wanted to be.  They didn't need any fancy membership cards or secret handshakes.  He states that his vision for the League is a group of heroes that knows... the difference between right and wrong.  Really, Cap?  Okay... So, what I'm getting is that this is going to be the proactive Justice League... If the X-Force comparison fits...

The Cable-Ready Captain Atom

Meanwhile, at the ruined headquarters of the Justice League... Marvel's Nomad... err, that new young-hip Dr. Fate... er, no... Wait... that's Ronnie Raymond?  Like, as in Firestorm... hrmm...

He walks among the ruins and meets up with Oberon and Skeets.  Obe' discusses a recent attack and the current state of disarray the League is in.  Ronnie confides in the pair that he had come back in hopes that a Leaguer may be able to help him with the cancer he'd contracted.  Skeets proposes that they look for the League together, and expresses optimism that they'd also find a cure.

Back in the Extreme mountains, Atom, Beetle, and a very shiny armored Booster Gold are discussing the bevy of possibilities their mountain-range complex affords them.  It even comes equipped with a neighborhood... which Maxima and Amazing Man (no, not 'Mazing Man... though, I wish) are currently scoping out.

Max and (a)Maze approach the odd little enclosed neighborhood, which Will compares to something out of Leave it to Beaver... much to Maxima's befuddlement.  Just as they land, they are attacked by a trio of robo-beasts!

Maxima lashes out with her flaming globs while Amazing Man (unsuccessfully) attempts to use his energy absorption powers.  This shakes Will quite a bit.  Lucky for him, reinforcements have arrived!

The Extreme Team takes the fight to the metallic menaces and appear to be regaining ground... that is, until the one called Pulse (or maybe it was Synapse... I dunno) blasts the living hell out of Captain Atom, rendering him a floating puddle of metallic-mulleted goop.  We are naturally... [to be continued...]

--

Hrmm, where to even begin?  I mean, did I enjoy it?  No.  No indeed.  Can't I really hold that against the creative team?  Also, no... this is the kind of issue the market dictated, nay demanding the big publishing houses crap out.  Just look at this cover... if you didn't already know who these characters were, and failed to notice the DC bullet... this could have just as easily been one of the skatey-eight hundred Extreme-Team Image titles of this vintage.  It's hard to really separate this one from the era in which it was produced.  You get the impression that DC (nor Marvel) would have put anything this... I dunno, horrible (?) out if there wasn't already a powerful market demand for it.

The problem here, however lies with what I feel was/is(?) many people's first-blush thoughts on DC Comics.  Growing up in the nineties, DC Comics were the books that the old(er) people read.  They were more old-fashioned, stuffy and boring.  Failing to appreciate the stories and the characters led me right into Marvel's (and Image's) waiting arms.

Looking at this book is a lot like imagining your grandfather trying to rap... or, like that time Pat Boone dressed like a leather-daddy.  It just doesn't fit... it's off putting, and in hindsight... it's really quite embarrassing.

So uh... whattaya say, kids... am I EXTREME yet?

As for the story... well... it's a story, I guess.  This is an introductory piece to the team, something that started in Extreme Justice #0 (yeah, zeroes were all the rage...).  Seeing Blue Beetle and Booster Gold as members of a sorta-kinda X-Force seems fairly ridiculous.  Captain Atom had been played as something of a loose cannon, so I suppose it might just make sense that he'd wind up as a bemulleted silver-skinned naked version of Cable.

The art... well, it's very clearly a book of its time.  Penciller, Marc Campos is an amazingly talented artist, however, this book is not really a ringing endorsement of that fact.  This is DC filtered through an Image flavored sieve.  Can't blame a fella for drawing what sells.  It's just too bad what sold was mostly disposable interchangeable overly-lined fluff.

This issue came out at a time where there were three Justice League books.  We had our main (Uncanny) Justice League America book, flanked by this one and Justice League: Task Force... kind of the JLA's answer to X-Factor led by Martian Manhunter.  Outside of a few bright spots during Task Force, this was not a fun time for the League.  Folks were written out of character... the violence and team-angst was ratcheted up to eleven (and not in that fun sitcom/soapy way we'd become accustomed to), and DC appeared to lose sight on just what this team meant.  This would continue until the Grant Morrison penned JLA series, which was a true return to form for the World's Greatest Heroes.

I'm usually an unabashed Chromium-Age apologist, but this one gets a pass.  Not for the efforts of the creative team, mind... they were just trying to fill a niche.  This was an industry-wide disease that just happened to find its way into a Justice League title.

--

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It really doesn't get much more mid-90's than this...
Remember the days of HOURLY Internet???
Still got some of those disks kickin' around...

I thought for a split-second that this was John Romita, Jr. art

Justice League of America #233 (1984)

Justice League of America #233 (December, 1984)
"Rebirth: One - Gang War"
Writer - Gerry Conway
Penciller - Chuck Patton
Inker - Bill Anderson
Letterer - Ben Oda
Colorist - Gene D'Angelo
Editor - Alan Gold
Cover Price: $0.75

Here I sit in sort of a Super Blog Team-Up hangover.  Had a wonderful time, and can't thank the gang enough for letting me play along.  If SBTU was your first time happening upon my humble blog and you've decided on a return visit, you have my humble and sincere thanks.  I have added a permanent #SuperBlogTeamUp link to the sidebar for any latecomers who may be interested in "taking the tour".  It's all great content, so if you're inclined, hit'em up.

That was yesterday... now, let's talk about today.

Before moving to Arizona some several years back, I never understood the significance of May 5th.  Out here, due to the cultural makeup of our metropolitan area(s), I have come to learn about and appreciate the holiday Cinco de Mayo.  Since marrying into a Mexican family, I've even had the opportunity to participate.  Just this past weekend I cooked up a pot of barbacoa for the first time, and we all shared a lovely meal.  In the spirit of the holiday, and perhaps my being just a bit cheeky... we're going to pop in on one of the most endearing Hispanic superheroes around... Paco Ramone, better known to us as Vibe!

Another bit of fun for this one.  As we currently stand on the precipice of one Rebirth... we get to experience and discuss another, some three-decades back.

--

Click to enlarge... you won't be sorry

Paco Ramone AKA Vibe is performing on the streets of Detroit.  He's a master breakdancer, and comes equipped with both a boom box and a most excellent linoleum dance mat.  The inner-city denizens all gather around to watch him flippity flop and snippity snap (his fingers), including a pretty young thing in a t-shirt that just reads "SPIT".  Among his audience are the Justice League's Vixen and Zatanna in their civvies.

The ladies talk among themselves, saying how thankful they are that Aquaman allowed Paco to join the League... they are, however, just a bit wary because Paco's secret identity is public knowledge.  They get lost watching Paco's sweet moves, and joke about how surreal it would be to see any of the "big gun" heroes conducting themselves in such a way.  Now all I can do is picture Batman breakdancing, and Superman spinning on his head!

Suddenly a large bald fellow who goes by the name Crowbar enters the scene, flanked by members of his "Skull" gang.  Crowbar wields his... crowbar, and SMASHES poor Paco's dance-mat.  If that's not bad enough (and honestly, what could be worse?), he threatens Paco with a gang war.  It's the Skulls versus Vibe's old running buddies El Lobos (hrmm... shouldn't that be Los Lobos?).

Back to cardboard boxes for you, Paco.

Vibe tries to explain that he's retired from the street life.  He doesn't mess with the gangs anymore... he really just wants to be in the League and dance.  The neighborhood's resident tough-old bitty Mother Windom interjects and tells the fellas to take their street war elsewhere, even going as far as tripping Vibe with her cane.  Two of the Skull-ettes grab the Grandma and... jeez, threaten to cut her (and stick her with an ice-pick!).

This is all Vixen and Zatanna needed to see.  They both, suddenly in costume, make their presence known.  In the background is the ethereal form of Gypsy who looks on.  Despite Vibe's contesting, the women make short work of the Skulls.  Vibe ends the fracas by 'sploding a Skull-ette's firearm before it could be discharged.  This was during the time when Zatanna's costume including an odd caterpillar type of thing in her hair... I always thought that was a bit off-putting.

Meanwhile, at the Justice League's new Detroit digs, Martian Manhunter, Aquaman and League associate Dale Gunn are stress-testing Steel's steel-alloy skeleton by having him hoist a gigantic piece of machinery over his head.  Gunn is a bit trepidacious about pushing Steel to his absolute limit, however, J'onn and Arthur insist he keep applying the pressure.  This causes Steel's knees to buckle, and just as he's about to get squished real good, his teammates come to his aid.

Gunn and Aquaman get into each other's faces.  After a brief heated exchange, Gunn leaves with Steel.  J'onn and Arthur confide in one another that they probably handled things wrong... perhaps as a way to illustrate these two fellas adjusting to their leadership positions.

As the two heroes exit, they run across the Dibneys who are currently in the midst of redecorating the dilapidated old factory walls.

We observe a brief scene between Steel and Gunn, as they discuss the young man's grandfather... the Golden Age hero, Commander Steel.  Shortly, Zatanna and Vixen return to HQ and call a meeting to the conference room... they have old Mother Windom in tow, and she's got a story to tell.

We rejoin our main man Vibe, as he meets up with his former "associates" Los El Lobos.  We learn that the leader of the Lobos is Paco's older brother, Armando Ramone.  He's gone to them to inform them of the pending gang war between the Lobos and the Skulls.  No sooner do those words escape his lips, than Crowbar and his crew o' geeks crash the scene.

There's a major skirmish going down, and Vibe is attempting to play defense.  He doesn't appear to want to harm anybody, his sole concern is safety.  In an unfortunate bit of irony... focusing on what's going on in front of him has left his back wide-open.  During the brawl a Skull-ette is able to sneak up behind him and shank him round about the kidneys!

Just as all appears to be lost, Paco's new gang arrives on the scene.  It's the Justice League!  The gang-geeks are absolutely no match for the League, and go down quite easily.  The parting shot being Crowbar being whonked in the head with his own crowbar by our favorite ethereal urchin, Gypsy.

When the dust settles, the League goes straight into lecture mode on the Lobos.  They reply with a hearty "pshhh...", and walk off.  Paco's wounds are serious, yet not necessarily life-threatening, and so he is brought to the hospital.

Metas just don't understand

We close the issue with Crowbar in his jail cell.  There is a sudden appearance of a ball of light.  It refers to itself as The Overmaster, and appears to know Crow' by his IRL name.  With a flash of light, both the Overmaster and Malcom "Crowbar" Tandy vanish.

--

Now, I know I poked a fair amount of fun at this one, but... I really enjoy this incarnation of the League.  When I look back on this, it feels like DC Comics saw some of the success of the All-New All-Different X-Men, and decided to do something similar.  While the Giffen/DeMatteis League is generally the one folks think of when anyone mentions a "soapy" comic, this era shared many of those elements (without the sorta-kinda irreverent sense of humor).

The story and art are all fine.  Gerry Conway is/was/always will be a master, and Patton never fails to impress.  This is just a slice of mid-80's inner city life, with a superhero twist.  It's novel to see not just any superhero team deal with the street-level threats... but, the Justice League... and. this isn't "West Coast" Justice League, or the "Uncanny" Justice League taking care of the smaller hazards while the big-guns save the world... this is THE Justice League.

A fine issue, and a different Justice League tale.  Worth pursuing simply for the novelty.

Don't know what I covet more... the headband or the SPIT shirt

Before we wrap up, I suppose we ought to discuss the (break-dancin') elephant in the room... Vibe.  Vibe to me is one of those low-hanging fruit punchline characters.  Folks who have never even read a single issue featuring the character have almost a knee-jerk reaction to mock him... and, if I'm honest... there is a lot to mock.  He is most certainly a product of the times and it would be a definite challenge to put this Vibe (not the New-52! or the goofball on the CW Flash Cisco Ramon version) into a contemporary book.

You're killing his gimmick, Steel!

It can be argued that he is kind of a caricature of the inner-city Latino... and there is plenty of ammunition to fuel that argument.  He affects a terrible pseudo-Spanglish accent, and has a gang background... and I'm sure if we were to visit his apartment there'd be a velvet Jesus on one of his walls.  With all that said... I like him.  Don't get me wrong, there's plenty to dislike... I've seen him held up as an indictment of how "bad" the Detroit League was.  I respect that opinion, but wholeheartedly disagree.  I can't say that I'm right or wrong in feeling that way... but what I can say, is that this is an offbeat take on the Justice League that folks should check out on their own before forming an opinion... you may just come to think that this League deserves a far better reputation than it currently gets.

--

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