Art by: Howard Porter
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: July 2, 2014
Cliffhanger Ruined in a Flash
I've had an on again, off again relationship with Justice League 3000. I love the concept, the characters and the art, but have had real problems with the pacing. DeMatteis and Giffen have such a cool story, but seem to be afraid to let it all out. I don't mind a dangling carrot, but eventually I want to eat. Last month, we got an all you can eat buffet of awesomeness. More happened in one issue then had happened in the past 4 combined. The real brains behind the Five made his presence known in a shocking display of cold hearted brutality and the Flash lost his head. I couldn't wait for this month to continue the greatness. While I liked it, the pacing issue reared it's ugly head again and there was the whole "Cover spoils the fun" problem.
If you haven't read last months Justice League 3000 #7 you may want to stop now and do so. I am about to spoil the shit out of it. It was a great issue so you really should read it. Spoilers ahead. Here come the spoilers. Last month we found out that Terry is the brains behind the Five. I'd say he was a Wonder Twin, but you see, he murdered his sister, Terri. Neck snapped. Then he pressed a button and blew up the Flash's head and everyone working for him on Cadmusworld. What a dick. All this pretty much forced the Justice League and their "Mother",Ariel Masters, to surrender to him. We open this issue with both sides talking and talking and talking.
This is what I was talking about when I complained about the pacing. Justice League 3000 often becomes a "wall of words". I understand that a book with such a crazy concept and unique and large cast will have moments of heavy exposition. Unfortunately, this book often gets wordy without giving us anything new. We know that Superman doesn't like to be called Clark, that innocent people died to bring them back and that Ariel left the program because of it. Maybe Dematteis wants to makes sure new readers catch up, but as a reader from the start, it's getting real old.
I hate to be a Negative Nancy and sound like I hated everything. There was a bunch of stuff I did like this month. Hal Jordan continues to be tiny and my favorite character (mainly because he's tiny). He really proves his awesomeness this month with a new found power. Unfortunately, this new mystery is presented and thrown on the mystery heap. The heap is getting mighty big.
Ariel also shows that she isn't just going to lie down and become a slave. She hatches a plan that would have been so great, if the cover didn't spoil it. You really can judge this book by it's cover. Oh well, it's still pretty cool.
That's this issue in a nutshell. Every good part is negated by an equally bad or annoying part. If you peaked below at the score then, you may be wondering why it's as high as it is. Well, I haven't talked about Howard Porter's art, yet.
Howard Porter's art has been consistently great throughout this series. That trend continues here. While there was a bit of an ugly Wonder Woman panel this month, everything else looks awesome. His art and Hi-Fi's colors really sell the strange, futuristic setting. i love it.
Bits and Pieces:
Justice League 3000 #8 is sabotaged by heavy exposition and a cover that spoils the cliffhanger. It also has great Howard Porter art and a charm that I can't put my finger on. Maybe it's the unique setting and characters, but I still enjoy it even when it isn't great. I can't recommend this issue to anyone not reading the series already, but if you are, you know what to expect.
7.0/10
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