I wasn't aware that JLA Avengers is being omitted, as I'd skimmed over the solicitation! That's a crying shame, as I'd been looking forward to reevaluating it. Maybe I can find a library trade in decent condition -- fingers crossed.
Well, I found a copy in my library system -- it has minor water damage and it's missing one page from the first issue, but it's readable.
To be blunt, I was underwhelmed and unsatisfied. Oh, the first two (of four) issues were decent enough, and the second one had an effective plot twist which led to a strong cliffhanger. But Busiek's writing aesthetic is just too clean and neat for my taste -- I prefer superhero stories with more of an edge, even when that edge makes them somewhat problematic. And, I'm sorry, I met Perez in person three times, and he seemed like a nice enough person, but his visual aesthetic was just not my thing; that said, it took me years to figure out WHY that is; in a nutshell, I believe (and people are free to disagree) that he never quite mastered perspective or anatomy, and that his faces, while attractive in his first decade as a pro (mid-70s to mid-80s,) were limited in nuanced expression and got uglier and uglier over the final 25 years of his life.
Moreover, both creators just didn't know when to leave well enough alone -- everything and the kitchen sink is one thing, but those guys threw in the chimney, the basement, and the attic! It's just too crowded, both in story and visuals, to resonate for anyone except fans of Busiek-Perez who go in expecting as much. The second half of the story falls apart under the weight of too many characters, too few of which have any kind of meaningful arc (at least in Crisis on Infinite Earths, Barry Allen and Kimiyo Hoshi and Kara Zor-El had something approaching this, even if the execution was clumsy.)
I also find it hypocritical of Busiek that he would assert that the one single reality of two separate universes is sacrosanct, when he has played fast and loose with continuity himself over the course of his career.
So, if you like that creative team, dive right in. If you don't, give this story a wide berth.
Glad to see there is some more to catch up on, I didn't realise it's been so long since I logged on!
Good scene setting with the description of the Aldronlliphean Mega-Station, and I quite like the idea of DNA locked pockets!
I also like that for all the League's good intentions, crime doesn't usually just conveniently appear in front of someone, waiting to be stopped - it's very much a trope for superheroes to just stumble across evildoers in their everyday life so it's good to see the inverse of that sometimes!
The team's reactions to the slaughter is a good way to show they're still newbies, and I like that they're not too proud to call for help when they feel over their heads.
OOH A YELLOW LANTERN!!!! There is so much potential with the rest of the Lantern Corps outside of the green ones a thousand years in the future, I am looking forward to finding out more!
Interesting squad for the Legion to assemble...Starkling and Atomsmasher are always fun, and I wonder what Retro's gonna find out?
EDIT: wait maybe I'm dumb....I just went back and re-read the Bibliothecix adventure.....is the Yellow Lantern the same woman who knew Retro?? Intrigue!!!!
This isn't from DC, but Image is releasing a comic called Free Agents from Busiek and Nicieza that seems VERY Legion coded. It makes me wonder if this was another retooled Legion pitch that Didio shot down in the '10s.
I just did some research on Free Agents. It looks okay, but nothing I'd spend money on. Unless maybe it was Nicieza without Busiek. But even then...
To end this on a positive note, Nicieza has a successful ongoing series of prose novels, darkly funny mysteries about a suburban detective. So I'm happy for him.
![[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]](https://i.imgur.com/Rxnfmqb.jpeg)
the one who logs in most consistently is likely to kill the thread
