Justice League #8 – Review

By: Too many to list—check out the review.

The Story: If Arrows wants in so bad, you should at least give him the honor of hazing him.

The Review: If anything proves that relentless flash and glam can’t make up for ill-conceived, incomprehensible storytelling, it has to be the Garry Marshall-Katherine Fugate series of star-studded, holiday-themed films, Valentine’s Day and New Year’s Eve.  Despite being veritable cornucopias of tabloid regulars, these easily count as some of the least watchable films of the decade, completely lacking in personality, depth, and novelty.

Justice League may be the Valentine’s Day of comics right now.  Eight months after its explosive premiere, the title may still be selling like hotcakes, but it has failed to establish a consistent tone or agenda for itself.  Somehow, having six of the most iconic heroes of all time (plus Cyborg) in one convenient bunch has resulted in the most pedestrian storylines and the flattest of group dynamics.  True, their image of friendship was intended from the start as a public face, but surely Geoff Johns doesn’t mean to subject us to their bland interaction forever.

Perhaps this issue signals a turn for the better.  If the League as a unit lacks personality, Green Arrow has a dripping surplus, practically enough to make up for his would-be colleagues.  His shameless attempts to impress the Leaguers in hopes of getting an invitation to join them is quite entertaining for his audacity.  After the team defeats Amazo, Arrow doesn’t hesitate to point out his contribution to the battle: a single arrow protruding from the android’s left buttock.

Arrow’s boldness has the effect of bringing out the League’s collective straight man, making them more enjoyable to read than they’ve ever been.  Even Green Lantern’s obnoxiousness rubs a bit better when not directed at his own teammates.  He tells the emerald archer, “If Batman sprains his ankle, we’ll call you.”  He then whispers to Batman, “Totally lying.  We wouldn’t call him.”  Batman replies with an ambiguous “Thanks.”

If the League’s treatment of Green Arrow seems cold, they have good reason—other than Arrow’s incessant persistence (“So what do you say?  Am I in?”  In response, they leave him on a deserted road some miles outside of town.).  Some of them already have bad history with him (read: Aquaman), but all of them share a dark experience of letting in just anybody onto the team, particularly ones who can psychically ferret out all their secrets and ghost it out of there.