Threshold #3 – Review

By: Keith Giffen (Writer), Tom Raney, Phil Winslade, Scott Kolins (Artists), Andrew Dalhouse (Colorist)

The Story: A crazed Blue Beetle tries to kill Jediah Caul as we get properly introduced to Captain K’rot. In the backup, Larfleeze gets in a bar to meet people who can help him get his treasure back.

The Review: This series, so far, is a test of endurance. Sure, the previous issues were nice, but this is definitely the kind of book that will get a whole lot better in the long run, provided Keith Giffen gets some more traction with the characters and the setting he has created. Most of what we have seen is the presentation of several pieces of the puzzle, very small parts of a much larger story that will, without a doubt, unfold after a couple of issues. Sadly, some of these pieces are somewhat lacking.

One of those pieces, as indicated in the cover and that has been the subject of interviews and much controversy, is Captain K’rot himself, the gritty, sci-fi reworking of a beloved cartoon character. Making the comparison of the previous fun-loving superhero to this newer version is actually quite surprising, as it would akin to compare day and night. The previous version was bright, colorful and cheery, while this one is sully, cynical and somewhat disrespectful of his companions. Now, from what is said in the issue itself, there seems to be unexplained reasons as to why he turned that way and there are some bits with him that are genuinely funny, yet the character does not feel right so far.  Considering Giffen had stated in interviews that he would be the ‘’breakout’’ character of the series, I sure do hope K’rot will turn out to be more than a funny jerk with eloquence that he has been shown as in this issue and the previous one.

Young Justice S02E18 – Review

By: Peter David (story)

The Story: Jaime practice his pageant wave for a future run of Mr. Young Justice.

The Review: As we get closer and closer to the end—just two more weeks, if you can believe it—it seems only natural that we begin to think wistfully of all that might have been.  One thing strikes me in particular.  I think had the show’s writers known this season was going to be their last, they probably would have tweaked the episodes to focus more equitably on the entire cast, rather than just a handful.  I definitely think Blue Beetle could’ve survived less screen-time.

Given that the big invaders of this season turned out to be the Reach, it makes perfect sense that Blue Beetle would play a major role in the overarching plot.  But the writers sort of went overboard once they inserted this idea that the whole future depends on whether Jaime winds up on the dark side or not.  That’s the real reason why we’ve seen so much of him this season; I don’t think his hapless personality and Spanglish somehow made him a breakout character.

Young Justice S02E16 – Review

By: Kevin Hopps (story)

The Story: Artemis is less than enthused when her family attempts to avenge her death.

The Review: The epic scale of last week’s episode in outer space could have easily made you forget that deep beneath the sea, there was another, no less important crisis at stake.  The YJ writers got a lot of glee out of maneuvering Artemis, Aqualad, and Miss Martian into such a precarious situation, without ever disturbing the tension already established by this deep-cover mission.  Getting our heroes out of that situation will take even greater care and cleverness.

While the trio found an effective way to stall for time, this couldn’t satisfy Black Manta for long and he springs a ticking time bomb—quite literally—on them here, spurring them to spring a half-baked plan into action.  Had they actually been able to see it through in its entirety, it’s doubtful they would’ve gotten away with it without some kind of compromise, but luckily, in delightful, superhero fashion, two wild cards enter the scene.

Young Justice S02E14 – Review

By: Kevin Hopps (story)

The Story: Even they’re supposed to be DC’s runaways, where’s the mind-controlled dinosaur?

The Review: Before we get down to anything else, we really have to talk about this impending cancellation for Young Justice.  I’m really rather surprised DC hasn’t stuck a “WTF Certified” stamp all over that one.  After all, it was only last year that Cartoon Network started its DC Nation bloc, and the whole period has been riddled with erratic scheduling, only to climax in this utterly baffling sudden turnover.

Granted, I don’t really have the numbers for the show in front of me, and I’m not really sure I’d understand them even if I did, but how badly could the series have done to be get canned just midway through the second season?  And if it was doing that badly, then why?

Young Justice S02E10 – Review

By: Kevin Hopps (story)

The Story: This will teach Miss Martian to look before she leaps—into someone’s brain.

The Review: As I understand it, there’s some weirdness going on with the release of these episodes.  The official schedule set this episode to come out in January, but apparently, you can the jump on the television viewers if you have iTunes—or various “other sources,” as I do.  I won’t say more, just in case Cartoon Network’s intelligence community catches wind and breaks down my door, demanding turnover of my Young Justice episode.

They would have to pry it from my struggling fingers, too, because this was a highly enjoyable episode.  It puts on display every virtue this show has boasted from the beginning, and all the others it’s gained since its second season.  It also starts the show on the path towards the culmination of every major plotline it’s introduced in the last nine episodes.

Young Justice S02E09 – Review

By: Jon Weisman (story)

The Story: The team’s HQ may not be a Mt. St. Helen, but it sure blows up like one.

The Review: During the show’s first season, I complained frequently about how the characters didn’t seem like “real” teens, whatever that means in a world of superheroes.  As much as I appreciated that they never rushed into anything without looking first, I sometimes longed for a little more spontaneity and humor from them.  After all, what teenager doesn’t like doing something completely random and laughing a bit stupidly about it afterward?

So among the many improvements this season’s brought, I like most how much more often you laugh during an episode now.  The addition of purely comedy-driven characters, like Beast Boy, Blue Beetle, and especially Impulse has something to do with that, I imagine.  Kid Flash kind of served this function in season one, but his counterpart from the future really relishes his role as team jester.  Bart’s happy-go-lucky attitude is infection, and has the potential to draw the others into fun outings they’d never have taken with the first-gen YJers.

Young Justice S02E08 – Review

By: Greg Weisman (story)

The Story: The original Roy Harper proves he can take on Lex Luthor with only one hand.

The Review: I will never understand this show’s habit of going on hiatus mid-season.  Of course, this is the same show which aired its pilot months before the rest of the first season episodes, then took a summer-long break in between.  I’m sure there are some very good practical reasons why all this must be so, but it’s annoying anyway.  You would never put up with this on a lesser show.

However, Young Justice has the good fortune of being a very good show, so it can afford its logistical oddities from time to time.  We left off last time with some fairly gnarly plot twists, and this episode shows that the creators have given plenty of thought over the summer as to how to proceed.  More than any other cartoon I’ve heard seen on American television, this series does not mess around when it comes to exploring its stories from every possible angle.

Young Justice S02E05 – Review

By: Brandon Vietti (story)

The Story: Who says girl groups are dead?

The Review: Obviously, the biggest difference between this and last season is the team’s roster, which has grown a little bigger and a lot more colorful.  The writers have so far kept the focus on the returning characters, though they’ve wisely given the newbies substantial parts to play, getting us used to their presence.  Now seems the right time to get to know the rookies better, as they do represent the future of the team—unless we get another time jump in season three.

Of all the new members, Blue Beetle is a natural to break out.  His versatile power set, bizarre origin story, and racial and urban appeal make for a potent combination, and thanks to a cult-favorite ongoing and a Smallville appearance, he’s perhaps more familiar to us nowadays than you might expect.  But I’d say the biggest factor in his favor is he gives the show access to a whole realm of stories it’s only just now exploring: the socially relevant.

Young Justice S02E04 – Review

By: Greg Weisman (story)

The Story: Roy, we’re your friends, but we feel like we’re losing you.  Come back to us, man!

The Review: Although the finale offered a pretty good wrap-up of the first season’s major storylines, it also left a couple open.  The biggie, of course, is the truth of what happened to the “16 hour” Leaguers while under the Light’s possession, which will undoubtedly form the basis of much of the coming season’s conflicts.  But we also have the issue of Red Arrow being a clone of the original Speedy (who remains MIA), which the show put on the back-burner.

Weisman uses this episode to follow up on that particularly volatile plotline, showing us that in the interim five years, clone-Roy has fallen on hard times, a sad twist for the ex-sidekick who first earned League membership.  Weisman clearly gets his inspiration from the infamous “Snowbirds Don’t Fly” storyline in Green Lantern/Green Arrow #85-86, which depicted (the original) Roy as secretly addicted to heroin, a problem he overcame with Black Canary’s help.

Young Justice S02E01 – Review

By: Greg Weisman (story)

The Story: YJ’s philosophy toward recruitment?  The more the merrier.

The Review: When I reviewed the show’s season finale last week, I was all settled in for a summer’s break until its return.  I suppose I should have known by now to give up trying to figure out this show’s release schedule.  Who could ever predict that the premiere of the second season would follow right on the heels of the first’s season finale?  I can only guess this is Cartoon Network’s way of keeping up its newly-minted DC Nation block.

The first few minutes of the episode get you pumped for another season of teen superhero action, as you watch Superboy, Miss Martian, and Robin take down Clayface in a sewer with great finesse and confidence, proving their victory aboard the League watchtower did wonders for their street cred.  When Robin appears from the shadows in a whole new costume, you’re only briefly curious.  Then an alligator slides down a chute and becomes Beast Boy.  Blue Beetle flies in, remarking on the smell.  A shrunken Bumblebee hovers above and resizes back to normal.  You think to yourself, Wow, their street cred really must have taken off to recruit this much.  And then Superboy reports back to HQ, only to be told to head back by one “Nightwing.”

Supergirl #64 – Review

By: James Peaty (writer), Bernard Chang (artist), Blond (colorist)

The Story: No way is Supergirl going to play these mind games with a horny freak!

The Review: In comics, like in most other fiction, corniness and clichés aren’t crimes as long as they’re done sparingly, or with some kind of irony or self-awareness.  In fact, they can inject some good humor or lightness to a comic that takes itself too seriously.  But that’s only when you have a writer who knows how to use them in a crafty sort of way; in the hands of the non-honed, they turn any story into a cringing mess.

Peaty seems like he thinks he can actually get away with lines like, “M-my powers…wh-why aren’t they working?!?”  (The use of “?!?” really brings that one over the top.)  The stammering villain backed helplessly into the corner is not only older than probably most of us, but it’s also the least flattering gimmick there is for a character.  Any respect you may have had for “Alex” pretty much goes out the window once you see him babbling like a kid caught in the cookie jar.

But then, Alex lost credibility as a villain long ago, once his actions became less meticulous and more erratic and senselessly vengeful.  You can’t even tell where his thirst for revenge comes from, nor where it’s directed.  Once Peaty revealed him as a Dubbilex-clone, the gates opened for all sorts of senseless developments: Alex’s loss of Kryptonian genes (no sign of which gets seen in this story arc at all), his Oedipus complex for poor Catherine Devereux, etc.

The only vague indication of Alex’s goals is when he offhandedly mentions “breaking…the Man of Steel’s heart.”  Putting aside for a moment the random leap to targeting Superman, this change in goal ultimately hijacks the focus of the story away from Supergirl.  Considering Peaty himself has been trying to make this arc about elevating Kara’s heroism to her cousin’s level, suddenly turning her into more of a means to hurt Superman seems like a humiliating demotion for her.

And anyway, from the start Alex never intended even Supergirl to be his sole, or even his primary target.  By now you may have forgotten about the Flyover app—a great idea that never got a chance to take off—but its original aim was to help Alex kill off all DC’s young heroes.  But along with the stakes of this story arc, Alex apparently scaled down his mission hardcore, now content to use Blue Beetle and Robin as a “bio-base for my next generation of drones.”

Supergirl #63 – Review

By: James Peaty (writer), Bernard Chang (artist), Blond (colorist)

The Story: Honestly, Supergirl’s had it up to here with clones.

The Review: In a Newsarama interview, Nick Spencer described his departure from DC and subsequently Supergirl as differences in conceived direction for the character.  He didn’t go into much detail as to what those differences entailed, but you can figure it out by comparing how this story arc started and how it’s turning out now.

This arc introduced the Flyover app, which was meant as a tool for the public to track their most beloved superheroes, and in doing so unintentionally assure the heroes’ destruction.  The idea is classic Spencer: smart, true-to-life, yet still a blind to something even more insidious.  But two issues in, the app idea lost focus; while Alex claimed to target all teen heroes, it seems the Flyover plot has been completely abandoned.

Instead you get more standard telepathic clone hijinks, which certainly don’t have the twisted subtlety of the Flyover app.  Still, it’d be entertaining enough if Peaty had tried to tie it into Spencer’s initial ideas a little more craftily, but he doesn’t.  The fact that such a central concept could be dropped midway through the arc indicates just how forcefully Peaty is attempting to switch gears on this story.

He does it none too gracefully either.  Catherine Devereux is a character whose part should’ve been done after Alex kills off her cancer-stricken son in the arc’s first issue.  Instead she returns to give Lois a midnight-hour confession of new facts on top of the confession she already gave before: Alex is actually a Cadmus experiment she developed a bond with and ultimately freed—which makes you wonder why he so cruelly hurt her in the first place.

Supergirl #62 – Review

By: James Peaty (writer), Bernard Chang (artist), Blond (colorist)

The Story: Two aliens, a prepubescent assassin, and a guy in bug-themed robotic armor–a winning combination.

The Review: After the excitement of Nick Spencer’s takeover of Supergirl was ultimately diminished by his immediate departure after issue 60, I was relieved when the following month offered as strong a read as the one before.  Peaty, it seemed, had just as firm a grasp on the character and story, and I looked forward to his handling of the title.

This issue makes me suspect the last may have been more poached off of Spencer’s initial work than I thought.  The skillful plot building, character developing, and scene jumping has given way to more standard fare—and worse.  Not only are there noticeable dips in the writing quality, but some gaping plot holes also defeat what strength there might have been.

Last we left them, Supergirl and Robin were still trying to figure out the nature of the faux-villains set upon them.  All of a sudden you’ve got Blue Beetle and Miss Martian involved, and you never even see how they ganged up.  Only one small flashback panel shows Supergirl saving Beetle’s hide in El Paso, so Peaty presumably decided to save some time by getting right to the team-up—only it feels like he skipped an entire issue’s worth of necessary scenes to do so.

The fact Miss Martian disguises herself as the redheaded bimbo from the start of this arc also throws the timeline of the storyline way off.  It’s as if Supergirl figures out a plan to confront Alex before he even sets his mission in motion.  Smaller, but no less discouraging plot holes exist: the whole Flyover app concept seems to have been abandoned, and even though Miss Martian is accompanied by Alex’s two “friends” when she first encounters him, they apparently disappear a few moments later—for no reason.