Anghus Houvouras reviews Justice League 3000 #1…
“The new series starring the heroes of today—tomorrow is resolicited, now with legendary artist Howard Porter (JLA) on board! But what are these heroes doing in the year 3000? And who (or what) brought them there? Get ready for a dose of wonder from the writing team of Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis!”
It’s funny how little joy I’m finding in DC’S New 52 line up right now. The only DC books I read right now are the fringe titles that exist far outside the mismanaged icons that, other than Snyder’s Batman, are pretty unexciting reads.
The fringe DC books have been fun, because there’s a fearlessness to them. Without the restraints of continuity and the ability to tell more creatively interesting stories, these titles have become the only consistently readable books in the DC line up. I’m talking about titles like Earth 2, that take our favorite heroes and take them in a new direction. Justice League 3000 is cut from the same cloth. It’s a fun, over the top, and exciting look at a 31st Century where the Justice League are brought back as clones, thanks to a grant from the Cadmus foundation who seems almost contractually and ideologically committed to mad science.
The heroes are brought back by a “The Wonder Twins”, two super scientists who believe the ills of the universe can be cured by the world’s greatest heroes, or at least reasonable facsimiles. While they’re able to clone Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, and The Flash, there are complications. Imagine Superman without the guiding hand of The Kents. Or a Batman who never experienced the death of his parents. With the loss of certain experiences, they are very different heroes. Batman and Superman are constantly at each other’s throat. Wonder Woman has embraced her Amazonian heritage and has become more brutal and unforgiving than the original.
Keith Giffen’s story is a fun twist on an old concept. The little character tweaks are well done by writer JM DeMatteis who has fun writing variations on our favorite heroes who indulge their ID just a little too much. Howard Porter’s art is solid, though I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss the more expressive style of Kevin Maguire who was originally slated to draw the book. This is a good start to another fringe DC Universe title. If only this level of quality was applied to their core titles…
Anghus Houvouras is a North Carolina based writer and filmmaker. His latest work, the novel My Career Suicide Note, is available from Amazon.
Originally published December 12, 2013. Updated April 11, 2018.
