New 52 Justice League # 2

By Mark Rodriguez

We're already seeing previews for Justice League War, which will be the animated version of the first five issues of the New 52 Justice League. The story will be rather different, especially since the original story amounts to just the heroes meeting up and defeating Darkseid in a few hours. It already looks like the animated version will expand a lot more on that. Not only that, but Aquaman was replaced by Shazam and he'll apparently be Cyborg's buddy in this one. I already covered the first issue back in September, and here's the link.
New 52 Justice League # 1 and let's follow up with issue 2. I'm not sure if I can finish the story before the movie is released, but I'll give it a try. And well, it's kinda too late to consider this spoilers, but depending on how much you're looking forward to seeing the animated version and assuming you never read the comics during the New 52 launch, you might wanna tread lightly if you don't want it spoiled for you, depending on how faithful it is to the comics that is.

The comic opens in Central City with Allen trying to solve a murder case he think he can solve, but everyone is busy wanting to figure out who the Flash is. Of course, this sucks for him since he IS the Flash.

Back to Metropolis, Batman has used sonic grenades, tear gas and tasers, and of course none of them work against the Man of Steel. Superman just walks towards him like the unstoppable juggernaut that he is and tells him that his belt is empty. Superman grabs Batman by the throat and flies him into a wall. He says he was attacked by 'someone with one of the boxes' Batman has that blew himself up and took most of the building with him.

Green Lantern gets up, and people run from him as they notice he's 'one of them', since the world is still afraid of superheroes at this point. Superman chokes Batman and demands he talks before he 'doesn't let him'. Lantern attacks Superman with chained pistons made out of energy and tells him to drop Batman. He then chains up Superman, which doesn't amuse him and he proceeds to break free in a 2-page splash.

Superman is now pissed and Lantern is shocked he was able to shatter his construct. Batman says he's angry due to fighting someone else before they showed up. Lantern says he knows someone faster than Superman and calls the Flash as they try to escape in an energy bubble. Flash is surprised to find out Lantern met Batman and they're both in a fight against Superman. He's reluctant to help since the last they hung out, they defeated a talking gorilla (Grodd I assume?) and destroyed a natural history museum in the process, and now there's even a Flash Task Force out to stop him. Lantern says they need his help now since Superman's about to kill them... just as he shatters the energy orb they're in.

Flash appears and holds back Superman's fist and says he'll give his friends some breathing room. He spins Superman around and shoves him into a wall. Superman says he hates being attacked and tries to grab the Flash, but he's too fast for him. Flash says he thinks there's a misunderstanding and tells Superman not to bother trying to catch him since he's never been touched. Supes flicks a finger at him and sends Flash flying into a dumpster, which surprises the speedster that he was actually hit.

Batman tells Superman to stop and says they were also attacked by a monster that blew up and used one of the boxes. They figured since the box seems alien, Superman might know what it is, but he never saw anything like this before. Flash comes back and asks if they're done fighting. Since they are, he cleans up the area.

The military show up, and Superman says Luthor is behind it. Batman isn't a fan of Luthor either, and for now all the heroes have to escape to the underground. Flash complains since he doesn't want more bad publicity. Lantern asks why Batman seems extra serious now, and the Dark Knight says he's worried if there are more of those alien boxes out there.

Meanwhile in STAR labs, some scientists are studying one of the alien boxes they found in the wreckage of Superman's battle that morning. They know it's broadcasting some kind of signal, and the same kind of signal has been found in D.C, Central City and Coast City. One of the scientists tell Dr. Stone his son wants to see him, but he's too busy. He sighs and goes anyway since it sounds urgent. His son, Victor Stone was disappointed his father wasn't there to see him play football since some big time scouts were there and some were even offering full scholarships. His father says he's paying his way through college anyway and he should open his eyes. He says there's a new race of super beings now that make playing football sound like a joke. Victor asks if his dad will ever watch any of his games... and he says no.

Superman leads everyone to an abandoned printing press and tells Batman he doesn't have a base of operations. Batman asks where he hides, since he doesn't wear a mask and seem to have a secret identity to hide. Lantern tells Flash maybe they should ditch Bats and Supes and figure out the box on their own. Flash asks about the aliens behind Lantern's ring, but since the ring can't identify the box, neither can the guardians. Hal suggests Flash can quickly disassemble it to see what's inside, but the Flash doesn't want to chance it since it might be radioactive or toxic inside, and Superman can't see through it either. Flash suggests taking it for analysis for any fingerprints or DNA. Batman says he sounds like a cop, and he admits he is. Lantern warns Barry that he's exposes his identity... and Flash calls hims out for calling him 'Barry' in front of them.

Just then the box that the heroes have, as well as the one in STAR labs start making quick 'Ping' sounds and explode. The explosions bring forth more monsters yelling out 'for Darkseid!!!'. At the labs, the explosions vaporizes some scientists, but it also nearly fries Victor Stone to death.

My Opinions:

Man, does this bring back memories of back then when the New 52 was new and was all the rage. I did like the classic DC Universe, mostly Batman's history with all the Robins and Batgirls, and I remember things like The Death of Superman and such, but the fresh new reboot was exciting and I was excited to 'be there' for the modern re-telling of the formation of the Justice League. I loved this issue now for the same reason I loved it then, mostly the interactions and introductions of the heroes. They're still knowing each other and their abilities, so Batman doesn't know a taser won't affect Superman, nor does he know that he does have a secret identity even if he doesn't wear a mask. Flash and Lantern play off each other well, and it's interesting to see they already knew each other beforehand. Flash is more serious and Lantern just seems to get everybody he knows into trouble.

Of course we all know what will happen to Victor Stone. I wonder how the animated version will fit both his origin story and Shazam's. In this story his is the only origin we see. Everyone else is already established, they just haven't met yet.

I remember people complaining back then about the first issue mostly about Lantern and Batman, but hey, we have to start somewhere, and this issue already brought in Superman, the Flash and pre-Cyborg Victor into the mix. A simple story that brought them together, and I still like it. I also remember complaints against Superman grabbing Batman by the throat saying 'talk before I won't let you!!!' It might have been a 'so that's what that feels like' moment for Batman, but many felt it was OOC for Supes. Well, you have to remember this is New 52 Supes and people were still wrapping their minds around the fact that the guy with the red tights just few months before was now forever gone as they knew him. Plus this is 5 years before and Superman got hit hard by the outside world when he revealed himself as a superhero. And now an alien freak attacked him and blew in his face. As a dude that makes things out of green light picked a fight with him. Kinda had a right to be pissed at this point. Although I do have to admit, this is supposed to be 5 years before the Justice League and Superman 'we know today' but I haven't really read enough of the New 52 Superman to know if he's as wholesome and righteous as the classic one.

I'll try to follow up with issue 3 as soon as I can as we count down the days to Justice League War.

Forever Evil (Justice League # 25)

By Mark Rodriguez

Last issue we saw a bit of Ultraman's origins... so this issue looks deeper into Owlman. So you know what that means...? Back to Douche-World where everyone is mean and cruel to each other... where the Kents were about to stab each other seconds before a young Kal-El landed onto their farm and blasted Mr. Kent's arm off.... So let's see what sick and twisted EVIL backstory Owlman is gonna have.

'Forever Lost' starts 30 years ago in the Doucheverse version of the world as the Wayne family head home after watching Zorro. In this version they have both Thomas Jr and Bruce as brothers, and they're spoiled rotten brats. Miss Wayne is cold and uncaring, and Mr. Wayne is a surgeon that keeps 'slipping up' and has to use all his money to pay off all the lawyers to keep from getting sued. Martha hears a noise in the alley, and it turns out to be Thomas Wayne Jr with a gun.

The parents are surprised (or at least Mr. Wayne acts shocked) and Thomas Jr says they're not gonna let them throw away their money and leave them nothing. Bruce suddenly has a change of heart and tries to wrestle the gun away from his older brother. Their mother threatens to give them a beating when they get home. Just then, someone shoots down the Waynes, including Bruce. It turns out to be Alfred, who was working with Thomas Jr. Jr notices an owl watching them, as Bruce struggles to hang on. Thomas Jr aims his gun at Bruce, saying he's the richest kid in Gotham.. and finishes the job.

I just like how completely unaffected Miss Wayne is during this scene. Lady... they just waved a gun in your face!!! She's scolding them as if she caught them breaking an expensive vase or something. "You threatened to kill me! How dare you, young man! Now stop this foolishness and off to your room without caviar!"

Meanwhile, back in our world and in modern day in Chicago all the regular thugs and mobsters are gathered together. Two thugs in particular, Eel and Shanks discuss how they always knew the costumes super villains would take over and the regular crooks would go extinct. Their boss was talking it over with the Syndicate to see how they would fit in. Just then Owlman bursts in and starts attacking and killing everybody.

He thinks to himself how he bribed and took control of Gotham, but sometimes he has to burn it all down and start over again. Shanks is already down, and a guy trying to shoot at Owlman shoots Eel in the shoulder. Just then a vat of chemicals is also shot and it spills all over him. After everyone is gone, Eel is still alive, basically now a melted puddle. This, of course, suggests that Eel is going to become Plasticman.

Two thugs later awaken to find themselves hanging upside down off the ledge of a building. Owlman says he has killed all the criminal leaders and only needs one of them alive. One of them will be chosen to gather and rule what is left of the crime families. The thugs argue over which one is better suited for taking control of the city, until one of them blurts out 'I'll do whatever you say Batman!'. Owlman cuts him loose and drops him to his death. He then lets the other live and say he will run the city as directed by him. He burns an owl symbol onto the palm of the guy's hand and swoops away.

Owlman checks up on Grid and Alfred and recap how Johnny Quick and Atomica defeated the Teen Titans by sending them back to the future timeline where Kid Flash came from. They have earlier captured Nightwing and exposed his identity to the world, so they're prepared for heroes trying to rescue him and villains trying to kill him. Owlman asks about Ultraman and Superwoman, Grid tells him that Ultraman went off to find Metallo, and Superwoman is supposed to join him. Owlman wants the cameras off as he talks to Grayson alone. As he leaves, Grid asks why he bothers since this version of Dick Grayson would never side with them. Alfred knows this, but continues to side with him anyway.

Owlman remembers the past of his version of Dick Grayson... who was a member of the Flying Graysons with his family, and had to suffer the tragedy of seeing his family die in a high flying accident. Of course, this is the Doucheverse, so in this version the Graysons inherited the circus after they killed a clown named Anthony Zucco and they blackmailed the other acts into joining them. Their circus was a font for their money laundering situations, until the Graysons died and Thomas Jr took Dick in.

Owlman talks to Nightwing and offers him something to drink. Dick demands to know who he's talking to. Owlman removes his mask and tells him he's Thomas Wayne Jr. In his world they were almost like brothers. He knows that he isn't the same Dick he knew and that the world he came from was nearly incinerated. He sees this as a chance to do right, and he wants Dick to help him out. He doesn't want the same thing the Crime Syndicate wants... he wants something different.

Nightwing gets free and tries to fight it out with Owlman. Owlman explains that his identity has been exposed to the world and his apartment is Chicago has already been destroyed. His friends have been hunted and Batman is dead. He explains that Ultraman just wants to imprison the world, but Kryptonite is limited in this world, so he's finally vulnerable. Owlman says he has two choices, a world ruled by Ultraman or a world ruled by him. Dick reluctantly accepts to help Owlman stop the Crime Syndicate.

Owlman has to chain Dick back up so the others won't find out. As he does so, he remembers that his previous partnership with his version of Dick fell apart when he found out that HE was the one that killed his family so that he would bond with him. Thomas Jr says this time he has a bigger and better plan to fix his family. The comic ends revealing that Superwoman was listening in to the conversation between Owlman and Nightwing....

My Opinions:

This issue was an entertaining one and further shows off just how horrible and corrupted the world these guys came from really is. At first it was hard for me to imagine such a world where everyone is just a rotten jerk and asshole by default... but then again I had to think of it from a different point of view. I do think in our world everyone is born good or at least neutral... until whatever happens to make someone decide to do evil. Yes, most of the time those doing evil are misguided and think what they're doing is actually good, or for the better good. And yes, we do have people that are just plain born evil or sociopathic.. but they are the exceptions to society's rules.

In this alternate world I guess everyone is born evil and rotten by default, and I guess sometimes things happen to make them less evil and rotten. As we saw earlier, Douche-Bruce was willing to go along with his older brother's plot to kill his parents.... but he changed his mind in the last minute and tried to save them (despite how obviously cold and unloving his mother seemed to be). And considering how sick everyone is, I'm surprised we saw Douche-Dick mourn the loss of his family instead of acting like 'ha, the suckers got what was coming to them!'.

As for Plasticman's surprise origin cameo... I wonder what they're gonna do with that, or when he will re-enter the DC world. Maybe when all of this blows over and the Justice League rebuilds, he will return and try to join up? It seemed to random and out of left field to see him here. Maybe he'll side with Luthor and help save the world? I honestly did not see this coming. I do have to add, I liked the convo he had with Shanks before Owlman came in... when the normal bad guys thought that some day all the costumed crazies would be the ones to take over the criminal element not leaving much to do for the average joe.

One last thing that came to me during this story when Owlman revealed himself to be Thomas Wayne Jr..... is what happened to our very own Thomas Wayne Jr....? The long-lost brother of Batman that was with the Court of Owls, posing as a guy named Lincoln March.... that also called himself Owlman???? You just KNOW he didn't die, and you just KNOW he'll eventually come back.... so why not now?



I would totally love to see both Owlmen meet and  throw down. I mean back in the day I didn't know they were going to go with the Crime Syndicate route... but now that they did... let's bring it on!!!