I don’t have the enmity for Alex Ross that so many seem to carry. I’d never heard of the guy until my oldest son came home with JLA SECRET ORIGINS from a school book fair about two years ago. At the time I thought his art was cool in its own unique way, but after reading and rereading that book with the kids and then seeing his covers on dozens of books over the last year or so, the novelty has worn off. I’ve grown especially tired of the portrait style covers like the ones currently gracing the outside of the JSA books and I’m suspicious of any argument claiming this type of thing sells books.
I’ve never thought Ross’s JLA depictions were particularly flattering (and you just know Black Canary would be saying, “There is no way that guy’s doing the team portrait next year – I look like a man!”) -- realistic, yes, but not pretty their square jaws and big butts -- so I’ve never really desired to see an entire book drawn by him. But I give him credit here, his in-panel work is better than I would have thought, although all of his heroes have the exact same thickness about them - why is it that Ross's photo-realism seems to add 15 pounds to everyone?
I enjoyed the book’s opening dream sequence but it was devalued somehow by the fact that it was just a dream. This is the Silver Age right? Why not make the events real - taking place on Earth-13 (the unlucky Earth)? Then have Superman from that earth come to ours and team up with the Supervillains…sorry, sorry, getting carried away here. Anyway, the events of the dream sequence were interesting but in the end unmoving and somehow unconvincing as a motivational tool for the bad guys. Although I suppose if I was having the same dream every night I might be motivated to freeze a pyramid, who knows. Kicking off the “real” action with Aquaman read like a continuity disclaimer: This book takes place outside the regular DC Universe. Any resemblance to actual events in the current DC Universe is entirely coincidental. But I loved the seahorse. And the shark line. Maybe Ross should just be given the Aquaman book, from the sounds of things it could use some help.
Speaking of overexposure, could we squeeze Lex Luthor into one more book? I know he’s a great villain and I know he’s a big part of Ross’s Silver Age/Superfriends mindmeld, but let’s give the guy a vacation, huh? And if Black Manta and Cheetah are among the “greatest lineup of Silver Age villains” I must have been reading the wrong comics as a kid. Although Manta is kind of cool - I always want him to shoot rays out of those eyes. Why is that? And is one of the other bad guys going to be Toyman? Please. There were dozens of really good JLA villains from the sixties and seventies, let’s not dig the Superfriends well quite so deep.
It’s starting to sound like I didn’t like the book but my reaction is really one of tepid optimism. I'm a big Silver Age fan -- although my Silver Age didn't have Plastic Man in it, but oh, well -- and have no problem with the era he's placed the event in. I think the series will get better but won’t be surprised if it doesn’t. For whatever reason the bar is set really high for Ross, forcing him to knock everyone’s socks off to garner any kind of positive reaction. Maybe part of that has been earned by his reputation as being somewhat full of himself. Equally, something entitled “Justice” sets a certain tone as well. It’s sounds grandiose, pretentious even and needs the story (and art) to back it up. And if it doesn’t deliver? Well, it’s not like Ross isn’t being vilified already.
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