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Of Embassies and Origins - Justice League International Part 2 (Eaglemoss Collection v77)

  Review: Since we are doing a series of reviews focusing on Booster Gold over his nearly 40-year history, we include this one as a collection of some of his earliest appearances, dating to late 1987. That places the original publish date of these tales while his original solo series was still going strong.  This book is a beautiful, glossy hard-cover with smooth and heavy-stock paper inside, although the sometimes-low print reproduction quality leads to blurred and hard to read word balloons on occasion. It is also a rare book here in North America, as Eaglemoss Collections targeted UK fans with this series. At this point in the history of the 1987-rebooted Justice League, they have gained official United Nations recognition and sanction. To ensure their reach truly is global, they rebrand as Justice League International (as does the title of the series!) and they open new headquarters buildings around the world: New York, Paris and Moscow are included here. As this is a product of 19
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Ally, Opponent or Other: Astro City: Victory

  

Cover of Astro City - Victory hardcover graphic novel

Review:

This collection of the Eisner- and Harvey-award-winning Astro City series spotlights Winged Victory. This mighty warrior-woman, whose power channels the strength of all other women, is famously and fiercely feminist and women-first in her heroics. So when her mysterious opponent seeks to subvert her work and turn her own sisters against her, her sense of betrayal is a psychological and existential blow as much as physical.

She must clear her name, and restore her good work with women in trouble or need, all while wrestling with her very calling and need to solve her own problems vs bringing in allies (including men!) to her battle.

Heavy with themes of patriarchal oppression, sexual violence and personal integrity, this tale by Kurt Busiek at times struggles with a coherent narrative. The first half in particular feels scattered, with too many unfocused ideas in such a limited space. One wonders if the medium is not appropriate for the material?

By the second half, however, he hits his stride and the elements converge into a gripping finale, with Winged Victory battling not only Karnazon and his Iron Legions, but also E.A.G.L.E and even her power-giving Council of Women.

Artist Brent Eric Anderson fills each page with drama and emotion,  and excels at the human face. The Council of Nike - the women who channel the energy of the females of the world into Winged Victory's powers - are depicted as floating heads, each a very ordinary-looking but recognizable and different face. Eyes, lips, cheeks, it is a clinic in sketching facial structures. A highlight of a thoroughly well-drawn series!

The bonus "Visitor's Guide" is also charming, showing the Tolkien-esque depth of back-story to the characters and places in this world. Adding to the delight of this guide is the gallery of heroes, with each drawn by a different artist, a virtual Who's-Who of late '90s comic artists.


Description:

A major new epic begins featuring Winged Victory, Samaritan, and the Confessor, three of Astro City's most popular heroes. When criminal charges are brought against Winged Victory, the Confessor must investigate and it leads to open combat with Samaritan! Can Astro City's three greatest heroes find a way to work together against this mystery threat? Plus, Winged Victory's origin is revealed at last!

Collects: ASTRO CITY #7-10 and ASTRO CITY VISITOR'S GUIDE #1

Authors: Kurt Busiek
Artists: Brent Anderson
Published By: Vertigo 
Published When: Sept. 23 2014
Parental Rating: Teen
ISBN: 9781401250577
Pages: 176 pages



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