Review:
The landmark early-90s Death of Superman storyline was a can't-miss event in DC Comics history. The nearly unstoppable fighting machine Doomsday tore through everything in his path, including the Justice League America, and was only stopped through the mutual destruction - and death - of Superman.
This collection of nine JLA issues plus one JLA annual leaves lots of gaps - to get the full Death of Superman story, including the JLA's ongoing involvement in that conflict, you'll need to turn to one of the other TPBs or a Superman Omnibus that collects the full tale. Here, we see only the Justice League's inability to stop Doomsday (#69) and the fallout as they mourn him and assess the impact on the league (#70)
And the impact is significant - Blue Beetle is left in a deep coma; Booster Gold's hero days are done after the destruction of his super suit and its tech from the future. Ice is also badly hurt, and Fire expended so much flame-energy in the battle that her powers have disappeared.
So, after their time of grieving, Maxwell Lord and new team leader Wonder Woman begin recruiting new members. And it's a very mixed new rookie class. They bring on board the wanted fugitive Agent Liberty, the self-doubting and reluctant Black Condor and the young raw talent of the Ray. Can Wonder Woman balance the demands of caring for the outgoing members and honoring their contributions on the one hand while forming the recruits into a new team on the other?
And will their powerful enemies allow them the time to do all that team building? Not likely. Doctor Destiny puts them through a dangerous, dream-world wringer for four issues, as they meet old friends like Hawkman and other classic JLA heroes who have turned into fascist thugs, capturing and torturing the likes of Sinestro. And Wonder Woman, Guy Gardiner et. al. And does the key to defeating Doctor Destiny lie deep in Beetle's coma-filled subconscious?
No sooner is the Doctor Destiny threat overcome than the secret of Bloodwynd is revealed, in a story that gives the Ray and the Atom a chance to shine.
Dan Jurgens' run on JLA as writer and occasional artist ends with the final issue in this collection. His work here is loads of fun. The abrupt transition between mourning Superman's death in #70, recruiting new members in #71, and the reappearance of a classic JLA roster but with cold-blooded wielding of fascist powers, is as jarring and bewildering to the reader as to the League members. These are all strongly written tales, until the Bloodwynd two-parter that closes the collection.
We are currently also surveying some of Booster Gold's history and evolution in a series of reviews, and we find several key moments in these pages. It's Booster who gives Doomsday his name, blurting out "It's like Doomsday is here" to Superman at one early point in the battle. We also see how much of his identity and self-worth is tied up in being a hero, as he reacts poorly to the end of his hero days. He becomes sullen and angry, frustrated at the destruction of his powered suit, rendering him a mere mortal or, worse, ordinary again.
It also answers the question, "Where's Skeets?" - Booster's flying robot sidekick is so central to his solo adventures but is nowhere to be seen in Justice League stories. At least not until Booster fishes Skeets out of a box in storage and turns him back on in an attempt to repair his super-suit. Poor Skeets!
Most powerfully, of course, is Jurgens' portrayal of Booster's deep friendship and concern for Beetle. In a poignant and moving final page of #70, his bedside watch over his comatose friend closes the grieving issue on a somber note, with heavy inks painting the darkness all around them. Beautiful!
The intense violence, death and mourning make this an intense read. The art is solid and occasionally brilliant, most of the stories engaging. A solid entry in JLA history.
Description:
THE JUSTICE LEAGUE—RIPPED APART!
The Man of Steel has died! Falling at the hands of the monster Doomsday, the Justice League's most powerful member is now gone. And in addition to killing Superman, the creature grievously injures Leaguers Blue Beetle, Booster Gold and more!
How will the Justice League re-collect in this moment of crisis? Who will be the newest members? And how will they cope in a world without Superman?
Veteran comics creator Dan Jurgens is joined by an all-star team of artists that include Rick Burchett and the legendary Dave Cockrum as they chronicle the JLA’s loss of their leader and the world’s greatest hero, Superman!
Collects: JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #69-77 and JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA ANNUAL #6.
Authors: Dan Jurgens
Artists: Rick Burchett, Dave Cockrum
Published By: DC Comics
Published When: Sept. 6, 2016
Parental Rating: Teen
ISBN: 978-1401263843
Pages: 240 pages
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