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Mild Mannered Reviews - JLA Comics

JLA #58

JLA #58

Scheduled to arrive in stores: September 26, 2001

Cover date: November 2001

Writer: Mark Waid
Penciller: Mike S. Miller
Inker: Paul Neary

"Dying Breath"

Reviewed by: John-Paul Zito (ZitoMan11@aol.com)


When we last left the JLA (Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Plastic Man, Green Lantern, Flash and Martian Manhunter) they had all been imprisoned in the Phantom Zone by the White Martians. The White Martians took full advantage of their absence and quickly brought the world's remaining super heroes to their knees.

J'onn reveals that this is all part of his and Batman's master plan, and that the team shouldn't worry. Off camera J'onn explains his plan of action and then erases the teams memory so that the White Martians won't be able to read their minds. The JLA departs the Phantom Zone and heads out with only intuitive knowledge of J'onn's secret master plan.

The White Martians are tearing the world apart. Suddenly they are all rocked by a horrible sound. It's Superman issuing a challenge to the Martian's for one final showdown on the moon. In a split second the Martians arrive busting through the Watchtower like a wrecking ball. Superman, Wonder Woman, J'onn, and an injured Green Lantern leap into battle.

The JLA is knocked out into space and the battle becomes even more explosive. While one of the Martians gloats over Green Lantern he realizes something wrong. Suddenly he realizes that the White Martians are only fighting each other. Protex, leader of the White Martian's turns to J'onn and screams out to him. Screams? To Protex's amazement somehow he is speaking out loud. In space!

Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, and Superman are using their combined effort to pull the moon towards the earth's atmosphere! With a massive eruption the moon begins to burn up in the atmosphere. All the White Martians are unexpectedly set ablaze, including J'onn. The whole world's slew of magicians have joined forces to bend the laws of physics and nullify the effects the lunar gravity is having on the earth. Protex asks J'onn how he managed to penetrate his [Protex] mental fire wall and fool everyone. J'onn begins digging into the moon's surface, as he tells Protex that Protex himself is responsible for the illusions. Protex defies this explanation, but it's true, the Atom manipulated Protex's brain to broadcast the illusions from the inside.

J'onn retrieves the Phantom Zone projector out of the moon's dusty exterior. He demands the Martians submit or they will be burned alive. Reluctantly they do and are absorbed into their eternal living prison. J'onn collapses to the ground, he's a goner. Or so he thinks. Seconds later the Flash teleports him to safety in the Bat Cave where Batman, Plastic Man, and the Flash tend to his wounds. In space Superman, Wonder Woman, and Green Lantern manage to pull the moon out of the atmosphere just in time to reposition it where it belongs.

In the Bat Cave J'onn lays on an operating table, the Atom shrinks and leaps inside J'onn's body. After searching around for a bit he finds J'onn's heart, still beating. Batman then confronts J'onn, telling him that he never need to feel lonely again (It was J'onn's feelings of loneliness that initially awakened the White Martians from their hypnotic trances). Not as long as he's in the JLA.

4Story - 4: Awesome closer. Great way for Waid to end his run. The only reason it didn't get a five was Batman's sappy speech about friendship at the end. I suppose on some level it works because of how Waid started his run with Batman being on the outs and now it's come full circle. I just think Bat's should have done it in a more private discussion.

5Art - 5: I love Mike Miller's art. I think he's the best artist to draw the JLA since Grant Morrison brought them back. Just the way Superman looked as he struggled to pull the moon is enough to make you love this guy. He's great at what he does.

4Cover Art - 4: I can't put my finger on it but this cover screams "end of the world" or "final show down" I think it's very appropriate.


Other recent reviews:

Mild Mannered Reviews

2001

Note: Month dates are from the issue covers, not the actual date when the comic was on sale.

January 2001

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