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Mild Mannered Reviews - JLA Comics

JLA: Classified #5

JLA: Classified #5

Scheduled to arrive in stores: March 23, 2005

Cover date: May 2005

Writter: Keith Griffen & J.M. DeMatteis
Penciller: Kevin Maguire
Inker: Joe Rubinstein

"Yadda, Yadda, Yadda, Yadda..."

John-Paul Zito Reviewed by: John-Paul Zito

Click to enlarge


Sue can't let it rest, Guy Gardner has opened up a new bar down the street from their Super Buddies head quarters and no one seems to care. Maxwell Lord tries to soothe Sue's anger but she'll have none of it. Guy Gardner is a pig and a villain as far as she's concerned and something must be done about it.

Meanwhile Billy and Mary Batson have it out in front of Fire and Ralph. Billy has Mary's best intentions at heart but he scolds her like a child. He doesn't think the Super Buddies is the best environment for such a naive young girl. Mary storms out and heads right to Guy's bar to show just how naive she isn't. Once there she tosses Guy around and bluntly informs him that if he ever touches her inappropriately again she'll be forced to hurt him. Guy is unfazed.

Later at the JSA mansion Blue Beetle and Booster Gold are out to recruit Power Girl. She's not really interested but she entertains the idea just long enough to make fun of Booster and flirt with Blue Beetle.

Back at the Super Buddies HQ Guy arrives, hat in hand, to apologize to Mary. She accepts his apology before Sue lets him know how unwelcome he really is.

Over at the JSA mansion Booster wanders around on his own feeling a little down in the dumps. Even Blue Beetle gets more respect then him, he considers turning to super villainy. He passes by Doctor Fate's room only to find the door wide open. He enters and discovers an ancient artifact he assumes wields great power. With something like this, he says aloud, people would fear and respect me, I would condemn the super buddies to hell!

BAM!

And just like that the super buddies find themselves in hell...

To Be Continued...

4Story - 4: This issue is just as funny, if not funnier, than the first issue. All the running gags work and there's a handful of new jokes that have staying power as well.

That this is a good comic is not really a matter worth discussing. It is good. What I find much more interesting about this book and this story in particular is it's timing. This six issue examination of the reunited 80's Justice League falls in the middle of any number of shocking revelations surrounding the JLA. This began with Identity Crisis and has continued up through DC Countdown.

If you haven't read either yet I suggest you do before continuing, I might drop a few spoilers.

I only recently ventured out into the Internet message boards to discover Identity Crisis and Countdown were not as well received as I had come to believe. Many people were down right disgusted with the way their beloved characters were treated. The Deaths of Blue Beetle and Sue were seen by some to be gimmicks. The revelation that Max Lord plays as large a role as he does appeared forced to others. I am in complete disagreement.

I first came into comics and the Justice League under Giffen when I was a kid and I loved it. I still have all my back issues bagged boarded and neatly stored away. I dig them out once in a blue moon, as I do with some of my favorite runs from any number of titles, and I'll reread my favorite issues when there's nothing else to do. I have a healthy love and respect for all these characters and I'm enjoying their revitalization/reunion in JLA Classified. However, that doesn't keep me from enjoying the new stories being told about these characters.

This isn't to say one can't still enjoy "I can't believe it's not the Justice League." But the effort is too little, too late to restore those character's original shine. Frankly until Identity Crisis or Countdown people had forgotten about this cast of the JLA, appearing only occasionally in crossover events as lame background characters. To be perfectly honest I was that much more upset with the way they were treated before Identity Crisis and Countdown. Rich characters that were neglected, mistreated and misunderstood are now center stage as part of a series of very interesting stories.

5Art - 5: The facial expressions say it all. Actually the word balloons say it all and they do a wonderful job of it too.

4Cover Art - 4: Well drawn with a catchy image. I wish there was something more to give away whose hand are throttling Guy Gardner.

Mild Mannered Reviews

2005

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

January 2005

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