
Mild Mannered Reviews - JLA Comics

JLA: Classified #34
Scheduled to arrive in stores: February 14, 2007Cover date: Early April 2007
Writter: Dan Slott & Dan Jurgens
Penciller: Dan Jurgens
Inker: Jerry Ordway
"The 4th Parallel" - Part 2B: "Worlds Apart"
Reviewed by: Michael Bailey
Darrin Profitt's second attempt to destroy the Justice League goes disastrously wrong. In his Red King persona Darrin had crafted a Doomsday Weapon in an effort to extort the world into submitting to his supreme authority. The device accidentally goes off and Superman soon discovers that the world has ninety five hours before it is destroyed just like Krypton. The Justice League mobilizes a massive evacuation plan and after deciding to terra form Mars they go about gathering every creature and sample of plant life on the planet. Meanwhile Batman tracks down the man responsible and as the planet dies around him he makes sure that Darrin faces his final justice.
Story - 5: Holy crud on a stick that was awesome!
This issue was such a surprise. I expected it to be like the previous two chapters; innovative, entertaining and somewhat light hearted. Then Slott and Jurgens hit me with an end of the world scenario that was innovative and entertaining and did indeed have some lighthearted moments, but was also touching and kind of sad.
For fans of Superman as he was published between 1987 and 1999 this issues was a real treat and I can say that because I am a fan of Superman as he was published between 1987 and 1999. (Not all of it, mind you, but still a fan.) Superman was the one who discovered the Earth was about to be destroyed and it was destroyed much like the Pre-Birthright Krypton was at the hands of Black Zero. Jor-El was definitely Pre-Birthright though the Kryptonian message had a more recent feel to it. (If you are curious, the message was, "Kal-El, Hear My Plea.") Even the ending with Superman watching the Earth die with Ma and Lois at his side felt "old school". So, on that level I was very pleased.
The rest of the League, especially Wonder Woman and Batman, had some bright moments as well. It was interesting to watch Slott and Jurgens explore this scenario to the fullest and the little touches like Aquaman leading the creatures of the deep to Mars or John Stewart calling in some back-up and the shrinking of some of Earth's cities a la Pre-Crisis on Infinite Earths Brainiac were great. Even the scenes with Plastic Man and Flash were heart felt and strong. Everything about this chapter was fantastic and it is one of the most satisfying stories I have read in some time.
It even had a cameo by Booster Gold and Blue Beetle. How can you not like a cameo by Booster Gold and Blue Beetle?
Art - 5: The "old school" Superman feeling continued into the art. I expected Trevor Scott to continue the finishing chores, but one look at that artwork and I could tell that Jerry Ordway was involved. You can't miss it. Unlike Scott's finishes, which mirrored Jurgens' style, Ordway's compliments it. They bring about the best in each other and produce some great artwork. This was an emotional story and the art reflected that. It was also great to see a larger cast of heroes and Jurgens and Ordway certainly have experience with that. There's a reason I gave the art a rating of five. It was that good.
Cover Art - 4: This was a really solid cover. As with the past two issues Jurgens and Nowlan come together to produce a very strong piece of artwork and while I didn't like this cover as much as the previous two I still can't complain. The Batman armor is interesting and the cover definitely made me want to check out the story.
Mild Mannered Reviews
2007
Note: Month dates are from the issue covers, not the actual date when the comic went on sale.January 2007
- Action Comics #845
- Superman #658
- Superman/Batman #31
- Superman Confidential #1
- Supergirl #12
- Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #24
- 52: Week 26
- 52: Week 27
- 52: Week 28
- 52: Week 29
- 52: Week 30
- Justice League of America #4
- JLA Classified #29
- Justice League Unlimited #27
- Krypto The Superdog #3
- Action Comics #846
- Superman #659
- Superman/Batman #32
- Superman Confidential #2
- Supergirl #13
- Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #25
- 52: Week 31
- 52: Week 32
- 52: Week 33
- 52: Week 34
- Justice League of America #5
- JLA Classified #30
- Infinite Holiday Special #1
- Justice #9
- Justice Society of America #1
- Justice League Unlimited #28
- Krypto The Superdog #4
- Superman #660
- Superman/Batman #33
- Superman Confidential #3
- All Star Superman #6
- Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #26
- 52: Week 35
- 52: Week 36
- 52: Week 37
- 52: Week 38
- 52: Week 39
- Superman & Batman vs. Aliens & Predators #1
- JLA Classified #31
- JLA Classified #32
- JLA Classified #33
- Justice Society of America #2
- Justice League Unlimited #29
- Krypto The Superdog #5
- Action Comics #847
- Superman #661
- Action Comics Annual #10
- Superman Confidential #4
- Supergirl #14
- Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #27
- 52: Week 40
- 52: Week 41
- 52: Week 42
- 52: Week 43
- Superman & Batman vs. Aliens & Predators #2
- Justice League of America #6
- JLA Classified #34
- JLA Classified #35
- Justice #10
- Justice Society of America #3
- Justice League Unlimited #30
- Krypto The Superdog #6
- Action Comics #848
- Superman #662
- Superman/Batman #34
- Supergirl #15
- Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #28
- 52: Week 44
- 52: Week 45
- 52: Week 46
- 52: Week 47
- Justice League of America #7
- JLA Classified #36
- Justice Society of America #4
- Justice League Unlimited #31
- Superman Confidential #5
- All Star Superman #7
- Supergirl #16
- Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #29
- 52: Week 48
- 52: Week 49
- 52: Week 50
- 52: Week 51
- World War III - Book One: A Call to Arms
- World War III - Book Two: The Valiant
- World War III - Book Three: Hell is for Heroes
- World War III - Book Four: United We Stand
- Justice League of America #8
- JLA Classified #37
- Justice #11
- Justice Society of America #5
- Justice League Unlimited #32
- Legion of Super Heroes in the 31st Century #1
- Action Comics #849
- Action Comics #850
- Superman #663
- Superman/Batman #35
- Supergirl #17
- Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #30
- 52: Week 52
- Countdown 51
- Countdown 50
- Countdown 49
- Countdown 48
- Justice League of America #9
- JLA Classified #38
- Justice Society of America #6
- Justice League Unlimited #33
- Legion of Super Heroes in the 31st Century #2
- Action Comics #851
- Superman #664
- Superman/Batman #36
- Superman/Batman #37
- All Star Superman #8
- Supergirl #18
- Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #31
- Countdown 47
- Countdown 46
- Countdown 45
- Countdown 44
- Justice League of America #10
- JLA Classified #39
- Justice #12
- Justice League Unlimited #34
- Legion of Super Heroes in the 31st Century #3
- Action Comics #852
- Superman #665
- Superman/Batman #38
- Supergirl #19
- Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #32
- Countdown 43
- Countdown 42
- Countdown 41
- Countdown 40
- Justice League of America #11
- JLA Classified #40
- Justice Society of America #7
- Justice League Unlimited #35
- Legion of Super Heroes in the 31st Century #4
- Action Comics #853
- Action Comics #854
- Action Comics #855
- Superman #666
- Superman/Batman #39
- Supergirl #20
- Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #33
- Countdown 39
- Countdown 38
- Countdown 37
- Countdown 36
- Countdown 35
- 52 Aftermath: Four Horsemen #1
- Justice League of America #12
- JLA Classified #41
- Justice Society of America #8
- Justice League Unlimited #36
- Legion of Super Heroes in the 31st Century #5
- Action Comics #856
- Superman #667
- Superman/Batman #40
- Superman Confidential #6
- Supergirl #21
- Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #34
- Countdown 34
- Countdown 33
- Countdown 32
- Countdown 31
- 52 Aftermath: Four Horsemen #2
- JLA Wedding Special #1
- Justice League of America #13
- JLA Classified #42
- JLA Classified #43
- JLA/Hitman #1
- Infinity Inc. #1
- Justice Society of America #9
- Justice League Unlimited #37
- Legion of Super Heroes in the 31st Century #6
- Action Comics #857
- Action Comics #858
- Superman #668
- Superman #669
- Superman/Batman #41
- Superman Confidential #7
- Superman Confidential #8
- All Star Superman #9
- Supergirl #22
- Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #35
- Teen Titans #52
- Countdown 30
- Countdown 29
- Countdown 28
- Countdown 27
- Countdown 26
- 52 Aftermath: Four Horsemen #3
- Justice League of America #14
- JLA Classified #44
- JLA Classified #45
- JLA/Hitman #2
- Infinity Inc. #2
- Justice Society of America #10
- Tales of the Sinestro Corps Presents: Cyborg Superman #1
- Tales of the Sinestro Corps Presents: Superman Prime #1
- Infinite Halloween Special #1
- Justice League Unlimited #38
- Legion of Super Heroes in the 31st Century #7
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Check out the Comic Index Lists for the complete list of Superman-related comics published in 2007.