This review has been written for a Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science class (LIS 7630) and is written from a professional perspective.

Justice League #1: Origin  A New 52 Comic

This comic is the first in a new story arc in which the Justice League is formed. This comic does not address how the seven heroes gain their powers, save Cyborg, who is a new addition to the team, in loo of Martian Manhunter, who has been cut all together in this new serialization. The story is written by Geoff Johns who also rebooted Aquaman, Green Lantern and The Flash for the New 52 DC universe. The illustrators are Jim Lee and Scott Williams, who are prominent illustrators for the New 52 as well.

The main intent of this first volume is to show how the Justice League came to be. The story begins with Batman being chased by the Gotham police when Green Lantern shows up, asking questions. Batman and Green Lantern then team up to follow an alien creature with a contraption that they are curious about. From there, Superman enters and combat ensues with the aliens. As the rest of the Justice League comes together for the first time, they must fight the alien evil, Darseid, who is threatening Earth. The Justice League must figure out what the strange alien contraption is, before it is too late.

This comic is drawn in a bold style, muscly men and women in form-fitting suits and armor. The dialogue and art compliment each other  for this action-packed first installment of a new series.

It also has a great deal of humor that a reader would enjoy and the action is easy to follow as well. The whole comic flows evenly the whole time and the art has pleasing bright use of color and strong lines to indicate the action that is constant in this comic.

Like most comics geared toward a mainly male audience, the few women in this comic, Wonder Woman and Pandora and a few other minor characters, wear form-fitting clothes and are shown at angles where their bodies are best displayed but this comic also shows a lot of the men this way as well, which evens the score, but is still not a needed feature.

While a reader does not need to understand the in-depth customs of any one culture to understand this comic, it is heavily geared toward those living in the United States, since that is where it is written and

This comic is definitely geared toward adults and young adults though there is no foul language in this volume and it is an easily understandable comic. Children would be able to read this with considerable ease, and this comic would make a great general introduction to the superhero portrayed in comic books, given that this is the first volume in a series and is accessible to those not familiar with the old Justice League or DC comics.

In conclusion, those who enjoy action and fast-paced stories with a science fiction twist and multiple main characters would like this comic. There is nothing subtle about this story. There is no mystery to solve, like in many Batman story lines, and as of yet, no romantic intrigue. The action is the main force of the story and the coming together of a group of supernatural heroes. While knowing the back stories of each of the seven main characters would enrich the reading of Justice League: Origin but is not necessary. Even if a reader read this first, and then the origin comics of each of the other Justice League members afterward, this story will still makes sense. All the Justice League members stories, besides Cyborg who’s origin is shown in this volume, are told in separate stand-alone comics. 

WorldCat Record: http://www.worldcat.org/title/justice-league-volume-1-origin/oclc/768799403&referer=brief_results