Justice League #5 (September, 1987)
"Gray Life Gray Dreams"
Plot & Breakdowns - Keith Giffen
Script - J.M. DeMatteis
Pencils - Kevin Maguire
Inks - Al Gordon
Letters - Bob Lappan
Colors - Gene D'Angelo
Edits - Andy Helfer
Cover Price: $0.75
Hey, hey, ho, ho... today marks our FIFTEEN-HUNDREDTH DAILY DISCUSSION here at Chris is on Infinite Earths! To celebrate, I'm going to be covering an issue that will hopefully allow me to cast a wide net and share this milestone with as many interested folks as possible.
I wanna give y'all a peek behind the curtain. I've said it time and again (though, I do try to curb my frustrations best I can), that blogging can be an incredibly lonely endeavor. Terms like "shouting into the void" come to mind. Heck, I've even recently started a podcast series called "Blogging into the Void" that's available in the Chris and Reggie Archives if you're interested in checking it out.
The reason we're looking at Justice League #5 in particular today is... well, kinda silly. It's kind of an "inside joke" shared among some comics content creators. Ya see, anytime any of us get a bit discouraged regarding our engagement (which certainly happens from time to time... and, there's nothing wrong with that), someone will pipe in with "Hey, you can be the tenth person today to post that scene... and you'll get loads of free likes!".
Now, "that scene", if you haven't already figured it out, concerns Batman, Guy Gardner, and a single punch... err, I mean hashtag-OnePunch. If you're more of a Marvel content creator, that "cheap heat tweet" usually accompanies an image of Spider-Man cradling Gwen Stacy's dead body. Hope you're takin' notes, these are very good leads if you're in the biz of internet karma farmin'!
Unfortunately for me, I'm not in that biz... though, I'd probably be far more satisfied with the "reach" of my work if I were! If you've been a reader of this humble blog for any amount of time, you'll know that, for the most part, I'm a little bit more "off the beaten path" here. Basically, I write the sort of blog that I'd like to read. Weird stuff, novel stuff, stuff that isn't "makin' the rounds" on social media morning, noon, and night. Nothin' against the popular stuff, but... I feel like there are so many books and scenes that get more than enough in the way of online advocacy.
Now I say all of that, so that I might say this. I hope the folks who've stuck with me have enjoyed these looks at the, for the most part, lesser-discussed books and stories from DC Comics (and DC-adjacent) publishing history. After today's brush with hopeful social-media-friendliness, we'll be returning to the normal silliness we usually attend to here. Still got a lot cooking, including, but not limited to:
- New Talent Showdays
- A chapter-by-chapter look at New Talent Showcase (1984)
- Action-Plus
- A look at some of the unsung and forgotten pieces of DC Comics history... the back-ups!
- DC Near-Misses
- Checking out story and character pitches that DC Comics passed on, while considering some various "what if...?" situations
- Bizarro Breaks
- Short bursts from the Bizarro World collection
- and of course, Wasteland Chapters
- A chapter-by-chapter look at John Ostrander & Del Close's horror/satire anthology, Wasteland (1988)
And, of course, there are the Archives... which, at this point is fifteen-hundred pieces deep! If you have a free afternoon or two, and wanna read an idiot's hot-take on comic books... please feel free to dig in!
I'll save the thank yous and gushing for the end of the post... but, it's probably about time to get into our spoilery-synopsis. Now, if you're only here to see "that scene"... well, uh, it's coming... but, I hope you decide to come back and see me some day!
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We open in Stone Ridge, Vermont... and oh my goodness, is the lettering tiny! I hope it doesn't stay this way throughout the issue. Anyhoo, it's here that the Gray Man is stealing "dream energy". Ya see, he's supposed to siphon the stuff from the deceased, however, he's decided to just start nyoinking it from whoever. This draws the attention of... Dr. Fate!
We shift scenes to the set of Jack Ryder's Hot Seat. Here, Jack is really trying to spin the narrative that the Justice League can't be trusted... and really, just need to be stopped.
After the show wraps up, some Joe Piscopo-looking dude pulls Jack aside to fill him in on some League-related info. It's, well, the stuff we just read about going down in Stone Ridge... folks have reported seeing League Member, Dr. Fate on the scene. Ryder offers the mullethead a c-note to keep this between them, then arranges to head on up with a camera man.
Back in Vermont, we're now at an old Rialto Theater... where Dr. Fate and the Gray Man are facing off. It's here the Gray Man gives us the quick and dirty on his situation. We learn that wayyy back in the long ago, he was a Sorcerer whose magic revealed to him the Lords of Order. For his "hubris" in doing so, he was punished... and made something of a lapdog for them. Collecting all that "dream energy", he's even given the ability to create doppelgangers of himself as a means of expediting the task. What's the deal with DC characters trying to look "too deep" into something and getting their comeuppance. Gray Man should start up a support group with Pariah and Krona.
Anyhoo, that was a long time ago... and by this point he tires of the Lords of Order and doing their bidding, and so he's decided that he's going to do whatever he can to become more powerful than the big guys themselves. He's going to use the siphoned Dream Energy (or, Manna) for himself (now, as mentioned, from the living... as in everyone on the planet) and break free of their control... or something along those lines.
We now shift scenes to... Justice League Headquarters. Uh-oh, it's that scene. Guy Gardner is in Batman's face... demanding that he be made Team Leader. Batman nonchalantly just stands there, and remarks that he'd sooner hand over control to Captain Marvel. Wow, low blow Bats...
Gardner's just about had it... and decides it's going to have to come to blows between he and the Bat. He yanks off his ring, to do this thing "mano y mano" and pushes toward Batman. Just then, Captain Marvel steps in and attempts to remind Batman that, as leader, he should do whatever he can to set an example for the rest of the team. Batman brushes him off, and more or less tells him that "adults are talking".
Then, Guy reels back...
And, well... hashtag-OnePunch. Batman kayos Gardner with a single right hand. Guy hits the ground, presumably, like a ton of bricks, as the rest of the League looks on.
J'onn and Dinah enter the room to see what's happ'nin', and get the skinny on the scene. The team, overall, is like really happy that Batman knocked Guy on his butt. Which, I guess I understand.
From here, we move into the Monitor Room, where Oberon informs Batman that the computer screen has a message for him. Batman immediately assumes this is nothing more than a dumb prank (and snaps at poor Obie), but comes around to the idea pretty quick when he realizes it's Dr. Fate attempting to communicate with the team. Fate reveals that he's out of power, and stuck in Stone Ridge... where there's some bad hoo-doo goin' down with the Gray Man.
J'onn runs a projection on how long it might take for this Gray Man to take over the world... and, get this, it'll be done in Fifty-Two Hours! Fifty-Two? Man, that fetishized number just pops up everywhere, don't it?
Batman commands Blue Beetle to ready The Bug, and sends Captain Marvel ahead to check out the scene... but tells him not to engage if he can avoid it. Billy claps back with some passive-aggressiveness, and takes to the air. As he approaches Vermont, he worries that he might've made Batman mad. Dude, Batman's a colossal a-hole here, don't go worrying about that.
Arriving in Vermont, Cap finds Jack Ryder's Hot Seat Van. Outside it, lays (I'm going to assume) Jack's cameraman. He begs Marvel for help, and insists that the world's gone plum-loco.
Some time later, the rest of the League arrives in The Bug. J'onn feels a strange presence which prompts him to wanna explore some nearby woods. Deep within the trees, the team stumbles upon... The Creeper!
Creeper cackles that Captain Marvel headed into the town proper... and suggests that wasn't the wisest move. Ya see, it seems ya gotta have the right mind-set to fully, uh, appreciate Stone Ridge, Vermont.
We wrap up, finally getting a good look at the town... and well, it's a weird and wacky-looking place indeed!
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I hate this issue. No, that's not true at all. I hate that scene. No, no... that's not true either. I hate that "that scene" has become something of a short-hand as a way to describe this era of the League, because I feel to do so... sells short so much of what made this era spectacular! I might just be projecting a bit... or maybe I'm just burned out on the oversharification of "that scene", but I feel there is so much more to this League than "hashtag-OnePunch". Depth, tragedy, awesome characterization... it's really a very special run. The likes of which we'll probably never see again.
Keith Giffen himself apparently has similar feelings regarding the scene! In a piece written for CBR on November 20, 2008, he would write the following:
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| Amen |
Oh, and while I'm here kvetching about over-simplification, there's more to Angel Love than hashtag-COCAINE?!!... believe it, or not.
Now, there's certainly an argument to be made that that scene between Batman and Gardner is indicative of the dysfunction of this new-League... and, as a piece of a whole, it works marvelously to illustrate that. These are a couple of hard-headed heroes who both see themselves as the "alpha". It's when we remove the context... and look at this scene as nothing more than a hashtaggable "funny, ha ha" that I feel it loses its "oomph".
What's more... in revisiting this issue, and that scene in particular. I dunno, I kinda find myself sympathizing more with Guy than cheering on Batman! Now, hear me out. Guy Gardner is a prick. That much is for sure. But, he's just a brash, loudmouth sort of prick. Someone you should be able to dismiss, or tune-out if not flat-out ignore. Batman, on the other hand, comes across as a completely unlikable a-hole here. He's cutting down members of the team, snipping at his peers... acting aloof and "above" everyone else. I think he might be the team's problem here... not Guy!
As Team Leader, Batman comes across as dismissive and, almost abusive to those under him. Really, I don't know how anyone can like this character, the way he's written. We're not getting much in the way of "reluctant leader" here... it feels more, I dunno, hateful than that. Really not a good look, in my opinion. I get that Batman's on a whole nother level than most/all of this team, but... I dunno, I don't like him "knowing it", ya dig?
Let's talk a bit about the story... because, believe it or not, Justice League #5 isn't a two-page long "one-punch" pamphlet! The Gray Man/Dr. Fate/LordzzzzZZZZzzz of Order bit? Eh. If you've been reading this blog for any amount of time, you'll know that Superman and I share a weakness... mermaids magic. It just bores me to tears, and this instance was sadly no different. Couldn't care less about the Doc or the Lords, regardless of who's writing the story. These bits, though relatively brief, were kind of a slog for me.
Overall... despite my whining and whinging, this was fine issue. Despite my being overly burnt out on hashtag-OnePunch, I still dig the non-Batman team interactions and dialogue. It's just weird to me that, now when I read it... I'm actually pulling for Guy to knock Bruce on his butt! Is this a sign that I'm growing up? Or am I just a jerk now? Don't answer that.
With all that said... I want to a) apologize if anything I said today sounded, I dunno, bitter/jaded/cynical... that really wasn't my intent. It's all in fun. And, b) I absolutely want to thank anyone and everyone who's stopped by at any point over the course of the past one-thousand five-hundred consecutive days in which this humble blog has been "a thing" that I do.
As mentioned in the pre-ramble, blogging can be a very solitary experience... and, honestly, without the occasional "attaboy" I get, I'd almost certainly have stopped doing this ages ago. It means the world to me anytime I get a new comment here, or even anytime somebody bothers to click the little heart-icon under one of my tweets. It's the engagement that really makes my day... and makes doing this worthwhile... even if what I do here isn't always the most engaging.
As always, I'm hesitant to name-names, or do any "personalized shout outs"... because I hate to accidentally leave anybody out. As a dude who is usually "left out" of the circle, I know how that might leave you feeling. Just rest assured, if you've ever visited... commented... and/or shared my stuff, you have my sincerest appreciation. This little blog ain't much... but, it's home, and I thank you all for being a part of it.
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Doctor Fate #1 (July, 1987)
"Cycles"
Writer - J.M. DeMatteis
Illustrator - Keith Giffen
Inks - Dave Hunt
Letters - Agustin Mas
Colors - Anthony Tollin
Editor - Denny O'Neil
Cover Price: $1.50
Here's one of those books that I'm going to constantly second-guess myself over. Ya see... look at the cover. The title of the book is "Dr. Fate", as in Dee-Arr (period) Fate. Ya dig?
Inside in the indicia, however, the book is listed as Doctor Fate... as in Dee-Oh-See-Tee-Oh-Arr Fate. So the big question is... how in the hell do I list it?! I've waffled back 'n forth, even as I'm writing this piece... and, finally settled on... Doc... no, make that Dr.... er, maybe not... dammit.
Okay, screw it... this one's gonna be "Doctor Fate"... which I'm sure is going to wind up being the wrong-er of the two.
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We open with Dr. Fate prowling through a snow-covered street... hot on the heels of Typhon, Lord of Chaos. He calls out for the beast to show itself, however, it sends its "sons" instead. Fate continues blasting away, all the while calling out for Typhon... for he, being a Lord of Chaos, is responsible for "spreading lunacy", something that we might assume was happening a whole lot at the time.
Finally, Typhon himself shows up... and accuses the Immortal Dr. Fate of no longer being, ya know, immortal. Realizing that he might just be able to kill his foe this time out, Typhon goes on the offensive. He claims that the time of the Lords of Order has passed... and time now belongs to the Lords of Chaos. Before getting too deep into battle, Dr. Fate... vanishes!
He has called... somewhere, where he is chatted up by the Lords of Order. He's referred to as Nabu... which is the Lord of Order occupying the aging body of Kent Nelson. He asks why they'd summoned him, and they explain... the battle with Chaos is futile... because the battle with Chaos... has already been lost.
Ya see, they explain, all creation is separated into four cycles... or "yugas". The first is "Perfection", all order/no chaos, and it lasts 1,728,000 years. The second is has a little chaos peeking in... the third some more... and finally the fourth, which is basically the end of days. We're in the fourth now... and it's suggested that the mass chaos might have had something to do with the then-recent Crisis (on Infinite Earths).
Dr. Fate's all "screw that noise", and insists he won't stop fighting the Lords of Chaos no matter what... and so, the Lords of Order decide to ask... Kent Nelson what he thinks. Dude's positively ancient, and is probably only still on this side of the ground because of Nabu's inhabitance (is that a word?) within him. He too insists that there's always a chance to fight... but, we get the feeling that he realizes that this will ultimately be a futile endeavor.
We shift scenes to a woman named Linda and a young boy named Eric. Despite some severe reluctance on his part, she's trying to get him to socialize with other kids his own age. He ain't feelin' it though... he tells her that nobody ever likes him. He eventually comes around, and decides to head into the fray for Linda. Don't look now, but they're being watched by a trenchcoated gentleman.
From here, we get the quick 'n dirty on Linda Whatsherface. Turns out she married his aged father for the money... dude was an abusive jerk, who ultimate succumbed to cancer. This only left her and her young step-son, Eric. Ya see, Eric's birth-mother, also married to the jerk, wound up killing herself.
So lost in flashback limbo is Linda, that she doesn't even realize that the trenchcoated gentleman onlooker has abducted her step-son! Upon snapping back to reality, she notices that her boy is gone. As the man and boy walk away, Eric doesn't seem disturbed in the slightest... in fact, he almost expected this to happen.
We shift scenes to Arkham Asylum where we meet Doctor Stoner (laff track here?). He is being visited upon by... Typhon, who informs him that Nelson has taken the boy. So, it looks like Johnny Trenchcoat is actually Kent Nelson. This doesn't seem to be much of a surprise. The conversation is interrupted by the arrival of Stoner's assistant, who reminds him that it's time to make his rounds. We get a panel of the Joker laughing... because, of course we do.
We return to Kent and the Kid. They wander through a graveyard (with an Inza headstone visible) and into a crypt of some sort. Then... Kent's belly starts talking to the child! Ya see, this is Nabu... who Eric recognizes as one of "the Shining Ones". He claims to sometimes see them in the mirror. That's all Nabu needs to hear, it's time to do the thing.
"The thing" is to age Eric's body to adulthood, so it can make a more fitting vessel for Nabu then the decrepit Kent Nelson.
We jump back to Linda, who is still quite unnerved at the loss of her little boy... as, ya know, one might imagine. She is then briefly visited by Doctor Fate... who informs her that Eric Strauss... will be back, before flying away.
And Fate continues to fly... until running right into our pal Typhon. Ya see, it's Eric occupying the Doctor Fate duds right now... with Nabu in the driver's seat. The Lord of Order tells him to open up his soul and let him in... and he'll take care of everything.
Only... he doesn't. Nabu gets Eric into the battle... but then vacates the vessel! Nabu, now back with Kent asks why he didn't "warn" the boy... to which, Kent insists that he tried. Not sure what he could have prepared him for... I mean, the whole thing feels like a set-up. Anyhoo, Typhon is making short work of the inexperienced man-child... whose only recourse is to repeat his name over and over again so he doesn't "lose" himself (I guess).
Next we know, Eric Strauss is laying in the fetal position and being approached by an Officer... and Doctor Stoner. Stoner tells the Officer that Strauss had recently escaped from Arkham, and that he'll take him back to ensure he gets the treatment he needs. Eric is still repeating his name... and also, his age (10 years old). This ain't helping his case any, considering he looks to be a fully-grown adult.
Before we know it, we're back at Arkham... and there's another panel of the Joker laughing, because of course there is. Eric is plopped into his room... which he appears to be sharing with some Lords of Chaos. Dr. Stoner promises that he'll "take care of him from this point on.
We wrap up back at the graveyard, where Kent Nelson is knelt over one headstone in particular... and weeping.
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Not a bad opener... a little confusing, but that's likely by design. I mean, the book is all about "chaos", is it not?
Now, before digging in too deep... Dr. Fate as a solo character doesn't do a whole heckuva lot for me. I wouldn't put him in Spectre or Phantom Stranger territory, but I don't find him to be the most interesting hero out there. In fact, when we were working through 1st Issue Special, it was the Dr. Fate installment that I dreaded the most. Just wasn't looking forward to it.
So, why then, did I even give this issue a look? I mean, it ain't for a lack of potential review fodder. Honestly, I dunno. I was just rifling through the longboxes last night, and this cover just jumped out at me. Sometimes that's all it takes! And by "sometimes", I mean, pretty often. Unless I'm working a "theme" gimmick, we usually roll random here.
Okay, so with all that said. This was a lot of fun, and something of an education. We're in the fourth "yuga", wherein chaos reigns, and it's going to be up to Fate to restore order. Fair enough. We're introduced to Eric Strauss... who, honestly, I don't remember from Adam... but, who will likely be part of the plan. There's also the Arkham angle, which is interesting... especially since Arkham as a plot device hadn't already been run into the dirt by 1987. Could'a done without the Joker cameos, but really, whattayagonnado?
Probably my favorite part of this, and it's definitely just part of my continuity-n-lore weakness, was tying this age of chaos into Crisis on Infinite Earths. It really doesn't take much to get a "pop" out of me.
Giffen's more experimental art is usually a bone of contention among fans... or, at the very least, is divisive. This time out, however, I really dug it. I feel like it fit the story quite well, and wasn't nearly as abstract as his work on something like Hex. Hell, even if it were, this is a story about chaos... so, it'd be more fitting.
Overall, I'd say this one's worth a look. You don't need to know everything about Dr. Fate (I sure don't!) to follow along and enjoy. Just really fun post-Crisis stuff here... another reminder that books of this era are so special. This issue is available digitally... and they do refer to it as "Doctor Fate", so there's one point for the Infinite Earths guy!
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Gardner Fox Remembrance (by Roy Thomas):
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Justice League America #45 (December, 1990)
"A Date With Density, Part Two: Hell on Ice!"
Plot - Keith Giffen
Script - J.M. DeMatteis
Penciller - Russell Braun & Adam Hughes
Inker - John Beatty, Jose Marzan, Jr., & Malcolm Jones III
Letterer - Bob Lappan
Colorist - Gene D'Angelo
Assistant Editor - Kevin Dooley
Editor - Andy Helfer
Cover Price: $1.00
Heyyy, it's been a little while... but, today we have a request!
Good pal Jody Yerdon (@regalfan) suggested we take a look at this very issue of Justice League America. He tells me it's his all-time favorite comic!
And as luck would have it, we've already covered the "pre-req" for this issue, way back in the long ago when we read Justice League America #28 (1989), which featured Ice and Guy's first date... with density.
As this is labelled a "Part Two" to that issue... I think we can even toss 'em both onto our "Collected Editions" page!
Big thanks to Jody for the suggestion (and his patience)... at the risk of "spoiling" what's to come... this is one helluva fun issue! Thanks for giving me the opportunity to revisit it!
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We open with Max Lord and Oberon having a little heart-to-heart conversation. Ya see, his good buddy Scott Free just came "back to life"... it's a long story, maybe we'll cover it someday... and seeing as though, the Frees are some of the few folks he actually considers "family", he'd really like to spend some time with them. He tells Max is might be time for him to step back from his responsibilities with the League. Oberon steps out of Max's office... and right into the usual craziness of the Embassy... including, a quarrel between Guy Gardner and his would-be "main squeeze", Ice.
Looks like this time around, Guy took Ice to the most romantic of spots... a cock-fight. Last time we accompanied them on a date, it was a skin flick... so, I guess your mileage may vary on what direction the "Guy Gardner's ideal date" needle is moving. He begs her for one more chance... and after promising to behave... and to let her choose the spot (even crossing his heart and hoping to die) Tora finally comes around.
As they both prepare for their night out, it's revealed that their destination will be... the Ice-Capists! Bea continually badgers Tora over her decision... and tells her she should reconsider the whole shebang. Elsewhere in the Embassy, Lightray gives Guy enough rope to hang himself when it comes to describing exactly what "The Ice-Capists" is. Both excellent (and funny!) scenes. Speaking of funny scenes, upon arrival to Madison Square Garden we get a one-off line I don't think we'd see in 2018.
Back at the Embassy, Blue Beetle gets wind of the Guy/Tora date... and deduces that it's the perfect time to pull a prank. Bea isn't on board... so Ted heads off to find Kilowog... who also isn't exactly keen on the idea. Somewhere (off-panel) Beetle is able to convince them both.
Back at the Garden, The Ice-Capists Show heats up. Looks to me like they've been visited by the Tamaranean Ice Dancers Federation.
Backstage, Beetle, Bea, and 'Wog are chatting up one of the stagehands. Ted tells him they've got a big surprise for Guy Gardner's "birthday". He calls for his manager... and whatever Ted's got planned is okayed.
Outside the main theatre, Guy waits for Ice to finish using the restroom. Not a very exciting scene, but it does provide this panel... which is definitely worth sharing.
Guy and Tora make it back to their seats just in time for a big announcement... tonight's special attraction will be: Guy Gardner on Ice. Well, I'm sure that's how Guy wanted the night to end... but, I'm guessing this is isn't quite what he had in mind.
We shift ahead... back to the Embassy where Guy is still in a catatonic state from his pent up anger. After letting out one great big Garden-shaking scream... he just shut down!
Ice helps him to his room... and thanks him for the nice night. He actually conducted himself like a proper gentleman... though, going catatonic before the night was through probably helped. Guy enters his bedroom to find...
The jig is up, Guy immediately knows that Beetle was behind the whole thing. As he stomps through the Embassy, the ruckus wakes... Orion, who is none too keen on being awakened. He blows past Oberon in search of the source of the racket.
We wrap up with Oberon... who stands for a moment and ponders. He calls out to Bea... who doesn't even hear him over all the craziness. It's then clear to him that his time with this group of yo-yos in done.
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What a great issue! They really don't make books like this anymore, do they?
I feel like when people discuss this era of Justice League, they sometimes lose themselves in the "bwah ha ha-iness" of it all. Or, they just think "heh heh, one punch, heh heh"... but, this issue proves that there is so much more to it than that. Just look at our open and end... Oberon has to make the decision as to whether or not to remain with the team. That's some heavier than expected melancholy for a book many folks dismiss as simply being "silly".
Max refers to Oberon as the "heart" of the League... and, when you really think about it... it's hard to argue. Since this League came to be, Oberon has always been there. Never really a "prime time player", but integral to the team's dynamic. Even if he was just the target for an insult... or the provider of one, Oberon was important (and irreplaceable) to this team.
The ending with him walking out the door... without any pomp and circumstance was heartbreaking... and all too real. I think a lot of us become wrapped up in ourselves... and feel like if we were to, say, quit our jobs... it'd be just as life-changing for our co-workers as it is for us. Then, reality sets in... and you realize that you're just you... and life doesn't wait around long before "going on". It's really just you walking out a door.
Okay, well after bumming everyone out... let's talk about Guy Gardner on Ice! This was a lot of fun... and really showed the strength of J.M. DeMatteis' snappy dialog chops. I mean, the conversation felt so natural in every situation. Sometimes I forget just how good this fella is!
Whether it was Fire and Ice talking about whether or not she should do on the date... Guy being razzed by Lightray... Beetle trying to convince his fellow Leaguers to prank Guy... everything felt "snappy" without being "rehearsed". Today's concept of "realistic" dialog is, unfortunately, whatever we got from a Kevin Smith movie 15 years ago. "Banter" is definitely among those art forms that has been lost.
The only place this issue kind of struggled was with the unevenness of the art. It's pretty clear who did what in this issue... because there are some excellent pages... and some, not-so-excellent pages. Wouldn't say any of it is "bad", but... certainly could've been better.
It's funny, but while flipping through my longbox, I discovered that it's just after this very issue that my "love affair" with this era of the League kinda wanes. From here we jump into the General Glory mishagoss... get a couple of good issues... then right on into the 700-Part "Breakdowns" crossover. Such a rapid shift that you could just tell that there was a change on the horizon.
Overall... definitely check this one out! This is one of those issues... and one of those runs... that I'd say you need to have in your comics library. Now, you know me... I'm a single-issue (not floppy) kinda dude... but if you can't track it down, I suppooooose you could nab it digitally.
Big thanks again to Jody for the suggestion! Requests are always welcome here... we love em! And by "we", I mean "me", because I'm the only one here!
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