A couple of weeks ago, I was very pleasantly surprised by the first issue of this bi-weekly series. This was due in part to low expectations. So I wondered, with my expectations raised, would I enjoy the second issue as well.
By and large, the answer was “yes”. Although I wasn’t so sure early on. This issue deals with the ramifications of Max Lord using his mind control powers to make the entire world (except for the four lead characters of this book) forget that he ever existed.
As a result, issue 2 spends a lot of time trying to explain the mechanics of something that is utterly ridiculous. This is one of those comic book concepts that the reader will either choose to except so that they can enjoy the story as it is being told or their inability to roll with the punches will sink the story for them. Dwelling too much on the mechanics of these kinds of things usually just serves to highlight how silly they really are.
For example, Max Lord just mind-wiped every single person on the planet save for 4. And yet, he is still able to mess with the heads of the lead characters enough to discredit them. Captain Atom, for example, is tricked into punching out a general who he thinks is Max. And Guy Gardner now believes that Ice tried to kill him (before Blackest Night even started, that is).
If Max Lord is capable of doing these things, shouldn’t he be able to mind wipe 4 more people. Couldn’t he just have Superman kill them all in their sleep? Given Max’s current power level and seeming lack of limitations, there’s no reason I can think of for this series to last past issue 3.
But just when I was beginning to tire of seeing scene after scene of the JLI being discredited by Max, the story shifted gears. The team has gathered to regroup and two things happened that caught my interest:
1. The team points out that Max has not attempted to discredit Booster. Their theory is that Max sees Booster as already being discredited. But I suspect there is something else going on here. I think Max needs Booster for something. Or will at least try to recruit him one more time. Max could have killed Booster last issue and didn’t. I hope that decision was leading to something more interesting than a lapse in villainy.
2. After discussing Ted’s death with Dick Grayson, Booster is horrified to discover that the world thinks that Ted took his own life. Booster can’t abide this. And even though the odds are stacked against his team, Booster says in no uncertain terms that he will take Max down. It was the kind of great character moment that you don’t get very often in super hero comics these days.
The art by Joe Bennett was serviceable but a bit of a step down from Aaron Lopresti. Still, Bennett did a good enough job with both the action scenes and the character moments to pull me into the story. I just wish her women looked a little less like pro-wrestlers some times.
All in all, this series is off to a very promising start. Of the two bi-weekly events DC is currently running, Generation Lost stands head-and-shoulders above the more high profile Brightest Day.
Before I wrap this up, I thought I’d share a link to what has to be the most thorough review of the first issue I have ever seen. Check out the greatness at the Captain’s JLA blog.
I was a bit disappointed by Bennett as well. Fire and Ice just don’t look right when drawn like stick thin supermodels.
Thanks for the complement about the first issue review, but that Shayera com site is a rip-off site that harvests other people’s blog posts to fuel their dodgy advertising. You can find that original review on my site at league.jmkprime.org.
Cheers,
-Jason
Thanks for dropping by. I love your site. I changed the link in the article so it links directly to your site instead of the rip-off. For shame!
I didn’t hate Bennett’s art. But after Lopresti, it was a let down. He definitely seemed to struggle with the women.
Cheers Lebeau. Oh, I don’t hate the art of Bennett and Lopresti so much as I can’t help compare them to the young artists that defined the original series – Kevin Maguire, Bart Sears, Adam Hughes, etc.
Yeah agree with the whole thing. I think the zainyness of the story needed to be addressed in some form. I hope they put it to bed now but it would have felt more ridiculous if they didn’t try to tackle it somehow.
This book is definitely bounds and leaps superior to its brightest day counterpart. I love the Blue beetle and am excited to how he jells with the story.
Yeah, they couldn’t completely ignore the mechanics of Lord’s mindwipe. I think they did a good job of giving us just enough (nonsensical) explanations in this issue. Hopefully they move on and don’t dwell on it further.
I’m looking to Beetle to kick things up a notch. I am slowly allowing my expectations to be raised. Dangerous, I know.
Was loving this until that fake Blue Beetle and those beyond tired OMACs showed up. I wish DC would stop trying to shove Jaime Reyes down our throats at every turn.
Why is it every time someone doesn’t like something, they feel it is being shoved down their throats?
[...] includes a post-hypnotic suggestion that causes everybody to rationalise away his existence. Read/Rant comments on the premise: As a result, issue 2 spends a lot of time trying to explain the mechanics of [...]
[...] commented before about how ridiculous the premise of this book is. Max’s power level is just all over [...]