Justice League of America #0
Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

I have missed the League.  The DCU and it's three primary players (aka the big three); Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman have weathered some tough times over the last few years.  It seems clear that the rebirth of the Justice League of America harkens a rebirth of hope within the DCU.  This #0 issue, if anything, brings that point home for this reader at several points.  Before I start tearing into the issue, I plan to digress just a little.  This team title begs a momentary look at the state of affairs within the  DCU and I'm more than willing to walk that path here.

DC Comics, from the launch of the Identity Crisis miniseries to the events still unfolding following Infinite Crisis to the ground breaking 52 series and the One Year Later titles have grabbed my attention.  Yes, the good folks at DC Comics have taken the established DCU and turned it upside down, inside out and, quite literally, the old is new again.  I like it.  More so, it was time.

I was a DC fan before all this change began.  Honestly, month after month I found myself on on the edge of my seat enjoying my own select group of DC titles.  I didn't ready everything, but I followed enough titles to know what was happening universe-wide.  All that changed with the birth of this new DCU.  I didn't see it coming and didn't realize how much better things could feel post-Crisis, but none the less that is the case.  Recently, I've found myself cheering on the rebirth of the multiverse and reveling in the hope of seeing new Earth 2.  In the end, I'm a bit shocked how closely I'm following events coming out of DC each month and they've certainly achieved their goal with this fan...  I'm reading more DC titles than I was prior to Crisis. 

Honestly, I find I need to take a break and catch up on Civil War over at Marvel.  I've heard Thor's back and haven't even made it there to see for myself.  In my Marvel stack, Spider-Man is just discovering "The Other" and hasn't even considered pulling off his mask before the press.  Thanks DC, I'm now clueless when it comes to Marvel, but it's been worth it. 

Have you found yourself, while reading DC, digging up the history of some characters you probably wouldn't have given the time of day pre-Crisis?  I mean come on... Detective Chimp?  Blue Devil?  Booster Gold? Animal Man?  Checkmate? Manhunter?  Who would have thought?  I find myself regularly thumbing through my trusty DC Comics Encyclopedia studying some of the text to get references for obscure characters DC seems to be commonly pulling out and dusting off.  It's rewarding at times as a long time reader and maddening (in a good way) when they stump me with someone I know little about.  For their respect of history and willingness to rethink what they have rather than create something new, I tip my hat to the DCU. 

Across the DCU, the old is clearly new again and in that spirit, I find myself really looking forward to the rebirth of the Justice League of America.  With all this change, how can the new League not be an exciting place to visit each month?  There's been a lot of chaos as the DCU puts itself back together and, as Superman put it best in this issue, it's "time to move on".

Getting down to the brass tacks of this issue, if you are purchasing the #0 issue to see who's going to be in the new Justice League, you will be disappointed.  The cover begs the question "Who's In?", but the issue doesn't have the answer.  That fun fact has been preserved for the upcoming #1.  What we do get over the course of the #0 issue is a series of quick glimpses into the future, the present and the past of the League.  These stops take the reader into key moments in life of the League and the current state of the DCU.  Here's a tantalizing clue of things to come...

These stops, past present and future aren't simply flashbacks (or flash presents or flash forwards) but more of a look behind the curtain into the relationship, fears and excitement the big three; Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman.  It's a look at moments in their shared history and future as it relates to the League.  Here we don't just see these thee as iconic figures, but rather very human heroes with hopes, fears and, at the heart of it all, friendship.  Batman sweats, Superman worries and Wonder Woman shares sympathy.  They are somewhat more human here than we are used to seeing.  What at times feels like a whimsical issue actually has some cutting depth to it that that I enjoyed as a wild mix of artists rotated from page to page. 

Overall, it does what a #0 issue should do, it goes nowhere special but lays the groundwork for a monumental #1 issue.  It offers just enough detail to make you understand that something big is on the way while mounting the readers excitement for the upcoming debut.  I would call it a complete success and a fun story I'm glad I didn't miss.  Who will be in the League?  We wait with baited breath...

Scale of 1 to 10 ... 7
July 30th, 2006 ... Review by Chuck

Official word from DC

Justice League of America #0

Written by Brad Meltzer; Art by Ed Benes, George Pérez, Jim Lee, J.H. Williams, Gene Ha, Dick Giordano, Eric Wright, Tony Harris, Kevin Maguire, Dan Jurgens, Howard Porter, Luke McDonnell, Rags Morales, Ethan Van Sciver and Phil Jimenez; Cover by Michael Turner; Variant Cover by J. Scott Campbell

The most anticipated book of the year is finally here! Best-selling author Brad Meltzer broke the JLA down in the top-selling, critically acclaimed Identity Crisis — and now he puts all the pieces back together again!

Superman. Batman. Wonder Woman. The core heroes of the DCU are back — but after Infinite Crisis, where do they stand with each other? Here's the definitive answer, brought to you with the brilliant art of Ed Benes, George Perez, Jim Lee, J.H. Williams, Gene Ha, Dick Giordano, Eric Wright, Tony Harris, Kevin Maguire, Dan Jurgens, Howard Porter, Luke McDonnell, Rags Morales, Ethan Van Sciver, Phil Jimenez and others.

Join us for this historic and unforgettable new beginning of the Justice League of America as we look at the past, present and future of the World's Greatest Super Heroes!

DC Universe  |  32pg.  |  Color  |  $2.99 US
On Sale July 19, 2006