In the comic book medium, there are a plethora of heroes that are reactive: they swoop in after the crime occurs and help the victims recover. But who’s there to stop the crime before it starts? What do heroes (or in some cases, super powered beings with a sense of morality) do when the world is full of other superheroes? Simple: they get proactive. They strike at the villains before they have a chance to activate their evil plan. That’s part of the premise behind “Justice League Elite”, a twelve issue maxi-series from DC comics.
The second (and central) part of the premise is this: how does one battle evil (from the inside) without becoming evil himself (or herself)? Can angels disguised as devils fight for the side of good without becoming tainted or corrupted in the process?
However series isn’t about navel-gazing and self-contemplation. It addresses the philosophical questions posed above, but it also features some serious hard-hitting action and fight sequences, as well as a cast of characters that grow and develop as the series progresses (unlike the stagnant characterization of some other super-hero titles). Writer Joe Kelly really gives this title his all and it shows in the finished product. He even manages to work in a little humor from time to time.
While the writing is top notch, the art team doesn’t slack off either. Penciled by Doug Mahnke and inked by Tom Nguyen, the artists provide the series with amazing visuals and they do so for the entire run (no fill-in art teams ever touch this book). That’s quite an accomplishment in this day and age. Mahnke has a very unique style: his men are huge slabs of beef, his women are simultaneously voluptuous and svelte and absolutely gorgeous, the weaponry and technology that he illustrates are massive and incredibly detailed and his creatures are grotesque and gruesome. Visually, Mahnke’s style looks like no other artist out there. In short, he’s a perfect fit for this story. And Nguyen’s inking style really enhances Mahnke’s pencil work and really makes the unusual elements that Mahnke draws stand out.
The story goes a little something like this: the Justice League Elite was created as a test program that was (unofficially) sanctioned by the Justice League of America (JLA for short) and various world leaders to handle global threats using methods that the JLA can’t (due to their high profile and public standing). They operate covertly (deep cover, in fact). It’s kind of like the old Mission: Impossible speech that Jim Phelps would always get on his little pocket disc player “If you or any member of your team are caught, Superman and the JLA will disavow any knowledge of your existence”. As you may imagine, things get out of control early on and the resulting conflicts are where the storytelling really shines.
“What about the cast?” I hear you ask. “Who’s on the team?” “Is Superman in the book?” “Is Batman?” Yes, both of them make occasional appearances. But they aren’t the stars of the book. This team features:
Vera Black - (Sister Superior) Sister to Manchester Black, a powerful psychic and enemy of Superman who created the Elite initially and later killed himself after failing in his attempt to make Superman kill (long story, but I can recommend the issues to read for those that are interested. Just e-mail me). She both loves and hates her brother for what he did and is trying to atone for his crimes by forming the JL Elite. She’s got cybernetic arms and she’s British.
Flash - Yes, the Scarlet Speedster is on the team. However, he wears a different costume when on missions with the Elite so that no one will recognize him and blow their cover. He’s also the liaison to the JLA. He brings some morality with him that other members on the team need (even though he’s the last person to lecture anyone).
Naif Al-Sheikh - A spook (of the “intelligence gathering and hoarding” variety) from the Middle East. He’s the team’s coordinator. He has a very strict code of ethics and doesn’t care much for the western world and its way of doing things. Dealing with the Elite is the last thing that he wants to do, but he knows that they are needed.
Major Disaster - A former villain who became a member of the JLA for a time before joining up with Vera and the Elite. He has the power to create earthquakes and other natural disasters at will. But he’s got a bit of a drinking problem.
Coldcast - A member of the original Elite (under Vera’s brother Manchester). He has electromagnetic powers and a temper. But he joins Vera’s Elite to make amends for the not-so-nice deeds he did while working for Manchester.
Menagerie - A woman who’s in the game to get payback for her lobotomized sister (the original Menagerie). She has control over a “menagerie” of bugs and such that live on her body (remember what I was saying about grotesque?).
Kasumi - A lethal ninja warrior who isn’t exactly who she appears to be. You have to read the series if you want to know more. Seriously. I can’t say any more without ruining some of the plot points.
Green Arrow - The Emerald Archer and all around ladies’ man, Oliver Queen. A hardcore lefty (politically speaking) who brings his experience and knowledge of super-heroics to the team.
Manitou Raven - A Native American shaman from over a thousand years in the past. His magical powers help the team in ways that even they had not thought of. But the work of saving the world and the lives of his teammates has caused him to neglect his wife (Dawn) and her needs.
For those who don’t feel like hunting down back-issues, a trade paperback is available. It collects the first six issues of the maxi series (the first story arc) as well as Action Comics #775 (the first Appearance of the Elite (under Manchester), where they learn that you don’t want to make an enemy of Superman) and JLA #100 (Vera’s first appearance and the issue that launched this title).
Let me say this now, in case I haven’t made it clear “THIS IS NOT SUITABLE FOR ALL AGES!” To use motion picture ratings, I’d say that it’s a PG-13 level comic. There’s violence, there’s adultery, there’s alcoholism, there are dysfunctional families, and there are the aforementioned gruesome bugs. Each of the main characters has their own flaws as well as their own strengths. But those elements don’t detract from the story. They add to it and make the battles (both physical and metaphysical) that each member of the team faces that much more interesting.
This book really has a way of drawing in the reader. Before the first issue came out, I remember loathing the fact that they were spinning this book off from the JLA and how I wasn’t looking forward to collecting it just to get the full story of what happened in issue #100. But once I read the first couple of issues, I was hooked. I loved the characters, the mystery, the drama, the wry humor, the art, everything. I ended up liking this title even more than “JLA” (which was part of the reason that I ended up dropping the main JLA title, but that’s another story). If you’re looking for a super-hero story that’s just off the beaten path, pick up “Justice League Elite”. It’s an incredibly engrossing tale and you won’t be disappointed.
