What's the deal with this anyway? I tried a few issues, found it hideous and quickly dropped it. It seems to be almost universally reviled on the good ol' internets - it's practically a cliche by now that any reference to Robinson's current run on J.L. of A. will contain the question "How is this the same guy who once wrote Starman?" - but sales seem to be steady anyway. I know that Dwayne MacDuffie's run was constantly derailed by editorial interference - and was seemingly used to promote other series - some ongoing, some limited. He was fired for going public with this. It seems to me - and I could be WAY off base - but if MacDuffie was the victim of too much editorial interference, that Robinson may be given too much leeway, perhaps because of his rep.
Thoughts?
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I may not be the best one to pass judgement on it. As I said, I dropped it fairly quickly, but here goes .... I found it almost unreadable for a number of reasons - too much first person narration is one example. Robinson is trying to give everyone a distinctive voice, but I found that everyone sounds alike and it just goes in circles. I really feel that Robinson is trying to wow and impress rather than just tell a good story.
I think, IMHO, everyone's expectations were tainted by the negative response to the ending of Justice League: Cry For Justice. I certainly was looking forward to the mini, based on my respect for Mr. Robinson's prior work but was dismayed by the various outcomes. I believe that has turned many against Congorilla and Starman II as members. I saw it as a writer putting in characters that he could control alone, something all writers of team books are wont to do. Maybe when this JLA/JSA crossover ends, and he can focus on the JLA primarily, we can see a different side to this, hopefully!
I'm relieved to hear someone else say this out loud. James Robinson is one of those writers who's stuff automatically goes into the buy pile, and I was looking forward to his return to monthly comics. His turn on Superman left me cold -- but those books are so editorially-driven these days, I didn't think much of it. Given that, and given MacDuffie's painful tenure on the book, I had low expectations for his run on JLA, though I had some reason for hope once the line-up was announced -- The Blue Starman? Congorilla? I was really curious to see how he pulled it off.
But I have to say: This series has ALSO left me cold. Again, I recognize most of the decisions are out of his control -- getting stuck with not-Batman, not-Wonder-Woman, and not-Superman has turned it into a sort of glorified Teen Titans reunion. And I agree that the multiple-first person narration is a little too gimmicky, and falls flat most of the time.
I know Robinson is capable of writing a good team book (JSA, for example), but this doesn't seem to be it.
'Tec, don't slag on Alan Moore's work on Youngblood- especially if you haven't read it. It was incredible, if short-lived. He reinvented older characters and introduced distinct new ones such as Johnny Panic (the post-modern superhero) and Doc Rocket (who used her powers better than any speedster this side of Wally West). He had interesting villains, obstacles and outcomes. And he started the groundwork for his work on America's Best Comics. They're definitely worth checking out- and you don't have to read a single issue of Rob Liefeld to like it or understand it.
As to the title topic: I had no objections to James Robinson's JLA line-up and gave the title a re-try because of it. Unfortunately, like many others, I found it completely unreadable. Heavy on narration, light on characterization or action. Disjointed sequences. Arbitrary, forced decisions. Characters joining only to leave the following issue. I couldn't drop it fast enough.
I agree. His Spawn/WildCATS book seemed patronizing. It was like he was pissed at superhero books, but decided to take the check anyways.
Detective 445 said:
Ah, I spoke too soon! I have read most of Moore's Image/Awesome stuff and it's actually his Wildcats/Spawn story that I thought was terrible to the point where I almost thought he was doing it on purpose as some sort of gag. His Youngblood "Judgement Day" story was only slightly better but still nowhere near as good as his best work. For me, Supreme was probably the best of the pre-ABC stuff that he did although he later did a better riff on the same basic concept with Tom Strong.
OK - Spawn/Wildcats wasn't the greatest thing ever, but in Moore's defense, he was experimenting with the Image storytelling style, which might have thrown his game somewhat, and then there was all the scratchiness.
And he had to do something with his Twilight of the Superheroes pitch...
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But I have to say: This series has ALSO left me cold. Again, I recognize most of the decisions are out of his control -- getting stuck with not-Batman, not-Wonder-Woman, and not-Superman has turned it into a sort of glorified Teen Titans reunion. And I agree that the multiple-first person narration is a little too gimmicky, and falls flat most of the time.
I know Robinson is capable of writing a good team book (JSA, for example), but this doesn't seem to be it.
As to the title topic: I had no objections to James Robinson's JLA line-up and gave the title a re-try because of it. Unfortunately, like many others, I found it completely unreadable. Heavy on narration, light on characterization or action. Disjointed sequences. Arbitrary, forced decisions. Characters joining only to leave the following issue. I couldn't drop it fast enough.
I mentioned Youngblood issue 2 here only yesterday, btw.
Detective 445 said:
And he had to do something with his Twilight of the Superheroes pitch...
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