![]() Created back in 1964’s Justice League of America #29 by Gardner Fox and Mike Sekowky, there have been several iterations of the team (some going by other names like the Crime Syndicate of Amerika or the Crime Society) that have plagued DC’s heroes individually and on entire team-wide battles. I hope this series impacts the Suicide Squad book, that thing could use some content of this quality.ĭisclaimer: DC Comics provided Batman News with an advance copy of this comic for the purpose of this review.In comics it seems that every government in the world worries about heroes going bad, but what if all the heroes were bad? That’s the conceit of DC’s Crime Syndicate of America (Crime Syndicate or CSA, for short), an alternate universe version of the Justice League where justice has turned into “just us” with names like Ultraman (Superman), Superwoman (Wonder Woman), Owlman (Batman), Johnny Quick (Flash) and Power Ring (Green Lantern). What I thought was going to just be a retelling of the Justice League’s origin has taken on a life of its own has become an exciting glimpse into an Earth we haven’t heard from in a while. This mini has been a wonderfully pleasant surprise. Pretty easy to decide if that’s what you want or not. Emerald Knight’s character arc intrigues you.You like stories set on alternate Earths.It’s not prevalent, and most of it is implied or happens off screen, but both topics do come up. If you’re uncomfortable with animal or child abuse, maybe consider skipping this issue’s origin. I am going to put a content warning for this back story, however, as it does get into some dark territory. That said, Schmidt does very well with it, and Bryan Hitch’s art perfectly complements the action on the page. While Emerald Knight’s story being sympathetic makes sense, as he’s being set up to be a good character (or at least close to it), Johnny getting an tragic origin is surprising. This story is also strangely sympathetic compared to the previous ones. This is probably my favorite origin so far, as it’s the most original of the lot, and gives us a very well crafted glimpse into a character that we’ve never learned too much about. The back story in this issue, written again by Schmidt, focuses on the origins of Johnny Quick. There’s plenty of dynamic, energetic sound effects throughout the book that draw the reader in and make every panel leap off the page straight into the imagination. I’ve said it before, but it’s always nice to see a letterer having fun, and Leigh clearly was. Rob Leigh’s lettering is fantastic in this issue as well. The faint auras around constructs this issue are also a wonderful addition, and add some much appreciated personality to the page. It adds a sense of dynamism, especially to action scenes, and can be a great way to visually spice up an otherwise bland panel. I know it’s semi-standard fare when a ring wielder is involved, but I always love to see Lantern constructs actually glowing. The use of light in conjunction with the Lantern constructs here is also a nice touch. Especially during the fight proper with Quick, Oliff masterfully makes everything pop off the page, and every panel is a treat to look at. Kieran McKeown, as always, nails that late 90s vibe that makes me nostalgic for Earth-3, and Dexter Vines’ inking is particularly good this issue, but the real star of the show is Steve Oliff’s coloring. Speaking of seeing them, the art in this issue is very good. This team is legitimately captivating to me, and I sincerely hope we get to see more of them in the future. It’s an absolute treat to watch the dynamic between these two (and the entire team, for that matter) play out, and I hope we see more of it next issue. Schmidt has kept him consistently interesting since issue 1, and his internal struggle to do the right thing, especially in the face of Luthor’s uncompromising righteousness, plays out perfectly here. My favorite of these absolutely has to be Emerald Knight. In the few short pages we get time with them, every member of the Legion of Justice is compelling and makes you want more. I came into this series expecting a middling quality mini that might have hada cool moment or two, but after this issue, I genuinely think I’d like an ongoing set on this Earth. Never fear, the Legion of Justice is here! Alexander Luthor has assembled a team of Earth-3’s finest, and they’ve already set their sights on their first target: Johnny Quick! Will the Sinister Scarlet Speedster of Earth-3 outpace the heroes bearing down on him? Will the Legion of Justice take a dangerous meta-criminal off the playing field? Let’s speed through this and find out!Īndy Schmidt has done wonders with Earth-3.
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