I am a huge fan of what this Convergence event is trying to do, but I’m not so much a fan of its execution. The idea of having major cities from major points in the DC multiverse square off for survival is a fantastic premise. The problem is that Justice League #1 falls into the same issue I had with the last Convergence book I covered in that it all just feels so rushed.
STARRING HEROES FROM THE PRE-FLASHPOINT DCU! The Justice League story you never expected to see begins when Supergirl, Zatanna, Vixen and Jade attend Jesse Quicks baby shower, which quickly turns into a life-and-death struggle with Flashpoint Aquaman!
I don’t think the two issues these books are getting is enough time for this sort of story to really build an emotional connection with readers. Yes, I do feel connected to some of these universes more than others, but that is more because of the pull of nostalgia and not from the story this book, and others, are telling.
In Convergence: Justice League #1 our heroines (this entire Justice League is female)are stuck in one of the many versions of Gotham City that we’ve already seen. Like in other books a dome has fallen over the city, isolating its citizens and heroes within. While non-powered heroes aren’t affected, those with actuall powers have had said powers negated. After a quick recap of the minutes bore the dome hits we find out that this Justice Leaguehas been stuck under this dome for a year and many of its members have tried to adapt to their new lives. This in and off itself is a very cool premise, but the problem is that this books essentially glosses over thatperiod of time. Having a small city of de-powered heroes is a lovely idea (let’s ignore that terrible JLA: Act of God mini-series), but the ramifications of having no powers in an isolated city is just sort of mentioned as an aside to the bigger event.
Yes, I want to see the massive battles between worlds, but I’d really love a lot more context to what these characters have been going through. I know it’s hard to set up a major event in only two issues, but this Convergence event really needed more time to breathe. I likethis version of the Justice League and the writing and art here are very well done, but I don’t “feel” anything for this team of heroes. I don’t care one way or another if they or their worlds dies off. I found myself rooting for Flashpoint Aquaman and his evil minions in their dome because I have more of a connection with them thanks to that incredible run that lead up to The New 52.
Justice League #1 does set up an epic looking battle for its next issue, but it doesn’t get me invested into this team in the slightest. I would have much rather seen what Flashpoint Aquaman was up to as his anger could have served up more emotion to the siuation. That’s a shame because the idea of an all female Justice League is really cool and I already want to see where they could have gone with it. While the writing fits the story and the art of Vicente Cifuentes is great, this book and Convergence event is yet to find its heart. This book (and other in the line) feels less interested in developing the cool characters it has to play with and instead is more concerned about setting up some cool fight between the multiverses.
Justice League #1 even had the opportunity to dive into the relationship between this world’s Mera and the Flashpoint Aquaman, but drops the ball only to have her capture quickly set up next issues big fight. There was the potential of a nice mini-arc there, with the evil Flashpoint Aquaman having lost his world’s Mera and that pain driving what could have been an interesting and deeper story and confrontation. Look, I love a good who could win in a fight comic debate as much as the next guy, but Convergence is so far more concerned about fan service and internet poking than it is about providing us with a meaningful event. In the end, what could have been a great book just ends up as falling into the pit of mediocrity.
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