[Editor’s note: This review may contain spoilers!]
Writer: Steve Orlando
Pencils: Felipe Watanabe
Summary
Makson’s plans have been unleashed! Trapping all 600 of his family members in a ballroom for his party, this jungle-bred madman plans to kill them all! Will the Justice League of America save them in time?
Positives
Orlando gave us a very revenge driven story and I didn’t notice it at all until this issue. It turns out that Makson’s family tree conspired to have his family killed, entirely for the family fortune. It seems that S.K.U.L.L. was hired by Makson’s family to go to Monster Island and kill Makson–the last member of the Hamilton family. When the Justice League of America intervenes and saves his life, his return to America is filled with revenge which is finally unleashed in this issue.
Negatives
The one real negative with this issue is how Makson gets handled by the League here. At first the fight against Makson goes in his favor as he encounters Vixen and Ray alone. However when Batman, Black Canary, Lobo and Killer Frost show up, things quickly go one sided. It’s at this point where the League feels sympathy for Makson due to his dedication for vengeance, due to the fact that he feels that “man’s law” will do nothing for him at this point. As the Hamilton family, who’s been revealed to have been working with S.K.U.L.L. at this point walk out the front door they’re being arrested by the police.
Verdict
I thought Justice League of America #9 was a good issue. It centers a lot on the concept of revenge versus justice, and I’d like to believe that the League has made a potential ally in Makson as well. As a reward for the arrest of the Hamilton family who tried to have him killed, he leaves the League his entire fortune to help children orphaned by tragedy as he was. I hope that Orlando eventually brings Makson into an adventure with the League, but only time will tell.
