Review: Young Justice #17

Young Justice #17

 

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writers: Brian Michael Bendis and David Walker

Artists: Scott Godlewski

Colorist: Gabe Eltabe

Letterer: Wes Abbott

 

Reviewer: Tony Farina

Summary

This very special issue focuses directly on the friendship at the heart of Young Justice: Conner, Tim, and Bart—a.k.a. Superboy, Drake, and Impulse. As younger men, these three iconic heroes built Young Justice on their friendship. Now their dream has grown and changed as much as they have. And with the demands of adulthood pulling them in different directions, they realize that nights like this one may never happen again.

Young Justice #17

Positives

Young Justice #17 is pretty OK. It is full of splash page after splash page of excellent art by Scott Godlewski. I actually find that his drawing of the girls in this book to be the best. Jinny is such a fun character and he really brings her to life. Her energy jumps off the page. His Wonder Girl is, well, full of wonder. You see it in the way she talks to Diana in this issue. Teen Lantern, same thing. It is just so joyous. The story itself suffers a bit (more on that below) so it is a good thing that the art is special.

Gabe Eltabe is also a hero in this book as well. Wonder Comics are supposed to be hopeful and bright. He captures that so well. Even in the doom and destruction of what just happened in Metropolis, the colors are bright and lively. It captures what should be the soul of this comic and this group. I really enjoy it.

Negatives

If you didn’t read the most recent Action Comics, then, you didn’t know what was going on. I have a long standing problem with what I like to call “crossoveritus”. Wonder Comics were made, to specifically focus on the teenagers in the DC Universe. So, just focus on that. I see that now, there is a big Superman crossover that somehow involves Wonder Comics too. Ug. Really Brian?

The new human character is nice in this book, but it also seems like she is being set up for some other book and YJ readers will have to go read some other Wonder Comic book to keep up with her. I could be wrong on that, but it feels like a backdoor pilot into something else.

Verdict

Young Justice #17 really does live up to its name. Every legacy character who has a counterpart in YJ has a heart to heart with him or her. It was nice, but it also meant that this entire book was all about spinning tires. It felt like filler. I don’t really need filler. There are so many characters in this story who could shine, but they never get a chance because Clark and Barry and Diana all have to have their say too. Look. If Tim Drake is in a comic, I am going to read it, but he needs to actually be in the comic.

 

You may also like