Monday, April 15, 2024

Justice League of America Annual #1 (2024 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

The Justice League are at the mercy of their deepest fears when the villainous Doctor Destiny invades their dreams!

When Doctor Destiny last encountered the Justice League, the heroes had to resort to drastic measures that would prevent the foe from dreaming. This fractured Destiny's psyche and caused his body to shrivel down into a skeletal form. Seeking a cure as well as revenge Doctor Destiny escaped his Gotham City cell and is running experiments on kidnapped patients under the guise of a legitimate sleep clinic.

In typical Justice League fashion, the heroes break up into groups in search for the fugitive as well as the victims that Doctor Destiny kidnapped. As the protagonists arrive at the various locales throughout Gotham in hopes of apprehending Doctor Destiny, the Leaguers are met instead with grotesque versions of their worst nightmares.

The first ever Justice League of America annual from 1983, was written jointly by Paul Levitz and Len Wein. Penciled by Rick Hoberg with inks by Dick Giordano, this issue sports 2 surprise guest stars. Unfortunately, one of those reveals are spoiled by their appearance on the cover. Black Green Lantern Jon Stewart also guests in this issue. Only his appearance isn't so much as a revelation as a special treat for DC readers as once again, Stewart is begrudgingly recruited by the Guardians of Oa to assist Wonder Woman and the Flash on their leg of the Doctor Destiny manhunt. 

Astute readers of Justice League of America might notice the absence of a major player on that action packed cover by Hoberg and Giordano. There's no Caped Crusader! That's because at this point in time, Batman and the Justice League had a falling out over the political crisis in Markovia and the Dark Knight left the League to form the Outsiders. Despite having almost a dozen active members, Hawkwoman standing by her Thanagarian man and a Green Lantern on hand, without the presence of Batman on his home turf, this version of the Justice League just seems way understaffed.

To learn more of where Batman is, fans should start with issue #1 of Batman and the Outsiders.

Completing this review completes Task #46 (With a $1 cover price (original price)) of the 2024 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

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