Justice
Writer: Jim Krueger/Alex Ross
Artist: Alex Ross/Doug Braithwaite
Publisher: DC Comics
Having brought us the trilogy of maxi-series (Earth X, Universe X, and Paradise X) that cast a dark possible future for the Marvel Universe super-heroes, Jim Krueger and Alex Ross reunite after far too long with the book Justice. This time they are playing with the DC stable of icons. What’s interesting is that the creators seem much more respectful of these heroes. I don’t know if respectful is the right word, but it’s like they are very mindful about keeping a sense of innocence about the characters. There almost seems to be a sort of rebellion against the dystopian takes on the heroes that we grew up with. Like the various creators are tired of deconstructing the idea of a hero, tired of showing that all heroes have feet of clay, tired of tearing down heroes in order to be dark or edgy in their attempts to be “relevant�.
Ross does the covers, paints over Doug Braithwaite’s interior pencils, and co-plots with Krueger, so this book heavily bears his stamp. The plot is simple: the world is coming to an end and there is nothing that the people humanity has come to depend on, the super-heroes, can do about it. The warning comes in the form of a dream that plagues hero and villain alike, setting up a ... wait for it ... Superfriends vs. the Legion of Doom style scenario.
“Who decided we needed to be saved?�
Reminiscent of Marvels, another book painted by Alex Ross (which put him on the map), which examined super-heroes from the common man’s perspective, Justice takes the next step. Super-heroes operate like guardian angels, yet can also be treated like gods. Fighting battles that are so ... beyond humanity. In the heavens. Against powers and forces humanity can’t comprehend. Reminding us of our helplessness. That we can’t save ourselves. While Wonder Woman sees herself as ambassador to the Amazonian way, spreading her good-sounding message of self-determination (“isn’t that why we are here? To change the world? To save it together?�), eventually, we hit the limits of what we can do ourselves. All of our self-salvation schemes basically boil down to survival in this life.
“We were the forgers of the planet, the lifters of the flame. We were the dreamers and the myth-makers. We were the inventors, and the industry and the life and the blood. We were Earth’s men.�
There can be a sort of resentment that builds up towards any person or idea that makes us realize our limitations. In a lot of ways, dependence on higher ideals or agents marks the end of human evolution. Why strive when we have them, these crutches for the weak, to lean on? And no one wants to be thought of as weak. As our narrator puts it, “when the so-called Justice League of America banded together because they were unwilling to allow us to bleed and suffer and learn how to defend ourselves.� Though, that is not entirely true. Super-heroes realized that they couldn’t fight humanity’s battles for them. That’s why, despite their technology, they have never cured disease. They have never ended famine. They have never stopped wars. These were battles humanity had to fight for themselves.
We all, humanity and super-hero alike, share a common nightmare. There are some disasters, some horrors, beyond their ability to save us. Some crises too large for them to handle. Every hero’s biggest fear is being too late to do anything. Even the so-called super-villains are heroes in their own stories. This begs the question to whom do angels turn during trying times of their faith? Who is their higher power? It’s what happens when heroes and villains alike have dreams that bring about end of self moments.
When God is removed from the equation, we are left as Brainiac describes: “Your existence is accidental. You were not born of design. That is why, even at your current evolutionary state, you are rather pathetic ... yet deep inside, you yearn for more than this world can offer. You want design. You want to be a part of something.� It’s almost as if something was etched into the fiber of our being.
“What’s wrong with me, Batman? What’s wrong with you? What’s the cause of crime?� –The Riddler
We are our own worst enemies. Something inside us–this pride of self, some inner stumbling block– keeps us from getting by under our own efforts. In light of things bigger than us, in light of seeing our true condition, in light of being helpless, we–like the Riddler–have to ask the big questions: “Why is there crime? Where do we go when we die? Why is there suffering in the world?� In us there is this need for justice. The cry of “that’s not fair� rises from us as if we intuitively know that there was supposed to be something fair about life. That we aren’t what, where, or who we are supposed to be. And that there is an ultimate Justice. It’s as if a sense of right and wrong was written onto our hearts. There comes a time when we turn to the Author of our hearts.
It’s great to see Alex Ross painting on the interior (I thought the interior art was the chief weakness of the pair’s Marvel X work). I’ve also long been a fan of Krueger’s thick prose style in comics. This story has the sense of being a throwback to a simpler time, the Silver Age of comics and it is much appreciated. The story, pacing, and artwork - this is building to be a story for the ages. Casual and hard core comic fans alike can pick this one up and enjoy.
Artist: Alex Ross/Doug Braithwaite
Publisher: DC Comics
Having brought us the trilogy of maxi-series (Earth X, Universe X, and Paradise X) that cast a dark possible future for the Marvel Universe super-heroes, Jim Krueger and Alex Ross reunite after far too long with the book Justice. This time they are playing with the DC stable of icons. What’s interesting is that the creators seem much more respectful of these heroes. I don’t know if respectful is the right word, but it’s like they are very mindful about keeping a sense of innocence about the characters. There almost seems to be a sort of rebellion against the dystopian takes on the heroes that we grew up with. Like the various creators are tired of deconstructing the idea of a hero, tired of showing that all heroes have feet of clay, tired of tearing down heroes in order to be dark or edgy in their attempts to be “relevant�.
Ross does the covers, paints over Doug Braithwaite’s interior pencils, and co-plots with Krueger, so this book heavily bears his stamp. The plot is simple: the world is coming to an end and there is nothing that the people humanity has come to depend on, the super-heroes, can do about it. The warning comes in the form of a dream that plagues hero and villain alike, setting up a ... wait for it ... Superfriends vs. the Legion of Doom style scenario.
“Who decided we needed to be saved?�
Reminiscent of Marvels, another book painted by Alex Ross (which put him on the map), which examined super-heroes from the common man’s perspective, Justice takes the next step. Super-heroes operate like guardian angels, yet can also be treated like gods. Fighting battles that are so ... beyond humanity. In the heavens. Against powers and forces humanity can’t comprehend. Reminding us of our helplessness. That we can’t save ourselves. While Wonder Woman sees herself as ambassador to the Amazonian way, spreading her good-sounding message of self-determination (“isn’t that why we are here? To change the world? To save it together?�), eventually, we hit the limits of what we can do ourselves. All of our self-salvation schemes basically boil down to survival in this life.
“We were the forgers of the planet, the lifters of the flame. We were the dreamers and the myth-makers. We were the inventors, and the industry and the life and the blood. We were Earth’s men.�
There can be a sort of resentment that builds up towards any person or idea that makes us realize our limitations. In a lot of ways, dependence on higher ideals or agents marks the end of human evolution. Why strive when we have them, these crutches for the weak, to lean on? And no one wants to be thought of as weak. As our narrator puts it, “when the so-called Justice League of America banded together because they were unwilling to allow us to bleed and suffer and learn how to defend ourselves.� Though, that is not entirely true. Super-heroes realized that they couldn’t fight humanity’s battles for them. That’s why, despite their technology, they have never cured disease. They have never ended famine. They have never stopped wars. These were battles humanity had to fight for themselves.
We all, humanity and super-hero alike, share a common nightmare. There are some disasters, some horrors, beyond their ability to save us. Some crises too large for them to handle. Every hero’s biggest fear is being too late to do anything. Even the so-called super-villains are heroes in their own stories. This begs the question to whom do angels turn during trying times of their faith? Who is their higher power? It’s what happens when heroes and villains alike have dreams that bring about end of self moments.
When God is removed from the equation, we are left as Brainiac describes: “Your existence is accidental. You were not born of design. That is why, even at your current evolutionary state, you are rather pathetic ... yet deep inside, you yearn for more than this world can offer. You want design. You want to be a part of something.� It’s almost as if something was etched into the fiber of our being.
“What’s wrong with me, Batman? What’s wrong with you? What’s the cause of crime?� –The Riddler
We are our own worst enemies. Something inside us–this pride of self, some inner stumbling block– keeps us from getting by under our own efforts. In light of things bigger than us, in light of seeing our true condition, in light of being helpless, we–like the Riddler–have to ask the big questions: “Why is there crime? Where do we go when we die? Why is there suffering in the world?� In us there is this need for justice. The cry of “that’s not fair� rises from us as if we intuitively know that there was supposed to be something fair about life. That we aren’t what, where, or who we are supposed to be. And that there is an ultimate Justice. It’s as if a sense of right and wrong was written onto our hearts. There comes a time when we turn to the Author of our hearts.
It’s great to see Alex Ross painting on the interior (I thought the interior art was the chief weakness of the pair’s Marvel X work). I’ve also long been a fan of Krueger’s thick prose style in comics. This story has the sense of being a throwback to a simpler time, the Silver Age of comics and it is much appreciated. The story, pacing, and artwork - this is building to be a story for the ages. Casual and hard core comic fans alike can pick this one up and enjoy.
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