Justice League of America 11
Matt Kindt, Eddy Barrows, Tom Derenick
Forever Evil Crossover
Spoiler alert! You have been warned!
So the story that just seems to drag on and on (and on… and on) is still, well, dragging on. I get that there are people (quite a few, in fact) who really like the character Stargirl. But being someone who doesn’t particularly care for her, I think it’s important to win me over as well. Not just appeasing her already happy fans. So by taking the entire team out of the book and re-hashing the same old story issue after issue after issue, well, let’s just be honest here: I’m bored. Not getting bored. Already there. Martian Manhunter was pretty much ruined with the New 52 and Stargirl is of little to no interest to me as a character beyond the fact that she is female and exists as a sort of quota for DC to fill their rosters with superheroines. This title confuses me for a number of reasons: It’s never really seemed to find its footing as a series since its launch. It can’t really seem to keep a consistent creative team for more than an issue. And writer Matt Kindt is dominating elsewhere (and artists Eddy Barrows and Tom Derenick have done great work in the past), but maybe it’s just not a good fit here.
The story continues, with more of the same. Martian Manhunter’s consciousness has merged with that of Stargirl’s and they are currently stuck in her body. They are trying to fight the various Secret Society members while trying to prevent Firestorm from blowing up the rest of the world (with the Justice League inside of him, of course) and arguing about whether or not Courtney has time to go warn, protect, and save her family. It was nice to see that she might not be as pure and heroic as everyone thinks she is, but I found her reaction about putting loved ones first to be more childish than selfish. And is it just me, or is J’onn written differently every single issue? I’ve yet to read an issue in the New 52 where he was consistent in terms of dialogue and narration.
Maybe I’m just being way too nitpicky, but I guess it just seems like this series exists solely to get DC another 3.99 a month for a crossover book until it morphs into a completely different one under the pen of Jeff Lemire later this year. Forever Evil is great and, for the most part, I’ve been pretty happy with the crossovers. But this aspect of the story is officially tired. Let’s move on and wrap things up. Because at this pace, we might actually see Stargirl fly around with a nagging Martian in her head for the rest of the event. Which would be expected, but still very disappointing to see.
My Rating: 2.5/5
It’s not going to be any easier for this title to find its footing with this event already hijacking it within its first year. And man I gotta say that is HARSH on Stargirl lol – childish or selfish? She did go back to save the Martian after they were separated, and is continuing to help everyone along the way to her family!