Justice League International 1: The Signal Masters

justice league international volume 1 the signal masters cover review
6.0 Overall Score
Story: 6/10
Art: 7/10

Story ends on a good cliffhanger

Missing the fun of the original Justice League International

Comic Info

Comic Name:  Justice League International (Volume 3)

Publisher:  DC Comics

Writer:  Dan Jurgens

Artist:  Aaron Lopresti/Marco Castiello/Matt Ryan/Vincenzo Acunzo

# of Issues:  6

Release Date:  2012

justice league international #3 cover batman

Justice League International (3) #3

Reprints Justice League International (3) #1-6 (November 2011-April 2012).  The world needs heroes and certain agencies think that the Justice League just can’t cut it alone.  The solution:  Justice League International!!!  Under the leadership of Booster Gold, the JLI is facing an immediate danger of robots who have appeared around the world…with an unknown agenda!  Earth is in danger and the JLI may be just what it needs…or it could destroy it.

Written by Dan Jurgens, Justice League International Volume 1:  The Signal Masters was part of the New 52 relaunch by DC Comics.  The series features art by Aaron Lopresti, Marco Castiello, Matt Ryan, and Vincenzo Acunzo.

Justice League was always a bit too regimented for me.  You have Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman plus a handful of other characters.  Only a few times have the combinations been really fun (I’m thinking Detroit Justice League and Morrison’s Justice League), I also really enjoyed the Justice League International with Booster, Blue Beetle, and Rocket Red…and this has some nice throwbacks to that period.

justice league international #6 cover review

Justice League International (3) #6

However, the series is pretty unbalanced.  There is a lightness I like to it, but it just isn’t great.  The series does a great job setting up the team, and I like that they are a bad team from the start.  The idea of Earth being destroyed from multiple points is rather tired, but it is a fresh approach with the JLI.

It is the team and their unbalanced nature which houses the fun for the series.  I like the combination of characters, and I like that it isn’t the standard Justice League team.  If I had my way, I’d drop Batman from the team (he probably is actually the selling point for the writers).  The original JLI also usually had Batman as the wet blanket, but he generally would crack the odd joke as a tension breaker.  This series needed a little more of the light Dark Knight.

Justice League International shows potential, but it also was doomed.  The series was being eyed for cancellation even before these six issues were published.  It is unfortunate that in the high-stakes world of comic today that series do not get a longer chance.  This volume ends with a great cliffhanger…and a big boom.  It will leave you wanting to read the next issue.  Justice League International 1:  The Signal Masters is followed by Justice League International 2:  Breakdown.

Related Links:

Justice League International 2:  Breakdown

Author: JPRoscoe View all posts by
Follow me on Twitter/Instagram/Letterboxd @JPRoscoe76! Loves all things pop-culture especially if it has a bit of a counter-culture twist. Plays video games (basically from the start when a neighbor brought home an Atari 2600), comic loving (for almost 30 years), and a true critic of movies. Enjoys the art house but also isn't afraid to let in one or two popular movies at the same time.

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