Justice League Of America #14

The battle with the Injustice League continues, with the conflict building throughout this issue, as Superman and Black Lightning frantically try to find where Luthor is holding the League. But that’s all just plot, and you know what? It’s not the interesting part.

The interesting part is the characterization. McDuffie is spot-on with every single character beat, and it’s just so ... refreshing. This storyline ought to be used as a characterization ‘bible’ for DC biggest villains. Luthor is calculating and menacing, completely in control, and every inch a leader. No histrionics, no wasted words. This is a guy who could scare a Superman. But it doesn’t stop there. Joker is crazy without being a gibbering idiot -- yes, he’s clearly nuts, but this is a guy who can put together and execute a plot that would stymie Batman. He’s much more Hannibal Lecter than Groucho Marx.

The other nice bit is the level of respect accorded between the villains. Grodd is getting carried away with prisoners, and Luthor politely requests restraint. Grodd acquieses, and Luthor thanks him. No voices are raised, but the entire scene is positively chilling. These are VILLAINS. They don’t yell and bluster. They are BAD people (or gorillas, or aliens, or cheetahs, as the case may be). They don’t like each other, but they will work together if they have to. I can’t over-emphasize the extent to which McDuffie has breathed new life into this title. It’s consistently at the top of my reading pile every week it comes out, and that’s a status it hasn’t held since Morrison left the book.