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Justice League (2018)
Justice League, Vol. 1: Prisms
Meet the New Justice League: Batman, Superman, the Flash, Hawkgirl, Aquaman, Hippolyta, Naomi, and Black Adam!
Writer Brian Michael Bendis reunites with artist David Marquez (Miles Morales: The Ultimate Spider-Man, Iron Man, Batman/Superman) for a new, star-studded Justice League featuring Batman, Superman, the Flash, Hawkgirl, Aquaman, Hippolyta, new DC powerhouse Naomi, and...is that Black Adam? Superman is leading the charge to reinvent the Justice League—and at the same time, a new, cosmic-powered threat arrives from Naomi's homeworld to rule the Earth!
And as a backup story, dark days ahead for the new Justice League Dark. Zatanna and John Constantine take a road trip, only to discover horror around the bend as a friend—and sometimes foe—is reborn in fire! A legend is destroyed and another takes a terrible turn, as Merlin reveals the beginning of a new, blood-drenched plot for all humankind. So begins writer Ram V's new journey into the abyss with the Justice League Dark!
Collects Justice League #59-63.
Writer Brian Michael Bendis reunites with artist David Marquez (Miles Morales: The Ultimate Spider-Man, Iron Man, Batman/Superman) for a new, star-studded Justice League featuring Batman, Superman, the Flash, Hawkgirl, Aquaman, Hippolyta, new DC powerhouse Naomi, and...is that Black Adam? Superman is leading the charge to reinvent the Justice League—and at the same time, a new, cosmic-powered threat arrives from Naomi's homeworld to rule the Earth!
And as a backup story, dark days ahead for the new Justice League Dark. Zatanna and John Constantine take a road trip, only to discover horror around the bend as a friend—and sometimes foe—is reborn in fire! A legend is destroyed and another takes a terrible turn, as Merlin reveals the beginning of a new, blood-drenched plot for all humankind. So begins writer Ram V's new journey into the abyss with the Justice League Dark!
Collects Justice League #59-63.
128 pages, Hardcover
First published May 10, 2022
45 people are currently reading
117 people want to read
About the author
Brian Michael Bendis
4,414 books2,576 followersA comic book writer and erstwhile artist. He has won critical acclaim (including five Eisner Awards) and is one of the most successful writers working in mainstream comics. For over eight years Bendis’s books have consistently sat in the top five best sellers on the nationwide comic and graphic novel sales charts.
Though he started as a writer and artist of independent noir fiction series, he shot to stardom as a writer of Marvel Comics' superhero books, particularly Ultimate Spider-Man.
Bendis first entered the comic world with the "Jinx" line of crime comics in 1995. This line has spawned the graphic novels Goldfish, Fire, Jinx, Torso (with Marc Andreyko), and Total Sell Out. Bendis is writing the film version of Jinx for Universal Pictures with Oscar-winner Charlize Theron attached to star and produce.
Bendis’s other projects include the Harvey, Eisner, and Eagle Award-nominated Powers (with Michael Avon Oeming) originally from Image Comics, now published by Marvel's new creator-owned imprint Icon Comics, and the Hollywood tell-all Fortune and Glory from Oni Press, both of which received an "A" from Entertainment Weekly.
Bendis is one of the premiere architects of Marvel's "Ultimate" line: comics specifically created for the new generation of comic readers. He has written every issue of Ultimate Spider-Man since its best-selling launch, and has also written for Ultimate Fantastic Four and Ultimate X-Men, as well as every issue of Ultimate Marvel Team-Up, Ultimate Origin and Ultimate Six.
Brian is currently helming a renaissance for Marvel’s AVENGERS franchise by writing both New Avengers and Mighty Avengers along with the successful ‘event’ projects House Of M, Secret War, and this summer’s Secret Invasion.
He has also previously done work on Daredevil, Alias, and The Pulse.
Though he started as a writer and artist of independent noir fiction series, he shot to stardom as a writer of Marvel Comics' superhero books, particularly Ultimate Spider-Man.
Bendis first entered the comic world with the "Jinx" line of crime comics in 1995. This line has spawned the graphic novels Goldfish, Fire, Jinx, Torso (with Marc Andreyko), and Total Sell Out. Bendis is writing the film version of Jinx for Universal Pictures with Oscar-winner Charlize Theron attached to star and produce.
Bendis’s other projects include the Harvey, Eisner, and Eagle Award-nominated Powers (with Michael Avon Oeming) originally from Image Comics, now published by Marvel's new creator-owned imprint Icon Comics, and the Hollywood tell-all Fortune and Glory from Oni Press, both of which received an "A" from Entertainment Weekly.
Bendis is one of the premiere architects of Marvel's "Ultimate" line: comics specifically created for the new generation of comic readers. He has written every issue of Ultimate Spider-Man since its best-selling launch, and has also written for Ultimate Fantastic Four and Ultimate X-Men, as well as every issue of Ultimate Marvel Team-Up, Ultimate Origin and Ultimate Six.
Brian is currently helming a renaissance for Marvel’s AVENGERS franchise by writing both New Avengers and Mighty Avengers along with the successful ‘event’ projects House Of M, Secret War, and this summer’s Secret Invasion.
He has also previously done work on Daredevil, Alias, and The Pulse.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
November 20, 2023
"We should go there and tell Brutus to stay off our lawn." -- Black Canary
"Road trip?" -- Green Arrow
"Proactive justice? Yes, please!" -- Hawkgirl
Justice League, Vol. 1: Prisms quenches a reader's thirst if you are in the mood for a briskly disposable graphic novel featuring said teammates bantering - with some admittedly witty dialogue, as these characters truly know each other's quirks - amidst the usual super-heroics involving the standard plot of a sudden alien invasion on Earth. It features an astoundingly solid League lineup - Superman, Batman, Flash, Hawkgirl, Aquaman, Green Arrow, and my fav Black Canary - tutoring newbie Naomi MacDuffie (an adolescent character that appeared in a failed TV series last year), a contender for a spot on their expanding JL roster, as she tries to get a handle on her newly acquired and undefined superpowers. One classic moment occurs when villain Brutus, licking his wounds after battling with Queen Hippolyta (a.k.a. Wonder Woman's warrior mother), starts to bicker with his co-conspirator McMurph after a failed takeover attempt, and they sound just like a cranky old married couple.
"Road trip?" -- Green Arrow
"Proactive justice? Yes, please!" -- Hawkgirl
Justice League, Vol. 1: Prisms quenches a reader's thirst if you are in the mood for a briskly disposable graphic novel featuring said teammates bantering - with some admittedly witty dialogue, as these characters truly know each other's quirks - amidst the usual super-heroics involving the standard plot of a sudden alien invasion on Earth. It features an astoundingly solid League lineup - Superman, Batman, Flash, Hawkgirl, Aquaman, Green Arrow, and my fav Black Canary - tutoring newbie Naomi MacDuffie (an adolescent character that appeared in a failed TV series last year), a contender for a spot on their expanding JL roster, as she tries to get a handle on her newly acquired and undefined superpowers. One classic moment occurs when villain Brutus, licking his wounds after battling with Queen Hippolyta (a.k.a. Wonder Woman's warrior mother), starts to bicker with his co-conspirator McMurph after a failed takeover attempt, and they sound just like a cranky old married couple.
December 31, 2022
A horned super-powered grumpy alien from another world portals to Earth and starts fighting the Justice League. No, I’m not recounting the Justice League movie, I’m describing the premise of Bendis’ super-original take on Justice League! Oh wait, the movie didn’t have his character Naomi in it. Yup, that makes all the difference. So the Justice League portal over to horned alien’s world to tell him to stop portaling over to theirs. Riveting stuff, eh?
So I think it’s fair to say that Bendis’ move to DC was underwhelming. His Superman was so generic, his Batman outing forgettable and Event Leviathan was the usual loud event comics nonsense. Add to this the wholly unremarkable Justice League, Volume 1: Prisms, a book that underlines how little Bendis had to offer DC’s characters.
It’s Justice League punching a Steppenwolf clone called Brutus, and then Darkseid-lite, Zumbado. It couldn’t be a more boring, uninvolving storyline. They’re also on another world that’s not on the Multiverse map because DC doesn’t have enough alternate worlds already!
It’s not just a bad book because Bendis isn’t great at team books in general (they all sound like every other team he’s written - “funny” dialogue and brainless punching), but because Justice League is such a hard title to write well. This is because Superman usually makes the rest of them superfluous, but this line-up includes Black Adam, who’s basically another Superman, AND Naomi, who’s potentially even more powerful than Superman. So this is a team with essentially three Superman characters, making them practically invincible. But the latest alien world’s atmosphere is making them slightly less invincible - well, I’m definitely on the edge of my seat now ohdon’tworrytheysavethedayasalwayswhatafuckingsurprise…
It’s not a complete bust. Bendis does have a decent handle on the characters - his Superman is effortlessly likeable, and I don’t dislike Naomi - and David Marquez’s art is always excellent. It’s just the story is so lacklustre and throwaway. The book seems to be setting up a larger storyline for Naomi but, now that Bendis has jumped ship for Dark Horse, I feel like that’s not going to go anywhere and all this setup will be completely pointless.
Even in the hands of an experienced creative team like Bendis and Marquez, Justice League remains leagues away from being a remotely decent title.
So I think it’s fair to say that Bendis’ move to DC was underwhelming. His Superman was so generic, his Batman outing forgettable and Event Leviathan was the usual loud event comics nonsense. Add to this the wholly unremarkable Justice League, Volume 1: Prisms, a book that underlines how little Bendis had to offer DC’s characters.
It’s Justice League punching a Steppenwolf clone called Brutus, and then Darkseid-lite, Zumbado. It couldn’t be a more boring, uninvolving storyline. They’re also on another world that’s not on the Multiverse map because DC doesn’t have enough alternate worlds already!
It’s not just a bad book because Bendis isn’t great at team books in general (they all sound like every other team he’s written - “funny” dialogue and brainless punching), but because Justice League is such a hard title to write well. This is because Superman usually makes the rest of them superfluous, but this line-up includes Black Adam, who’s basically another Superman, AND Naomi, who’s potentially even more powerful than Superman. So this is a team with essentially three Superman characters, making them practically invincible. But the latest alien world’s atmosphere is making them slightly less invincible - well, I’m definitely on the edge of my seat now ohdon’tworrytheysavethedayasalwayswhatafuckingsurprise…
It’s not a complete bust. Bendis does have a decent handle on the characters - his Superman is effortlessly likeable, and I don’t dislike Naomi - and David Marquez’s art is always excellent. It’s just the story is so lacklustre and throwaway. The book seems to be setting up a larger storyline for Naomi but, now that Bendis has jumped ship for Dark Horse, I feel like that’s not going to go anywhere and all this setup will be completely pointless.
Even in the hands of an experienced creative team like Bendis and Marquez, Justice League remains leagues away from being a remotely decent title.
June 7, 2022
Bendis is doubling down on his Naomi series. The story is all about her so you may want to catch Season One of it. Another super being from Naomi's world shows up to try and take over our Earth. The Justice League steps into stop him and heads to Naomi's home world / dimension / whatever it turns out to be. The story is super decompressed with all of these two panel spreads with poor panel structure which makes them impossible to read in the correct order. The most interesting part about this were the additions of Black Adam and Hippolyta to the team.
May 26, 2022
Ugh. Someone tell Bendis that Naomi isn't happening.
I mean, maybe she is, because she got her own TV series. But, also, cancelled.
And though she was fine in her own comic series, she's proceeded to drag down first Young Justice, and now the whole JLA. Ugh!
This was a pointless story about Naomi's world invading DC Earth. (Again!) With no resolution. And with all kinds of annoying double-page spreads meant to disguise the dull, decompressed state of the story.
Ugh.
I mean, maybe she is, because she got her own TV series. But, also, cancelled.
And though she was fine in her own comic series, she's proceeded to drag down first Young Justice, and now the whole JLA. Ugh!
This was a pointless story about Naomi's world invading DC Earth. (Again!) With no resolution. And with all kinds of annoying double-page spreads meant to disguise the dull, decompressed state of the story.
Ugh.
February 5, 2023
Brian Michael Bendis takes the reigns of the Justice League after Death Metal and Infinite Frontier, and it seems like he’s shaken up the team roster, now that Black Adam and Hippolyta are part of the team, and it’s looking like it’s a vehicle to further push his character Naomi, who ultimately just falls flat. I like her as a concept but she has never really come to life beyond that. Meh. This is feels just as unremarkable as the end of his Superman run and I don’t think I’ll continue. Maybe just skip ahead to Dark Crisis.
September 26, 2022
Sometimes I’m shocked this is the same writer as the classic New Avengers stories I’m reading concurrently. I don’t think I’m going to bother continuing reading this series.
August 17, 2022
The only thing appealing about this book is the art and Batman saying "Ducktales" to calm down someone having a battlefield panic attack.
This read like a bad Saturday morning cartoon. Full of "hip" and "I'm cool" lingo; with feel good "we're all friends" writing. It got really annoying to have to read characters interacting with eachother.
The plot also made no since. A cocksure villain named Brutus, who talks like the popular high school bully, portals to our world and immediately is like "Imma fight you, you're not so tough!" And gets his butt kicked so he portals back home. And naturally, after finding out he's from Naomi's world, they follow him. But either because Flash is bad at math or because that world was jacked up the League is... doing subpar. It really made no sense. Black Canary and Hawkgirl were leveled up, and at first so was Superman, but then him and Aquaman are suddenly weakened due to the destroyed state if the planet. The last issue was really bad at portraying what was happening. Supposedly Naomi was having a panic attack and was losing control of her powers, but they had to tell us that because it certainly did not look like that's what happened.
The final mistake of this book is its failure in establishing Black Adam and Queen Hippolyta as characters we should care about. DC has made it pretty obvious from "Endless Winter" and now this book, that they want Adam and Hippolyta on the team. But so far have yet to find a writer that can successfully create an in for these characters. They are always just in the background for important scenes and never really accomplish anything with their page time. Black Adam is supposed to be looking for redemption but after so many years as the remorseless and murderous villain, thus new characterization just seems disingenuous. And Hippolyta is just a stand in for a new Wonder Woman. She has no motivation to joining the League.
This read like a bad Saturday morning cartoon. Full of "hip" and "I'm cool" lingo; with feel good "we're all friends" writing. It got really annoying to have to read characters interacting with eachother.
The plot also made no since. A cocksure villain named Brutus, who talks like the popular high school bully, portals to our world and immediately is like "Imma fight you, you're not so tough!" And gets his butt kicked so he portals back home. And naturally, after finding out he's from Naomi's world, they follow him. But either because Flash is bad at math or because that world was jacked up the League is... doing subpar. It really made no sense. Black Canary and Hawkgirl were leveled up, and at first so was Superman, but then him and Aquaman are suddenly weakened due to the destroyed state if the planet. The last issue was really bad at portraying what was happening. Supposedly Naomi was having a panic attack and was losing control of her powers, but they had to tell us that because it certainly did not look like that's what happened.
The final mistake of this book is its failure in establishing Black Adam and Queen Hippolyta as characters we should care about. DC has made it pretty obvious from "Endless Winter" and now this book, that they want Adam and Hippolyta on the team. But so far have yet to find a writer that can successfully create an in for these characters. They are always just in the background for important scenes and never really accomplish anything with their page time. Black Adam is supposed to be looking for redemption but after so many years as the remorseless and murderous villain, thus new characterization just seems disingenuous. And Hippolyta is just a stand in for a new Wonder Woman. She has no motivation to joining the League.
August 9, 2022
Kind of boring, to be honest. I don't find Naomi all that interesting as a character, and this feels to me like Bendis on auto-pilot.
December 29, 2021
Після ранів «Супермен» і «Action Comics» пана Майкла Бендіса перекинули на серію «Ліга Справедливості». Це було очікувано, що відразу у першій арці «ЛС: Призми» (2021), #59-63 окрім переформатування складу ЛС, він буде залучати також свою персонажку Наомі.
Все розпочинається з того, що на країну Чорного Адама Кандак нападає створіння із іншого світу Брутус, де ЧА вступає у бій із ним. Досить швидко нова ЛС прибуває, щоб розібратися у цій ситуації. Після бою головною ціллю стало дізнатися, у який вимір втік Брутус. Після аналізу штучним інтелектом Келексом стало зрозуміло, що енергія Брутуса схожа до Наоміної. Тому бажає вона чи ні, але вона залучена у подальші події.
Не сказав би, що арка видалася поганою, більше хорошою. Але ось ці випуски, коли команда супергероїв потрапила у світ куди стрибнув Брутус, і де дізналася про головного ворога Зумбадо, викликає занепокоєння. Враження, що нам просто показують по черзі героїв без руху сюжету.
Все розпочинається з того, що на країну Чорного Адама Кандак нападає створіння із іншого світу Брутус, де ЧА вступає у бій із ним. Досить швидко нова ЛС прибуває, щоб розібратися у цій ситуації. Після бою головною ціллю стало дізнатися, у який вимір втік Брутус. Після аналізу штучним інтелектом Келексом стало зрозуміло, що енергія Брутуса схожа до Наоміної. Тому бажає вона чи ні, але вона залучена у подальші події.
Не сказав би, що арка видалася поганою, більше хорошою. Але ось ці випуски, коли команда супергероїв потрапила у світ куди стрибнув Брутус, і де дізналася про головного ворога Зумбадо, викликає занепокоєння. Враження, що нам просто показують по черзі героїв без руху сюжету.
June 20, 2022
Bendis is at it again, everyone.
He's brought his signature style to DC and it didn't take long for him to get back into the top tier DC super team books. It's an introduction to a new team, but Bendis brought along some new toys to play with.
-----
This collection has Oliver Queen questioning the amount of good "The League" does on its own if everybody is comfortable with each other. He thinks they need some new blood and "voices of dissent" to keep things fresh. (Did I mention that Bendis is wordy? This isn't New Avengers level, but he may be testing the waters)
Jumpcut to Black Adam talking to a boy in a Khandaq cemetary. A supervillain teleports in and tries to lay claim to things. Black Adam gets huffy. Superman gets huffy too.... (and now we have the first potential member of the new roster)
Next Jump...it's Naomi! (Yes, this is a Bendis creation.) She's from the same universe as the supervillain and 'may hold the key to everything we need to know'. We get a few panels of the teenager freaking out. Joining a superhero team when you just 'recently' found out 1. you have powers 2. you're from another dimension ...it's a hard life.
The Justice League fights a bunch of supervillains on a planet that 'is stinky'. Just a day in the life of a super team.
Bonus: Why is it always Nth metal, now? It's the latest mcguffin.
Bonus Bonus: of COURSE you put Black Adam on the team. Got to get that tie in to the future Dwayne Johnson movie. (lolz)
He's brought his signature style to DC and it didn't take long for him to get back into the top tier DC super team books. It's an introduction to a new team, but Bendis brought along some new toys to play with.
-----
This collection has Oliver Queen questioning the amount of good "The League" does on its own if everybody is comfortable with each other. He thinks they need some new blood and "voices of dissent" to keep things fresh. (Did I mention that Bendis is wordy? This isn't New Avengers level, but he may be testing the waters)
Jumpcut to Black Adam talking to a boy in a Khandaq cemetary. A supervillain teleports in and tries to lay claim to things. Black Adam gets huffy. Superman gets huffy too.... (and now we have the first potential member of the new roster)
Next Jump...it's Naomi! (Yes, this is a Bendis creation.) She's from the same universe as the supervillain and 'may hold the key to everything we need to know'. We get a few panels of the teenager freaking out. Joining a superhero team when you just 'recently' found out 1. you have powers 2. you're from another dimension ...it's a hard life.
The Justice League fights a bunch of supervillains on a planet that 'is stinky'. Just a day in the life of a super team.
Bonus: Why is it always Nth metal, now? It's the latest mcguffin.
Bonus Bonus: of COURSE you put Black Adam on the team. Got to get that tie in to the future Dwayne Johnson movie. (lolz)
May 18, 2022
Do I like Naomi? Yes, I do. I really enjoyed her mini-series a lot. Since Bendis set foot on DC, her solo story has been some of the best he’s written.
Do I like Naomi in the Justice League? That’s an entirely different question. Her spot in the League makes no sense. Obviously Bendis wanted her there, definitely an ego thing, but not because he wants it, it will make any kind of sense.
The Justice League, at least this incarnation of the League which is built around powerhouses, is not the X-Men in the way they would invite teenagers to join. The Justice League is meant to be the best of the best, and in that same level are the odds they face. That’s how they’re built. It makes no sense to include Naomi, and expose her to dangers that no kid should experience. No matter how powerful she might be.
But, well, this is where Bendis wants her and he got away with it.
It didn’t help much that the main story got built around the world where Naomi was born. By the way, it was also a very unimpressive story.
Do I like Naomi in the Justice League? That’s an entirely different question. Her spot in the League makes no sense. Obviously Bendis wanted her there, definitely an ego thing, but not because he wants it, it will make any kind of sense.
The Justice League, at least this incarnation of the League which is built around powerhouses, is not the X-Men in the way they would invite teenagers to join. The Justice League is meant to be the best of the best, and in that same level are the odds they face. That’s how they’re built. It makes no sense to include Naomi, and expose her to dangers that no kid should experience. No matter how powerful she might be.
But, well, this is where Bendis wants her and he got away with it.
It didn’t help much that the main story got built around the world where Naomi was born. By the way, it was also a very unimpressive story.
January 27, 2023
2.5
BM Bendis continues his mission to make Naomi a A ranked Super Hero....which doesn't seem to be working out too well.
This story?
Doesn't really amount to much...it's a skirmish to be resolved later and the whole inclusion of Black Adam was just weird and had little impact.
I did enjoy the banter between the Leaguers which BMB does well
BM Bendis continues his mission to make Naomi a A ranked Super Hero....which doesn't seem to be working out too well.
This story?
Doesn't really amount to much...it's a skirmish to be resolved later and the whole inclusion of Black Adam was just weird and had little impact.
I did enjoy the banter between the Leaguers which BMB does well
June 7, 2022
Okay maybe now I’m starting to get the DC hype.
Probably the best written team up I’ve ever read. So much fun
Probably the best written team up I’ve ever read. So much fun
July 1, 2022
An amazing kick-off for the new Justice League!
Trying to put together the team in this post-Death Metal universe, Superman has taken the lead (like always), but a new threat from another world brings new and old talent together.
Team: Superman, Batman, Flash, Aquaman, Black Canary, Green Arrow, Hawkgirl, and three new people....
1) Black Adam is asked by Superman to join to shake up the League. The ruler of Kahndaq is very powerful, and though he has unique attitude and methods to him, he is usually always being a hero of the people.
2) Hippolyta, mother of Wonder Woman, and Queen of the Amazons, joins the team near the end, having sworn to step into the role of protector after Diana's sacrifice in Death Metal (But she's actually still alive and will be back before we know it!)
3) Naomi, superpowered girl from another world (coincidently the same one the strong invader is from) is involved because of her connection to the invader AND because her power is somewhat out of her control and she needs to learn from her fellow heroes how to control it.
Overall, this is a great place to start the title if you weren't already reading it. Hoping it regains its previous statue as one of the best DC has to offer. We'll see...
Recommend.
Trying to put together the team in this post-Death Metal universe, Superman has taken the lead (like always), but a new threat from another world brings new and old talent together.
Team: Superman, Batman, Flash, Aquaman, Black Canary, Green Arrow, Hawkgirl, and three new people....
1) Black Adam is asked by Superman to join to shake up the League. The ruler of Kahndaq is very powerful, and though he has unique attitude and methods to him, he is usually always being a hero of the people.
2) Hippolyta, mother of Wonder Woman, and Queen of the Amazons, joins the team near the end, having sworn to step into the role of protector after Diana's sacrifice in Death Metal (But she's actually still alive and will be back before we know it!)
3) Naomi, superpowered girl from another world (coincidently the same one the strong invader is from) is involved because of her connection to the invader AND because her power is somewhat out of her control and she needs to learn from her fellow heroes how to control it.
Overall, this is a great place to start the title if you weren't already reading it. Hoping it regains its previous statue as one of the best DC has to offer. We'll see...
Recommend.
October 26, 2022
This does not stand well on its own if you're not familiar with Naomi/Powerhouse, which I really wish I had known going in. I like her but there was much more action than actual development.
April 24, 2024
Brian Michael Penis ruins everything he touches. As he did to The Avengers, his Justice League is one note with generic villains and everyone quipping exactly alike. All characters sound the same to BMP. Does he have black children? IDK. But he certainly thinks he can write for YA black kids. Naomi shouldn't be on the team. Black Adam and Hippolyta are redundant.
October 26, 2022
Public library copy.
Great art but a rather dull story, I had much higher expectations as this team did great work at Marvel.
Great art but a rather dull story, I had much higher expectations as this team did great work at Marvel.
May 27, 2022
It's no secret that Bendis can't write Superman, he tanked the series so much they had to send him to Warworld and give the main title to his son, he's actually quite decently written in this which was quite surprising.
It also doesn't help that the Justice League hasn't had a decent story since Justice League, Volume 1: Origin, we've had the dreadful New 52 run and Scott Snyder's cosmic mess.
But finally we have a good story! I really liked the inclusion of the new leaguers, they actually helped flesh out the regulars. I especially liked Black Adam, he was cool throughout this. Green Arrow and Black Canary were a nice addition but aside from doing social justice warriors they really didn't add much. As for the story someone from Naomi's homeworld has come to Earth to try to take it over so the League have to team up with Naomi to travel to her home planet to stop him. Being that I haven't read Naomi: Season One, it was a solid introduction to her character as well as informing us what had happened prior without it feeling like an exposition dump. So what are we left with? Only the best Justice League story since 2011!
It also doesn't help that the Justice League hasn't had a decent story since Justice League, Volume 1: Origin, we've had the dreadful New 52 run and Scott Snyder's cosmic mess.
But finally we have a good story! I really liked the inclusion of the new leaguers, they actually helped flesh out the regulars. I especially liked Black Adam, he was cool throughout this. Green Arrow and Black Canary were a nice addition but aside from doing social justice warriors they really didn't add much. As for the story someone from Naomi's homeworld has come to Earth to try to take it over so the League have to team up with Naomi to travel to her home planet to stop him. Being that I haven't read Naomi: Season One, it was a solid introduction to her character as well as informing us what had happened prior without it feeling like an exposition dump. So what are we left with? Only the best Justice League story since 2011!
December 4, 2022
Bendis was just a mess at DC. His Superman and Legion of Super-Heroes were just awful and his inadequacy with respect to the DC canon shows in this painful to read attempt at bringing fresh blood into the Justice League. No mention is Black Adam's association with the Justice Society and we're saddled with the same old Green Arrow complaining about the scope of the League's work.
The art is actually pretty good except when it's not. Bendis, in his usual super decompression mode, requires weird two page spreads with even weirder panel layouts, making the whole thing hard to follow.
Bendis's dialog is similarly awful. He has a reputation for being more "hip" with the way his characters speak but it's disjointed and choppy. The conversations are full of Leaguers talking in short phrases and it just doesn't work.
Of course, Bendis shoehorns his new character Naomi into the League, bringing in an untested and untrained newbie to fight alongside the Big Guns. There is precedence for this, of course: Gerry Conway brought his creation Firestorm onto the team after his short lived series back in original JLA magazine in issue 179. At least Conway didn't create a while 5 or 6 issue arc about Firestorm. There is a lot about Naomi that is interesting but she should be part of the Teen Titans, not the Justice League.
One more volume of this shit show to go, I think. Hopefully Bendis is done with DC under the new regime and he can go back to Marvel where he seems to understand the characters better.
The art is actually pretty good except when it's not. Bendis, in his usual super decompression mode, requires weird two page spreads with even weirder panel layouts, making the whole thing hard to follow.
Bendis's dialog is similarly awful. He has a reputation for being more "hip" with the way his characters speak but it's disjointed and choppy. The conversations are full of Leaguers talking in short phrases and it just doesn't work.
Of course, Bendis shoehorns his new character Naomi into the League, bringing in an untested and untrained newbie to fight alongside the Big Guns. There is precedence for this, of course: Gerry Conway brought his creation Firestorm onto the team after his short lived series back in original JLA magazine in issue 179. At least Conway didn't create a while 5 or 6 issue arc about Firestorm. There is a lot about Naomi that is interesting but she should be part of the Teen Titans, not the Justice League.
One more volume of this shit show to go, I think. Hopefully Bendis is done with DC under the new regime and he can go back to Marvel where he seems to understand the characters better.
January 13, 2023
I've read an onslaught of negative and vitriolic comments and reviews regarding Bendis' work on DC, both in Superman and the Justice League, so I braced myself for the worst when I picked up this volume. This volume collects Justice League #59-63, from his run.
As it turns out, it's neither awfull or amazing, just barely passable. I've read worst Justice League books (James Robinson's run, for example, is much much worse), but this one is not memorable in the least either. its a short read, and seriously lacking on depth and characterization.
I won't comment on the plot, as there is barely much of it, so anything might be a potential spoiler. Suffice to say its predictable and it doesn't have a definitive conclusion, as it sets up events that I strongly suspect might not be concluded, considering Bendis' tenure on the title was short.
As for the artwork, it's pretty good, but far from David Marquez's most impressive work.
At this point I might continue through the next two volumes, but mostly because Volume 3 features a crossover with Justice League Dark, a team I really enjoy reading about, so I suppose Volume 2 might be needed for context.
A 5/10 from me.
As it turns out, it's neither awfull or amazing, just barely passable. I've read worst Justice League books (James Robinson's run, for example, is much much worse), but this one is not memorable in the least either. its a short read, and seriously lacking on depth and characterization.
I won't comment on the plot, as there is barely much of it, so anything might be a potential spoiler. Suffice to say its predictable and it doesn't have a definitive conclusion, as it sets up events that I strongly suspect might not be concluded, considering Bendis' tenure on the title was short.
As for the artwork, it's pretty good, but far from David Marquez's most impressive work.
At this point I might continue through the next two volumes, but mostly because Volume 3 features a crossover with Justice League Dark, a team I really enjoy reading about, so I suppose Volume 2 might be needed for context.
A 5/10 from me.
July 3, 2024
A super fun comic to read, this volume introduces two new additions to the Justice League, a familiar face in Black Adam and a newer face in Naomi. It also introduces a new host of threats and villains as well. Now I say all this without actually having read a Justice League comic since I was a kid, so much of the team's layout and structure is completely different, but each of the heroes were written extremely well, I liked the little touches of not just their dialogue, but their actions and the way they fought, were displayed. Like how Superman never punched anyone but simply pushed or moved them away, shows his incredible strength but also his goodness in heart to not want to do any harm. I enjoyed this new team's dynamic, and enjoyed this newer hero as well.
I didn't care too much for the main villain, particularly in the way he was portrayed in his cheesey, more 'modern' dialogue of smart quips and awkward 'got ya' comments. I also felt, that while his threat was built up well, the ending to his fight was anti-climatic, as he was knocked out essentially off-screen.
Overall, this was a super fun comic to read.
I didn't care too much for the main villain, particularly in the way he was portrayed in his cheesey, more 'modern' dialogue of smart quips and awkward 'got ya' comments. I also felt, that while his threat was built up well, the ending to his fight was anti-climatic, as he was knocked out essentially off-screen.
Overall, this was a super fun comic to read.
August 10, 2023
It is nice that they explore parts of the Omniverse which was the big thing introduced with Death Metal but it really does not feel that different granted this is just a start. The idea of having Black Adam and Hippolyta on the same team is a cool one as they are both interesting characters. Black Adam's will to do anything for the sake of protecting Kahndaq is cool and could lead to a drama about about how to handle future threats and Hippolyta being a fish out of water as she sees a world her daughter fought for is also an interesting idea as she has to figure why Diana wanted to save this world. The new character Naomi I wished they would explain more instead it feels like they want the reader to read her solo series which should never be the case. As you should never be forced to another story to understand the story you are reading. Brutus as a villain feels lackluster and the way he talks feels annoying. The other villain is ok as Zumbado feels and looks like a bigger threat. The story is ok but it feels like just a set up story.
November 16, 2025
To start with some positives: Prims features some fun bits of group dynamic, and solid art (though it often lacked in detail, for my tastes). I also like the inter-character conflicts about whether the JL needs some fresh blood. I would have preferred that to be the main plot of Prisms, rather than a plot device to set up the premise... The main leaguers were also well handled, especially Superman and Green Arrow.
Newcomer, Naomi, is... meh. She's neither overtly impressive or bad. And I feel the same of this collection's story. It's remarkably un-noteworthy in any regard. Everything here is so cookie-cutter Justice League that I can't even enjoy it as a “dumb fun” sort of story. There's a new badguy, strange new world, enough conflicts to drag this thing out to a trade paperback sized book, and BOOM it's over.
Don't Bother with Prims.
Newcomer, Naomi, is... meh. She's neither overtly impressive or bad. And I feel the same of this collection's story. It's remarkably un-noteworthy in any regard. Everything here is so cookie-cutter Justice League that I can't even enjoy it as a “dumb fun” sort of story. There's a new badguy, strange new world, enough conflicts to drag this thing out to a trade paperback sized book, and BOOM it's over.
Don't Bother with Prims.
May 26, 2023
The plot was somewhat simple and at first I liked that, but then I realized the plot was so simple that not much happened, except I guess forming another Justice League team...yet again. Two of my biggest gripes about this, though were
1) BMB writes every character the same. They all have quippy dialogue, back and forths, that not every person speaks alike. Characters are different. :)
2) Naomi is continuously touted as having INSANELY POWERFUL POWERS, like crazy dude, and yet, we haven't seen her do anything but light up and maybe shoot some blasts? I would like a little more clarity and, dare I say it, to see her powers in action? Say whaaaa?
1) BMB writes every character the same. They all have quippy dialogue, back and forths, that not every person speaks alike. Characters are different. :)
2) Naomi is continuously touted as having INSANELY POWERFUL POWERS, like crazy dude, and yet, we haven't seen her do anything but light up and maybe shoot some blasts? I would like a little more clarity and, dare I say it, to see her powers in action? Say whaaaa?
February 20, 2024
I passed on Bendis's Justice League when the trades first starting coming out because I wasn't impressed with his work on Superman or Young Justice. Coming back years later, I'm still not sure that I'm impressed, but I at least didn't dislike it. I did like the banter between the regular members of the League, since it felt mostly natural to the characters. Superman trying to recruit Black Adam is a detail that feels right to me. Of course he would err on the side of forgiveness. The plot itself is kind of meh. It focuses almost entirely on Naomi, a character I felt iffy about in her own book. Hopefully, she doesn't take over the entire series like she did this volume.
April 4, 2023
Now that Bendis is writing the title he's crossing the Justice League over with Naomi. The villains from Naomi's world are attempting to cross over to Earth to claim it for their own, but the Justice League and Naomi aren't going to let that happen.
There's also a back up story featuring the Justice League Dark. Merlin is back, and he has bad intentions. Only the Justice League Dark stands in his way.
Not great, but not bad overall. This is a more of a transitional volume as I think the main action takes place in the next one.
There's also a back up story featuring the Justice League Dark. Merlin is back, and he has bad intentions. Only the Justice League Dark stands in his way.
Not great, but not bad overall. This is a more of a transitional volume as I think the main action takes place in the next one.
September 1, 2023
What a mess this was, not only is bad the fact that Bendis wanted to push his OC Naomi (a relative nobody and barely new character) in the Justice League but then she also happens to be ultra powerful.
The dialogues are all over the place, some are childish and not a single character had the right dialogue/voice it was more like cliche phrases/personalities.
The villain was generic and uninspired, Bendis could have done so much better but I guess that he couldn’t careless besides pushing Naomi.
The dialogues are all over the place, some are childish and not a single character had the right dialogue/voice it was more like cliche phrases/personalities.
The villain was generic and uninspired, Bendis could have done so much better but I guess that he couldn’t careless besides pushing Naomi.
November 12, 2023
Giving this one a generous rating of two stars, given the interesting additions of Black Adam and Hippolyta and the always reliable David Marquez art. Big downvotes for the stupid villain who talks like a TikTok influencer for reasons unknown. Supposed to be funny because it’s anachronistic given he looks like Steppenwolf? Didn’t work. At all. Even a little. I wanted to rate this at three stars, but given the story was lame and it didn’t even resolve, I had to downvote. I am a huge Bendis fan, but I can’t help but feel that his magic has left him.
July 17, 2024
I hate to say this, but Naomi in this story felt like a self-insert fanfiction character. Maybe her character would be better in the Teen Titans or Young Justice, but having this teen girl with these fully established heroes felt weird.
DC's superheroes have the exact opposite problem as Marvel's superheroes. Adult heroes in the Marvel universe are against children superheroes in any compacity whereas DC's superheroes will be like "if you are at least 10, get in here and fight Darkseid." There has got to be a middle ground on the stance of children vigilantes.
DC's superheroes have the exact opposite problem as Marvel's superheroes. Adult heroes in the Marvel universe are against children superheroes in any compacity whereas DC's superheroes will be like "if you are at least 10, get in here and fight Darkseid." There has got to be a middle ground on the stance of children vigilantes.
November 21, 2024
Bendis doubles down on his lackluster Naomi creation. All the Bendisisms are on full display here, including quirky, out-of-character dialogue in impossible-to-follow speech balloons. None of the mysteries introduced are paid off in this arc, and even the theme of the league needing multiple perspectives (hence the "prisms" of the title) does not really impact the story in a meaningful way. Marquez' fluid artwork is doing a lot of the heavy-lifting here (meriting an extra star), and even that gets a bit messy with some of the bubble-like layouts in the big action scenes.
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