Comics / Cult Favorite

A-List Writer + C-List Character = ?

By Philip Schweier
September 9, 2008 - 15:46

Some people have the gift of insight. It's the ability to see a diamond in the rough, the proverbial ugly duckling and recognize the potential within.

Brad Meltzer

I've come to admire Brad Meltzer's work. I enjoy his novels and his comic book writing, so when it was announced he would be the new writer on Justice League of America, I was among those in line waiting for the first installment.

But in typical fashion these days, he was a limited-time offer and after a year of scripting the adventures of the JLA, he was off the book.

What did he accomplish? Well, he re-established the JLA as DC Comics' preeminent team, not just for its A-list characters such as Batman and Superman, but also for the "homeless" of the DC Universe – those who have no book to call their own, such as Red Tornado and Vixen.

While the League may feature "the world's greatest super-heroes," it has also featured some C-list characters over the years. Zatanna and Firestorm were hardly major players when they were inducted into the League's ranks. What makes them great is not the level of their powers or their popularity among readers. Once again, it is the potential within, and for the A-list heroes to take the young and less experienced and make them part of something that is greater than the sum of its parts.

Don't believe me? Look at Green Arrow, who was simply a Batman clone with a bow when he joined in Justice League of America #4. Today he is one of DC Comics' most popular characters. Elongated Man never quite achieved super-star status, but his role in the DCU in recent years – and his eventual passing – revealed a multi-dimensional character that had seldom been acknowledged.

So Meltzer came up with a roster that included traditional favorites as well as a number of new faces which included, among others, former Outsiders teammates Black Lightning and Geo-Force, the latter having not seen the light of day in years. To take a relatively minor hero and put him among the DC Universe legends would give Geo-Force nowhere to go but up.

But when Dwayne McDuffie was announced as Meltzer’s replacement on Justice League of America, it was hinted that he would make changes in the roster, and I kind of saw the writing on the wall that the title wouldn't be on my pull list for very much longer. For one, Meltzer's a hard act to follow, but McDuffie has a pretty solid resume', and I was more than willing to give the man his due.

Nevertheless, while recently discussing comic books with a buddy of mine, for the life of me I couldn't recall what has happened recently in McDuffie's Justice League of America.

I know Vixen has been leaching power off the other JLAers, but that's been going on for several issues. And I think Amazo returned in some way. But beyond that, I really couldn't recall, and that pretty much put the final nail in the coffin.

Dwayne McDuffie

Obviously the stories aren't all that good if I can't recall what's happened in the past month or so. It's no reflection on McDuffie as a writer; he's written some great stuff and has proven he can juggle a cast and subtle and not-so-subtle plot threads.

But what I find disappointing is the level of writing McDuffie brought to the Justice League cartoon seems to not translate as well to the actual comic book. Granted, television animation is a different format, and the show's success is owed not only to writers like McDuffie and Paul Dini, but to the directors, animators and cast.

But not every writer, however talented, is well-suited for any given comic book title or genre. I love Greg Rucka's work, but I don't feel his Adventures of Superman is particularly noteworthy. And like I said, some people can see the hidden potential in a minor character, while finding a major player cumbersome and unwieldy.

Since McDuffie took over as ongoing Justice League writer, we've seen very little of Geo-Force. Maybe it was decision made by someone higher up at DC Comics, but at least they had the courtesy to place Geo-Force back among the Outsiders where he began way back in 1983. Meltzer gave him another starring role in the recent Last Will & Testament, having him go toe-to-toe with Deathstroke, an effort that was fueled more by rage and vengeance than courage. Still, this C-list hero came out on top – barely.

Geo-Force was replaced in the Justice League with Firestorm, who was originally in the Justice League back in the 1980s. But that was the original, Ronnie Raymond, who died during Identity Crisis and his powers were transferred to Jason Rusch in a new ongoing series, later written by... Dwayne McDuffie.

So it all comes full-circle. It works that way sometimes. Sadly, I remember all that more easily than what happened in last month's Justice League of America.

But in his defense, perhaps McDuffie, having written Firestorm before, has a better grasp of that character and none at all for Geo-Force. I would rather McDuffie write a good, solid story featuring a character he has a handle on than to see him struggle with another in whom he has no interest.

Nevertheless, it's time to drop JLA from my pull-list. That's not to say it won't come back; I'm open for that. But for now, I'm voicing my opinion with my wallet. Next time I need a Justice League fix, I can pop in a DVD.

Praise & adulation? Scorn & ridicule? E-mail me at philip@comicbookbin.com

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12