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Mild Mannered Reviews - Justice League Unlimited

Justice League Unlimited #37

Justice League Unlimited #37

Scheduled to arrive in stores: September 5, 2007

Cover date: November 2007

Writer: Matt Wayne
Penciller: Min S. Ku
Inker: Jeff Albrecht

"Hard Spirits"

Reviewed by: Adam Dechanel

Click to enlarge



**SPOILER: FEATURES A SERIOUS ASSAULT, PLEASE READ THE BOOK BEFORE YOU ALLOW A CHILD TO **

The Spectre is running riot through American Prisons.

He has been able to escape his human vessel, Jim Corrigan and is punishing the guilty. This isn't a good thing as he's judging everyone in sight.

Superman, Wonder Woman and Martian Manhunter arrive to combat him but are easily killed.

Superman is turned to glass and shattered.

Wonder Woman and J'onn are melted in puddles of wax.

In Metro Tower (the earthbound JLU headquarters) Batman and Shayera are training hard in fighting techniques when Jim Corrigan enters acting a little out of character. Deadman is inside his body and jumps into Shayera.

Jim explains that a strange disruption on the spiritual plane has forced Spectre out of Jim's body and out into the real world. Deadman and Corrigan need the help of the JLU to visit a powerful being that can disrupt The Spectre's rampage. The Spectre had tried all the JLU magical members but they were all either defeated, captured or busy. Batman and Hawkgirl were all that's left.

Rama Kushna is the godly being and is waiting for them when they materialize on the spiritual plane minus Jim.

Rama Kushna agrees to help them for a price. She abhors revenge and it is all that drives Spectre. She was interested to meet Batman as it had appeared to her that revenge drove him also, however different from the Spectre; Bruce has retained a brilliant and pure soul.

She wishes to explore Batman's soul. He refuses but Rama Kushna ignores his plea and mind rapes him. After repeatedly doing so she discovered Bruce has no motivation with revenge however he seeks justice for his parent's murder.

For atonement for her crime she agrees to allow Deadman the new special ability - to possess spirits also for one time only.

Deadman wastes no time, when they return to Earth and Mr. Terrific calls Bruce and Shayera for help, he races to the rescue.

Batman and Hawkgirl stun Spectre with a flurry of attacks and Deadman quickly uses his possession power and reverses the effects of Spectre's rampage.

Deadman approaches Bruce and asks if they are ok as friends, apologizing that he had tricked Batman into the assault.

Batman remains frosty and walks away silent.

Deadman returns and repairs the bond between Jim and Spectre but Shayera worries that what happened may happen again.

Dr. Fate arrives and reveals Talia was alive and well manipulating the Spectre and other magical beings from limbo. Luckily he has been able to reverse her plot and trap her in a paperweight.

The League are happy and return home.

Well minus Shayera and Bruce.

Batman is flying home in the Batwing and Shayera enters to comfort her friend.

Batman turns to his friend and tells her not to worry about the assault.

He relives the moment every day of his life anyway.

1Story - 1: Mind rape? A low I do NOT agree with.

An issue maybe a little too adult for this book.

Despite my pleas they continue to run this under the children's label Johnny DC.

Sorry but this is NOT a child friendly issue.

This issue would have been a solid five if not for Batman suffering an attack like that.

It was an unnecessary plot twist.

Perhaps you'll think I am being harsh or overreacting but this is no different from a sexual assault and considering Identity Crisis the children's editor here has shown poor judgement featuring it.

4Art - 4: The art remains a strong plus point and was again highly enjoyable though I would have loved to see more of the fight between Spectre, Superman, Diana and J'onn. It was over WAY too quickly!

4Cover Art - 4: The cover is dynamic and attention grabbing... loved it, especially Batman!

I loved it except for one fact: Hawkgirl isn't Hawkgirl anymore. She's Shayera. Especially inside she is depicted in her season 2/3 uniform. Don't insult the reader.



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Mild Mannered Reviews

2007

Note: Month dates are from the issue covers, not the actual date when the comic went on sale.

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