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| [ TAKE THEE TO THY BARGAINS ] |
To QUOTE Henry David
Thoreau: 'We are always paid for our
suspicion by finding what we suspect'.
THE STORY:
In this story, entitled 'The Haunted Seas', John and the gang
go in search for their missing team-mate, Boston Brand, only to inadvertently
stumble across a certain deceased 'Sea King' accompanied by his ancient
minions. Furthermore, to bookend this tale, their is this whole sub-plot
involving Blight, the Phantom Stranger, plus some kid called Thirteen, which is
a right cock up I can tell you. Ha!
Overall I'd say this installment of 'Justice League Dark' was
a fairly good read. As always, the stand-out for me would have to be Mikel Janin's amazing artwork. In my eyes everything he draws just leaps off of the page due to his very
stylish and expressive characterizations.
Moreover, I have to complement J. M. DeMatteis story telling
ability too. Despite some of it being somewhat hit or miss for me -- which is a
point I'll touch upon later -- in general he knows all to well how to imbue his
characters with real attitudes and real sensibilities, whilst telling a tale
that was rather progressive by default.
Oh! And as for the tale in itself, well, I did enjoy certain
aspects about that I suppose. Like the frigidly team-dynamics for instance, plus
how Aquaman and Boston were...
oh... no... I'm not giving that one away. Next section please!
THE BAD:
My biggest problem with this issue -- and for that matter,
the last one as well -- would have to be how it was paced very-very slowly
compared to what it actually achieved throughout its telling. Now don't get me
wrong, if you've read what I've said up above, you know I got right kick out of reading
this yarn. However, in the same breath, all it did was nudge the story along a
bit in the right direction, whilst shedding a lot of unneeded and lengthy dialogue
which had absolutely nothing to do with the larger story-line.
Take that scene where John needed to confirm if he saw Boston
for example. In a couple of pages all we got were a couple of panels of Pandora
blinking, and Night Nurse taking a sample of John's blood, to confirm something
we all knew never needed confirming in the first place.
THE MUSIC:
In 1995 the R&B trio, named 'TLC', relinquished me of my
puberty by singing a great song entitled, 'Don't Go Chasing Waterfalls'. Today,
though, I'm going to relinquish you of your purity, dear readers, by presenting
you with this rather jovial and alliterative comparison. Please enjoy.
Haven't you ever noticed how versatile seaweed truly is? Not
only can you eat it, wear it as a make-shift wig, and dry it out for ornamental
purposes. But in addition to this, this plant-like algae has the ability to
meld into the ether, just like the dead Aquaman did during this said-same
adventure.
THE CONCLUSION:
To be complexly honest with you, dear reader, it was rather
difficult for me to write this review without giving away any spoilers in the
process. You see, I'm not a big fan of spoilers myself, and I wouldn't want to
spoil anyone's enjoyment of a book by telling them something they
shouldn't have known beforehand.
Having said that, though, how else can I write about an
adventure without telling you a bit about it too? Oh! Wait a minute! I know
what I can do. I can present you with a parable relating to how this tale ends!
That might work.
'A man goes in search
for some missing treasure only to figure out that his gain is lost within a sea
of troubles. However, instead of him confronting his dilemma head on, the man then
questions the nature of his gain by sealing it within a sea of troubles'.
Hmmm. I'm not too sure about that parable really. Although
it does sound rather nice if you say it out loud and in a pious accent! Go on.
You give it a try. And if anyone overhears you, and thinks you're a nutter, you
tell them some English idiot told you it was a way of un-spoiling a spoiler.
Nuff said.
JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #26
Reviewed by David Andrews
on
January 20, 2014
Rating:
Reviewed by David Andrews
on
January 20, 2014
Rating:
