Black Hammer Justice League #1 // Review
Jeff Lemire and Michael Walsh deliver the perfect introductory issue into the Black Hammer universe for new readers. While retaining familiarity with the DC characters, this issue slowly allows the reader to be acquainted with both universes before they switch places with one another. Albeit not directly connected into the ongoing run on Lemire’s title, this first chapter serves more as a vehicle to introduce the large cast of characters.
Mirroring the first issue of each title, Lemire pits the Justice League within the same farm setting his own heroes once were while they are left to stop a Starro invasion back on Metropolis. Having no memory of what had transpired beforehand, both groups of heroes find themselves on new and strange worlds. As Batman continues to look for a way off of the farm, the rest of the Justice League try to make the best with what they are given.
A bit more toned down and less polished, akin to network cable versus HBO or Showtime quality, the characters are less abrasive than their counterparts from the main title. Some of the nuances are lost while trying to explain these unfamiliar characters to new readers over this first chapter. Characters such Barbalien and Golden Gail are merely odd caricatures of their former glory. While new readers find a way into the title, previous fans of the main series will find less to be excited about with this crossover seemingly having no effect on the ongoing universe as a whole.
Michael Walsh brings a new fun look at the DC heroes as well as Lemire’s own characters from Black Hammer. A stark contrast from Dean Ormston, Walsh delivers more of an animated and far less gritty feeling to both worlds. Presenting a new and welcoming look to these characters and their universes, new readers will have a more polished look to lull them into picking up the main title. Taking on not only pencils and inking, but Walsh also manages to color his own work in glorious splendor with each page.
While a massive win for Lemire and the potential growth for his title, the crossover has little to no reason for ongoing readers to pick it up outside of curiosity. As it stands currently, this miniseries has left little to no reason to believe it will be contained within actual canon for the Black Hammer universe. While still only the first issue, many components of the series are left uncharted as the majority of this chapter served to introduce new readers to the Black Hammer universe and ultimately could change from this first impression of the title.
