cover image Justice League 3000, Vol. 1: Yesterday Lives

Justice League 3000, Vol. 1: Yesterday Lives

Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis and Howard Porter. DC, $16.99 trade paper (176p) ISBN 978-1-4012-5046-1

In a dystopian 31st century, five insanely powerful supervillains have destroyed not only Earth but also entire galaxies. With no heroes left to fight them, super-genius twins Teri and Terry "resurrect" the long-dead Justice League %E2%80%94Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, and the Flash. However, they have not come back as the heroes the world once knew, and they struggle to come together as a team. Veteran writers Giffen and DeMatteis get a lot of fun mileage out of their interpretations of the damaged heroes who have not retained all their memories, personalities, or powers. Some of the best moments come from the twisting of these beloved characters into new shapes, reminding readers what makes them so valuable%E2%80%94and it's not superpowers. However, the overly ambitious story ultimately robs its premise of emotional impact and believability. Porter's character designs and general world-building are strong, but it's all too much. Great ideas get buried in page after loud page that allow no room for the eye to rest, and the relentlessness becomes overwhelming. (Oct.)