Now that the second wave of DC’s Rebirth initiative is underway, it’s only fitting that a team-up book kick things off in the form of the new Justice League of America series. Written by rising star Steve Orlando and illustrated by the incomparable Ivan Reis, this title sells itself by collecting one of the most eclectic lineups to ever make up a super group: Batman, Lobo, Black Canary, Vixen, the Atom, the Ray and Killer Frost.
Five of those characters are probably only there because some iteration currently occupies The CW’s Arrowverse (lest you forget the Ray is being granted a CW Seed animated web series), but their inclusion makes it no less exciting. After all, each are still markedly different from their small screen counterparts, bringing their own strengths and weaknesses along. If anything, this series is about second chances.
In a recent video interview with DC All Access co-host Tiffany Smith, Orlando discussed just that as he teased what to expect from the newly released one-shot and the new series as a whole. It comes as no surprise that his ideas seem rather big – or small, when you take into account that he makes mention of the microverse. Knowing that Ray Palmer, the original Atom, is currently missing, it should be interesting to see if Ryan Choi and his cohorts go all Magic Schoolbus in the near future in search of his mentor.
Before wrapping up, Orlando ominously states that we’re going “somewhere we’ve never been with the Justice League before.” Sure, all writers can spew forth hyperbole such as that, but my gut says to take him at his word. When factoring in the aforementioned characters to be featured, there’s so much uncharted territory to be explored here.
Justice League of America: Rebirth #1 is now available in comic shops. For more, be sure to check out our review.