JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #32

( SLAP ON THOSE SALES , SUCKA)
Come close, my friend. No. Closer still. So close that you can smell the stench of stale ozone wafting off of your computer screen. There. That's better. Now you're close enough to smack your head repetitively upon your monitor, before you then check out this gala tale created by J. M. DeMatteis, Andres Guinaldo, Mikel Janin, and Published by: DC Comics, in July, 2014.

To QUOTE Conor Oberst: 'If you think about the concept of reincarnation, it's essentially uploading yourself and your spirit into a new form, a new hard drive as it were'.
THE STORY: I've learned the following four facts about the numerous members of the Justice League Dark after reading this issue entitled, 'Between'. (1) Asa can be a right b*tch when she's possessing Zatanna's body. (2) On occasion John can be a bit of a clutz, like when he accidentally transports his team-mates to the otherworldly dimension called, 'The In-Between'. (3) Deadman and Swamp Thing make for good cannon fodder. And (4) Zatanna is great at saving everyone's ass, as well as kissing wannabe-saviors who are dead one minute, and alive the next.

THE GOOD: From my point of view this was a fairly fine installment of JLD to follow. Despite not being a big fan of the overall story-line, I did like the sight of Andres' great artwork, plus here and there, there were a couple of moments where each of the characters were given some time to shine.
Granted, Swamp Thing and Deadman did play possum for the majority of this tale. Yet in the same breath I did enjoy those scenes where Zee took charge of the team, as well as the way John acted as some sort of surrogate second-in-command -- God bless his soul.
As for Night Nurse's role on the other hand, well, I'm not quite sure about her if truth be told. Whilst a part of me likes her as a character and how she interacts with this team, another part of me felt that her 'essence' was very un-associative within the confines of this plot.
It was as though she was one thing, one minute, and something else the next.
THE BAD: Without giving too much away I have to say there were two aspects about this adventure I wasn't too fond of. Firstly, I've never been a big lover of story-lines where the enemy at the start of the book is the savior at the end of it, especially when the characters progression is too abrupt and sudden in tone. And secondly, why kill off a character one minute, only to then bring them back a page or so later? That doesn't make any sense to me. Because ultimately it makes their 'sacrifice' feel hollow in retrospect.
THE MUSIC: John uttered a phrase during this comic book which has compelled me to musically pair it up with what he actually said. So for fairly obvious reasons, folks, please stand back and allow me to present to you the Elvis Presley classic, 'It's Now Or Never'.

THE COMPARISON: On a conceptual level I'd say this adventure reminded me of a group of kids playing in a playground. Some of them know what they're doing. Some of them don't. And sooner or later you know that one of them is bound to get injured. Ha!
THE CONCLUSION: Last week I was lucky enough to have a little chat with Mikel Janin, who regretfully informed me that he has left this title and is starting up the art chores over on the new 'Grayson' ongoing series. But don't fret, dear reader, because fortunately enough it looks like his replacement, Andres Guinaldo, isn't doing such a bad job at filling his shoes.
However, just to give Andres a prod in the right direction, I thought it would be a good idea to tell him who I think each of the characters should look like. Soooo....

• John Constantine -- When Alan Moore created Johnny back in the day, he said that he based the look of him on Sting: who was then the lead singer from the 80's punk-rock band, 'The Police'.
• Zatanna -- In my eyes Zee is a mixture of motherly love and mystical sassiness. And to me, Dita Von Teese has all of these attributes in spades.
• Swamp Thing -- A nice garden bush.
• Boston Brand -- Now whenever I hear Boston talk or messing about, I can't help but get the feeling he's being played by Mr Cheesiness himself, Bruce Campbell.
• Night Nurse -- I'd say Britney Spears could do Night Nurse some justice. Especially if she ever puts on one of those kinky outfits she wears.
• The House Of Mystery -- Or the way I see it, the love child of the Amytyville House and the Munsters House.

Nuff said.