Hey guys. I am so sorry about my inactivity here for the past few months. It's been crazy for me since about November, and I honestly have not read very many comics besides keeping up with the monthly issues of Saga (my preeeeeciousssss). But, I did read this neat little book, so I'll give you the run down.
JLA: Pain of the Gods has a pretty good concept: take your world's greatest superheroes and show what it is like on the worst day of the job. It begins with Superman, who is shattered when he is unable to save the life of a rookie superhero who attempts to assist him in a fire rescue. From there, each issue shows a different member of the JLA dealing with some sort of ordeal and the resulting emotional trauma. In the end, each must realize that in their line of work, it is essential to rely on your teammates for more than just back up in a fight; they need to lean on one another during times of emotional turmoil as well. Because honestly, who else could really understand?
Like I said, I love when superhero comics go into more subtle story concepts like this. It's not about the fight, or saving the world from aliens, or stopping the mad scientist before the clock reaches 12. It's about the fact that, superhero or not, these are human beings (sorta) and they have human problems on a personal level. That being said, I think it could have been done a bit better. Perhaps if the story were a little slower paced. I generally liked the art, with the exception of how Wonder Woman is handled. They did their best to make her appears well muscled and strong (which I do really appreciate) but it wasn't done well, and the result makes her body appear grotesque and distorted. Note, I am not saying that women with muscles are grotesque, I am saying that the anatomy in this case was grotesque.
Overall, I'd probably give this book a C+. Great idea, mediocre execution. But, it isn't terribly long so I still think it is worth a read if you're bored.
