Justice, Inc. - The Avenger #1

   I came this close to not picking up this title.

   That's because the Dynamite adaptations of beloved pulp heroes  have been - mostly - very disappointing.

   But, at the last second, I picked up Justice, Inc. - The Avenger. It wasn't until I got home that I realized that it was written by Mark Waid. That was very comforting.

   The Avenger is Richard Benson, a man who is stricken by tragedy when he loses his wife and daughter - it leaves his face a frozen (but malleable) white mask, his hair bleached white.

   He dedicates his life to fighting against the kind of evil that took his family, and he builds an unusual team to help in his fight.

   If you didn't know any of that before picking up this issue, don't worry - Waid's story clearly identifies each character and sets up a strange and unearthly menace - a classic, horrific pulp monster / mystery.

   The art by Ronilson Freire is solid work, with good characterizations of the team members (while smoothing off some of the more stereotyped aspects of the originals).

   So far, this is the best of the pulp efforts I've seen to date - which is great, because The Avenger is one of the all-time great pulp heroes. He's long overdue for star treatment.

Grade: A-

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Justice, Inc. #4

   OK, I admit I had to look at the cover twice before I "got" it - the mobster in the front is actually the Avenger in disguise - a slap to the face has revealed his disguise. A surprisingly subtle cover by Alex Ross (who tends to go for the big and blustery instead) - but you should know that this scene appears nowhere inside the issue.

   Anyway, this comic features what seems to be an all-out battle between the three members of Justice, Inc. - Doc Savage, The Shadow and The Avenger - as they face two (or is it three?) of their deadliest opponents - John Sunlight, the Voodoo Master and a mysterious and unidentified third member. (if any)

   But it really isn't much of a fight - it's more of a flight - which is pretty disappointing, since these three heroes should be incredibly formidable (even if they're at the beginning of their respective careers).

   The story by Michael Uslan is all set-up, as it lays the groundwork for the final confrontation. The artwork by Giovanni Timpano is quite good, with strong character designs and clever layouts.

   I'm a mark for these pulp heroes, so I give this series lots of leeway for the occasional issue that's a bit off - but here's hoping the next issue is more on-target for this unlikely trio.

Grade: B

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Justice, Inc. #2

   This mash-up of three of the most famous pulp heroes is a bit of an odd mix.

   The story is still being sorted out, but Justice, Inc. features a (somewhat) new origin for The Avenger - one that incorporates The Shadow and Doc Savage.

   We also get some glimpses into the origins of The Shadow, a meeting between Docs past and present, and a quick meeting between a powerful enemy - and Howard Hughes.

   Writer Michael Uslan seems to be having fun working with these icons, and artist Giovanni Timpano is doing a good job capturing the time period (the '30s) and the likenesses of the heroes. His work only suffers in comparison to the amazing cover by Alex Ross.

   Two issues in, and we're still getting the team together - but so far, it's been entertaining to see these different heroes back in action.

Grade: B+

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Justice Inc. #1 (of 6)

   I've been a fan of pulp heroes since I first picked up one of the Bantam paperback reprints of Doc Savage in the early '70s.

   I also got hooked on The Shadow and The Avenger in the same way.

   It was only natural that their adventures should migrate over to comic books - after all, their exploits inspired more than a few of today's most popular heroes.

   But there's always a big problem with bringing those heroes to life in modern-day comics. Do you try to bring them up to the modern-day world - always problematic, because you have to explain with they're still young and vibrant - or do you set the stories in the 1930s and '40s, when they originally appeared?

   Which is to say, will modern audiences accept a story set 60 or 70 years ago?

   For Justice Inc - which is, I believe, the first-ever team-up of all three of these characters - writer Michael Uslan is taking the Solomon approach by using both periods.

   The story begins in the modern era, as Doc Savage (older but somehow still vital despite being, what, 100 years old) embarks on a remarkable experiment in time travel. He succeeds (to a certain degree), and the story reaches back to the '30s, when his career - and that of The Shadow - are just starting.

   The story also includes Richard (The Avenger) Benson, but it's set before the terrible event that changes his life - and his mission - forever.

   The whole thing is a bit confusing in places, but I trust Uslan knows where he's going.

   The art is by Giovanni Timpano, and it's solid stuff, with good depictions of each character. It only suffers when held next to the extraordinary cover by Alex Ross, with iconic depictions of each hero.

   Quibbles aside, it's great to see these characters gathered together and given a worthy opponent. I'm in for the run!

Grade: B+

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