JLA Classifed: New Maps of Hell
By Warren Ellis (W) and Jackson Guice (A)
Cover price $12.99. Published by DC Comics. Originally printed as JLA Classified 10-15.
Plot: The Justice League goes to a hell dimension to prevent the Martian god of terror from annihilating humanity.
Strengths: Don’t let the awful CG cover art fool you, the art in this trade is amazing. You may know Jackson Guice by the name he draws Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis under- Butch Guice. It’s not normally how you see the Justice League drawn, and it’s a nice breath of fresh air. He’s got a great style similar to guys like Steve Epting or Michael Lark, with realistic body proportions and lots of detailed line work, especially in the faces. His faces are always full of emotion, and if the cool armor he draws Green Lantern in the entire time isn’t cool enough, check out the panel of Batman’s horribly scarred back at the start of the story. Guice draws Batman about as well as anyone else ever has.
The classic line-up of the Justice League is here in full force, minus Aquaman, who I’m pretty sure was dead at the point in continuity when this story is set. Instead, Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern and Martian Manhunter utilized Oracle as their seventh member. While the other members are fighting their way out of their own personal hells, Oracle is frantically pooling all her resources to ensure that once they do, they’ll be able to make it back to Earth. It’s always nice to see Barbara Gordon as a major player in the DC Universe.
Weaknesses: This is a really by-the-book JLA story: Various seemingly unrelated threats occur around the world simultaneously. The heroes notice a connection and team up to face the threat. The team is split up and each hero is forced to overcome an obstacle by themselves. The team reunites and the heroes combine their powers in a way the villain never could have anticipated and are victorious. Nothing groundbreaking here.
There’s a really unnecessary scene of the League confronting Lex Luthor in the Oval Office about his connection to the threat. It seems to be there just to as an excuse to have a shot of the Justice League marching up the White House lawn. Granted, it’s a cool shot, but it really takes you out of the story. Luthor in reality is only marginally responsible for the threat, and it’s completely by accident. But the meeting leaves you with a feeling like it’s going to lead to another encounter between the JLA and Luthor. When it doesn’t, it’s quite disappointing.
Grade: C. It’s an above-average JLA story, but New Maps of Hell doesn’t add anything new to the legacy of the Justice League. Though for a wholly unimportant story, it’s quite compelling.