JLA/Avengers #3

Posted: Friday, December 5, 2003
By: Jason Cornwell

Writer: Kurt Busiek
Artist: George Pérez

Publisher: Marvel and DC

Plot:
As the Avengers and the JLA gather together for their annual get together we see both Captain America and Superman are bothered by the feeling that things aren't supposed to be like this. As the two heroes come to blows we see the truth if revealed, and both teams have to scramble to figure out not only what's happening to their respective worlds, but how they can save them from an insanely powerful being that is looking to destroy them both.

Comments:
This issue is about as much fun as one could hope for, as Kurt Busiek looks to be having a ball establishing the idea that not only are these two teams working alongside each other to deal with a fairly impressive crisis, but thanks to some messing about with the time streams of both universes, they now have a history of meetings. With this newly found long-standing relationship, we can get head straight to the fun moments of interaction and personality clashes without the necessity of the normally required introduction scenes. So we can have Hawkeye and Green Arrow going at it like a pair of tomcats in a bid to prove who's a better archer, or a very amusing little exchange between Guy Gardner and Moondragon. The issue also manages to draw upon elements of this new shared continuity to create a wide variety of fun looking previous encounters, as I loved to see a miniseries detailing those previous crossovers, as I loved to see these adventures, not to mention the interaction between these various characters in their past incarnations. Plus it manages to insert these new elements without tossing aside the key events that have made the respective universes so engaging, as there's a wonderful scene in the final pages where we see the JLA and the Avengers are given a look at the worlds they are looking to return to normal, and they are given pause as they are shown the tragedies that several of them have suffered over the years, and in some cases their own deaths.

As for the art, the cover to this issue alone is worth the price of admission, as George Pérez turns in a piece of work that DC or Marvel simply have to released as a poster. The interior art is also jam packed with visual delights as the story jumps all around the respective timelines of both universes, and as such not only are we treated to a wealth of characters, but we're also treated to the various costumes various characters have worn over the years. There's also some great shots that detail the unseen adventures that these two teams have shared, and the book is also filled with fun moments of interaction, like the one-page spread where both teams are enjoying the luau themed party. The devastation that the teams encounter on both worlds is also nicely done, with the shot of the shattered Daily Globe being particularly effective. The double-page shot of the two worlds being forced together is also nicely done.

Final Word:
For a comic fan who has been following the adventures of both these teams for over two decades, this issue is a wonderful mixture of the continuity of both teams, as well as a tantalizing preview of what might've been if Marvel and DC had made a crossover between their two big teams an annual event, much like the JSA/JLA meetings of old. In any event while there are moments when the plot might be a little old school for newer readers, and a little dependent on readers being up to speed on events that occurred years, and in some cases decades ago, frankly I applaud Kurt Busiek for including a wealth of scenes that reward readers like myself who have been with both books since the first attempt at this crossover was being bandied about. Plus I love the way this story bounces around the time-stream, and while I suspect this was done so that Kurt Busiek could insert Hal Jordan into the story, I love the fact that we were allowed to have a tour of the merged universe. In fact my only complaint about this issue is that Hawkeye wasn't in the final seven lineup on the Avengers side.