JLA #6

By Bryan Hitch and Alex Sinclair

For issue #6 of JLA we get Bryan Hitch back on art and writing. This is basically Hitch’s baby all around, so not having him in either capacity for just an issue, as was the case last month, is a big deal. While things weren’t bad with Kindt and Williams, there is a level of consistency with Hitch back.

As stated above, Bryan Hitch is back to writing this series. Issue #6 feels almost like two different halves. The first half of the book is very art heavy with little dialogue. The second half is a bit wordier. The most interesting part of the issue involves Aquaman battling followers of Rao. What works with this segment is the level of confusion. Arthur is not entirely sure what is going on, and he’s not waiting around to find out. His answer is to use his strength. Hitch writes Arthur in character. His trademark temper is one of the things that make this segment stand out. Although hardly any words are spoken, the showdown between Superman and Rao is also entertaining. Hitch understands that sometimes words are not needed to prove a point. If there is one gripe about the issue, it’s that the ending is a little weak. The Green Lantern storyline has been sub-par in this series and that is where we end this issue. This section of the book is the least entertaining because there is no real danger or conflict. As the issue ends, you’re kind of left with a “meh” feeling.

Hitch on art means many things. We’re going to get a lot of details, lots of splash pages, and some of the best art you’ll see on the rack. A display of Hitch’s talent can be seen in the pages where Superman battles Rao. We rely on the art to tell the story here, and Hitch pulls it off. A simple glare from Clark to Rao should tell us all what we need to know about this section. Hitch draws a bunch of Rao followers all over these pages. No matter how far away or how many we get, the detail never goes away. There is a huge explosion that encompasses two pages. This is probably the best explosion you’ll ever see. Debris flying everywhere, great colors by Alex Sinclair and a great scale used for the blast. Alex Sinclair’s colors complement what Hitch does with his pencils. Sinclair offers a sense of realism to what Hitch lays down. These characters almost jump off the page at you.

Bryan Hitch is back and all is well with the JLA. The writing is good for the most part, and the art is amazing. Alex Sinclair gets a lot of credit here as well. The rapport that he has with Hitch is really what makes this a different kind of DC book.