The Stop Button

Who is Mikel Janin and why isn’t he on a better book?

Janin is an exquisite artist. He brings a sense of realism to his figures and settings… and the magical nonsense in Justice League Dark. He’s not an inappropriate artist for the comic at all, he just should be on something much, much better.

Because, so far, Peter Milligan isn’t doing anything interesting with Dark. Some of the problem is the plotting. He’s going to introduce the reader to the whole concept—along with the regular Justice League failing. Now, as far as I know, this comic is the first appearance of the “modern” Justice League.

And Cyborg is apparently Robocop.

Milligan doesn’t even get the cast together, which is a peculiar move. He mostly narrates from Madame Xanadu’s point of view. Either he’s not doing a good job writing it or she’s boring.

Regardless, Janin makes Dark worthwhile.

CREDITS

In the Dark, Part One: Imaginary Women; writer, Peter Milligan; artist, Mikel Janin; colorist, Ulises Arreola; letterer, Rob Leigh; editors, Rex Ogle and Eddie Berganza; publisher, DC Comics.