Review by Frank Plowright
Truth & Justice is an anthology connected by use of superheroes (and John Constantine), with the title suggesting seven individual stories investigate one or other of the title themes. However, there’s a very loose interpretation on the part of the writers, with some embracing the possibilities and others turning in more standard adventures.
Brandon Easton’s Superman story, for instance, which harkens back to the 1970s in making good use of Clark Kent’s journalistic trade to present some truths about the arrests of Black Americans and why per capita such a high percentage are imprisoned. A monologuing villain explaining how events played out is a clumsy touch, but even then the thinking behind it is solid.
Artistically, Juni Ba stands out (sample page). His cartooning is imaginative, unrestrained,and constantly interesting. Rob Guillory on Red Robin’s long night of the soul is also good, but there’s a feeling of his trying to conform to DC’s style rather than letting go with his own. His character designs shown at the back are more appealing than those used in-story. Of the more figurative artists, ChrisCross shines on the opener starring Vixen, while Lalit Sharma’s pages provide a decorative Zatanna without ever descending into cheesecake like Maria Laura Sanapo’s Batwoman. It’s illustrating a rather unconvincing story from Grace Ellis about Batwoman on holiday investigating an urban legend.
Over most inclusions it’s either the art impressing more than the writing, as with Ba’s Robin story, or vice versa. Andrew Aydin makes the rookie mistake of making it necessary others rescue Robin in his own story and Jeff Trammell’s investigation of Red Robin’s insecurities has been seen before and the method of inducing them is unconvincing. While Geoffrey Thorne puts Vixen through her paces well, it’s Preeti Chhibber and Sharma’s Zatanna supplying the best combination of writing and art. Zatanna is placed in a similar situation to Red Robin, but the mysteries are more intriguing, and the changes of scenery more visually stimulating. There is the benefit of an opponent capable of shifting reality, mind.
So, as with all anthologies, it’s a mixed bunch, but despite the use of many creators relatively new to DC the quality level never dips below average, while the better material resonates.
