Letters to JLA: The Presence

[Admin]

Please let us know what you think!

[Mr Clown]

Solid issue, not quite as fubared as what I would have tried, but a unique story nonetheless. Your handling of the characters shows a borderline homo erotic love of the characters you get to handle, and an unseen, unimportant enemy that progresses the storyline makes it all the more entertaining. Very Garth Ennis, kudos my British friend! KUDOS!!!

One more thing, my hangover in the morning will fail to destroy the enjoyment I had from reading this story, and I will not even need a couple of beers to be able to read this entertaining piece of literature again! That is the greatest praise that is the least nonsensisble I can provide at the moment...

[goldk]

I enjoyed this story, most of all the character interaction. I'm sure the mysterious presence will be back! I cringed at the line about flashes legs healing.....ouch. Wondered why this was an elseworlds piece though. Could have stood alone as a single story, at some point in the regular JLA title I thought, not to break up the current run, but maybe as a fill-in if needed, but glad I got to read it now rather than later. [subliminal]ACTION [/subliminal]packed superhero [subliminal]ACTION[/subliminal] as always!

[lissilambe]

Charlie asked me to read and review this issue, so as a favor to him, I will.

The overall story was okay. The opening scenes were very effective, building a nice atmosphere of mystery and lurking menace. The character interactions were enjoyable, it was definitely fun to see how the various figures bounced off each other. The possession angle was interesting, though nothing all that original, but it helped to give the menace a physical threat.

But once the foundations were laid, the rest of the story seemed to fall flat. I feel the menace never gets fleshed out enough, and lacks a real threat. In the end, it kind of evaporates like a straw man, and I get no real sense of danger from the Presence once the opening scenes are done.

The Leaguers dueling with various possessed members was okay to start. But the Aquaman-Superman conflict actually killed my interest in the story. Yes, yes, yes: they were in water, which is Aquaman's element. But Arthur has never shown this level of prowess even in the oceans. Yes, Superman was possessed and not working at full ability. The problem for me lies in Aquaman overpowering Superman. Outsmarting, outmaneuvering, using brain and his advantages over Superman's raw brawn? Sure! Absolutely. That's where Arthur's power in the oceans lies...not in being a water-based Hulk with no upper level strength in the oceans, but being in his element and using that against Superman. Instead, he beats Superman up. And to make it worse, he acts like a snotty juvenile, gloating over beating Superman up, and showing no concerns over the fact that his friend and team-mate might be lost to him if they can't drive this possession away. Just ruined the story for me.

The ending happened. I really feel that's pretty much it. The ending happened, and the bad guy went away. I got no sense of accomplishment, which comes from getting a solid feel for the menace and its abilities/goals/etc. So the story ended. And that's that.

Solid opening, good characterization, a badly-scripted jobbing for Clark, and a flat end. Good writing throughout, as we expect from Charlie, that's for sure. And the illustrations were great to have throughout the story, that's for sure. Good work there.

Take care
Don

[arcalian]

This reminded me of a cross between the cartoon JL and Grant Morrison's run, in all the best ways.

People sometimes forget that Aquaman can compete with Superman in strength, in or out of water, and you showed that well here.

Liked the nods to the Outsiders, and also showing how dangerous the Leaguers' powers are in the hands of a hostile power.

The astral plane stuff works well for me, too.

[HoM]

mrclown said:

Solid issue, not quite as fubared as what I would have tried, but a unique story nonetheless. Your handling of the characters shows a borderline homo erotic love of the characters you get to handle, and an unseen, unimportant enemy that progresses the storyline makes it all the more entertaining. Very Garth Ennis, kudos my British friend! KUDOS!!!

You are a drunk and I hate you.

[HoM]

goldk said:

I enjoyed this story, most of all the character interaction. I'm sure the mysterious presence will be back! I cringed at the line about flashes legs healing.....ouch. Wondered why this was an elseworlds piece though. Could have stood alone as a single story, at some point in the regular JLA title I thought, not to break up the current run, but maybe as a fill-in if needed, but glad I got to read it now rather than later. [subliminal]ACTION [/subliminal]packed superhero [subliminal]ACTION[/subliminal] as always!

Thank you. I love writing the big guns, and I'm practicing writing with an ensemble. One day, I will realize my dream of writing JL! And I don't think there would be a possibility for me to write a "fill-in" where Don is involved! Guy's a machine! He's got the book so tightly plotted that it would be heinous for me to even suggest "lending a hand" as it were!

Oh, yes, read JUSTICE LEAGUE from the get-go, 'tis an amazing ride!

Also, read Action Comics... Because for some reason I feel the need to mention that too, and I don't know why



Umm, when Wonder Woman #22 comes out, read that too.

Because I'm writing it and it's awesome.

[HoM]

lissilambe said:

Charlie asked me to read and review this issue, so as a favor to him, I will.

The overall story was okay. The opening scenes were very effective, building a nice atmosphere of mystery and lurking menace. The character interactions were enjoyable, it was definitely fun to see how the various figures bounced off each other. The possession angle was interesting, though nothing all that original, but it helped to give the menace a physical threat.

But once the foundations were laid, the rest of the story seemed to fall flat. I feel the menace never gets fleshed out enough, and lacks a real threat. In the end, it kind of evaporates like a straw man, and I get no real sense of danger from the Presence once the opening scenes are done.

The Leaguers dueling with various possessed members was okay to start. But the Aquaman-Superman conflict actually killed my interest in the story. Yes, yes, yes: they were in water, which is Aquaman's element. But Arthur has never shown this level of prowess even in the oceans. Yes, Superman was possessed and not working at full ability. The problem for me lies in Aquaman overpowering Superman. Outsmarting, outmaneuvering, using brain and his advantages over Superman's raw brawn? Sure! Absolutely. That's where Arthur's power in the oceans lies...not in being a water-based Hulk with no upper level strength in the oceans, but being in his element and using that against Superman. Instead, he beats Superman up. And to make it worse, he acts like a snotty juvenile, gloating over beating Superman up, and showing no concerns over the fact that his friend and team-mate might be lost to him if they can't drive this possession away. Just ruined the story for me.

The ending happened. I really feel that's pretty much it. The ending happened, and the bad guy went away. I got no sense of accomplishment, which comes from getting a solid feel for the menace and its abilities/goals/etc. So the story ended. And that's that.

Solid opening, good characterization, a badly-scripted jobbing for Clark, and a flat end. Good writing throughout, as we expect from Charlie, that's for sure. And the illustrations were great to have throughout the story, that's for sure. Good work there.

Take care
Don

You'll have to wait a--

Oh.

I see what you mean in hindsight, completely, totally, but I think I've got this really twisted vision of Aquaman in my head that I need to sort out before I try writing him again, heh.

Thanks for this Don, I appreciate it.

[HoM]

arcalian said:

This reminded me of a cross between the cartoon JL and Grant Morrison's run, in all the best ways.

High praise indeed, Jay! Thanks a lot.

arcalian said:

People sometimes forget that Aquaman can compete with Superman in strength, in or out of water, and you showed that well here.

Yeah, but taking into consideration what Don says, I think I tipped the scales unfairly, but God love Aquaman

arcalian said:

Liked the nods to the Outsiders, and also showing how dangerous the Leaguers' powers are in the hands of a hostile power.

Well, originally, this was written as a late-night-had-to-get-something-out-onto-paper-or-I'll-explode IN continuity one shot, about two months ago, just as Don's first issue was coming out, and it suited elseworlds better, so the Outsiders reference was much more NEW Outsiders, with much more leather/chaffing gags and pointy weapons quips.

I like Aquaman.

*sigh*

arcalian said:

The astral plane stuff works well for me, too.

Good.

I'm glad