The one that started it all...

[lego_joker]

Every interest, every hobby, every fetish has to start somewhere. And it was such a quiet, innocent day in a bookstore when I came across a comic that I would only later identify as Justice League Adventures #17.

Now, back then, superhero comics were pretty much the last thing on my mind. I recognized most of the really iconic heroes - mostly in their Timmverse incarnations - but I was primarily invested in Tintin comics, along with a stipend of Chinese-translated Disney comics that my grandparents would mail over from The People's Republic every few months. There was something about this one though, that just made me want to pick it up.

Fast-forward ten years, and I'm now neck-deep in a den of debauchery involving (amongst other things) homicidal clowns, mute ninja Batgirls, and X-rated fanfiction about people who insist on putting their underwear outside of their pants. And you know what? I wouldn't have it any other way.

In retrospect, this particular comic isn't really much of a keeper - the story's kinda goofy and shallow, especially in comparison with the kind of tie-in comics that previous DCAU properties, like Batman: The Animated Series, got. General consensus around the 'net also seems to be that the quality of the DCAU tie-in comics slowly went down the toilet as time went on, with the ones for Justice League Unlimited truly hitting the bottom of the barrel. Anyone who cares to comment on this part, please do!

But enough about that. On with this tribute the the one that started it all.

(Note: 7 pages from a 22-page story.)




Our story begins over at a racetrack, where the five male members of the Justice League are fighting a group known as the "Speedway Bandits", who are making off with the prize money for the latest grand prix. Naturally, said bandits happen to be making their getaway in hijacked racecars. One member manages to slip outside the racetrack, with the Flash in hot pursuit, while Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, and the Martian Manhunter stay behind to deal with the other four bandits:



The situation soon goes from bad to worse, as Flash wound up being distracted by the bandits' leader, letting her give him the slip.



(Tangent: Can anyone identify who the blond reporter is? I recognize the other two as Snapper Carr and Summer Gleeson, but is the blond in the first screen a previously-established DCAU character? She seems kinda familiar.)



Yeah... I imagine that most of you who watched (and liked) Aresia's original story on the Justice League cartoon are probably cringing by now. This Aresia has none of the cold-hearted yet tragic menace; heck, between her gloating and smarmy grins, she seems to have more in common with Medulla of Super Friends! The whole "genocide of everything with a Y-chromosome" thing seems to dropped entirely, with her new goal appearing to be just plain taking over the world. Okey-dokey, then.

(On the other hand: femdom lovers, feel free to go nuts.)



Wally soon gets found out by Aresia and her cronies, and gets himself blasted with the Equalizer as well. Confident that nothing can stand in her way now, Aresia sends out the mind-controlled Leaguers to steal her some more weapons. Wonder Woman and Hawkgirl try valiantly to stop their teammates, but since we're only halfway through the story, it only leads to a bunch of ho-hum action sequences where they soundly lose.



Oh, Wally. Best moment in the comic? I'm tempted to vote yes.

Anyhoo, Wally quickly whips off his disguise and confronts Aresia, just in time for Diana and Shayera to come crashing in as well. Another big action sequence ensues, with the obligatory "It doesn't have to be this way" speech from Wonder Woman.





Welp, that's that. A fun little romp into the realm of DCAU tie-in comics, which probably set off fetishes for more than a few adolescent readers.

And now for something completely different: would anyone be interested in me doing a "Casebook of Edward Nygma" series, wherein I analyze every depiction of the Riddler's five-year (in real time) PI career? If so, PM me, because there are quite a few things I would appreciate help on.

Cheers!

(Suggested tags: Kevin Hopps.)

Comments

[venatosapiens]

Lord, yes, I'd be interested in that. I've always thought the Riddler was at his most interesting as a jerky detective.

[qalchemist]

Motto!

I was really sad when he heel-turned again. I was kind of hoping he'd team up with Harley and make some sort of horrible ex-villain PI firm.

[mastermahan]

Heck yes! Riddler, private eye was an excellent use of the character, and one abandoned far too soon.

[silverhammerman]

I too would be interested in a Riddler as PI retrospective, I've always thought it was a cool concept but unfortunately it ended before I had started reading ongoing comics.

[dr_archeville]

I'd love to see that Riddler Retrospective!

[fungo_squiggly]

I kind of love how happy Aresia looks in that final panel.

"This is awesome! Not only are there no men here, but I've got a giant cell all to myself, with a window instead of bars and the world's biggest mattress! My fellow prisoners are SO jealous."

[beoweasel]

So Aresia has gone from trying to kill all the men in the world to just enslaving them?

I guess that's progress?

Also, I hated that episode.

[riddler13]

Please, do my retrospective. I'd love to hear your point of view. ;)