Tuesday, June 03, 2014

An Attitude Adjustment For Grid Made Me Feel Much Better

Justice League 29
DC Comics

Geoff Johns, writer
Doug Mahnke and Keith Champagne, artists




A few weeks ago, I was lamenting the new designs that went into the New 52 versions of the Metal Men as they appeared in Justice League No. 28. Their new designs were clunky and over-rendered. Despite having malleable, shape-shifting bodies, when standing, each one is drawn with an unnecessary number of grills and fenders and ornamental attachments that seem to serve no real purpose other than to give future artists headaches.

I didn't really have an issue with the story itself, just the designs of the Metal Men.

This issue gives Gold, Iron, Lead, Mercury, Tin and Platinum even more chances to shine — story-wise — as they join Cyborg in taking down Grid, Cyborg's now-sentient former armor. The Metal Men don't spend much time standing around this issue, so there were fewer chances for the artwork to bother me and more chances for the robotic heroes' sense of fun and adventure to shine through in the battle. I definitely like Geoff Johns' take on these characters. If this can be how the team is written going forward, sign me up for more of them.

Just please give them a simpler re-tooling in the chassis department!

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