JUSTICE LEAGUE #75/ Script by JOSHUA WILLIAMSON/ Pencils by RAFA SANDOVAL/ Inks by JORDI TARAGONA/ Colors by MATT HERMS/ Letters by JOSH REED/ Published by DC COMICS

Let’s not waste words. Justice League #75 is a cash-grab issue. This story exists only to set up DC Comics’ next big event in which Nothing Will Ever Be The Same Again! (And THIS Time We Mean it!) Yet somehow, despite being predictable, it is still readable, if barely.

For those who somehow missed the much-ballyhooed announcement, this book was promoted as being centered around the Death of the Justice League. It does not disappoint in that regard and delivers exactly what it promises. I’m not bothering with a spoiler warning because the cover reads DEATH OF THE JUSTICE LEAGUE in large block letters.

The story is fairly simple stuff, picking up from the end of the Justice League Incarnate event book. All the major heroes of Earth-Prime are gathered to fight the Great Darkness and it does not go well for them. Joshua Williamson’s script does shockingly little to explain the story so far or little details like why Green Lantern John Stewart is a living conduit of energy. This point will likely confuse everyone who hasn’t been reading Green Lantern. There’s very little characterization, but that’s okay because we won’t be spending much time with these characters.

The artwork is likewise competent but hardly thrilling. Rafa Sandoval does their best to try and make these proceedings exciting. Unfortunately, there’s only so much they can do with a comic that largely consists of the heroes standing around and explaining things to one another. What little action there is seems claustrophobic thanks to the small panel layouts. The colors are similarly restrained and uninspired.

Justice League #75 may be the most anticlimactic first issue of any new creative team in recent memory. This is largely because this issue has nothing to say beyond “Read this book that is coming out later.” The sad thing is that despite its many flaws, I still found this more enjoyable than any issue of Brian Michael Bendis’ Justice League.