Young Justice #17: Cleanin’ Up The Town

This is one of those issues that kind of steps outside the regular ongoing story to let the characters reset and breathe a little bit, and I really enjoyed it. I’ve been reading Young Justice for a while now and I’m getting really strong signs that something big is coming for the team, so this was a nice issue “off” before we dive headlong into things that could get really heavy and thick. It’s a follow up to the “Metropolis Doom” story in Action Comics, where YJ teamed up with the JLA to face down Lex and the Legion of Doom. Bendis & Walker lay down some great character moments for the three founding members of YJ, but I really wish that sometimes they’d touch more on the supporting characters in the series, it’s not something that would make me jump off the title, but it would be nice to know a little more about Jinny Hex, Teen Lantern, and the others. Overall, this is a great issue, and it’s actually a great jumping-on point if you were looking to get on board with this series (which I highly recommend). In my opinion, one of the best parts of this issue is that it takes place in the middle of the DC Universe. Not geographically, but spiritually. These characters are in the same universe, and they’re bound to run into each other on occasion and this is one of those times. It’s great to see Tim Drake interacting with Batman on the battlefield, Kid Flash with Barry, etc. I really enjoyable story that’s gonna hook you within the first two pages.

Scott Godlewski really brings it this issue, just like he does every month. The month, there’s a pretty big amount of double-page spreads. Normally, I could take or leave them, but this issue they work great because there’s a reason for it. It’s not just done to try something fancy or highbrow. Godlewski uses some really great camera angles to get stuff across here, the panels are not the usual straight-on medium shots. In the last few issues, he’s really started showing off what a great artist he can be, and I’d put money down on him being a major player in the next two years, but for now, I’m really glad we have him on this book.