Justice League Dark #11: The Books of 'Meh'-Gic!

Justice League Dark #11
"The Black Room: Part Three"
Writer: Jeff Lemire
Artist: Mikel Janin
July 25, 2012
DC

Midway through issue, it occurred to me that I no longer care about Justice League Dark. That's a pretty bad sign if a comic book can't hold my attention for just 20 pages of story, but I've been experiencing a growing boredom and frustration with this series ever since its botched crossover with I, Vampire.

In 11 issues, I don't feel like I've learned anything new about any of the characters featured in this comic, some of which I don't think had any previous appearances in the pre-Flashpoint universe (Dr. Mist, Black Orchid), and others who I know have established histories in the DCU have barely been explained (Felix Faust). I know this is a team book, but I expect more in-depth character work than this from the writer of Sweet Tooth and Animal Man. 

In this issue, Justice League Dark face off against Felix Faust and his Demons Three, flashy fight sequences ensue, Xanadu goes off to find Tim Hunter (because a handful of DC readers actually remember The Books of Magic), and Constantine gets double-crossed (surprise!).

Mikel Janin's art on this title has been the one consistently great thing about it, and this issue does not disappoint. I loved how he handled the fight between Faust and JL Dark, and his handling of the conversation between Xanadu and Tim was a nice contrast to the magical battle that fills the rest of the issue.

It was my hope that Jeff Lemire would have turned this book around from the mess that Peter Milligan left, and he has, sort of. Justice League Dark #11 is a by-the-numbers superhero comic with "magic" substituted for superpowers, and that might be what you're looking for, but I'm tired of it.