Generation Lost #22 discussion

Boosterrific · **Posted:** March 22nd, 2011, 7:19 pm

This thread is for discussion of JUSTICE LEAGUE: GENERATION LOST #22, scheduled for release March 23, 2011.

Mr. Chaos · **Joined:** January 10th, 2011, 11:36 pm **Posts:** 105

And here...we...go!

-Beetle narrates, stating that he doesn't know why the JLI is freaking out...he remembers fighing Max, them looking shocked...and then he hears them all scream "You're Alive!"

-Cap is holding Beetle up in the air as the team cries out their joy, with Gavril accidently slipping into Russian. Skeets runs a check...Jaime is THE SAME AS HE WAS BEFORE HE WAS SHOT (so, no bonded with the armor, to adverse affects). Beetle screams to be set down and checks with his armor, which reveals that the moment the bullet (designed only to harm his armor...so much for Max claiming he didn't want to hurt him, huh?) broke through the armor, the scarab shattered it. The bullet did fracture his skull, so to save him the scarab healed him and put him in stasis...that's why he appeared dead.

-Jamie reveals that he hacked Max's files and that all of this, every step, was to get the JLI to disband Checkmate so Max could take over and begin his master plan. He has built an Android...a powerful one.

-Cue the return of Power Girl and Bruce Wayne/Batman. Batman knows everything thanks to the white lantern...and he is there to help (and the team is thrilled to have him). Jamie reveals that Max is after Wonder Woman...to bad only Bruce, Booster, Ice, Fire, Atom and Max remember her. Gavril uses a new power, a holographic disguise, to create a composite very of Diana (no pants, but she does have a weird strip-bra/corset thing...hard to describe, but again, its only a composite of all her costumes). Ice also claims Diana looks like a taller Angelina Jolie.

-Cut to New York, where Booster and Bruce approach Diana, trying to convince her to come with them, but she doesn't want to, she doesn't run from a fight.

-Now, what was Max up to? Well we keep cutting to him in a secret lab, about to hook himself up to a strange gizmo...when he turns it on, it pretty much makes him into the new Brother Eye, kinda. Mainly, it reactivates all the Omacs that are left, and they come screaming down on the JLI.

We still don't know who will be the final member of the team that was hyped in the solits. Unless it is Diana, which seems weird.

Erin · **Joined:** January 10th, 2011, 6:58 pm **Posts:** 307

Maybe the third member couldn't come due to another storyline going on? Like if Winick planned this ahead of time but they said he couldn't use J'onn or Guy because of the books their currently in? I liked the issue but it came off like Bruce was taking command. I mean they just learned that Max was playing them, then everyone was relieved to see Batman. I know Winick already talked about this but it just read like Booster lost the leadership role.

Boosterrific · **Posted:** March 23rd, 2011, 11:25 pm

I'm sure that the mystery third JLI member has been planned as Wonder Woman for quite some time, especially given the hints of her significance during the second act.

I think Wonder Woman only marginally qualifies as a JLI member, though. Despite a brief tease at the creation of JL Europe, she didn't really join the team until after Superman had left it, and I don't think anybody really considers Superman a member of the JLI.

Morgenstern · **Joined:** January 10th, 2011, 12:45 am **Posts:** 564

Am I the only one who is somewhat disappointed from this issue?

Batman shows up and everybody is in awe. Just last issue we had everyone telling Booster that they want him in command, but just as soon as Bruce shows (it was Bruce, right?) he takes charge and everyone is happy about it. The finale should belong to the JLI and not to those who ignored them and joined the series in the last minute.

Boosterrific · **Posted:** March 24th, 2011, 5:08 am

I don't think Booster and the the gang are done just yet. We're at the story's climax, and it's about time that the JLI got some big league help.

Why should it be unexpected that Batman put the house in order when he arrived? That's his role in the DCU these days. Sure, it would be more satisfying if Booster Gold, Blue Beetle, Skeets, Captain Atom, Fire, Ice, and Rocket Red could handle every remaining OMAC unit single-handedly, but that's stretching credibility pretty far for even for a superhero comic. Besides, you can't expect someone like Bruce Wayne (and yes, that's Bruce) to take a back seat to Booster Gold. It might be a little disappointing, but it's in keeping to everyone's character.

You may recall that the last time Booster and the JLI fought an army of OMACs out to kill someone, Fire was hospitalized and the most famous Rocket Red died. I'd rather we avoid that fate this time around; I rather like Gavril. If the combined might of Batman, Power Girl, and Wonder Woman can keep the OMACs at bay long enough for Booster Gold to find Max Lord and punch him in the face, I'll be okay with it.

Morgenstern · **Joined:** January 10th, 2011, 12:45 am **Posts:** 564

actually the last time we saw the JLI take on a group of OMACs Jaime was able to take out a large group of them on his own (after finding a weakness). There should be no reason why this should not work again, it are after all still the same kind of OMACs and not upgraded ones. The one reason not to do it would be to keep it a secret that BB is still alive.

I understand that it "make sense" from an in world perspective that Batman is taking over, but it just does not feel right to watch these guy fight Max for over 20 issues, just for someone else, even if it is Batman, to come in the last minute to steal the spotlight. Of course it may still very well be that the finale will give them the credit they deserve, but right now I am worried that it will look like Batman & co stopped Max and not the JLI under Booster's command.

Erin · **Joined:** January 10th, 2011, 6:58 pm **Posts:** 307

According to Winick Bruce respects Booster so his role as leader shouldn't be threatened. If Bruce trusts him then yes, I expect him to listen to Booster. He respected others enough to back down and let them lead. Bruce has been wrong before, his dismissal of Ted being one of them. I don't think it stretches creditability to have these six heroes and a robot save the day without help. That's what superhero book are about. 52 had Booster, Rip, and Skeets stopping Mr. Mind and Daniel, the rookie, delivering the last bit. The odds were even more impossible then they are here.

From a story POV it does feel like a cheat for people who weren't even involved throughout most of this to suddenly show up and lead. Because Bruce wasn't the one that had his relationship with Max explored throughout this. He's not the one that told the others they can't give up and I agree that after last issues' "be strong and lead us" speech it would be especially baffling. Booster was developed as the leader, and in Maxs' own words it started with "You (Booster) and me." Right now Booster looks like a duty leader or in a Dick Grayson sort of role where he stands next to Bruce cheerfully talking to WW.

Boosterrific · **Posted:** March 24th, 2011, 5:27 pm

RE: OMAC threat. Morgenstern, I specifically noted the events of the last time the "JLI fought an army of OMACs out to kill someone" because the battle earlier in this series was not an attack but a non-lethal feint. Given that everything up to this point has been part of the plan by Max Lord, the attack in issue 3 was designed to draw out the latest Blue Beetle and lead the JLI to Russia where they would combat the reprogrammed Rocket Reds. He needed the JLI alive to destroy Checkmate. It's a terrible flaw in his plan if he lets his own OMACs kill his quarry before they've accomplished any part of his plan.

RE: Bruce Wayne. I agree that to have Batman arrive and save the day in this series would be a terrible deux ex machina cheat that I could never forgive Judd Winick for. But I don't expect it to happen. Yes, Max will live, and yes, Batman will participate in the solution, but it will be the JLI that comes through in the end. Otherwise most of issue 21 (not to mention the entire series) has been a mean-spirited misdirection by Winick.

To freak out over the possibility that the JLI will be relegated to second team status in their own series is to behave just like everyone who complained that DC was killing off Jaime when the advance solicitations came out for issue 19. Have we learned nothing? With this series, Winick's earned enough of my trust for a "wait and see" approach before I start criticizing his ending.

(But, Judd, if I'm wrong about this...)

Morgenstern · **Joined:** January 10th, 2011, 12:45 am **Posts:** 564

OMAC: they were not out to kill BB, but his family was most likely fair game. Max has been shown to be more than willing to cause civilian casulties, even if not really required to further his goals.

Wanye:Actually I don't think anybody here is freaking out (yet), just critical on the turn the story seemingly took in the last issue. I don't believe that the series has been ruined by the issue. I did not even call it a bad one..just a bit disappointing. That Jaime and RR are amazed by Batman fits, but everyone else has dealt enoug with him in the past to be a bit less..."worshippy" (sorry I can't think of a better english term).

I do in fact hope and believe that the finale will belong to the JLI (with Booster as the leader and not Batman) but the most recent issue has left me some worries in that regard. Maybe I am just a bit too pessimistic, but that has at least the advantage that you rather get a pleasent surprise instead of a disappointing one.

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