I can't personally recommend that you buy today's Justice League #9. I haven't liked anything about this title since its "New 52" relaunch, and I actively despise the current Captain Marvel Shazam back-up story. Typically, I'd tell you to flush your money down the toilet before spending it on this trash. However, this issue begins a new story which this week's earlier solicitations advertise will tie-in with the Justice League International Annual (and possibly hint at the reason for the cancellation of the Justice League International.)

So if you've got $5 burning a hole in your pocket, consider blowing that cash on this issue. (I suspect we won't be seeing that endorsement as a pull quote on the cover of the inevitable collected trade edition.) Meanwhile, Skeets is too busy self-medicating its abandonment issues with heroin to care about what you buy. (Green Arrow fans will know what I'm talking about.)

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There's no avoiding it: the DCnU Justice League International suffers from a bit of decompression, making reading each new issue an exercise in patience. Fortunately for those of us with a need for immediate gratification (e.g., Americans), today DC releases the first six issues of the series in a single, collected trade paperback, Justice League International, Vol 1: The Signal Masters.

The volume is advertised at $14.99, a savings of 50¢ off cover price -- per issue! Better, DC advertises this trade at 144 pages. Each of the first 6 issues is 21-pages long (including covers) for a total of 126 published pages. What's making up the 18-page difference, hmm?

Skeets is beginning to think that with deals like this, only suckers should buy individual issues anymore. Buy this collection and prove Skeets right.

(UPDATE 05/09/12 7:49PM: these bonus pages are mostly unfinished pencils and uncolored inks from the covers and a few character sketches. There are a few character design sketches for Fire, Ice, and Vixen. Nothing previously unseen featuring Booster Gold.)

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DC promises that today's issue of Justice League International #9 will crossover with The Fury of Firestorm: the Nuclear Men #9, planned for a May 23rd release. Lately the growing international league of Nuclear Men and Women -- Firestorm Fan records at least 10 unique Firestorms in the DCnU so far -- have been dealing with terrorist bombings in France while the JLI have had their hands full with bombing terrorists in New York. Could these similar plots be more than a coincidence?

With crossover environments already established between the Bat-titles (via Batman and Batwing), the Green Lantern titles (via Guy Gardner), and OMAC, is the JLI becoming the keystone in the continuity of DC's New 52 Universe? The only way to find out is to buy this issue and make Skeets happy.

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Word on the street is that next month Firehawk will be joining the cast of Justice League International. This situation could set up an intriguing love triangle as Booster Gold reignites his old flame with Firehawk despite the jealousy of a hot-headed Godiva. But DC's solicitations for today's The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men #8 throw some cold water on that smoldering scenario:

Introducing the all-new Firehawk, France's own atomic defender, and Hurricane, Great Britain's officially sanctioned Nuclear Man! Meanwhile, out of the ashes of last issue's shocking climax, Ronnie Raymond and the Russian Firestorm, Pozhar, begin a long, mutual descent toward the dark underbelly of the Firestorm Protocols.

Oh, never mind. Good-bye American Lorraine Reilly, hello unknown French girl. Thanks, Flashpoint. I hated character development anyway.

Doesn't this seem a bit sudden? Every other member of the DCnU Justice League International had appeared in at least 2 other comics somewhere before joining the team's roster. Are the Firestorms of the DCnU such jerks that their supporting cast hates to stick around? Or could it be that Firestorm has no need for a woman in his own book after (*ahem*) "last issue's shocking climax" with Pozhar? Maybe Firehawk would just be in the way as Firestorm and Pozhar (*cough*) "begin a long, mutual descent toward the dark underbelly of the Firestorm Protocols"? (Not that there is anything wrong with that.)

The best way to find the answers to these and many other burning questions is to pick up The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men #8.

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Advance solicitations indicate that this issue will introduce a "surprise new team member!" Since Batwing appears on the cover of the issue which also blatantly states that he will be joining (preview available on Maxim.com), it would only be a surprise if he's not the new member. The real surprise might be in who is leaving the team to make room for him; although since the team was officially disbanded last issue, it's more a question of who wouldn't rejoin than who would leave, isn't it?

Buy this issue and make Skeets happy. (Our little buddy has to show up sooner or later!)

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