Young Justice #11 - Feb. 2012

"The Pit…" by Greg Weisman, Christopher A. Jones, and Dan Davis.

Hey there, everyone, Andy Luckett here again with a review of Young Justice issue 11. We begin a new story this issue as the team gathers at Mount Justice in Happy Harbor. Red Tornado is present, but doesn't have a mission for the team, explaining that is Batman's job. Speaking of Batman, he and Robin are currently in Cape Canaveral, FL, foiling yet another of Ra's Al Ghul's "up with nature, down with humanity" schemes.

After taking down the low-level henchmen, Robin catches up to Batman, only to find him compromised by Ubu, Ra's lieutenant. After Robin helps Batman take Ubu down, Talia arrives and starts their whole "I love you but don't make me stop you" dance once again. Turns out the particular rocket that Ra's is attempting to launch into space is being overseen by Carol Ferris as well.

After Batman persuades Talia that to stop him she'll have to shoot him, she can't and he goes after the rocket. Ra's himself is standing on the platform near the top of the nosecone. Ra's gives a speech about why the ecological balance of the Earth must be reestablished, even offering to spare Gotham City if Batman will join his crusade. The Dark Knight's response:

While Batman has distracted Ra's, Robin hops up and disables the shuttle's nosecone. Ra's loses it at little about that, jumping desperately at Robin in an attempt to recover the nosecone lens. Unfortunately, he misses and takes a header right off the platform, landing dead at his daughter's feet:

Talia and Ubu scoop up Ra's remains and head for the nearest Lazarus Pit, leaving the Dynamic Duo to clean up the mess. Sadly, as this has occurred, Batman and Robin receive news that Kent Nelson, aka Dr. Fate, has died. At his funeral, the whole YJ team, their mentors and members of the Justice League and Society are in attendance. After the ceremony ends, something unexpected occurs:

On Infinity Island, the entrance to a glowing green Lazarus Pit opens, and Ra's al Ghul lives again! Of course, since any recent occupant of a Lazarus Pit comes out super insane, Ra's attacks Ubu before recovering his senses. He tells Talia and the Sensei of the League of Assassins to prepare both the Garden and the Serpent plans, but not to activate them yet. Talia believes that these plans are far too drastic, and that her father will change his mind as the effects of the Pit wear off further. The Sensei is not so sure. As they both turn to leave, something wicked this way comes...

...to be continued!


As I'm sure you can tell by now, this issue was wall-to-wall Bat-action. More of a character spotlight story than any so far, this issue reads like a random issue of any Bat-book. The rest of the team make only two appearances: on the opening page with Red Tornado, and at Kent Nelson's funeral. Aqualad appears in both scenes but has no lines, making his appearance a mere walk-on role. Aquaman also shows up during the funeral scene, but that's the extent of Aqua-presence this time.

So while this issue really seems out of step with being part of a team comic book, I'm hopeful that Greg Weisman and his team will dovetail the rest of YJ into foiling Ra's plans next issue. That said, there is a lot of interesting stuff in this issue. First of all, it tells us the story of what Robin was up to during the events of the TV episode "Denial", in which Kent Nelson was killed. But more importantly, beyond the Ra's al Ghul vs. Dynamic Duo "A" plot, we also have the intriguing detail of Artemis' arrest at Nelson's funeral (couldn't they have waited till they got back to an HQ?). And beyond that, there's the whole Clayface-hiding-in-the-Lazarus-Pit wrinkle. Hopefully all of this will come to some satisfying conclusion at the end of this story, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see.