Writers: Matt Kint and Rob Williams
Penciller: Phillip Tan
As a reviewer assigned to Bryan Hitch’s run on JLA: Justice League of America, I have found myself waiting… and waiting… for the release of JLA: Justice League of America #5. The delays seem to be confirmed officially with the solicit for a JLA #5 boasting a new, albeit temporary, creative team of Matt Kindt, Rob Williams, Philip Tan, and Jason Paz.
Bryan Hitch is conspicuous by his absence.
JLA: Justice League of America #5 will now see Martian Manhunter face off against an alien serial killer in “Rage of the Martian Manhunter,” a tie-in to Martian Manhunter #7 coming soon.
Bryan Hitch’s Rao storyline is slated to continue in JLA: Justice League of America #6, and proceed from there.
Tardiness is hardly new to Hitch. The Ultimates, his first run on JLA, all notorious for delays. In a 2005 interview, Hitch noted, “Everyone thought of me as an unreliable artist. I think it’s a reputation I’m working hard to recover. ‘Cause I think people still now see me as an unreliable artist.”
With incredible talent comes incredible pressure – both internal and external. The detail and intricacy of Hitch’s work comes with a price: it takes time and attention. One can be reliable and create lack-luster content. Brilliance is rarely a scheduled activity.
For me, it’s well worth the wait to have a cohesive story arch that meets the quality control of the author and artist – in this case, found in one person, Bryan Hitch. I am certain the Martian Manhunter story will be enjoyable, but I am inclined to wait for the conclusion of JLA: Justice League of America‘s Rao story.
JLA: Justice League of America #5 arrives in comic shops November 25.
