Justice League of America #172
Published and © by DC, November 1979
Title: “I Accuse …”
Synopsis: Locked in the JLA satellite, the Justice League and Justice Society investigate who among them is a murderer.
Writer: Gerry Conway
Penciler: Dick Dillin
Inker: Frank McLaughlin
Review: What started as a tightly plotted, locked-room murder mystery (see review of Justice League #171) comes unraveled during a hasty, poorly executed conclusion. While Superman is quick to declare victory, it doesn’t feel like there should even be a break in the action. Seriously: Why aren’t the heroes more concerned when the real bad guy escapes in the body of one of their teammates? There are still some nice character moments here, but they don’t ring as true as the previous issue’s. Not a bad comic, but not up to the standard set by JLA #171.
Grade: B-
Second opinion: Recommended by The Slings & Arrows Comic Guide (second edition), 2003.
Cool factor: Batman and the Huntress work together to solve the mystery.
Not-so-cool factor: The conclusion keeps this one from being a classic.
Collector’s note: According to the Grand Comics Database, there are 15p British and Whitman variants of this issue. … According to MyComicShop.com, there is also a Mark Jewelers variant.
Character quotable: “No one is to enter or leave …” – Superman (are you going to argue with him?)
Editor’s note: This review was originally published by Comics Bronze Age on Nov. 5, 2009.
