An overlooked 2005 Crossover Jewel! JLA/Cyberforce!

JLA/Cyberforce
Publishers: DC/Top Cow
Writer: Joe Kelly
Artists: Don Mahnke, Norm Rapmund

Cyber freaks are put to rest by JLA/Cyberforce.

In 1992, Marc Silverstri and other artists defected from Marvel and started an independent comic company called Malibu comics. One of the first titles to roll out was Cyberforce #1 written by Eric Silverstri and drawn by Marc Silvestri who is now the CEO of Top Cow productions inc.

Cyberforce then consisted of five team members, RipClaw, Cyblade, Stryker, and Impact, Ballistic was a villain in the early issues trying to recruit Velocity to the villainous team named Cyber Data. The team has altered but the attraction of readers from 1992 still peak particular interest in this mighty team. Now it is 12 years later and they re-emerge teaming up with the most definitive team in comic book history DC Comics the Justice League of America.

The former member Ripclaw, succumbing to a virus can raise the dead with a source call Godtech. The Cyberforce team and the JLA both arrive and locate Ripclaw in Budapest Hungary. The un-dead monsters controlled by Ripclaw attack the military. They accuse each other about the massacres of the attack. Martian Manhunter calms the storm with his telepathic ability and senses Velocity is not giving all the relevant details to the situation. As the combined forces battle the cyber monsters, Ripclaw fights alongside his un-dead warriors. His former friends with the help of the JLA defeat him. This happens with a cost of the Martian Manhunter as Ripclaw tried to infuse with the virus the Martian Manhuter dies. A unanimous decision had to be made to use Godtech, and recapture Ripclaw and bring him back to his true self, or rescue the Martian Manhunter's life. The decision belonged to Velocity and consequently the fight for the authority of Godtech between the super teams eventually reached the boiling point of fighting proportions.

A fascinating story written by Joe Kelly keeps the reader salivating after reading every page. The artwork by Doug Mahnke along with inks by Norm Rapmund visually enhances the storyteller’s panels with quasi-expanding detail of the cyber-infested mutations. The stunning pencil work is intricate and accurately presented. The panels explored great fighting action between the teams. The confrontation between the teams was worth buying this title in itself. The dialogue between the heroes as they are battling between themselves is indicative of the in-depth personas of each character. E.g. as Batman and Cyblade get ready to go hand to hand Batman exclaims “what are the chances you and I can talk through this” Cyblade's response was “ probably not very good Dammit…and I was going to ask you out”.

Readers are so use to seeing the same old rivals it is good to revel in a confrontation of a unique situation in comics in a good quality crossover. I am an avid fan of crossovers not because I can see who can be pitted against whom, but give the reader a dream like scenario of what if? (Not to take anything from the Marvel title) and how would it play along in another publications universe. A great emotional story of loyalty between teammates and a scenario with Cyberforce realizing when a fellow teammate has gone astray your true friends you. Once admired and respected during their most daunting time.

Once again, Top Cow and DC comics have a fantastic one-shot and a nice build up to the re-launch of the Cyberforce title, which was re-launched in March of 2006.

This title deserves an inquisitive rating of five stars.