Issue(s): New Warriors #43
Cover Date: Jan 94
Title: "And Justice for all?"
Credits:
Fabian Nicieza - Writer
Darick Robertson & Brandon McKinney - Penciler
Larry Mahlstedt - Inker
Paula Foye - Assistant Editor
Rob Tokar - Editor

Review/plot:
Darick Robertson is "with" Brandon McKinney.

Vance Astrovik is released from the Vault. His release has triggered protests from anti-mutant groups, and one of the demonstrators throws a mutant fetus at him and the New Warriors as they are leaving.

This causes Vance to go full Magneto on the crowd.

"Two days" later, he is at Firestar's father's house, where it's been arranged for him to meet his mother. She's not very receptive; she blames him for her husband's death. Vance, on the other hand, blames his mom for never standing up for him while his father was abusing him. So the reunion doesn't go well.

Another "Two days" later, the anti-mutant protesters have gathered at Vance's mom's house. Vance arrives, having officially rebranded as Justice at this point.

The rest of the New Warriors arrive and help disperse the violent crowd.

Meanwhile, Shinobi Shaw has been whining to the Gamesmaster.

Shaw decides to recruit Justice for his own schemes, and he shows up and successfully does so (or seems to) in the aftermath of the protest.

This is set-up for the Child's Play crossover with X-Force.

Also in this issue, Namorita breaks out of the containment chamber in Atlantis. She's blue now.

Sub-Mariner shows up later and is informed that Namorita is looking for him.

As with a lot of Fabian Nicieza's work, i like the idea of what he's doing but i don't think it's executed well. This is a fairly character driven story, but the characterization feels flat. I think the story is also soured by the Gamesmaster and Shinobi Shaw, two very unwelcome characters, spilling over in advance of the X-Force crossover. It's not the first time Nicieza has used X-Force characters - e.g. Gideon - in New Warriors. And in theory i should like the cross-pollination. The problem is that these characters suck big time.

Quality Rating: C+

Historical Significance Rating: 3 - Namorita turns blue

Chronological Placement Considerations: Justice is released from the Vault in this issue, and leaves with Shinobi Shaw at the end. Four days ("Two days" and then another "Two days") pass after Justice is released from prison but before the demonstration at his mom's house. I'm assuming the appearance of Justice (and the rest of the New Warriors) in Quasar #60 takes place during those two days.

The events of this and next issue have to take place before Namor #49-50, when a blue Namorita is shown to be working with Namor at Oracle. The wrinkle is that Quasar #60 takes place soon after the end of Starblast, and Namor is unconscious through the end of Starblast through the beginning of Namor #49. However, at least six days pass during Namor #49-50, so i am assuming this takes place during that time period, after Namor wakes up but before the portion where Namorita appears.

At least a week passes between this issue and the next one.

References:

• Shinobi Shaw killed his father in X-Factor #67.
  
• Fabian Cortez was killed in Avengers #369.
  
• In New Warriors #17, Justice saved the life of a pregnant woman during the battle with Terrax. But that woman is now siding with the anti-mutant protestors, because during the battle, radiation was released and now her baby is dying.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A

"Justice" is one of the most unimaginative names to give a superhero. Is this really the best Fabian could come up with?

I'd say it's also perfectly in-character as a name Vance would choose for himself.

I liked the first 40 issues of New Warriors. While the art is good, I don't find the stories that interesting anymore.

Of course, what Shinobi and Vance have in common is they both killed abusive fathers.

It's name that's stuck though. He is still Justice to this day and that's how I always think of him. I do like tha his current costume for much of the last 10-15 years has been a hybrid of this costume and the Marvel Boy/Major Victory looks.