Warning: Contains spoilers for Cyborg #1!Cyborg has finally admitted that his membership in the Justice League was a mistake. Cyborg joined the team at the dawn of the New 52 era, but in Cyborg #1, he admits to his therapist that he was not ready, and the League was not a good fit for him. This realization comes right as Cyborg is reevaluating his life, and is perhaps the final nail in the coffin for the New 52.
The issue is written by Morgan Hampton, drawn by Tom Raney, colored by Michael Atiyeh and lettered by Rob Leigh. Cyborg is now in therapy, struggling to work through years of conflicting emotions surrounding his father Silas, who recently passed away. Cyborg flashes back to the funeral. He relates the story of his family and his upbringing, up until the accident that forced his father to turn him into a half-man, half-machine in order to save his life. Cyborg says that after his transformation, he joined the Justice League. Recounting how proud his dad was that he had a son on the Justice League, Cyborg confesses it was “no place for a teenager. Especially not one as angry and confused about his new body.” Cyborg then goes on to say that later joining the Teen Titans, and surrounding himself with others like him who were his age, helped him process these feelings.
Cyborg’s Justice League Membership Was A Big Change
In August 2011, DC Comics attempted a line-wide, hard reboot called the New 52. The initiative’s flagship title was a new Justice League title that reunited many classic League members, such as Superman, Green Lantern and Wonder Woman, who had been absent from the League for years. Joining them was Cyborg, who took the Martian Manhunter’s place on the team. From the outset, the New 52 was controversial, as fans felt betrayed that stories they had grown to cherish were now no longer canonical. While Cyborg’s inclusion in the Justice League was far from the most controversial aspect of the New 52, he became a symbol for it nonetheless.
Even Cyborg Knows the Justice League Was a Bad Fit
Cyborg’s admission that his Justice League tenure was a mistake works on two levels. First, Cyborg is correct that the League is no place for teenagers; he may feel that his anger and confusion disqualified him, but the truth is no teenager belongs on the Justice League. By moving to the Teen Titans, Cyborg was able to meet other super powered teenagers. Finding people more like him made all the difference in Cyborg’s life, giving him a place and purpose that he was sorely lacking in the Justice League. Second, Cyborg’s confession is the final repudiation of the New 52; Cyborg admitting his mistake is DC also realizing it made a huge error.
Cyborg’s realization comes at one of the most critical moments in his career. His current team, the Titans, have just stepped up to become Earth’s premiere superhero team. On a more personal level, Cyborg has been attempting to reconnect with his past, and come to terms with his relationship with his distant father. This bout of soul-searching has forced Cyborg to reexamine his life, and he has concluded his time on the Justice League was a mistake.
Cyborg #1 is on sale now from DC Comics!
