Tag Archives: anti-monitor

Review: Justice League #41

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jl41After a lead-in issue, the Darkseid War starts here, and for those that had been let down after looking for something more monumental in Convergence, there might be some salvation here.  The title is one that was least affected by Convergence, getting a one-month break as opposed to the two for most other titles.  The previous title introduced the fact that Darkseid and the anti-Monitor are a lot more closely related than previously indicated, and this issue builds on that and more as the steps to an all-out war come closer, a war that has been brewing since the first story arc of this new 52 title.

The action doesn’t start with the Justice League, even though it soon comes back to them.  Instead the story focuses on who is apparently going to be a defining character in this story arc, Mister Miracle.  As he weaves his way out of and then back into Apokolips, he gives insight into what is happening and what he hopes to accomplish.  Although the Terminator like sub-plot with Lashina and Kanto seems to be its own thing, it ties back into the Mister Miracle side of the story as well, with an equally great last minute reveal as happened in the lead-in issue.  This story also ties heavily into the one focused on the Crime Syndicate from Forever Evil, and builds well on this former crossover, tying the two together.

There are definitely a lot of players associated here, and while the issue does well enough to follow up on the developments of the previous issue, there is a bit of a dropoff in tone.  Part of this is the ease by which Darkseid’s daughter manages to lay waste to the Justice League, a common enough ploy to establish a new villain as particularly threatening, even if her demise is assured by the end of this story arc.  As it stands though this issue is saved by the role of Mister Miracle, as opposed to the relatively regular story of an alien invasion which the Justice League has to deal with, Mr. Miracle gives this story a heart that manages to keep it moving along through its disparate story elements.  There are certainly bigger fireworks to follow, but for the time being this issue manages to put all the players in place while also giving the reader someone new to cheer for.

Story: Geoff Johns Art: Jason Fabok
Story: 8.7 Art: 8.7 Overall: 8.7 Recommendation: Buy

Review: Justice League #40

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jl040At its roots there can be said to be no better team book in comics than the Justice League.  As the hero team which more or less spawned every other hero team, either as a reaction or counter-reaction, the League was the first to define the application of superpowered individuals together, and its approach to the medium is seminal.  Although it was later passed by other team books (X-Men and Avengers) there is something about the group that speaks to a greater story.  As has been said before, DC is the realm of the myths, whereas Marvel is the realm of the everyday.  This means that Marvel stories can be more approachable, but when DC throws everything it has at its heroes, the greater stories result.  Throw in the fact that series writer Geoff Johns often does best when he goes big, and this is the setup for what could be one of the more memorable stories in the team’s history, and definitely one that has been begging to be told since the New 52 relaunch.

Such is the setup for the upcoming Darkseid War, but this issue does not take the expected turn towards a super throwdown.  Instead it focuses on an unlikely conduit for the development of the story, the enigmatic Metron.  He is perhaps never shown to be more enticing than he is here, shown as a ttrue observer, acting only in the case of events which could cause him to lose the ability to observe.  Such has been the case before when he brokered the infamous peace between the Highfather and Darkseid, resulting in the exchange of Orion and Mister Miracle, and such would seem to be the case here as he intervenes on behalf of Earth and the oncoming battle with an unexpected foe.  In the process he revisits some of the notable events of DC Comics history, the best of the best of the crossovers, referencing Crisis on Infinite Earths, Infinite Crisis, and Flashpoint (and the not so great Convergence.)  In so doing he sets the stage and makes some interesting revelations about the fate of Earth and those that threaten it.

Simply put, those is Johns doing what he does best.  While he might occasionally stumble with presenting approachable characters, there is no one better at putting together a big story like this among comics big two.  He pulled it off numerous times on his run on Green Lantern, and Flashpoint was a decent enough entry in the sequence of the universe changing crossovers.  It is a shame that Covergence is getting all of the focus at the moment and that something like this was not approached instead (as it would have been easy to change to the plot of Convergence to fit this plot.)  As it stands this is a near perfect lead in to the Darkseid War, and one that should get the fans excited for what is to come.

Story: Geoff Johns Art: Kevin Maguire, Phil Jimenez, Dan Jurgens, Jerry Ordway, Scott Kolins, Jason Fabok, Jim Lee
Story: 9.6 Art: 9.6 Overall: 9.6 Recommendation: Buy