Review: JUSTICE LEAGUE #44
Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist: Jason Fabok
Colorist: Brad Anderson
Letterer: Rob Leigh
Publisher: DC Comics
Part four of “Darkseid War” sees the two heavyweights – Anti-Monitor and Darkseid – squaring off one-on-one. We follow three story threads: the Justice League protecting Earth against the two behemoths, Batman and Green Lantern in search of the Anti-Monitor’s origin, and Superman and Lex Luthor on Apokolips. There is a lot to get through, so let’s take a look at what stood out.
What I Liked
It needs pointing out month after month, but Jason Fabok brings a cinematic feel to each issue. Each page and panel. In fact, the entire art team is top-notch. Batman is stoic while sitting on the Mobius chair. There are a good amount of splash pages and double-page spreads that has the action leaping off the pages. This is achieved by the color work from Brad Anderson. When Darkseid and the Anti-Monitor are trading blows in a double-page spread, the light is blinding. This happens again when we see a transformation that The Flash undertakes. The Anti-Monitor and Darkseid are two beings overflowing with energy, and that is abundantly clear.
Speaking of colors, there is a nice trick done with Superman. On Apokolips, he is feeding off the solar energy of it’s pits. This has turned him into an opaque-looking figure. Almost similar to the 90’s when Superman developed energy-based powers. He is totally made up of white, grey and black colors. Even his speech pattern has changed, as letterer Rob Leigh displays. For those with a keen eye, it is the same speech balloons that Batman, Darkseid, and Grail possess. The home dialect of Apokolips.
Side note: Seeing Superman brushing dirt off his shoulders so casually was a sight to behold. Thumbs up to a cocky Superman!
It’s a very small thing, but I enjoy seeing the “PING” from the Mobius chair as it relays information to Batman. Maybe because it’s similar to getting a notification on my cellphone.
I continue to say that “Darkseid War” is a Wonder Woman story. Geoff Johns gives us her internal monologue to open the issue. Grail has ties to Paradise Island. It can appear that the DC Universe revolves around Batman and Superman, but Wonder Woman is also a part of their “Trinity.” She is the leader of the Earth Justice League force tasked with protecting Earth.
So it appears that the Anti-Monitor has the ability to grant God-like powers. Or should I say New God powers? I’ll admit that I’m not that educated on the New Gods/Apokolips, so I could be misunderstanding things. This is where knowing what the Anti-Life Equation is would come in handy.
Oh, and the ending is a game-changer for “Darkseid War.” A lot of heroes and villains are left in different conditions than when the issue begins. And that is a good thing.
What I Didn’t Like
I understand the purpose of including Power Ring on the Justice League. Without her, it’s a team made up of all dudes and one woman. But with Simon Baz being recently introduced and not being used, it feels like there are just too many Earth-based Green Lanterns roaming around. My hope is her inclusion will have a payoff, especially with her ring’s connection to Earth-2 and the Crime Syndicate. After-all, it was the Anti-Monitor who destroyed Earth 2 and caused the Crime Syndicate to travel to Earth Prime.
With an event of this size, the cast is expansive. The downside of that is lots of characters don’t get much screen time. Cyborg and Shazam get maybe one or two sentences a piece here. Johns and Fabok have their hands full juggling the cast.
Timdogg
#ComicBookChronicles @CBChron founder. Editor-in-Chief of @thekliqnation. Comic book reviewer, podcaster #RABBLERABBLE
