Justice League #40
Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist: Various
With every issue of Geoff Johns’ Justice League, I increasingly start to think that this title isn’t truly a Justice League title. The Forever Evil arc was about the Crime Syndicate and the Metal Men, then it focused on Lex Luthor for roughly 10 issues. I have absolutely no problem with the different focus but I feel like people going into Justice League #40 should be aware of it. This issues doesn’t even feature the Justice League, rather it follows Metron through the convoluted history of DC Comics in order to set-up the upcoming Darkseid War. But just like Justice League past 15 issues, Geoff Johns makes it work. If Justice League #40 is an indication of what’s to come, then DC may after all, be publishing a worthwhile event in 2015.
Because as predicted, the main Convergence story has been quite lackluster. In Justice League #40, Goeff Johns goes through the history of the DC multiverse. He makes the convoluted nature of comic book storylines feel extremely clear and simple. In the first page of this issue, Johns crafts a compelling, scientific theory that explains the constant reinvention of the DCU that makes DC’s history feel natural. This idea of a cycle of reinvention is also very true from a storytelling point of vu and I must question if Johns is trying to comment on the comic book industry. Ideas get recycled and maybe Johns feels that way about Convergence (giving that story a clever nod) and is seeking to put an end to the constant Multiversal events with Darkseid War. It certainly feels that way.
We follow the seemingly omniscient Metron through his knowledge of the DCU. Just like most characters, Johns characterizes Metron greatly, making him a compelling lead for our trip through the DCU. However, in terms of characters the standout of this issue truly is the Anti-Monitor. Johns doesn’t make Anti-Monitor a one-note intimidating presence, but combines intimidation with comprehensible and potentially human motivations. The Anti-Monitor wants to end his damnation and his own cycle of destruction but he will cause the end of the multiverse to do it, if need be. The conflict between him and Darkseid has yet to be developed but Johns certainly hints towards a complex rivalry.
The set-up for the upcoming story-line is just excellent. Geoff Johns’ penchant for grandiose space stories shines throughout this entire issue even if nothing significant happens. Johns’ concepts in this issue make me feel like the Darkseid War will be a culmination of everything he’s been building in his Justice League run. However, none of that comes into fruition, here because this is indeed a prologue issue. But even if the story doesn’t contain any noteworthy story-beats, Johns succeeds in making this a great #0-style issue.
When I see that an issue is handled by multiple artists, I usually don’t feel too excited. I don’t think anyone likes inconsistent art and that was a worry I had going into Justice League #40. Thankfully that really wasn’t the case here. Kevin Maguire and Kim Lee split main art duties and both of them do, as expected, a fantastic job rendering Johns’ script. Their styles may be different but no transitions feel too jarring. The other fill-in artists (Jason Fabok, Dan Jurgens etc.) all cover one spread of the aforementioned history of the DCU. An intelligent technique by DC that makes the switch in art feel logical instead of deadline related. This is one of the better issues featuring various artists and DC deserve praise for that.
Justice League #40 is a prologue to the upcoming Darkseid War but that doesn’t hold this comic back from being awesome. Geoff Johns is setting up an epic story that feels like the event DC fans deserve. His always excellent characterization helps boost an issue full of grand scope and compelling ideas to a level that he rarely achieves with set-up issues. Any fan of continuity and the DC universe should look into this accessible issue that is a reminder that Geoff Johns should be the only writer penning events at DC.
Artist: Various
With every issue of Geoff Johns’ Justice League, I increasingly start to think that this title isn’t truly a Justice League title. The Forever Evil arc was about the Crime Syndicate and the Metal Men, then it focused on Lex Luthor for roughly 10 issues. I have absolutely no problem with the different focus but I feel like people going into Justice League #40 should be aware of it. This issues doesn’t even feature the Justice League, rather it follows Metron through the convoluted history of DC Comics in order to set-up the upcoming Darkseid War. But just like Justice League past 15 issues, Geoff Johns makes it work. If Justice League #40 is an indication of what’s to come, then DC may after all, be publishing a worthwhile event in 2015.
Because as predicted, the main Convergence story has been quite lackluster. In Justice League #40, Goeff Johns goes through the history of the DC multiverse. He makes the convoluted nature of comic book storylines feel extremely clear and simple. In the first page of this issue, Johns crafts a compelling, scientific theory that explains the constant reinvention of the DCU that makes DC’s history feel natural. This idea of a cycle of reinvention is also very true from a storytelling point of vu and I must question if Johns is trying to comment on the comic book industry. Ideas get recycled and maybe Johns feels that way about Convergence (giving that story a clever nod) and is seeking to put an end to the constant Multiversal events with Darkseid War. It certainly feels that way.
We follow the seemingly omniscient Metron through his knowledge of the DCU. Just like most characters, Johns characterizes Metron greatly, making him a compelling lead for our trip through the DCU. However, in terms of characters the standout of this issue truly is the Anti-Monitor. Johns doesn’t make Anti-Monitor a one-note intimidating presence, but combines intimidation with comprehensible and potentially human motivations. The Anti-Monitor wants to end his damnation and his own cycle of destruction but he will cause the end of the multiverse to do it, if need be. The conflict between him and Darkseid has yet to be developed but Johns certainly hints towards a complex rivalry.
The set-up for the upcoming story-line is just excellent. Geoff Johns’ penchant for grandiose space stories shines throughout this entire issue even if nothing significant happens. Johns’ concepts in this issue make me feel like the Darkseid War will be a culmination of everything he’s been building in his Justice League run. However, none of that comes into fruition, here because this is indeed a prologue issue. But even if the story doesn’t contain any noteworthy story-beats, Johns succeeds in making this a great #0-style issue.
When I see that an issue is handled by multiple artists, I usually don’t feel too excited. I don’t think anyone likes inconsistent art and that was a worry I had going into Justice League #40. Thankfully that really wasn’t the case here. Kevin Maguire and Kim Lee split main art duties and both of them do, as expected, a fantastic job rendering Johns’ script. Their styles may be different but no transitions feel too jarring. The other fill-in artists (Jason Fabok, Dan Jurgens etc.) all cover one spread of the aforementioned history of the DCU. An intelligent technique by DC that makes the switch in art feel logical instead of deadline related. This is one of the better issues featuring various artists and DC deserve praise for that.
Justice League #40 is a prologue to the upcoming Darkseid War but that doesn’t hold this comic back from being awesome. Geoff Johns is setting up an epic story that feels like the event DC fans deserve. His always excellent characterization helps boost an issue full of grand scope and compelling ideas to a level that he rarely achieves with set-up issues. Any fan of continuity and the DC universe should look into this accessible issue that is a reminder that Geoff Johns should be the only writer penning events at DC.
A Look Inside
