Justice League #20

The Team

Writer: Geoff Johns Artist: Gene Ha

The League franchise got a rocky start towards the beginning of The New 52. The characters all had aggravating personalities that stunted character progression. After the leap in time five years, this title began to shift in terms of quality. Now the entire Justice League franchise is rich with quality, character, and even titles. The upcoming Trinity War has been interesting to wait for the threat seems imminent. So much of the draw to the title comes from it's sister book Justice League Of America, which is built on a house of lies. Watching the false truths start to collapse on each other in this title is the most interesting thing Johns has done with the book so far. It is also a great set-up to the event storyline in question. The plethora of new characters introduced to the league in the past few issues are expanded on here. They are given some personalities and start to get fleshed out more here. Element Woman can be annoying at times, however she is still cute and means well for the extended cast of characters. The mystery last issue on who broke into the batcave is still in play here. The answer is not given, and it seems to serve the story for the better. Knowing there is someone who can break into the batcave without Bruce even being aware is enticing. Speaking of that plot point, Johns knows how to tease a reader. The idea of Batman knowing the weaknesses of the entire team is an idea that is so wonderfully fleshed out in the past two issues. If they fell into the wrong hands during a war something bad could happen!

The plethora of new characters introduced to the league in the past few issues are expanded on here. They are given some personalities and start to get fleshed out more here. Element Woman can be annoying at times, however she is still cute and means well for the extended cast of characters. The mystery last issue on who broke into the batcave is still in play here. The answer is not given, and it seems to serve the story for the better. Knowing there is someone who can break into the batcave without Bruce even being aware is enticing. Speaking of that plot point, Johns knows how to tease a reader. The idea of Batman knowing the weaknesses of the entire team is an idea that is so wonderfully fleshed out in the past two issues. If they fell into the wrong hands during a war something bad could happen!

As good as the script in this issue is as frustrating as the artwork of this issue proves to be. Gene Ha hands in some great pencils that are undermined by Andres Guinaldo and Joe Prado. All three artists have clashing styles that make this book extremely polarizing to it’s readers. Justice League has never been lacking in the art department which makes this particularly disappointing. The other artists have an amateur style that flies in the face of Ha. Artist Ivan Reis was supposed to be a series regular but he has only drawn a few issues so far. The art switching so constantly in The New 52 has been a drawback to the quality of the books. Hopefully during the Trinity War there will be more focus on the pencilling aspect of the series.The threat of Despero was frightening as the character is and has always been physically imposing. Watching the Martian Manhunter take the character down with relative ease proves he is also a real threat to the League. The Manhunter has been a question mark to the series as a whole so far as readers do not know his true intentions. The backup in the issue was once again a pleasure to read. However the conclusion is said to be in the next issue. This character has just been established, and him merging with the other characters in the title could be a mistake as there already so many others. Not seeing the lush art of Gary Frank each and every month would also be disappointment to the readers of the title. Despite some annoying art issues, this is a very solid issue of Justice League with a great twist in the final pages.