Justice League #20 review

The Justice League members have been invited to the Sixth Dimension by a future version of Superman, just seconds after they saw the Clark they know step through a cosmic portal. Ten years from now, older versions of themselves say, all the planet’s problems have been conquered. Yes, everything is pretty darn peachy.

Hawkgirl and Martian Manhunter are married with a little boy.

Blackhawk Island has a new purpose…

… as does Paradise Island.

And as for Gotham…

… of course, our Batman isn’t taking everything at face value.

And back on Earth, Mera and Starman have been taking care of personal business. Including babysitting Mr Mxyzptlk, the Fifth Dimensional imp who helped Superman enter a new realm. And Jarro, a tiny offshoot of a space-conquering starfish. He’s having a dream.

Starro, of course, is known for being comics’ greatest face hugger, telepathically controlling the minds of hapless heroes. Remind you of anything?

Yes, this is For the League Who Have Everything, as sinister forces try to seduce our heroes with the promise of paradise. For Black Mercy, read Sixth Dimensional Liars.

The storyline begun last issue continues in fine style, with plenty to distract the eye and mind as most of the League explore a new Golden Age, and Starman and Mera guard Earth. Big ideas such as rebuilding the Multiverse (anyone see Franklin Richards around?) and the New Amazons (Venerable Ancients will recall Queen Hippolyta declaring Supergirl an honorary daughter back in the Seventies) provide fun food for thought, while Shayne (named for Shayera, presumably) could be the greatest Justice League kid since Traya, adopted daughter of Red Tornado.

The future world is very seductive, which makes it all the more surprising that only Batman is really suspicious. It’s not like he’s the only detective on the team… mind, Scott Snyder writes police scientist Barry Allen, our resident Flash, as a movie-style moron. The question of who the future Flash is, isn’t raised – light brown hair hints at Wally West, but I suppose Snyder doesn’t want to step on the Heroes in Crisis business.

What’s more, there’s an intriguing bit of business involving Mr Mxyzptlk, which I won’t spoil, and a box in the hands of the Legion of Doom which Mite prove fun.

From the cover forward, illustrator Jorge Jimenez provides dynamic, dramatic art, especially a spread explaining dark goddess Perpetua’s nature, and the joy that is Jarro vs Deathstroke shows he can do humour too. And colourist Alejandro Sánchez continues to impress, especially with the tones on Old Man Superman’s cream and gold union suit. The only visual I don’t like is super-skinny, arm-finny J’onn J’onzz, though the body language and facial acting is great. The letters of Tom Napolitano are as excellent as everything else in this book.

‘The Sixth Dimension’ is proving a hugely enjoyable romp, a compelling balance of character, concepts and conflict.

And Jarro, the Starfish Wonder.