Justice League Unlimited #19 review

Posted on by martingray1

What is the Revenge of the Brainiac Queen, trailed on Dan Mora’s decent cover?

Refusing to appear until the final page, apparently.

Oh well, it’s not like anyone has been clamouring for the return of the nasty robot from Absolute Power

What I have been wondering is how the world at large would react to the revelation that the League is letting villains become trainee members via an amnesty programme. You know, reasonable, easily controllable fellows like… Lex Luthor. You know who isn’t pleased?

Former Commissioner James Gordon, that’s who.

And the project isn’t exactly popular with every member of the League.

Not even those whose perspectives can be a little out there.

As for how reforming villains in the field are doing, Luthor, Dr Polaris and Starro the Conqueror are side by side with Wonder Woman. The Flash and Captain Marvel. The problem? Two villains who haven’t been invited to play nice, atomic nightmare Neutron…

… and mad magician Felix Faust.

Elsewhere in the universe, Green Lantern Guy Gardner is leading a mission to Oa to drop off a very special object for safekeeping.

They come across an unfamiliar spacecraft drifting over a planet, just as the power ball is propelled out of Guy’s hand and into space.

Within seconds the aliens in the mystery ship are horrified as they spot what’s occurring on the world below.

OK, maybe I was distracted by the thrill of seeing folk from Hykraius, homeworld of Legion of Super-Heroes member Tellus, a telepathic fish, but I didn’t immediately clock what was likely going on here. It seems the power ball has upgraded some dinosaurs. That could make for excitement next month – I do hope they get capes.

I was pleased to see writer Mark Waid face the obvious risks of the League’s amnesty programme, I expected them to be waved aside in favour of splashy fights involving goodies and baddies, side by side. But we get both – some fun action sequences and some pleasing character moments. I especially like seeing a bit of kickback against the class system built into this latest League, with Wonder Woman, Superman, Batman and Mr Terrific at the top, and everyone else under the colourful boots.

Waid does a fine job of juggling the balls he’s put into the air, power ball included, even if the back and forth plotlines do lead to that tiresome Brainiac Queen. He skilfully incorporates a long-forgotten aspect of Dr Polaris’ backstory into the argument around letting villains into the League. And the dialogue is sparky too, I was surprised to see that Creeper/Livewire podcast put to good use, I’d assumed it would never be seen again after its recent inauspicious debut.

The artistic juggernaut named Dan Mora keeps things visually thrilling, whether we’re in a fight or a conversation. That opening image of Jim Gordon is terrific, as is the fight with Silver Age JLA enemy Faust and Bronze Age Superman bad guy Neutron. And goodness me, that reporter and cameraman look rather familiar.

The colours are beautifully balanced by Tamra Bonvillain, which can’t be easy given the sheer number of brightly clad characters and varied backgrounds. And Ariana Maher does a splendid job of keeping the attractive character fonts straight.

I know I’ve been enjoying this series more than a lot of people – will this issue change any minds?

23 thoughts on “Justice League Unlimited #19 review”

  1. I’m still of two minds – fun book if you don’t dwell on it, but very aggravating if you do. Months ago Batman was arguing with Wonder Woman and Superman about background checks on heroes. Now WW and Captain Marvel’s “wisdom” convinces him to let villains join? Plus, why Luthor other than the story drama of it? I get Lex has gone heroic sometimes in the past but he seemed pretty evil/power craving in “K.O.” He sliced off Superman’s hand!!!! I’d say he’s Joker level dangerous and should be nowhere near the League. And of course the leaders unilaterally deciding to offer amnesty, then keeping it from the public, was boneheaded. They shouldn’t be that dumb but are written that way for the sake of the story. And why amnesty now? How many Crises have we been thru? But it’s “K.O.” that convinced the heroes they should give the villains a chance so they can be united in the next Crisis? Also what gives the League the right to circumvent the courts? Too many plot holes/questions. Love Waid. But not this book. – Brian

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    1. Dan Mora’s consistently been in the top 3-5 comicbook artists for what, the last 10 years? Along w/ Pepe Larraz, Jorge Jimenez, RB Silva, & a very few others. It’s hard to pass up an issue of his JLU. I’ll be getting mine, ASAP.

      I’m not into the current “Prime” storyline in his “Super” book. But seeing Dan’s versions of multiple characters in JLU is very compelling to a longtime, old school fan. He’s often upgraded character’s designs for the better. Even his faithful renderings are an improvement compared to how they’ve been drawn before.

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    2. Mark Wahd has frequently altered characters’ established behaviors & mental outlooks to fit his plots. It drove me off of his “JLA” 26 or however many years ago.

      It still bugs me. But Dan’s art is too good & his high level is so rare in comics that I still buy JLU more often than not because of Dan’s art.

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      1. I want so badly to adopt your attitude, Martin, because I love Waid, I love Mora and the concept of an unlimited Justice League is a fun one. It’s just all of these wonderful ingredients. But pretty much since the “We Are Yesterday” arc I’ve been struggling with all the same concerns – lack of deep characterization, too many characters, plot holes, plot threads that lead nowhere/could have been better developed. I don’t want to get to the end of a book and find myself each month questioning a writer’s choices or scrutinizing plot holes or characterization. And that’s particularly unusually shocking for me after reading any Waid book. But here we are. There’s kind of a “don’t worry and just go along with it” vibe to this title and I guess you either can or can’t.

        I do think part of it is Waid’s choices seem forced. The villain amnesty idea is an interesting/fun one. But he needs the League’s leadership to make questionable decisions regarding its implementation/roll out so we have the drama he wants to write among the heroes and the public. And rather than have say either the heavy hitters or a special stealth squad shepard the container of powers to Oa, he picks a group that mirrors the League characters from last summer’s “Superman” movie ’cause I guess he thought that would be a fun idea/resonate with readers. Does anyone honestly think Guy Gardner was the best person to lead this mission? Is powerless Mr. Terrific really the guy you want on a space mission?

        At the end of the last arc when Mr. Terrific ventured into Neron’s realm, I was counting on Waid to pull off a really creative resolution. It’s Mr. Terrific after all. One of the smartest heroes on the planet. He’s not just supposed to be “the brainy tech guy.” DC’s got a tone of those. Terrific’s supposed to be armed with all sorts of knowledge and a master of all types of skills/disciplines, right? So he’s not just going to try to beat up Neron. He’ll be prepared and pull off some sort of clever ruse or make some sort of really clever bargain or dip back into ancient lore to find a way to trick Neron. But no – Terrific’s solution involved pretending to serve Neron, then blowing himself up. This may sound stupid, but that was where Waid really lost me on this book and I started to give up. It felt like Terrific could have been replaced with lots of other characters. What exactly did his particular skill set add to that story? – Brian

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    4. I wanted this type of Justice League. Like the old Satellite era book of the lat 70s and early 80s, but I have to be honest, I am feeling a bit turned off by this book. Some of the characters, like Batman and Mister Terrific, bark orders like this is a military organization. I really don’t like thinking of the JL as a military organization or a kind of mercenary army.

      I prefer the idea that these are all equals who willingly join the League in order to safeguard the world and are teamed up by the league depending on how they are needed and where.

      The writing in this book seems a bit too frenetic and a bit too disjointed. Like an action movie that leaps from action scene to action scene without a lot of story in between. The whole thing feels like plot.

      The art has been decent, but like the writing it feels frenetic and lacking in restraint.

      Just my opinion, of course.

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      1. And a fine opinion it is too, Hector. I think the first writer to treat the League as the (ugh) Trinity’s plaything was Brad Meltzer, with Bruce, Diana and Clark doing the All-Star Squadron photo thing. It’s too elitist for my tastes.

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  2. It’s still a story engine for mega-plots with only one character getting characterization that couldn’t be held elsewhere but it’s a good looking and well written mega plot with only one character getting a deep dive. BTW, didn’t Reddy get his body back in JLRed? The rest of the mini was crap but I liked that part. Considering that in the Bronze Age they were building the dude a new body every three months it’s been baffling they can’t do it now. It’s also working against all the work over the years to make Reddy the most human robotic character I think has seen print at DC, rivaling Human Torch’s journey at Marvel.

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  3. I echo many other here who love the art but find the story light on cohesive plot. Batman has quit the League before over disputes much less critical than villain amnesty. I can’t believe he is so willingly going along with it – even as “guardrails” for when things go south (and they will).

    I also agree with you, Martin, that they should not spoil last page reveals on the cover. Save that for the cover of the first true issue of the arc.

    I didn’t realize Livewire had made enough of a turn to become a member of the JLU, but I love that they have continued her romance with the Creeper. It’s about time both characters had some happiness.

    Finally, are we ever going to find out what happened to the Justice League crew that went time-hopping at the beginning of KO? Air Wave made it back, but what about the rest of the team? Did they get killed on the mission like the time-lost heroes that followed Mr. Terrific into Hell? Who is Legend? Don’t make an entire special issue about a group of characters you never intend to return to. I hate unanswered questions!

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    1. Great point, Batman should not be a party to this… why the heck do they need dubious types when they have access to hundreds of heroes? Especially if every villain has to have a babysitter.

      Livewire has helped Superman once or twice, but your instincts are right. I wonder if Waid is getting her mixed up with fellow white-haired Metropolis reformed bad guy (or was she just possessed?) Silver Banshee and maybe even Justice League Orlando member (Killer) Frost.

      And yes to actually finishing old storylines.

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      1. I am not bothered that Batman would see this as an opportunity to help many of these villains turn their lives around. What I do have a problem with is him just jumping into it with many of the official league members unaware and showing up at crime or disaster scenes and attacking the villains who are actually trying to help.

        Batman is supposed to plan for everything, yet he planned for nothing here.

        I wanted the JL to be more a kin to the JL of pre-crisis era. A team that called up members as needed for adventures, but this is everyone in board all the time.

        and what they keep doing to airwaves screams of irresponsibility. He’s a kid.

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      2. You can argue that they knew him as Maser, etc, but yeah, that’s not been acknowledged at all. Thankfully. Yeah, we’re getting a Waid veneer on management driven plots is what it feels like. Good reads that don’t hold together upon examination like his writing would normally.

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      4. Great points all round, Air Wave (II) does seem to have been deaged by a few years, he was a grown man in Firestorm, becoming Maser. I don’t know why Geoff Johns made him a lost hero of the Forties, he didn’t debut until the Bronze Age.

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      5. If I understand the relationships correctly, this is not Harold Jordan (Air Wave Ii/Maser) or Larry Jordan (the Golden Age Air Wave). This is Harold Levi, one of the time-lost sidekicks from the 40s. His relationship to Larry Jordan hasn’t really been explained yet.

        Harold Jordan was last seen in a cameo in the 2024 holiday anthology. So technically, there are two Air Waves right now.

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      7. I liked Hal as Air Wave and that transferred to this new kid without realizing he was just one of those complete physical (and I suppose vocal) twins that every hero in the DCU has at least five of out there. If they bring back the Hal Jordan with the more appealing characterization let’s hope Maser doesn’t return with him. Since he travels and controls the e-m spectrum Spectrum would be good.

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      8. He debuted in the Stargirl & the Lost Children mini. I don’t know why they had 13 missing characters at the end of the New Golden Age special. There were well over 2 dozen kids revealed to be lost in time. Even if take away all the pre-existing characters (The Newsboy Legion, Little Boy Blue and the Blue Boys, Dyna-Mite, Pinky, Wing, etc.) There are still more than 13 new characters. Weird.

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  4. I think Silver Banshee is semi-reformed now, too. She was still dating Jimmy the last time we saw them, right?

    Killer Frost is definitely in the League, as she had to be manipulated by Psycho-Pirate into fight the Titans. She went on sabbatical after that to process everything. I hope she didn’t go to Sanctuary for that…

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Published by martingray1

Journalist, comic reviewer, theatre critic, film lover, biscuit fan, cat indulger