The conclusion to Geoff Johns' tenure on Justice League (there are two final issues to follow from other creators) finishes the epic "Darkseid War" in grand fashion.
The mythology Johns created for "Darkseid War" alone is impressive. Myrina and her daughter Grail, for instance, add not only to Amazon lore, but the New Gods as well. It's only fitting, because Johns has literally been using Justice League as his Wonder Woman series all along, with few readers apparently realizing it. Embroiled in this conflict is also, of course, Steve Trevor, who has been embroiled in a troubled relationship with Wonder Woman since the start of the series.
Grail turns out to be the real villain. By now, the New Gods mythology is well-established, so someone new had to step into the role usually reserved for Orion: how to resolve what comes after Darkseid. In Jack Kirby's original vision, Orion was the son of Darkseid while Mister Miracle was the son of Highfather. In order to secure a truce between New Genesis (home of the good guys) and Apokolips (home of the bad guys), the offspring were raised by their (presumably) former enemies. Mister Miracle, as ever, escaped unscathed. It was Orion who emerged the troubled scion. Famously, Kirby never got the chance to conclude his New Gods vision (the graphic novel Hunger Dogs didn't quite do the job). So writers have been trying to do it for him ever since, including John Byrne (Jack Kirby's Fourth World) and Grant Morrison (Final Crisis).
Johns takes a unique approach by expanding the concept with significant new characters. When he killed off Darkseid (these New Gods are always dying), he set about yet another new wrinkle. His first had been introducing the concept that Crisis on Infinite Earths' Anti-Monitor was Mobius, whose chair Metron had been squatting in for as long as anyone could remember. Darkseid's death unleashed all his powers, which went into various members of the Justice League.
The ramifications prove to be profound, in this conclusion. Batman sat in the chair, and learned the secret of the Joker's identity. Turns out there are three of them. Lex Luthor gained a killer new set of battle armor. (He'll be wearing it in the Rebirth era's Action Comics.) And Grail stole the offspring of Superwoman, from the Crime Syndicate, and made him the reincarnation of Darkseid.
The good news is, Johns also finally made Jessica Cruz an official member of the Green Lantern Corps, fulfilling the promise of a different teaser, from Green Lantern #20.
The only thing that doesn't really ring well is the art of Jason Fabok. This is weird, because every other issue of Justice League with his work hasn't been a problem for me. He has distinctive work, but I guess he's incapable of going truly wide screen which has been a staple of JLA comics since Howard Porter. It's a shame. Doesn't get in the way of the storytelling, but it produces an incomplete effect.
Still, this was exactly what fans of this run could have hoped to see. We even see, like in the beginning, Batman and Green Lantern working together, at one time a pair that seemed hopelessly incongruous. Johns solved that by letting Batman use the ring. As with Green Arrow before him (Green Lantern: Rebirth), it provides him with newfound respect for Hal Jordan. Classic.
I don't think I've read past volume 1, but maybe someday. The three Jokers thing is lame. It reminds me of the Scream movies where they'd have two killers--except in the third. Whoever comes along to retcon all that will have a fun time.
ReplyDeleteIn DC, it's not really a retcon. They liberally sprinkle in new continuities. Which is smart (except for nerdy fans who just love to complain).
Delete