Justice League #32 – Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV, Writers; Howard Porter. Artist; Hi-Fi, Colorist
Ratings:
Ray – 9/10
Ray: I’ve talked about how this Justice League run is essentially an event comic in every issue, but that doesn’t do justice to how good it is. Most event comics aren’t nearly as funny as this book and don’t have half the good dialogue beats. Snyder and Tynion manage to keep the stakes sky high while never losing touch with the characters we love – not an easy feat.
In Justice League #32, the squad is still stuck in three different timelines, and Luthor and his Legion are following them around the multiverse. There’s a great scene at the beginning when former Hawkwoman- turned morally ambiguous empress Shayera Thal attempts to put out a distress call to Earth, only for Luthor to amplify it – he wants the heroes to come after him, that’s how confident he is. His interactions with the Legion and Brainiac have a great menacing edge, and Apex Lex always gives across the impression of being several steps ahead. The best dialogue in Justice League #32, though, is in the Pearl Harbor segment as the JSA and and JL squadrons work to defend the Totality. The Flashes get the best lines, and I hope Snyder or Tynion is writing a JSA title after this.
The other segment, involving the Trinity teaming up with Kamandi, is where much of the plot meat of the issue is. Last issue ended with the arrival of the Justice League One Million, a popular cult alternate reality with ties to Grant Morrison, and Justice League #32 reveals they’re under the control of Brainiac. Despite this issue having three Leagues running around, to say nothing of the Legion, there’s never a moment that feels unclear or hard-to-follow. Snyder and Tynion are very good at breaking down these complex concepts – I think Snyder is great at creating them, and Tynion’s strength with dialogue is the perfect balance.
The reveal of Brainiac’s new transformation at the end of the issue is a perfect example of what I love about comics – it’s ridiculous, but it works because there are no rules in this world. The last panel of the issue has a surprise alignment shift from an iconic character that raises the stakes even more, as the Justice/Doom War continues to eclipse most stand-alone events in scale.
To find reviews of all the DC issues, visit DC This Week.
Disclaimer: GeekDad received this comic for review purposes.
