Geoff Johns wraps this arc in this issue which was really about exploring a new origin for the Justice League in the new 52 reboot. I must say, I think he and Jim Lee and the rest of the creative team did well and accomplished what they set out to do. It was a fun, action packed, accessible and beautiful comic.
We continue in this issue with our heroes catching up with Darkseid and trying to take him down. While they struggle, Batman follows Superman to Apokolips and finds him being tortured by Desaad and Steppenwolf. We have new designs for these flunkies of Darkseid. And it is interesting to note Darkseid seemed to be looking for his daughter. Hmm, now who could that be?
Wonder Woman gets time to shine in this issue. We see the brave, feisty and confident warrior. She's a bit of a swashbuckler type is our new, younger Diana. There is no blood lust here. She simply, as a trained warrior, enjoys the exhilaration of a fight and when she triumphs she shows it. She also shows some of what drives her while she fights a tyrant like Darkseid and demands to know where Superman is.
Geoff gives us one of our best moments of the book where Diana follows though with her suggestion from the last issue. Yes! She blinds him!
Aquaman follows up with a trident in the other eye and still the lord of Apokolips will not fall. Cyborg suggests that they could try to send him home. Back through the boomtubes. He attempts to connect with the mother boxes. This creates a diversion as boomtubes blast open even where Superman is being tortured. Batman tries to get the Man of Steel, who is badly injured after being tortured mentally and physically, to get up.
Superman sees Wonder Woman on the ground at Darkseid's feet and he summons the energy to go for him. We get the best panel of the book here which I will show last. But suffice to say, while Superman stops him momentarily, they still are struggling as a team to take the New God down. It is left to Cyborg now and Batman urges him to try.
Cyborg manages to fry every mother box and send Darkseid home. Of course he promises that this is not the end. He will return. The city is a mess and the group are suddenly seen as heroes by the public. Which is something they did not expect.
The group assemble sometime in the future, (after they clean up, I assume) and are rewarded for their heroism by the President. The world now sees them as a team. They are not quite sure what they are. Some of them are keen to work for the greater good, others are not too eager. But it's clear to us, these are going to become the world's greatest superheroes.
The back-up story featured the new lady, Pandora, and the Phantom Stranger. What their roles are in this new 52, I have no clue. But as seen in Flashpoint, Pandora was responsible for the change to the world. Was this DC's back door to try to weasel back to old continuity if the reboot did not work? Who knows. The fact of the matter is the reboot was a success and I for one have no desire to go back to the old verse.
This whole story has been very entertaining. It is perfect for new readers and you can safely give this to anyone from ten years old and up, who have no knowledge of DC and I am sure they would enjoy and understand it. On the whole everyone had good moments and worked to their strenghts. That has been very refreshing when we are so used to Batgod moments and Batman hogging the spotlight. Superman and Wonder Woman were treated well. Superman, I think, got some beautiful and strong panels and sequences and Diana herself had some memorable moments. So I am fairly happy with this first arc.
Story this issue and overall, I give 4 out of 5 stars.
Art this issue and overall 5 out of 5 stars.
Best panel: Superman as he ploughs into Darkseid.
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