Justice League #18 // Review
Taking the reins from Snyder and riding solo this time around, James Tynion IV delivers yet another fantastically sinister Legion of Doom issue. Following the threads left over from the last arc, Lex and Brainiac take priority while setting the stage for the upcoming “Year of the Villain” event slated for later this year. DC’s flagship title will continue to bring in readers with the sheer ambition and importance long since missed from the title.
The epilogue to the final arc of this first year, this chapter delves deeper into the maniacal duo’s plans for themselves and the newly retrieved, Perpetua. While more revelations, and retcons, of the past, continue to come into the light, Lex and Brainiac scheme even behind their own team’s back to meet a far greater goal. The ramifications from Mars continue to lie fresh on Luthor’s mind as they must retreat to the shadows for the next step to a much larger plan.
The pencil work of Pasqual Ferry tends to not keep up with the scripts Tynion commands, leaving an underwhelming aesthetic throughout this issue. Albeit lacking in detail, the uncomplicated art is still serviceable for this more character drive issue. Hi-Fi always produces fantastic colorwork across multiple titles at DC, and even this issue is no exception, adding a unique look for this chapter.
The utilization of the Legion of Doom issues add insight into the villains without copping out and attempting to paint them as sympathetic. Tynion never grasps for the low hanging fruit but instead tries to sell the reader on what makes the villain so interesting for being evil rather than attempting to relate with the character and rationalize their behavior. These are villains; they are evil, watch them be evil. Simple but effective. As a long time reader himself, Tynion knows what readers like and what can make even one conversation for twenty-two pages an absolute page-turner.
James Tynion IV further implants himself as the next in line for the main Justice League title with yet another masterful take on the most sinister villains of The DC Universe. As the next arc dealing with the Justice League of the 6th Dimension begins next issue, now is the perfect time for anyone who hasn’t been reading to start. Between Snyder and Tynion, this flagship title continues to stand as the premier team book on store shelves.
