Justice League #28 // Review
James Tynion IV and Javier Fernandez ramp up towards the Justice-Doom War as the stakes continue to perpetuate with each new explosive chapter. Tynion acts as the perfect voice for the maniacal Luthor and the ever collected Manhunter while Fernandez lays each page out with sinister pencil work to completely set the tone for this arc. With the summer blockbuster laying in wait, this issue leaves off on an utterly jaw-dropping ending and setting the stage for the prologue chapter proper still to come.
With J’onn left to find Lex Luthor after receiving an ominous message previously, the rest of the Justice League head off to the Antimatter Universe in search of none other than, the Anti-Monitor. While the rest of the League are left to face against the Legion of Doom in a ploy of distraction against the heroes, Luthor makes his new appearance and plans known to the Martian. Now on his secret base, Luthor delves his darkest secrets to J’onn before overpowering him and stealing his alien DNA before the chapter closes out.
The pencil work of Javier Fernandez fits this story arc perfectly, from the disturbed mind of Lex Luthor and into the Antimatter Universe, Fernandez delivers the sheer fear and dread these heroes must expose themselves to. Daniel Sampere joins in penciling a few pages back at the Hall of Justice. The stark contrast between the two artist works very naturally with this chapter. Sampere delivers the clean pencil work befitting for the calm of the Hall perfect to juxtapose the gritty rough linework of Fernandez. Hi-Fi wraps the issue in beautiful hues and blends both artists together closer to one cohesive voice.
Ever the master for dialogue and the more quiet moments, James Tynion IV character moments are truly what make his time on the title shine most of all. Albeit riddled with heavily impacting moments, this issue is more quiet and concerned with setting up what comes next while calling back to older plot points. Allowing for the calm before the storm, the threat continues to build as the League seemingly cannot escape their impending doom.
As the Year of the Villain proceeds, Justice-Doom War rears its head in wait as the next chapter will kick off this explosive chapter in the League’s mythos. The duo continues to work excellently together, with Tynion able to deliver exceptional characters moments on top of Fernandez’s ability to layout these quiet issues and still keep them exciting for the readers. With the prologue chapter up next, new readers will have the perfect opportunity to join along as the Justice League face down against the creator of the multiverse itself.
