Justice League Unlimited #2

Recap
INTO THE NEST OF THE PARADEMON! As the Justice League grapples with the ramifications of the Atom Project, a strange alert brings the team to the jungles of South America... and a horrific discovery. Can the elite Justice League strike force save a village from total slaughter? Plus... the mystery of the Darkseid heir deepens, and dissension in the ranks forces Batman's hand.
Review
Though we have only two issues so far, Justice League Unlimited is among the best DC books on shelves today. That is saying a lot because this might be one of the most exciting and inventive times in recent years. While DC is making waves with the new Absolute line of books, Mark Waid and Dan Mora have been knocking it out of the park with all of the collaborations and defining the tone and look of the DC All In era. Last month’s Justice League Unlimited #1 presented fan-favorite iconography and characters but ensured that Waid and Mora are not relying on the greatest hits. Justice League Unlimited #2 retains the momentum from issue one and throws readers right back into the jungles of Costa Rica with Blue Beetle being dragged into the shadows while pleading for Batman to help. This is all on page one and it certainly sets a chilling tone that is carried throughout the entire issue.
Along with writer Mark Waid and artists Dan Mora, colorist Tamra Bonvillain, and letterer Ariana Maher fill out the rest of the creative team. The synergy between Mora and Bonvillain is a tremendous presence in every project they work on together, with Justice League Unlimited #2 being no different. The art and colors in this issue are breathtaking, especially the scenes in Costa Rica, which lean into horror elements. Bonvillain’s use of color somehow feels grounded while feeling otherworldly. Bonvillain’s use of blue, green, and purple tones always feels distinct and engrossing. The Justice League quickly discovers that the jungle is filled with parademons, and Mora’s designs for them are near-perfect and seriously terrifying. Bonvillain’s touches like the glowing red eyes might seem simple but in reality, they are dread-inducing.
Waid excels at covering a lot of ground with large casts of characters. While the majority of the issue takes place in Costa Rica, Waid reminds readers that all is not well elsewhere, showing the Watchtower and an incident in a city involving Atom Smasher. Waid organically juggles the threads from Justice League Unlimited #1 and Absolute Power while exploring new ones, such as the revelation that J’onn J’onzz has lost some of his powers. This thread is probably the highlight of the issue with incredible writing, art, and lettering. J’onn, with Doctor Occult, faces a unique parademon and things get intense. Mora and Bonvillain deliver some of their best work here but it is Maher’s lettering that makes this scene an emotional high of the issue.
Final Thoughts
Justice League Unlimited #2 is a near-flawless entry from one of the most exciting creative teams working today. Mark Waid’s wealth of knowledge and love for these characters backed by Dan Mora’s art, Tamra Bonvillain’s colors, and Ariana Maher’s lettering ensure a fantastic book that is destined to be a classic.
Justice League Unlimited #2: The Horror, The Horror
- Writing - 10/1010/10
- Storyline - 10/1010/10
- Art - 10/1010/10
- Color - 10/1010/10
- Cover Art - 10/1010/10