COMIC BOOK REVIEW: Justice League (2018) #1 (Super Friends Done Right)

With the Source Wall broken, the League must deal with all sorts of new threats and some old ones as Martian Manhunter takes on his leadership role in what may be the League’s biggest challenge yet! All this and volcano lairs too!

JUSTICE LEAGUE #1
Authors: Scott Snyder
Artists: Jim Cheung
Inkers: Mark Morales
Colors: Tomeu Morey
Letters: Tom Napolitano
Publisher: DC Comics

What You Need to Know:

Thanks to the Justice League, the Source Wall, the wall separating the DC Universe from everything else, has broken and all sorts of goodies are creeping through. In the ensuing chaos, a new Justice League was formed with Martian Manhunter (J’onn J’onzz) nominated to take leadership.

What You’ll Find Out:

A strange comet is heading towards Earth, seen throughout every point in time, from the distant future to the ancient past.

The Justice League is tackling several foes all at once in various locations, their enemies all under the command of Vandal Savage. Martian Manhunter is communicating with them all, coordinating their efforts. But even as the League triumphs over the hordes, J’onn senses the comet coming towards Earth. He convenes the League in a “psychic boardroom” to discuss what they should do. They’re not even sure if it’s harmful or not, but J’onn knows it’s the result of breaking the Source Wall. But even as they are about to take a vote, J’onn is distracted and the connection lost, with no choice but to let the entity come.

Vandal Savage, while commanding his forces from his own fortress, is interrupted by Lex Luthor. Luthor kills Savage’s lieutenants and freezes Savage in his place, introducing Savage to his new Legion of Doom. Luthor then proceeds to beat Savage to death (which is what interrupts J’onn’s concentration) with a doorknob (made from the only substance that can kill him).

What Just Happened?

The ending of Dark Nights Metal saw the blueprints of the Hall of Justice and it became evident at that point that Snyder was a fan of the old Super Friends cartoon.

And with this new Justice League, he can create the homage that he’s probably always wanted to.

Yes, it’s early, and yes, it could crap out on us, but if the first issue is any indication, Scott Snyder is doing for Super Friends what Geoff Johns did for Aquaman: he’s making it relevant for today and turning something that used to be a joke (let’s face it, Super Friends was pretty campy) into an epic story that I can’t believe I have to wait another month to find out what happens next!!!

We have the League (maybe not quite the Super Friends version since no Robin but close to it), we have the Hall of Justice, we get the Legion of Doom, and we even get their Darth Vader-ish dome base! I mean Snyder and Cheung have pulled out all the stops in something that gives us a great sense of nostalgia and then kicks it up a notch!

Snyder, who did such a masterful job with Batman’s origins and then all new villains for Dark Nights Metal, has struck gold again with Justice League. It’s the start of a new era and I’m hoping we get this for years to come. Snyder plants several seeds and while I’m not yet sure what they will grow into, I’m certainly excited to find out.

I haven’t looked forward to a DC book yet like I’m looking forward to this one.

And I mean come on… any comic where J’onn J’onzz turns into a giant green dragon is a winner in my book.

Rating: 10/10
Final Thoughts: Snyder and Cheung give us the Justice League we’ve been wanting. It’s as good a start to an author’s run as any I’ve read and now I can’t believe I have to actually wait for part two! This month is going to be difficult!