Review: Justice League Unlimited #7

Justice League Unlimited #7 came out last week, the next part in the 'We Are Yesterday' storyline and taking another step forward in the eventual crossover of the main universe and the Absolute one. That Omega shape has been seen a lot lately and the FCBD story seemed to hint it's going to happen soon.

Writer Mark Waid continues to give us a fun story, showing us the new large League fighting a past-version Legion of Doom. I have enjoyed seeing him show the breadth of this JLU as well as the DCU (some special guests this time) as well as an old-school villain team. I have never been the biggest Grodd fan but I have enjoyed seeing him run this LoD, outsmarting Lex and coming close to ultimate power. There is even a redemption arc for poor Airwave, the unwitting traitor.

Travis Moore is on art this time and gets to stretch his legs a bit, giving us big action in different times with a large cast. He draws a pretty solid Grodd which can't be an easy task. 

I don't know if this storyline will be an all-time classic but it has been fun, especially seeing the 'past' incarnations of heroes and villains dealing with the present day world.

On to the issue.

The Legion of Doom has infiltrated the JL Watchtower and they are all armed with time-powered guns.

Even the strongest heroes, like Supergirl and J'onn, are helpless before these weapons, being blasted away. 

Pretty cool looking Kara by Moore. 

It feels wrong but I have to say I have come to quite like this 'jacket' costume for Supergirl, way more than I thought I ever would. I think I might miss it.

With all the heroes blasted away (we see them in dinosaur time, the ice age, off world, etc), the only remaining hero is Elongated Man. 

I am a big fan of the JLU cartoon and I remember vividly in the Cadmus storyline that Amanda Waller said the JLU satellite had a cannon pointing down on Earth, thus feeding into fear. So here when Grodd talk about an army in their 'space perch' looking over the world had the same feel. Interesting.

I was hoping we'd get a little more story about Pythoness but we didn't.

Why keep Ralph around? Grodd promised the Legion a hero to torture.

That is creepy.

Seeing Ralph stretch contorted is disturbing too.

Every hero is truly stuck. For some reason, they cannot break the time barrier even if they normally could. (This isn't explained ... so roll with it.)

But check this out! Supergirl, Mr. Terrific, and J'onn are flung into the future and meet ... wait for it ... Ultra. the Multi-Alien! 

I love that DC has given Mark Waid carte blanche to deep dive into every single dusty corner of the DCU. 

Meanwhile, we get a little exposition around Grodd's plans.

He needed to be on the Watchtower because the 'Omega Rift', the site of Darkseid's death is there. And it is a chronal/spatial/energy portal. And Grodd is going to suck it dry. 

It also explains how Grodd has been able to be manipulate time so easily. And what he wants.

Darkseid's death led to the Absolute Universe. So this 'rift' is another step closer to a crossover. Maybe this rift is how the evil Legion came through. 

While the heroes struggle in the times they were sent to, they are surprised to hear a unifying voice come over their comms.

It is Airwave, who has been weaponized, powering the time guns with his tachyon power. And he wants to repair the damage he's done.

I love that panel of all the heroes he is talking to. Gives Moore the opportunity to give us his take on heroes. It also reminds me of the cover of Crisis on Infinite Earths #5.

Earlier Grodd said he had a rock from Apokolips which is how he would harness the infinite power of the rift.

Turns out it was a ruse to see who would betray him. I love how it is Lex, another reminder of the JLU cartoon (and the LoD season where Grodd and Lex sparred). I also love how Grodd mocks the past Luthor for falling for the bait, something the current Lex never would.

I'll say it again. I am not a Grodd guy but I can get behind him this storyline. Waid is writing him in a compelling way. 

Grodd drains the rift of energy and is branded with the Omega sign. Since the inception of the Absolute universe, we have seen this sign appear in different places. Another sign that we'll see an Absolute Crisis soon?

But don't worry. A new JLU arrives to try and stop him, a re-integrated Airwave with a hodge-podge of wild characters from throughout the time and space - Batman Beyond, Ultra, the hook hand Aquaman, Jonah Hex, and Abin Sur!

Waid is totally sifting through the DCU and bringing it.

This was a fun issue. I glossed over the League members being stranded in their different times but they were fun. I like Airwave isn't a villain any more. And I like he is leading a team against the souped-up Grodd. 

Overall grade: B