Review: Justice League Vs Godzilla Vs Kong 2 #3

Justice League Vs Godzilla Vs Kong 2 #3 came out this week and continues to be a fun mashup of the Monarch Universe and the DCU. The first series was a hoot and this one is just as fun, a high action adventure with heroes, villains, and monsters.

Writer Brian Buccellato continues to weave a good story of a villainous Suicide Squad trying to obtain power and technology from the Monarch Earth. Setting the series on that Earth has led to some fun wrinkles, like our Kryptonian heroes not utilizing this yellow sun to peak efficiency and powering down. But it is the dual villainous leads of Lex Luthor and Colonel Shaw that I find most interesting. Who will backstab who first? As always, Supergirl continues to play a decent role in the book which makes me happy. Seeing her team up with Wonder Woman is always a treat and it is here as well.

Christian Duce remains on solo art and continues to give us a gorgeous book. This issue is more human machinations than kaiju mayhem. But there are a couple of panels that I will point out where you see just how great his art is.

And we end on a cliffhanger which I am going to guess how it turns out within the review. This time I'm right!

On to the book. 

The book opens with Harley Quinn seeking out a therapy session with this world's Harleen Quinzel to discuss the former's love/hate obsession with the Joker. I like how the sane Quinzel seems completely befuddled about the insanity of Quinn.

I doubt this scene will impact the series in any way. But why not have Quinn meet a version of Quinzel if you are on a different Earth. 

And now Quinn knows that Waller is dead and Shaw is running the show. I can't imagine these Task Force X villains are going to willingly bend the knee to a Colonel from another world. But we'll see.

Meanwhile, last issue ended with Superman chasing Lex into a cavern where a whole throng of over-sized apes descend. On this world, Kong isn't the only big gorilla. 

At first Lex asks for a truce which Superman concedes to. But then Lex skedattles leaving Superman alone to chase off the apes. 

Love the last panel. Superman should know not to trust Lex.

And I love how Duce is subtly showing us how Superman is getting weaker and weaker. In that last panel Supes looks tired.

Meanwhile, the heroes need to get back to Batman's giant robo to use the tech there to warn the DCUniverse heroes of what is going down. Lex is here and trying to 'kaiju-ize' his comrades.  And the best chance to get to that robot is a concussed Flash.

Pretty cool to see Flash realistically act like a concussion victim. being active and concentrating kick off his symptoms: a headache and dizziness. 

Meanwhile, Lex discovers a blue energy source on this world, the 'life force' he needs. 

Remember, Croc was embiggened and ultimately died. If Lex is going to perfect his process to create giant monsters, he needs to do it safely.

I actually hope we see a bunch of kaiju-sized DC characters having at it! That would be awesome.

I talked about Duce's great art and here is one of the panels that got me.

The Flash does get to the Bat-Robo but Cheetah is there waiting for him. But then Kong shows up. 

Check out Cheetah's feline response of utter fear and puffing up her fur and tail. 

I looked at this for a long time.

Wonder Woman and Supergirl were defeated last issue and brought to the Villain's headquarters. 

Turns out it was a ruse. Once there, Diana and Kara cut loose and just throttle Task Force X.

This was the other panel I lingered on. How great to see the suddenly popular and sort of over-powered Peacemaker unconscious with his butt up on the deck of the ship. Well deserved! Laughed out loud.

And Wonder Woman recognizes Supergirl, like Superman, is loosing power and so they effectively switch dance cards allowing Diana to take out Giganta.

I truly love when Kara and Diana team up and just kick the crap out of bad guys. Loved it.

When a Monarch agent says Lex is trying to giganti-size his comrades, the heroes know that Superman is needed. But where is he.

Again, just thrilled to see these two heroes working together. Worthy of a second panel.

As for Superman, he stumbles across this world's super-hero Godzilla.

Please remember that last series, Godzilla's atomic breath basically took Superman out. It was a non-fight and a way to take Superman off the board. 

Here is my guess. 

Somehow Superman is going to get super-powered now. My guess is that in a turn of events, on this Earth, Godzilla's breath is like mega-yellow-sun.  Things are different on this world. So why not let Superman get the upper hand, the 'visiting team' at the advantage.

This time I'm right. 

Great ending splash.

What do I love about this series? It's fun! Like, a lot of fun!

Can't wait for more.

Overall grade: B+