Review: Justice League Unlimited #9

I was unsure if I was going to review Justice League Unlimited #9, an epilogue to the We Are Tomorrow arc. But it is clear that DC is building on something here. There is a lot happening here, weaving nicely with this week's Superman #28 and pulling the eventual clash with the Absolute Universe and Darkseid that much closer. Throw in a killer Supergirl moment and it was a no-brainer.

Writer Mark Waid brings this arc to a high-energy close by bringing in some old villains, peppering in time-tossed (and reality-tossed) DC characters, and giving us a subtle cliffhanger that left me wondering what is next. I wonder if Waid is taking advantage of his writing the New History of the DC Universe to remind him of character variations to try to showcase here. And he and Joshua Williamson are making me like this Time Trapper Doomsday, no small feat. 

Dan Mora is on art here as well as Superman #28 which makes these two issues read like a mini-event or double sized Annual. And Mora gets to have fun as he is also allowed to pepper in these character variants. He draws everybody so well so whenever he spotlights a favorite of mine, I smile. 

I will say it was luck that I read this before Superman #28 because it sort of reads better that way. Interesting they came out on the same week with this being a 5 Wednesday month.

On to the book.

Review: Batman/Superman World's Finest Annual #1

Batman/Superman World's Finest Annual #1 came out this week, the third part of the We Are Yesterday story arc coursing through this book and JLU. The basic story is the villains from the past are time traveling to the future to vex our heroes. This issue gives us the beginning of the villains' plot as Gorilla Grodd puts together his team.

This was a fun issue for a number of reasons. World's Finest is set in the past and has that classic feel. Writers Mark Waid and Christopher Cantwell mix in a lot of Bronze Age fun. First off, the villains have a Super Friends Legion of Doom feel to them. Can't go wrong there. Then, we get the World's Finest team breaking off into three mini-teams to try and stop some villains. That felt like an old school JLA or JLA/JSA crossover stories. Throw in some great guest stars and a new character and this was a bunch of fun.

I also need to point out that this book seems to contradict a primary time travel rule from the Silver and Bronze Age which means our writers are breaking new ground as well as honoring the past.

Dan McDaid is on art and brings a sort of grittiness to the proceedings. I really liked McDaid's work on the recent Kneel Before Zod mini where things were grimy and violent. He then gave a way more polished approach, still as engaging, on the Shazam book. Here the work is appropriately rough to mirror a villainous tone. I don't know if McDaid subtly changes his approach based on the story but it feels that way. I liked his work here for sure. 

On to the book!

Review: Batman/Superman World's Finest #38

Batman/Superman World's Finest #38 came out last week, the official first part of Mark Waid's We Are Yesterday arc running through this book and Justice League Unlimited. It feels more like a prologue but it certainly has that Bronze Age flair that Waid has brought to most of the proceedings here.

We know the main villain in the arc is Gorilla Grodd and he is the main villain here, albeit in the past leading up to the present-day story. I haven't always been the biggest Grodd fan. I don't think I have a great grasp of what his power set is or even how powerful he is. Here, Waid makes it clear that Grodd is a powerhouse, worthy of leading an uprising against the League.

When you get Grodd, you almost always get Gorilla City. Fun to see Solovar again, even if he is more coldblooded here than I am used to seeing. I suppose it makes sense given how many times Grodd has taken over his rule. 

And there is the usual fun moments between heroes in this else-when past. Everyone seems a little fun and very collegial. It always works for me. 

Clayton Henry is on art. I love his smooth lines and no-nonsense approach to art. I loved him on the recent Phantom Zone arc in Action Comics so glad he gets a big cast to work with here. Thankfully he does apes well. Not every artist can claim that.

On to the book.