Comic Review: Justice League vs. Suicide Squad #5 (DC Comics)

“Max saved the world in a matter of minutes. You of all people know the power of the League, my friend. Don’t come for us.”

Maxwell Lord has finally achieved his mission of not only getting revenge on Amanda Waller but also obtained control of the Heart of Darkness crystal, thus giving him control of anyone he is in reach of. What better team to exact your own brand of world peace, which the Justice League is best suited for the task and takeover. With Waller hostage, the Justice League under the influence of Maxwell Lord’s amplified powers, and the world under Lord’s supreme security, how will Batman, and the remaining Suicide Squad stand a chance against this powerful onslaught? What side will Lobo choose? Can the Justice League break from Maxwell Lord’s immense power? Or will Maxwell Lord reign supreme once and for all?

There is no doubt that the seeds planted within this book, is an immense for shadow for what is to come and a change in status quo of how Batman will run his own kind of specialized Justice League down the line. New allegiances are formed that will be further explored once this mini-series event concludes next week.  The writing is well paced, never having dull moments that make the book drag. It manages to keep up to speed and is well told and narratively tight. The characters and their motivations even after the battle that was fought from the issue prior are sound and makes sense. Although, admittedly, I wish there was a bit more plausibility as to why Lobo would decide to switch sides beyond just doing it nonchalantly or for the sake of plot, but despite that, it doesn’t take away from the overall plot and helps build the excitement for Batman’s upcoming assault on Maxwell Lord’s new regime. What I enjoy the most is seeing Maxwell Lord utilizes the Justice League in a way that makes sense, strategically using them to develop world peace by utilizing security in the air, water and land which is well handled and plausible. When you have Green Lanterns for air support, an Aquaman for water security,  a Flash, a Superman, and a Wonder Woman for land, and a Cyborg for overall internet/program security on a global scale, that’s when you know when utilized right. The Justice League are a dangerous team not to be reckoned with, which Joshua Williamson handles that facet so well. It’s hard for me to believe that he isn’t writing the main Justice League title aside from writing the Flash because he is a perfect candidate or a worthy successor

For that title due to his writing. It’s fast paced, fun and you don’t get lost in the narrative, it’s all narrowly focused on the story and that is a good thing that isn’t often seen at times with most writing or team books these days.

The artwork by Robson Rocha continues to keep the ongoing visual narrative and style consistent and enjoyable. After seeing the other artists from the prior issues keeping the distinct styles uniquely similar to one another, Rocha manages to do that with ease without trying. Seeing Maxwell Lord sitting at the white house or the double page spread that displays the chaos brought about by Lord is stylistically defined. Rocha executes the scale and scope in terms Maxwell Lord when showcasing a display of chaos that also showcase the obvious ramifications of Lord coming into power. The inkers do a good job at building weight in Rocha’s pencils, and Rob Leigh continues to do fine in the lettering department.  This series has been a very entertaining and enjoyable series that has managed to arrive on schedule on a weekly basis. Compared to other events such as Marvel’s Civil War 2, it’s managed to tell a great story, and execute gloriously in its release time. Since there is one more issue left, I suggest to definitely get the other issues in addition to being this one. It won’t disappoint.