Comic Review: Justice League #28 (DC Comics)

Martian Manhunter continues his search for Lex Luthor, in the hopes to prevent him from descending further into madness.

Hoping to salvation the friendship that they had as a child, Manhunter must make decisions that will test his trust amongst friends. Meanwhile, the rest of the Justice League, along with the monitors, arrive into the antimatter universe to find the Anti Monitor in aid of his strength. With his help, the league might stand a chance against Luthor and Perpetua. But, where is the Anti Monitor? Where has he gone? Can Manhunter prevent Luthor’s plans from coming to fruition? Or has the year of the villain begun?

This is the finale of the short Apex Predator arc which provides a ton of set up that was established from the Year of the Villain 1 shot. I feel that Tynion really gets to go in with kick-starting just what Lex Luthor is truly planning which far proceeds what was set up from Year of the Villain issue 1. Tynion does an amazing job at setting different stories into motion. The A plot focuses on Manhunters investigation and discovery of Luthor’s whereabouts, while the B plot focuses on the Justice League attempting to find the Anti- Monitor. It’s fascinating that with an even larger cast of characters that Tynion is able to balance each plot, keeping readers invested in what is happening, while simultaneously surprising readers with the final pages that really set the tone.

I feel that What Tynion has done here in this issue, given that he and Snyder have set up the foundations for what is to come, reminds me of Marvel’s Dark Reign era which is fantastic. I’m really enjoying the chain of events that are gonna drive the Justice League and the universe into the heart of madness. Admittedly it’s interesting that Martian Manhunter and Lex Luthor’s relationship as former friends is still an odd retcon, but given that its produced intriguing results, I feel that it’s worth investing for the long ride that Tynion, Snyder, and company are driving.

In regards to the artwork, Fernandez and Sampere share art duties which make the book a visual feast. While there isn’t anything mind-blowing as the issue prior, it’s still beautiful and enjoyable to look at. Juan Albarran’s inks coupled with Fernandez and Sampere’s pencils, along with Hi-Fi’s colors really makes this finale a visual treat. What happens in this issue will impact a lot of the DC titles. I feel that this issue it’s worth adding to your pull list to not only read a good story but to witness from the ground floor what Lex Luthor has planned for the entire DC universe.