Review: Justice League #25

Scott Snyder is a force of nature. Since his “Black Mirror” arc in Detective Comics way back when, he has risen to the stellar heights as one of DC’s go-to scribes. Snyder has contributed a voluminous entry to DC continuity, his complex and meticulously planned narratives are the stuff of comic book legend. Nowhere is that more evident than in his Justice League opus. This current arc is beyond ambitious, epic in scope this story resonates throughout the entire DC Universe. Perhaps the most impressive element of Snyder’s work in general and Justice League specifically is his ability to tell an epic story with huge stakes and long ranging ramifications while focusing on intimate character beats.

Issue #25 concludes the “Sixth Dimension” storyline while kicking off the huge Year of the Villain event. The final confrontation between Superman and the World Forger figures prominently into this oversized issue, but that is just one thread in this engrossing, action-packed chapter in the Justice League’s ultimate battle with the Legion of Doom. With the League’s attention off-world, Mr. Myxyzptlk continues to run roughshod over the planet with only a skeleton crew of Leaguers to deal with the menace from the 5th dimension.

The opening sequence is a small, quiet moment shared by a young Clark and Pa Kent. The boy from Krypton is being taught to rely on his human wits over his super human powers to start a fire. It’s a moment that goes on to loom large thematically over the entire narrative, and is yet another example of how astutely Snyder uses these seemingly small, but emotionally charged moments to enhance and define the larger elements of plot. The drama is huge in this issue, at least as prevalent as the more bombastic, action heavy elements, almost as though Snyder is telling two stories side by side, converging as the narratives unfold, until culminating is an extremely satisfying conclusion. The emotional stakes enhance the action, lending a human perspective to the super human excitement. Although this is a Superman story at its core, it couldn’t have packed the emotional impact it does without Batman’s human contribution.

While Snyder’s writing takes center stage, this epic tale would not have been as perfectly orchestrated without James Tynion IV’s precise collaborative effort, particularly in wrapping up this chapter and launching the next. The two have a long history of exploring Gotham and the wider Bat-related worlds together. Their work on the New 52 title Talon was spun out of Snyder and Capullo’s epic “Court of Owls”arc. Tynion handles the Luthor-centric element of the issue in it Luthor casts the Justice League as failures and their attempt to keep the world safe has in fact placed it squarely in peril.

Visually, Jorge Jimenez is at the top of his game. He shows his considerable talents as a storyteller as well as a mind-blowing artist. To say the action is huge would be a gross understatement. Jimenez can scarcely be contained by the confines of the page. His brilliant approach to page design keeps pace with Snyder’s script, punching up the action with beautifully choreographed and stunningly rendered battle sequences. The character moments are likewise gorgeous and painstakingly detailed down to the endlessly expressive facial features and body language. His take on Superman is especially brilliant in this issue, he captures a full range of emotions in the Man of Steel. Jimenez has one of the most extensive visual vocabularies in comic books, without reading a single word this book tells a complex and intriguing story through Jimenez’s intricately plotted panels. Alejandro Sanchez’s coloring adds depth and intensity to Jimenez’s work bringing a sense of cinematic excitement to the visual aspects of the book.

In the concluding pages, Javier Fernandez takes over the artistic duties. While there is an obvious shift from Jimenez’s very recognizable style, Fernandez handles the task with ample artistic aplomb. The tone is a bit darker in Tynion’s script and that is subtly reflected in Fernandez’s art. The page designs are dynamic and work seamlessly with Jimenez’s keeping the kinetic energy flowing through the entire work. Hi-Fi’s colors are a perfect fit for Fernandez and Tynion’s slightly darker tone.

Overall this book is even greater than the sum of its brilliant parts. Each of the individual elements does exactly what its supposed to do, Snyder and Jimenez continue to elevate their collaborative efforts creating an intensely satisfying and utterly entertaining conclusion to one of their most impressive Justice League arcs. Tynion and Fernandez provide a perfect preface to the upcoming Year of the Villain event while closing out the issue quite nicely. This issue is as close to perfect as it gets and pays off on Snyder’s precisely crafted arc in spades. 5/5

[yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]

Writers- Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV
Artists- Jorge Jimenez, Javier Fernandez
Colors- Alejandro Sanchez, Hi-Fi
Letterer- Tom Napolitano