Justice League The Darkseid War Part One Review

In the seventh volume of the best-selling Justice League series that sees the return of Darkseid, the very being that first brought earth’s heroes together and became the Justice League. His reappearance is not to take revenge on the heroes but, once again makes earth his war zone with the Anti-Monitor, one of the most destructively powerful beings in the Universe. Will the efforts of the Justice League be enough to stop these two unstoppable foes. Collects Justice League #40 – 44 and DC Sneak Peek Justice League #1 by Geoff Johns and Jason Fabok.

Get ready for one of the biggest Justice League epics in recent years. The ruler of Apokolips once came to earth that prompted the formation of the Justice League and the Anti-Monitor, the universe destroying creature that the Crime Syndicate of earth 3 fled from in the Forever Evil story. These seeds that had been sown have finally come to fruition. The opening chapter is a prologue to the events of the Darkseid War, setting the stakes for what’s to come, while giving the reader some background the history of the DC Universe and introduces Grail, the daughter of Darkseid that’s joining the war against her father. There is some fantastic artwork in this opening chapter that depicts various timeline resets illustrated by guest artists throughout the issue, the recreation of the Crisis on Infinite Earths is stunning. It’s pretty heavy on the narrative before the main events of the story are set into motion. 

In a Terminatior esque opening, two evil new gods track and kill every woman that shares the name of their target that draws in the Justice League and the introduction of Mr. Miracle on Apokolips sets a foreboding tone of thigs to come. Things go to another level as the Justice League come into contact with Metron, the new god who observes events of the universe. The scale of the story is the biggest of the series the conflict on the two giant godlike beings having there war on earth where all most of the league can do is watch, elsewhere Superman continues his mistrust of Lex Luthor and the two are thrown into a situation where they are forced to work together, even though there missing out on the main action there is subplot is interesting with its own share of action and intrigue. The New Gods and the Amazons are one of the more interesting aspects of DC Universe, the two seemingly unconnected facets that this story originates from. Most chapters are narrated by Wonder Woman, it’s great seeing her as a front and centre along with her new costume redesign by Fabok in the last arc gives the character a welcomed focus while her narration adds that extra layer of gravitas to the conflict. Much of the league have great character moments, some even going through a vast transformation as they become more than human. While many stories claim that they takes the heroes in a new direction, here it’s an understatement, you’ve never seen Superman, Batman and the Flash like this before. Artist Jason Fabok made a spectacular debut in the previous story-line and he’s in finer form here, his dark but no less heroic art style gives an epic quality, blending intricate details and powerful superhero physiques while possessing a strong ability to convey emotions and moods. 

Even though the last volume was ten issues long this book is only half as long and ends on a pretty shocking cliff hanger. It would have been great to get the complete story in one volume but ending it here allows readers to get into companion piece graphic novel Justice League: Darkseid War - Power of the Gods, consisting of one shots of the heroes with their new abilities and roles. Ever since the launch of the New 52 DC Comics flagship title has been getting bigger and better, the Darkseid War is becoming Johns' epic finale in this best-selling and acclaimed series. With all the series of the New 52 the Justice League has the most benefited of the relaunch with many different having a fresh start from what’s happening in their own respective titles.

For the first part of the Darkseid War, it’s shaping up to be one of the finest Justice League story lines by Geoff Johns. It's epic superhero action on an unprecedented scale. Johns has been setting the story in motion for an over a year now and anytime they bring Darkseid into the mix you know it is going to be an epic story, and this one is no different. Usually stories of this scale become big crossovers, but this is a self-contained story. It’s another dark and superhero spectacle with epic confrontations, dramatic plot twists and cinematic art that isn’t just another Darkseid conflict, this is bigger and more unpredictable.

Wolverine Old Man Logan Graphic Novel Review

The Wolverine has hung up claws and now lives a quiet life with his wife and children at their farm. Set fifty years in a dystopian future Logan tries to live a peaceful life in a world where heroes are no more, the villains have won and taken over. Coming off the success of the hit story line Enemy of the State, writer Mark Millar returns to make another Wolverine epic this time joined by artist Steve Mc Niven making this classic 2008 story arc. Collects Wolverine #66-72 and Wolverine Giant-Size Old Man Logan.

The Wolverine is gone, now a peaceful family man, Logan seeks to live a life without violence and hasn’t used his claws since that day fifty years ago when the heroes fell. He's not the man he was, what changed him. Logan now lives a very different life in a very different world. He along with his family tends to his plot of land in the territory owned by the Hulk, unable to pay his rent this month he takes a beating form the Hulk gang, the once feared Wolverine takes a beating and doesn’t fight back. With the threat of their return and fearing for his family he accepts an offer of old friend and former Avenger; Hawkeye. Offering him a job to travel with him across the country to deliver a package. The two set off on a cross country road trip coming into a bit of trouble and diversions time to time. It becomes a road movie as the duo set off on a road trip that's sprinkled with many Marvel references to other heroes throughout. It works extremely well as a stand alone story. Its not your typical superhero story, its more of a alternative take on the superhero tale, the bleak environment and sombre colours set the tone. As the story progresses, flashbacks tease what happened to the Wolverine that night and what changed him. The shocking revelation adds to the already great story. Dedicating most of the chapter to that pivotal moment in Logan’s history, so much story had hung on this moment and it doesn’t disappoint.

It can seem like a short read as it can be light on the dialogue but for big on action, artist Steve Mc Niven is able to reimagine the fate of the Marvel Universe. His movie blockbuster style of panels and double page spreads make for some unforgettable images. Both he and Millar are allowed to flex their imaginative talent in this story setting. This story posses some fantastic art and detailed panels, with fun nods and references of Marvel characters scattered throughout. Mark Millar crafts a fantastic tale, it’s really well told. It has slightly familiar elements in the case that it feels like a Mad Max setting with a reluctant Clint Eastwood style hero. This is a fantastic story, injecting a fresh and fun twist to make for an innovative and classic story.The involvement of the Hulk pays homage to the original first appearance of Wolverine in The Incredible Hulk #181 in 1974. An excellent story, this version of Wolverine has seen a resurgence recently due to the Old Man Logan iteration of Wolverine getting his own series being part of the Marvel Universe. It’s also the storyline is rumored to be the influence for the upcoming third Wolverine movie.

It’s a big bold action story, that’s thrilling, exciting and imaginative. The story is a creative take on a different Wolverine than we’re used to. It fuses superhero elements with a in a western like tale of a man’s quest for peace. Pitting Logan against with who he wants to be against the man he truly is. It’s a fantastic story that's become a modern classic and one of the greatest Wolverine stories.