New Artist, Same Lack of Story

Justice League #4

Writer: Bryan Hitch
Artist: Jesus Merino
Inker: Andy Owens & Jesus Merino
Colorist: Tomey Morey
Letterer: Richard Starkings
Published by DC Comics, 2016.

The Extinction Machines, Part Four
I really wish I knew where this story was going, but I am so confused. Sure, we get lots of action – cool fights, journeys to space and the core of the Earth, and plenty of emotional scenes – but I’m still not sure what the whole point is. Yes, I know the league has to defeat all the things to save the planet, but I find the attackers lacking in motivation. And this is four issues into the story. I would have expected something other than action in almost 100 pages of the comic.

Don’t get me wrong, the action is pretty intense, and I am enjoying it. The scenes with Superman’s struggles inside the planet are dramatic and reflect his frustrations, Wonder Woman’s conversations with the Kindred are illuminating but excruciatingly slow, and whatever the Lanterns are doing out in space is undoubtedly intriguing, but I’m not sure how Batman fits into this story. He seems just to be standing around on the Kent’s farm, telling Lois her husband must have failed, and they need a new plan, while Aquaman is just talking to crystals as Atlantis falls apart.

This is not the League I recall from the stories from before Rebirth. There seemed to be some cohesiveness, teamwork, and well…story. This kinda seems like the bad guys show up, and the good guys fight them – cool action but not much else.

I certainly hope the finale of this arc in the next issue marks a turning point where the reader is granted illumination into what is going on, and we start seeing some substance in this series. This is not what I expected from the opening chapter of the Justice League for the Rebirth era.

Verdict

Once again, this issue disappoints, and I have to say that if I were not trying to read through the Rebirth issues in order, I would have likely set this title aside after this issue.

I rate this issue a Skip, but I’m gonna stick with it for now.

This comic can be found on Comixology, on DC Universe, or at your local comic book shop.

Comic Corner | Reading Recommendation of Justice League #4