You’ve been a loyal reader of Justice League Unlimited, and you’ve stuck with the team through the reality-bending madness of “We Are Yesterday,” and now we’re dealing with the Quantum Quorum, but let’s be real, the chaos is really starting to feel like a lot. With issue #11, Mark Waid and Di Gianomenico deliver a solid issue that’s packed with action, but it might be time for the series to switch gears before it completely loses its momentum.
This issue opens with a full-blown crisis at the Watchtower, and it’s a brilliant way to show just how outmatched the heroes are. Mr. Terrific, who is seriously one of the most athletic characters, has to face a whole swarm of Parademons on his own. Di Gianomenico’s art is a standout here; each panel is filled with a dynamic sense of motion, capturing Terrific’s jumps, flips, and slides as he tries his hardest to survive. And it looks absolutely fantastic. It’s no surprise, though, since Di Gianomenico’s extensive experience with kinetic movement is clear from his time on The Flash, and even more evident in how he makes the Speed Force energy leap off the page in a later scene.
The chaos isn’t limited to the Watchtower. We also see Captain Atom, Power Girl, Geo-Force, and the surprisingly funny Cajedo battling Darkseid’s Legion deep beneath Markovia. The vibrant, fiery oranges from Tamra Bonvillain’s colors bring the panels to life, adding a sense of heat and urgency to the fight. This location is also the source of some deep-seated evil. There’s something in the pits of Markovia that’s corrupting people, and the single panel showing a possessed Captain Atom with a Joker-like grin is genuinely creepy.
While the action is fantastic, the constant high-stakes, crisis-level events are starting to feel repetitive. Justice League Unlimited #11 is an enjoyable read with lots of intrigue and awesome art, but it leaves you wanting to get past the “tournament of champions” and back to some classic villain fights. It would be great to see the League go head-to-head with someone like Felix Faust or Despero, giving the series a chance to breathe and tell a different kind of story.
The series is still fun, and the team of Waid and Gianomenico, along with Ariana Maher’s great lettering, knows how to sell a big fight. But with the looming DC K.O. event, let’s hope the story finds a way to return to its roots after the dust settles.
Mark Waid and Di Gianomenico’s Justice League Unlimited #11 is packed with action and intrigue, as a cosmic-level threat from Darkseid forces a crisis at the Watchtower. While the art is fantastic and the issue is full of exciting fights, the constant high-stakes events are starting to feel repetitive.
‘Justice League Unlimited’ #11 When a Crisis is Just Another Tuesday
Mark Waid and Di Gianomenico’s Justice League Unlimited #11 is packed with action and intrigue, as a cosmic-level threat from Darkseid forces a crisis at the Watchtower. While the art is fantastic and the issue is full of exciting fights, the constant high-stakes events are starting to feel repetitive.
