Control is the one thing we as humans all desire. Even though our world isn’t filled with alien invasions, magical hordes seeping into our dimensions or insane clowns making elaborate death traps for billionaires dressed as giant bats. What we have is the illusion of control in the chaotic world that we live in, (yes even before the results of the 2016 election). Does the same apply to our costume adventures who deal with Earth shattering events on a daily basis? What does this have to do with Justice League? Read further on to found out, spoilers are too follow.
Sticking with themes for this review, I will continue to appreciate that Hitch is effortlessly blending epic scope the Justice League operates on with an emotional anchor. When you look at Batman, the antagonist Jesse James (not the Trickster I was confused at first too), Cyborg, and even Baz as they struggle to regain control after the chaos that started last issue. With the Justice League, the perception that they are the best of the DCU. So seeing them from a perspective of weakness is a bit refreshing from time to time. It doesn’t remove their iconic status as the Justice League but it makes them feel more realistic without removing some of the more fantastical elements of the DCU.
It’s as if some writers get in their heads that comics can either be realistic or fantastical, and neither can coexist together. Thankfully Hitch is able to balance the best of both, to create an entertaining comic that appeals to fans who might not be that into the Justice League.
With the previous arc dealing with an alien entity that wanted to consume us to prevent an invading horde, it’s safe to say that Hitch stuck to what most people generally expect when they open a Justice League comic. It is a bit cliche to make the antagonist angry at the Justice League due to whatever reason Jesse James comes up with, but in this instances it works. In most comics I’ve read where this the focal point of the story they give little reason for readers to care outside of their anger. What Hitch does is he gives one scene that humanizes Jesse James, a father of two who is grieving for the loss of wife by being consumed with revenge.
Neil Edwards continues his best to mimic Hitch’s style and by in large it still looks really good. This might be a nitpick but there was double page splash and focusing on Wonder Woman’s face for just a second it doesn’t look like a face one would make after being hit by a Green Lantern construct. It looks like she’s having an orgasm mid fight and honestly it’s really distracting and I’m not sure what Neil Edwards was thinking. It doesn’t detract from the good art from the rest of the issue but it’s nothing to celebrate about.
The only problem I had with this issue is that I wish Hitch found someway to actually have the members of the Justice League to work together as a team instead of finding ways to separate them all and showcase their own abilities instead of what makes them great as a team.
I’m not sure what Hitch’s end goal for this arc will end up being but I’m invested for the ride as I want to see how he wraps up this arc. Its not everyday that the Justice League show up in the suburbs of Colorado.
Justice League #9 earns 3/5