Justice League #16
Scheduled to arrive in stores: January 23, 2018
Cover date: March 2019
“Escape From Hawkworld” – Conclusion
Writer: Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV
Penciller: Jim Cheung and Stephen Segovia
Inker: Mark Morales and Stephen Segovia
Cover: Jim Cheung
Variant Cover: Will Conrad
Reviewed by: James Lantz
Secrets and lies reveal their true faces throughout this issue. When this multiverse was born another universe ended, one whose mother, Perpetua, was imprisoned within the Source Wall with the seven dark energies of creation. Perpetua’s symbol has been drawn throughout the ages and throughout the multiverse. Should its meaning be deciphered, Perpetua will awaken. The elderly, dying Martian Keep senses this time is near and reveals the truth to J’onn J’onzz. The Martian Keep isn’t just telling him of the past, she’s telling him of his past. Ancient Earth scientists had learned that Perpetua’s warriors were human/martian hybrids. When she was placed within the Source Wall, that secret went with both Earthlings and those from Mars. Yet, DNA was taken to recreate Perpetua’s army. It came from a green Martian child J’onn J’onzz. Now, J’onn is the key to saving the multiverse from darkness. If he can’t set it on the right path, Perpetua will be free to plunge it into oblivion.
Hawkgirl and John Stewart must convince the Green Lantern Corps that Thanagar Prime has broken the law by keeping the Martian Keep captive in their vaults. Empress Shayara helps the Leaguers’ case with her madness. This is due to losing her people to Despero. Kilowog wants to arrest her. Hawkgirl, who learns her wings are a map to get where the Justice League must go to stop Perpetua, convinces him otherwise. The Justice League and the Green Lantern Corp will need all the help they can get to prevent the multiverse’s destruction. With that, Starman appears with Wonder Woman, Batman and Superman. He puts a part of Hawkgirl within Empress Shayara back where it belongs. She feels as if something missing from her had been returned to her, and it’s just in time. The Justice League and Starman will need every hero at their disposal to save the multiverse.
Story – 5: I really felt for all the characters in this issue, particularly J’onn. Seeing his younger self in a cage felt like it was ripped from the news headlines bombarding the real world today. I’m not sure if Scott Snyder wrote that scene that way on purpose, but it really tugs at your heart strings. That alone is worth the price of the comic.
It’s rare that a comic that isn’t from the past blows my mind lately, but this issue succeeded in doing just that. We get more backstory on various characters, a lead-in cliffhanger that makes me impatient for #17 and a darn good story to boot. Scott Snyder, if you’re reading this, do NOT, I repeat, DO NOT leave this title. It and the comics industry need more writers like you.
Art – 4: The interior art is slightly better in this issue. However, Jim Cheung’s images still look a bit rushed. This is why I feel this title should be monthly instead of bi-weekly. This would give artists like Cheung time to meet deadlines without having to hurry.
Cover Art – 4: Jim Cheung is doing his best homage to Olivier Coipel with this cover. It’s better than most he’s done for this series, but it’s a long way to go from his work on other titles such as X-Men.
Variant Cover Art – 4: Will Conrad did a fine job on this cover, but it looks like the inks were overdone. This makes the image look saturated with black, hiding details the buyer should get to see.
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