Mild Mannered Reviews – Justice League #5

Mild Mannered Reviews – Justice League #5

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Justice League #5

Scheduled to arrive in stores: September 21, 2016

Cover date: November 2016

“The Extinction Machines” – Finale

Writer: Bryan Hitch
Penciller: Jesus Merino
Inker: Andy Owens & Jesus Merino
Cover: Fernando Pasarin & Brad Anderson
Variant Cover: Yannick Paquette & Nathan Fairbairn

Reviewed by: T.A. Ewart (aka liheibao)

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Aquaman races underwater to plant magic crystals around the world, in an effort to save it. Superman struggles at the Earth’s core, while Batman and Cyborg prepare for the worst. With all seemingly lost, the League succeeds in their respective efforts and the danger is averted.

2Story – 2: What started off as a promising storyline has silently imploded, and for now readers are left with an ending that owes more to Jack and the Beanstalk, than the world’s greatest heroes. Aquaman’s magic crystal solution screams of a writer whom has either 1) written himself into a corner and has no idea how to get out of it, or 2) given up on the great expectations that he started out with. Hitch’s early issues were filled with ambition, but seemed to detail beginning with Superman floundering at the Earth’s core, followed by giant beings composed of humans, stealing both speed from the Flash, power from Wonder Woman and the Green Lanterns, but for no given reason and followed by no cathartic explanation. The whole situation is resolved with the most base Deus ex Machina one could fall backwards into, and leaves nothing but dissatisfaction, and not so much because this finale is so bad, but because it began in such sterling earnest. More is the pity.

4Art – 4: Still a finely rendered book, but if you look carefully, you’ll note how similar Wonder Woman and Aquaman look. Interesting. Scary.
4Cover Art – 4: As the stories have descended, the covers have improved!
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lcmcbain
lcmcbain
September 26, 2016 11:31 am

Good review T.A. Had similar thoughts as the whole issue just seemed weird. In a bad way. (comparatively speaking)

Kal L
Kal L
September 27, 2016 9:51 pm

Very disappointing end to this first arc… Unless Hitch is planning to follow up this story in the next arc.

doomsday745
doomsday745
October 3, 2016 1:20 pm

Agree. Lately, it seems most stories do have a spectacular/interesting introduction only to fail living up to the barriers set in the beginning. I expect the payoff to come in subsequent stories, but it usually never does.

dogwelder
dogwelder
October 7, 2016 2:24 am

It’s not going to be easy for any writer after Johns’ spectacular run.