Justice League #19

This issue is a perfect example of how well Geoff Johns has mastered the nuances of the majority of DC's characters. Ever since Justice League #1 came out, I've been saying that Johns should be writing Batman. He makes Bats exude such power that not many other writers have been able to do recently. And come on, anyone that can make Aquaman a top tier character basically for the first time ever has to get major props! Heck, he can even make Superman seem, yep, super.

The thing that makes this series of Justice League stand out from almost every run that has come before it, is the fact that the League is not revered by the public. In a lot of cases, it's hated. It's similar to what Brian Bendis did with the Avengers on his lengthy run on that franchise. And what that does is make these almost-gods human. We, as a society, tend to tear down our heroes today. Yes, we cheer them on when they're helping us, but as soon as their spotlight is off, or they can't help in every circumstance, they are shunned. Or worse. The world has become untrusting and cynical. And now the Justice League are privy to these new trends. It becomes a struggle for some members to understand, and others, even though they get it, don't accept it. Johns excels at showing a wide range of emotions. This issue in particular, we get the question from Wonder Woman, if they can help, then why not damn the rules? Who will stop us? Or can? That then becomes the moral dilemma that can turn a hero to a villain. Will we see how far a hero can go to save us at the expense of mortal laws? I hope it's a theme that is continued to be explored in upcoming issues.

I was very sad to see Ivan Reis leave Green Lantern, but was extremely pleased to hear he was taking over DC's premiere title. It's a pleasure to see him draw all of DC's heavy hitters every month. Every character seems to take center stage when they are on panel. There's currently no one at DC better suited for this book than Reis.

All three Justice League titles are about to cross-over this summer during the Trinity War, so hopefully the underlying themes set up in this issue don't get shoved to the background. Maybe these themes will be an integral part of the storyline? Trinity War has been a mystery for over a year, so it's hard to say exactly what it will and will not entail. But if you're going to give that event a try, I'd suggest at least starting with this issue to see just how excellent a Justice League book can be.