Comic Review: Justice League (2018-) #20

Justice League #20

DC Comics

Writer: Scott Snyder

Artist: Jorge Jimenez

Justice League is easily the most convoluted book on the stands right now.  As soon as Snyder starts to explain one high-level concept, he introduces three more.  His stories are way up in the abstract and existential and sometimes miss the smaller character moments.  Snyder is usually so focused on worldbuilding that he forgets to focus on the world he’s building.  So when Snyder announced his next arc would take place in the sixth dimension, I was a little skeptical.  But despite its craziness, this arc is off to a great start.

The alternative future that Snyder depicts here is full of great ideas.  Some of my personal favorites are John becoming a White Lantern and Dick Grayson taking over as Batman.  In just one issue, Snyder does a great job of exploring this alternative future.  And all the while, there’s a good sense of tension.  We know when there are no villains in the story, the bag guys are usually the ones pretending to be good.

And that’s my main problem with this story so far, it’s pretty predictable.  This is essentially the same story as Titans of Tomorrow or the Justice Lords.  These futures with evil heroes are usually great ways to questions the heroes, but there’s just been so many of them lately.

I’ve missed Jimenez on art for the last few issues, but it’s issues like this that make it worth the wait.  Jimenez is firing on all cylinders here.  He takes Snyder’s world and gives it a beautiful form.  There’s a ton in here that he does right.  First of all, is the amazing landscape designs.  From Blackhawk Island to Gotham City during the day, Jimenez brilliantly creates this utopian future.  The character designs for the future Justice League are also on point.  Each design is unique and fitting for the character.  Something as little as the costumes of these characters pose plenty of questions that keep you reading.  And finally, Jimenez does a great job with expressions.  The new Justice League seems genuinely happy to meet their past selves.  I’ve been a fan of Jimenez in the past, but this is some of his best work.

But of course, the best thing about the entire issue was Jarro as Robin.  Do I even have to talk about this?  Jarro is the greatest new member of the Bat Family in years.

Despite its predictability, this new arc of Justice League is off to a great start.  Snyder is doing a great job of keeping the focus on the characters.  And I can’t wait to see the Justice League face off against their future selves!