Comic Review: Justice League #35

Justice League #35

DC Comics

Writer: Scott Snyder

Artist: Francis Manapul

Regardless of how you feel about Snyder’s Justice League, you have to appreciate the sheer scope and magnitude of this series.  Snyder visits each and every corner of the DC multiverse in this series.  And for a Justice League book, I think this is a must.  Snyder constantly reaffirms the stakes of these character’s actions by mentioning the world around them.  And this absurd amount of continuity is on full display here in Justice League #35.

Comics are a medium that stretches across decades.  While many writers spend a considerable amount of time building up the rules and tropes of their specific run, Snyder builds his story off of the hundreds of other comics of the past century.  Now one could easily make the argument that this makes Snyder’s Justice League inaccessible. But for those who do know what’s going on half of the time (and I’m willing to bet this is a small audience), the run is incredibly rewarding.

The issue starts with characters from across the universe reacting to the Infinite Tsukuyom— I mean sigil of doom in the sky.  Not only do mainstays like Batwoman and Green Arrow pop up, but deep cuts like Catman and the Rocket Reds get equal panel-time.  If Snyder can make whatever’s going on in Justice League Odyssey feel relevant, you have to give him props.

As the story continues, we learn more about Perpetua’s goals and powers.  Instead of destroying some no-name universe, she destroys the world of Gotham by Gaslight.  It’s these types of multiversal references that make it seem like everything in the DC universe has been building towards this moment.  Snyder makes sure to build upon many of the concepts created by Grant Morrison including the Bleed and the House of Heroes.  In an industry where continuity can change on a dime, it’s nice to see Snyder diving into the DC toybox.

Despite the fact this is a Legion of Doom issue, Justice League #35 doesn’t interrupt the flow of the story like other issues in the past.  Snyder bounces between the League and the Legion (who’s basically just Lex Luthor at this point).  For the climax of Snyder’s run, I’m glad to see the heroes still get plenty of focus.

Overall, Justice League #35 is an incredibly solid installment in Snyder’s run.  Although not as stylistically interesting as previous Legion of Doom issues, Justice League #35 doesn’t take away from the climax of this already jam-packed story.  Plus, Francis Manapul’s art is as phenomenal as ever here.  If you’ve enjoyed what Snyder has done in the past with this series, Justice League #35 won’t disappoint.

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