Comic Review: Justice League #36

Justice League #36

DC Comics

Writer: Scott Snyder

Artist: Francis Manapul

We’re finally here, the penultimate issue of Scott Snyder’s Justice League.  What a ride.  This run is full of both ups and downs.  Snyder beautifully weaves together many aspects of the DC universe in this series.  But at the same time, Snyder often gets trapped in the abstract as he explains his over the top concepts.  Good and bad aside, we’re finally at the end.  Now Snyder is notorious for his lackluster endings.  So how does Justice League #36 hold up?

Thankfully, Snyder absolutely sticks the landing in this penultimate issue.  While his ambitious, overarching story led to many problems throughout the run, this is where it all pays off.  Rarely does a comic encompass this massive of a scope.  Not even in Johns’ Justice League finale, Darkseid War does the DC Universe feel so connected and at risk.  With such a massive story, just about any payoff would suffice, but Snyder not only satisfies in this issue, but he also excels.

Instead of an intangible, convoluted back-and-forth of heroes and villains influencing the public with their respective philosophies, the premise here is refreshingly simple.  It’s Lex Luthor and his army versus the Justice League.  While, in the past, the majority of plot advancement happened in the various Year of the Villain tie-ins, here the action is focused on the League and the Legion.

The issue is full of standout moments from both sides as well.  The Justice League is finally back together after what feels like forever.  The Trinity starts the issue with an inspiring speech in fitting Justice League fashion.  Superman even comments on his relationship with Lex, something that’s gone understated for the majority of the run.  While the Trinity gives their speech, Barry and John continue with their bromance, one of the more enjoyable parts of Justice/Doom War. 

Don’t worry though, the villains also get their time to shine.  After issue after issue of “Apex Lex”, finally Luthor shows some character development here.  After Perpetua turns his friends into a pimped-out recliner, Lex questions if he chose the right side.  This is a glimpse of the Lex Luthor we all know and love.

Art here is also top-notch.  Manapul and Porter bring their A-game and don’t phone anything in.  Sprawling pages of the various members of the League help reinforce the scope of the issue.  Manapul includes characters from every corner of the DC Universe.  In fact, this is the first book in what feels like ages to actually include a panel of the Bat-Family.

Overall, Justice League #36 not only meets expectations, but it also exceeds them.  This is the payoff for almost forty issues of buildup.  Snyder notoriously mentions with each story that, “this is the one that everything’s been building to”. But in the case of Justice League #36, it’s actually true.  Not only is this a great issue, but it also makes me incredibly excited for the finale.

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