Comic Review: Justice League Dark (2018-) #3

Justice League Dark (2018-) #3

DC Comics

Writer: James Tynion IV

Artist: Alvaro Martinez

It only took three issues of Justice League Dark to make me see that it will be a must read in the hands of this creative team. Previously, the team was told that Doctor Fate sold them out to someone more powerful. This run has been about magic: where it comes from and how it works. It was an interesting concept for the last two issues, but here we finally see what the Dark League is up against.

At the end of the last issue, we were introduced to The Upside-Down Man. This issue takes place in a matter of minutes, so it is difficult to talk about without spoiling it, and I am not spoiling this juicy issue for all of you readers. What I will tell you is that in this issue we get to see the full potency of the magic and it comes in the form of The Upside-Down Man. He unleashes a power that immediately makes us question if anyone in the DC Universe could compete with it, let alone stop it. The issue opens with a less exciting glimpse into the life of Zatanna as she was trained by her Father. I enjoy seeing these moments, but they are dull in comparison to what the issue really has to offer. Also, as has been mentioned by me before, John Constantine makes another nice appearance in this issue. I hope they keep him involved because I don’t think a Justice League Dark team is right without him coming around. With this series being so focused on magic, Constantine fits right in.

This is the first issue where Tynion has given me a reason to hitch my wagon to his star. The story is now forever changed by what happens in this issue, and it gives the reader the full weight of what the Dark League, and the world, has to fear. Kudos to him for showing us the stakes and how high they are. While it is commendable that he drew up this story, he isn’t the star of this show.

Alvaro Martinez. This is the guy! This is who we need to follow. His work in this issue is just amazing. The art is the star of this issue, and Martinez deserves most of the credit for the book being so good. He already draws the characters well, but here he is having a field day sketching out the splash pages and delving into the madness that Tynion created. A lot of these panels should be hanging on any horror fans wall. It is grotesque and dark and oh so lovely.

You have heard me say this before, but this issue needs to be read in order to be understood. I can sing it’s praises, but you must see The Upside-Down Man for yourself. You must witness his powers yourself. I can only hype it up, Dear Reader, I cannot read it for you.