Written by Christopher Priest
Art by Pete Woods; Chris Sotomayor; and Willie Schu
Cover Art by David Yardin
SUMMARY:
Published by DC Comics for May 2018, the second chapter of Justice Lost is entitled “Selection.” In Estes Park West, Arkansas, team leader Cyborg discovers more sabotage by the League’s anonymous “Fan.” Outraged protesters needing emergency help during a toxic cloud disaster divides the Justice League, as to a best course of action. Risking negative public perception, both League squads reluctantly leave the scene to let the first responders assume complete control.
Aboard the JLA Watchtower satellite, Aquaman battles the Fan’s blonde assistant before she makes her escape. The returning League (Wonder Woman; Flash; Cyborg; Vixen; Batman; Atom; Killer Frost; Aquaman; Ray; Black Canary; Lobo; and Superman) discovers the Fan’s latest trap. With their orbiting base rapidly descending into Earth’s atmosphere, the League looks to Cyborg. Intent of saving everyone, Cyborg concocts a jury-rig strategy to transform the Watchtower into a makeshift ice ball as their sole means of evading potential incineration.
In Washington D.C., a high-standing congressional chairman ponders how to navigate a scheming attorney’s outlandish seventy-five billion dollar class-action lawsuit against the Justice League.
Notes: Though the image isn’t provided in this comic, artist JG Jones created this issue’s variant cover. Also, despite their cover billing, neither of the team’s Green Lanterns are present for this story.
REVIEW:
Writer Christopher Priest’s script offers an intriguing cliffhanger. Further, the implicit trust that the team has in Cyborg delivers a pivotal moment in his character’s history. Yet, it’s peculiar to see Aquaman punch apparently a human woman (even if she is a villain) seemingly at full force, and she seems just barely dazed. It makes too little sense. Further, the deceptive cover image conveys a battle of the League’s two squads, which this issue certainly isn’t. At most, the first sequence depicts a brief disagreement. Why DC Comics would resort to false advertising to boost sales is really anyone’s guess. Complemented by terrific visuals, Justice League # 40 still proves a mostly solid read.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
The single-page “DC All Access” column promotes the Dark Night: Metal mini-series.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 6½ Stars
