Lead Feature Written by Brian Michael Bendis. Lead Art by Phil Hester; Eric Gapstur; Romulo Fajardo, Jr.; & Josh Reed.
Back-Up Feature Written by Ram V. Back Up Art by Sumit Kumar; Romulo Fajardo, Jr.; & Rob Leigh.
Cover Art by Yanick Paquette & Nathan Fairbank.
SUMMARY:
DC Comics released this 40-page issue for March 2022. Presently, the League’s roster consists of: Superman; Black Canary; the Flash; Hawkgirl; Aquaman; Naomi; Green Arrow; Hippolyta’s Wonder Woman; Black Adam; & Batman. Cameos include: Doctor Fate; Kate Spencer’s Manhunter; Jaime Reyes’ Blue Beetle; Ragman; Metamorpho; Kimiyo Hoshi’s Dr. Light; Atom Smasher; Supergirl; the Atom; John Henry Irons’ Steel; Mr. Bones; Firestorm; Vic Sage’s Question & Fire.
Entitled “The Biggest Score Ever: Conclusion,” the Royal Flush Gang’s botched heist of Superman’s Fortress of Solitude depicts multiple waves of Leaguers dispatching threats invading through interdimensional portals the Fortress guards. Quickly dispatching the hapless Royal Flushes once again, the League also contemplates what to do with Lois Lane’s mysterious half-brother: Daemon Rose. More so, DC’s nebulous spy world gives the League serious cause for concern.
Set at the mystical Tower of Fate, the ten-page Justice League Dark back-up feature is entitled “Wolves at the Door.” In a letter to the original Doctor Fate, his current teen successor, Khalid Nassour, solemnly expresses his thoughts on: Ragman; Zatanna Zatara; John Constantine; Elnara Roshtu; Jason Blood’s Demon; and Bobo/Detective Chimp. Bobo supplies young Khalid with a welcome source of emotional support.
Note: Though the image isn’t seen here, artist Alexander Lozano produced the variant cover.
REVIEW:
Aside from the League’s repetitive admonishments of a simmering Black Adam, writer Brian Michael Bendis doesn’t accomplish much here. Readers do get three consecutive double-page battle sequences (without dialogue), along with some humor at the dim-witted Royal Flushes’ expense. Beyond that, Bendis’ lackluster scripting struggles to justify this issue’s cover price. As for the primary art squad, their visuals are more than sufficient (i.e. the cover image), but they don’t bolster Bendis’ lack of initiative nearly enough.
Despite treading water like Bendis, Ram V’s ten-page effort, at least, explores a poignant collection of insights into the current Justice League Dark. One could readily construe Doctor Fate’s ‘letter’ as glorified filler, but, for new readers jumping aboard, it’s a well-played ‘Welcome to the JLD’ promo. More so, this back-up tale’s visual quality is distinctly superior to the main feature where too back-up Leaguers are treated like background fodder.
Justice League # 71’s content proves ironic. Though the JLD tale is a worthy bonus in any hardcover or trade paperback, it’s the lead feature that provides this issue’s non-essential padding.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
The credits page includes a current League roster and a summary-to-date of this latest arc. The full-page DC Nation Spotlight On hypes Monkey Prince # 1.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 5½ Stars
