JSA #22 Review

 

JSA #22 Review

Writer: Jeff Lemire

Artist: Diego Olortegui

Colorist: Luis Guerrero

Letterer: Steve Wands

Cover Artist: Pete Woods

Variant Cover Artists: Cian Tormey & Matt Herms

Editors: Marquis Draper, Andrew Marino & Katie Kubert

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $3.99/$4.99 Card Stock

Release Date: August 5, 2026

 

After Jim Corrigan died, he bonded with the Spectre. The two had a long career fighting crime and righting wrongs together. But when Darkseid tried to command this aspect of the Presence, he broke that bond. Now, as Metron guides four young heroes in search of the former police detective, the Spectre bonds with another of Alan Scott and Jay Garrick's young heroes. Will Wildcat form a lasting bond with the Spectre? And how wisely will she wield the Vengeance of God? Let’s leap into JSA #22 and see!

 

Story

The Spectre was tearing New York apart. Whenever it bonded with a Human host, it set out to judge anyone within reach. Yet in Yolanda Montez, aka Wildcat, the Spectre finds a more willing partner. Unlike her JSA teammates, the Spectre doesn’t overpower her. Instead, Yolanda uses the Spectre’s abilities to leave New York behind and travel to Belle Reve Prison.

 

As JSA #22 follows Yolanda's search for vengeance, Metron transports Stargirl, Jakeem Thunder, Dr Fate, and Kid Eternity to Gotham City. While Yolanda walks past the cells, searching for her first victim, Dr Fate and his friends search for Jim Corrigan in the moments before his death. Yet all is not as it appears in 1940. Nor is acting as judge, jury, and executioner a simple thing.

 

As members of the JSA search for missing teammates in the past and present, Dr Fate and his friends confront the reality of who the Spectre is, and what bonding with it involves. But the clock is ticking. While the kids deduce clues and search Gotham for Jim Corrigan, the Spectre continues its quest for a partner. And if it cannot find a hero to bond with, it'll choose someone else driven to wield its power in JSA #22.

 

Art

When Yolanda walks down empty halls lined with iron bars, Ruby Sokov watches her pass. Yolanda's costume betrays her fusion with the Spectre. When she reaches the cell of a woman she believes deserves her anger, Yolanda incinerates the metal bars between them. Then, she raises Queen Kobra by the neck with one hand. Jade, Obsidian, Hourman, Sandy, Jay Garrick, and Alan Scott follow Yolanda inside the cell. All of them have struggled with loss in the JSA. Yet Alan, who brought Ruby Sokov into the team, stands directly behind Yolanda.

 

While Luis Guerrero adorns Diego Olortegui’s art with a vibrant palette, the green Spectre’s determination clashes with the orange-suited inmates who sought more than they had. In 1940’s Gotham, Jakeem Thunder’s green clothes and Dr Fate’s gold find echoes in the street behind them. When Dr Fate summons a yellow light, the young heroes’ appearances change in JSA #22. Violet brings happiness and helpfulness, while the blue glow around Kid Eternity links her with Obsidian. Yet despite her hope of recovering her memories, the red lenses of her glasses link Kid Eternity with the red wine of someone who has lost everything that once defined them.

 

Black uppercase words in white balloons grow bold for intonation and swell with volume, while Kid Eternity speaks blue words. The Spectre’s words fill green balloons with serrated edges. Sound effects accompany moments of sorrow, reunion, and transformation. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

The Justice Society of America has a long and prestigious history. Most of its members have strong reasons to be there. While many have joined because of family, friendships, or mentors, others have walked away because those relationships no longer met their needs. Yet one member is an outsider. Kid Eternity joined the JSA without any sense of who she was or where she came from. Her search for Jim Corrigan has unearthed one remnant of her past. But to learn more, she must leave her new friends in JSA #22.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

To look inside see my JSA #22 Preview. 

 

For what happened last time, see my review of JSA #21. 

For what happened before that, see my preview of JSA #20.

For what happened even before that, see my review of JSA #19. 

For how the Spectre helped Jay Garrick and Alan Scott in 1940, see my review of JSA #18. 

For Darkseid's attack on the Spectre, see my preview of DC All In Special #1. 

 

JSA #21 Review

 

JSA #21 Review

Writer: Jeff Lemire

Artist: Diego Olortegui

Colorists: Luis Guerrero

Letterer: Steve Wands

Cover Artist: Pete Woods

Variant Cover Artists: Matt Taylor

Editors: Marquis Draper, Andrew Marino & Katie Kubert

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $3.99/$4.99 Card Stock

Release Date: July 1, 2026

 

As Alan Scott readily admits, everyone has done wrong. Yet condemnation must always be mixed with compassion to achieve justice in any society. In Jim Corrigan, the Spectre found a Human host who could protect people while tempering its outrage at their misdeeds. But after Darkseid attacked the Spectre, the embodiment of God's wrath seeks to punish everyone as it searches for a new Human host.

 

As the JSA combats the Spectre in New York City, Dr Fate, Stargirl, Jakeem Thunder, and Kid Eternity search for Jim Corrigan. Can they find the police officer who served society so ably in the past? And how many people will the Spectre punish before it finds a permanent host? Let’s leap into JSA #21 and see!

 

Story

In their search for answers, Dr Fate led his teammates to a swamp, where they found the House of Mystery. While they didn't learn Jim Corrigan's whereabouts, Kid Eternity reclaimed a fragment of her missing past. But like her life before she freed Hawkman from Hell, someone or something shields Jim Corrigan's presence from the most perceptive eyes.

 

Despite not achieving their objective in the house that Dream built, Dr Fate and his teammates receive aid from an unexpected source. Metron offers to lead them in their search. But instead of transporting them to Jim Corrigan’s current residence, Metron reveals the origins of the Spectre in JSA #21.

 

As Metron transports the search party on a journey through time, Jeff Lemire weaves contemporary events in New York City into his story. While Alan Scott, Jay Garrick, and the team attempt to forestall the Spectre’s judgment of New York, each demonstrates their willingness to sacrifice for their friends. Their acceptance of the situation contrasts with Dr Fate, Kid Eternity, Stargirl, and Jakeem Thunder, who bristle at the need to understand the Spectre's history before they can find Jim Corrigan. Yet in their desire to secure someone else to resolve the crisis, neither the young heroes nor their mentors considers whether Jim wants them to find him in JSA #21.

 

Art

As a bundle of white energy spins at a furious pace, the atom resolves into an angel plummeting through darkness. Feathers fall from Aztar’s wings as Metron and the young heroes watch. Diego Olortegui reveals the events that forged Aztar’s character across two pages. Two additional two-page spreads showcase the battle that severed Aztar from his Human host. A splash page reveals heroes working together to dispel the darkest nights. Yet as Metron and the kids hover in space, Aztar reveals the magnitude of his power by holding the Earth in his hand.

 

As Luis Guerrero lavishes a bright palette on JSA #21, yellow light reveals Alan Scott and Jade’s concern for Obsidian. Darkseid’s burning red eyes showcase his determination to control all of reality. Metron, riding in his glowing blue chair, offers the searchers hope of finding Jim Corrigan. Yet after losing his wings, glimpses of green Aztar throughout time demonstrate his willingness to fulfill his God's wishes.

 

While Steve Wands places black uppercase words in white balloons, yellow borders Dr Fate's dialogue. The Spectre’s words fill green balloons with serrated edges, while Darkseid’s red conversation fills black balloons. As Metron’s off-camera dialogue fills white boxes, words in green boxes reveal the Spectre’s locations. But while the letters grow bold with intonation and swell for volume, Jim Corrigan's location proves more elusive. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

When Aztar chose ambition over peace, he turned against his creator. Since then, the angel's spirit has known pain as he carried out his purpose. When Jim Corrigan linked with the Spectre, he likewise knew pain as he carried out his purpose. Now that they’ve separated, Jim Corrigan can finally know peace. But for the former police officer to rest in God's peace, someone else must accept his life of duty and pain. And as the embodiment of God's wrath searches for a new host, it seeks a young hero filled with ambition in JSA #21.

 

Rating 9.6/10 

 

To look inside see my preview of JSA #21.

 

For what happened last time, see my preview of JSA #20.

For what happened before that, see my review of JSA #19. 

For how the Spectre helped Jay Garrick and Alan Scott in 1940, see my review of JSA #18. 

For Darkseid's attack on the Spectre, see my preview of DC All In Special #1. 

 

 

 

JSA #19 Review

 

JSA #19 Review

Writer: Jeff Lemire

Artist: Diego Olortegui

Colorists: Luis Guerrero

Letterer: Steve Wands

Cover Artist: Diego Olortegui

Variant Cover Artists: Matt Taylor; Sebastian Fiumara & Diego Olortegui

Editors: Marquis Draper, Andrew Marino & Katie Kubert

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $4.99/$5.99 Card Stock

Release Date: May 6, 2026

 

Call them idealists. Write them off as misfits. But in the Summer of 1940, these disparate warriors united to protect Gotham and prevent the spread of fascism. Still, that was another era. While the Justice League has grown in strength and prominence, the Injustice Society recently brought the JSA to its knees.

 

Alan Scott, who gave the group their name, wondered if the Justice Society of America could continue. His son and daughter argued that it should. With Alan Scott and Jay Garrick to advise them, can Jade and Obsidian lead the Justice Society of America toward a bold new future? And can the JSA gather all the lost children blessed with superpowers who need their support and guidance? Let’s leap into JSA #19 and see!

 

Story

Ted Grant may no longer be with them. But his advice helped Kid Eternity aid Doctor Fate to banish the Unnamed Ones. After the JSA welcomed her into their ranks, Kid Eternity was reading their group’s charter when a voice that evoked Ted’s drew her into a portal. Then, the Spectre wrapped her in chains. The spirit of God’s wrath wants Kid Eternity to be its Human host. But the rage flooding through her overwhelms the would-be hero.

 

In JSA #19, the battle for the Justice Society's future continues. At Ted Grant's funeral, the Justice League offered to tackle the Injustice Society on the JSA's behalf. Kid Eternity and Doctor Fate may have banished the forces that made Swamp Thing tremble, gave Wally West nightmares, and caused the clouds in Gotham to rain blood. Nonetheless, Mr Terrific and his teammates helped the JSA foil the Injustice Society’s plan.

 

Jade’s failure to notice that someone was impersonating her brother led to her team fracturing. It also aided the Injustice Society's victories and the Unnamed Ones' attempted invasion of Earth. As Jade and her team request Mr Terrific’s help in locating Kid Eternity, the JSA’s ability to operate independently of the Justice League comes into question again.

 

Jeff Lemire's story begins with Jay Garrick and Alan Scott once again questioning the JSA's future direction. After Jesse Quick's departure, Ruby Sokov's betrayal, and Ted Grant's death, the teammates need to rebuild the foundation of their family. Before Jade and Obsidian can mentor the heroes of tomorrow, they must demonstrate that they can care for their own today in JSA #19.

 

Art

While a gold frame celebrates a black-and-white photo of the original team, Hawkman’s central position evokes his recent departure from the current team. In the photo, Jim Corrigan looks confident and in control. Yet as Kid Eternity kneels before the bookcases, team table, and Scales of Justice in the Unseen Realms, energy lashes her. Clad in the Spectre’s costume, the girl towers over Mr Keeper, evoking how Jim Corrigan aided his fellow heroes in Gordon DeGroot's expansion of Gotham's subways. Ted Grant and his fallen comrades remain nearby to help Kid Eternity. Yet their spirits seem to be unraveling as they hover above the team’s round table.

 

As Diego Olortegui's art captures the camaraderie, drama, and interteam rivalry, Luis Guerrero's loaded palette clarifies the stakes facing the team in JSA #19. Jade's green skin and white costume link her with Kid Eternity, and someone aiding Mr Terrific’s efforts to find the abducted girl. After a flash of yellow fills the background, symbolizing the danger for Jade’s brain trust, two members of the team compare losses in the gym’s yellow boxing ring. As Yolanda walks beneath a gold plaque, the words inscribed on it seem to give her strength. Like Yolanda, Khalid has taken Ted Grant's passing hard. But as events reach their climax, yellow and gold unite when Khalid transforms into Doctor Fate.

 

Steve Wands frames Jay Garrick's gold off-screen words in red boxes and Alan Scott's white words in green boxes. While the Spectre’s words hover in a green-and-white cloud, Kid Eternity’s black dialogue inhabits blue-green circular saw blades. The characters' black uppercase letters grow bold for intonation, swell for raised voices, and shrink for lowered voices. Then booms fill the air and shake the JSA Brownstone as terror comes to town. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

The Injustice Society has shaken the JSA. Along with the Spear of Destiny and Doctor Fate's helmet, the Injustice Society also used JSA alum Ted Knight's invention to invite the Unnamed Ones to Earth. As the Spectre returns, Kid Eternity seems more reliant on the spirits of fallen JSA members than on those still standing. Jay Garrick may sense a great evil invading Earth. But all that stands in its way is a group of hurting young people in JSA #19.

 

Rating 9.8/10 

 

To look inside see my preview of JSA #19. 

 

For what happened last time, see my review of JSA #18. 

 

For the last battle with the Injustice Society, see my preview of JSA #12. 

JSA #18 Review

 

JSA #18 Review

Writer: Jeff Lemire

Artists: Gavin Guidry & Joey Vazquez

Colorists: Luis Guerrero & John Kalisz

Letterer: Steve Wands

Cover Artists: Dave Johnson; Matt Taylor; Cian Tormey & Romulo Fajardo Jr

Editors: Marquis Draper, Andrew Marino & Katie Kubert

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $4.99/$5.99 Card Stock

Release Date: April 1, 2026

 

The Ultra-Humanite has freed himself from the constraints of the body. He can move his consciousness from one vessel to another. Taking over Walter Baze gives him control of Starco Corporation. But he dreams of more than being a captain of industry. With the Third Reich rising in Europe, the Ultra-Humanite intends to impress Adolf Hitler. Once he enters the Führer's inner circle, he can take command of Nazi Germany's war machine.

 

But before the Ultra-Humanite leaves the United States behind, he’s got a parting gift for Gotham City. Just a little sweetener to impress Hitler with. Can heroes like Alan Scott and Jay Garrick prevent the destruction of Gotham? And in 2026, can these patriarchs of the Justice Society of America rebuild their struggling superhero team? Let’s leap into JSA #18 and see!

 

Year One Chapter Six: Story

Cyclotron built the bomb. But when he hesitates, Satanna detonates it. As Starco Tower falls, Alan Scott leaps to protect his fellow heroes. Johnny Thunder sends his genie to protect people in the streets as the bomb beneath Starco sets off a chain reaction through Gordon Degroot's subway extension project. And while Jay Garrick is fast, not even the Flash can race in two directions at once.

 

In the Tower of Fate, his companions advocated for a noninterventionist policy. But with so much hanging in the balance, Doctor Fate cannot stand on the sidelines in JSA #18. While the teammates split up to prevent the Ultra-Humanite from destroying Gotham, Doctor Fate flies out to help prevent the world from descending into chaos.

 

Doctor Fate introduces this final installment about the formation of the Justice Society of America. While Jeff Lemire splits the team into three directions, his story demonstrates how the teammates learn to work together. Compared with the heroes’ selflessness, Satanna, Sportsmaster, and the Ultra-Humanite show their selfishness, while Cyclotron clings to the belief that his work is more important than how he treats others. As this high-energy story winds together, reality sets in. They may have worked together once. But in JSA #18, each hero must decide if they’re ready to commit to a future together.

 

Year One Chapter Six: Art

As the heroes stand in the grayish-green labs beneath Starco, the red light of the bomb and the power it unleashes threatens to overwhelm them. After a panel shows Hippolyta, Hawkman, and Hawkgirl beholding the destruction in their red and gold costumes, a red-and-gold cloud of fire rises among the towers of Gotham City.

 

As Luis Guerrero lavishes nuanced colors on the Ultra-Humanite’s attempt to destroy Gotham, green becomes the power of protection. Green Lantern shelters the heroes beneath a green forcefield. Johnny Thunder, in his green suit, sends his genie off to protect people in the streets. And in the subway, Jim Corrigan battles his fears of being the Spectre while protecting those inside from being crushed.

 

Gavin Guidry grounds the 1940s action in rectangular panels bordered by white space. When the action grows hectic, the panels get diagonal. Dark red separates panels when the heroes confront the Ultra-Humanite, while Thunderbolt shows his solidarity by tracing a pink outline of the Spectre’s face in the darkness. While big scenes may take over half a page, JSA #18 saves the splash pages for when all the heroes come together as a team.

 

The Search for the Spectre Prelude Part Two: Story

The 1940s were exciting days for the team. But the world has changed since the JSA came together. After their recent defeat, Alan Scott and Jay Garrick wondered if the team could adapt to meet the threats facing them today. Alan believed they must tighten their ranks. He needed to be sure that the people they fought with had their backs.

 

His children argue otherwise in Jeff Lemire’s story. They’ve fought to find their place in the JSA. Despite the losses they’ve suffered, Jade and Obsidian don’t want to throw in the towel. Nor do they want to live in the fear that every new member will betray them. When Atom Smasher and Stargirl arrive, their enthusiasm for rejoining the team bolsters Jade and Obsidian’s arguments. But just as they did in the 1940s, Alan and Jay must decide if they can set aside their fears, put the past behind them, and continue to fight for justice together.

 

The Search for the Spectre Prelude Part Two: Art

While Jade looks relaxed, Obsidian stands at the ready. Atom Smash and Stargirl's swagger make Alan and Jay glow. Still, concern overtakes Jay Garrick and Alan Scott's features as they ponder Jade and Obsidian's proposal. When holographic displays appear before the wood-paneled walls, the younger generation regards them with smiles. But when Alan's frown reappears, Jade's expression echoes her father's concern.

 

As Joe Kalisz lavishes a bright palette on Joey Vazquez’s art, Jade’s skin links her with the green on Alan Scott’s uniform in JSA #18. The black in his costume links Obsidian with his father, while the blue forms a bridge with Atom Smasher and Stargirl. The younger team members exude vitality with their vibrant coloring. Still, the color of the wood-paneled walls evokes the subway tunnels where the JSA fought the Ultra-Humanite’s forces. The red-and-yellow background of the holographic display seems a reminder that, just as they faced danger head-on in the 1940s, they can do so again.

 

Lettering

Doctor Fate's wisdom appears in white narrative boxes and dialogue balloons with gold outlines. As he addresses the importance of nurturing promising individuals and fostering teamwork, the characters' black uppercase letters grow bold for intonation and swell for raised voices. The Spectre’s dialogue fills green serrated balloons, emphasizing how much wielding the power hurts the wielder. Silver boxes reflect green and red, recalling the JSA’s circular tale, as Jay Garrick proudly recalls the historic events. When enlarged colorful dialogue fills panels, Steve Wands enhances the fraught battles below and above Gotham with eye-catching sound effects. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

They weren’t sure they had what it took. Nor did they all get along. But as the heroes come together to save not just Gotham City, but also their world, they wonder if they could achieve more together than individually.

 

They won’t always win. Not every teammate will prove loyal. Yet as they look toward the future, the younger generation inspires the elders who paved the way for them in JSA #18.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

To look inside see my preview of JSA #18.

 

For what happened last time, see my review of JSA #17. 

JSA #17 Review

 

Writer: Jeff Lemire

Artist: Gavin Guidry & Joey Vazquez

Colorist: Luis Guerrero

Letterer: Steve Wands

Cover Artists: Dave Johnson, Matt Taylor & Diego Olortegui

Editors: Marquis Draper, Andrew Marino & Katie Kubert

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $4.99/$5.99 Card Stock

Release Date: March 4, 2026

 

In the summer of 1940, someone is inciting unrest and arming Nazi sympathizers. Hippolyta and Atom track the supply of guns and explosives to a private airstrip outside Gotham. But before they can spring into action, Hawkman, Hawkgirl, the Flash, Johnny Thunder, and his genie join the party.

 

In the city and beneath it, Green Lantern, Hourman, and Sandman are investigating the Starco Corporation’s bizarre experiments and a defective subway expansion. Can all these heroes work together to solve this web of intrigue spanning continents? And why is Starco interring a former Olympic Gold Medalist and storing people in chemical vats? Let’s leap into JSA #17 and see!

 

Year One Chapter Five: Story

Alan Scott's university chum Gordon Degroot won a contract from the Starco Corporation to expand Gotham's subway system. After Gordon's murder, Alan investigates the subway and wonders why the capable engineer would perform substandard work. Remembering his friend's behavior the last time he saw him, Alan visits Walter Baze at Starco. But when Walter drugs him, Alan discovers that the Ultra-Humanite is possessing the executive’s body.

 

The Atom was investigating Nazi sympathizers in Gotham until Hippolyta joined him. After Hawkman and Hawkgirl swoop in on their prey, Atom resists befriending the interlopers. At Starco, Hourman and Sandman have begun working together. But in JSA #17, Jay Garrick makes a surprising transformation. It takes a lot to impress the Flash. Still, Johnny Thunder's genie manages it. Suddenly, the teacher’s assistant who moonlights as Keystone City’s protector realizes the benefits of forming a club of “mystery men.”

 

As all the separate plots intertwine, the villains also converge. With Hitler tearing Europe apart, most Americans see the dictator as a villain. But those who crave power over others see him as a hero. While Jeff Lemire sprinkles his story with humor and humanity, JSA #17 is a tragedy. The Ultra-Humanite is highly intelligent and capable of medical marvels. But by focusing on what he doesn’t have, he steals and discards bodies while destroying people’s lives in his insatiable hunger for power.

 

Year One Chapter Five: Art

The Ultra-Humanite's stitched-up head evokes Frankenstein's monster as he attacks Alan Scott. But when green energy billows from Alan's eyes and his ring, he hurls the villain into the drinks cart used to dope him. Both men levitate as they unleash their unique abilities in the glass-walled office. But the Ultra-Human hunches and grins like a simian, while Alan stands tall with features taut, when discussing Gordon Degroot’s death.

 

As Gavin Guidry fills pages with old-school layouts and occasionally spreads the action across two pages, Luis Guerrero lavishes a nuanced palette on JSA #17. Like Green Lantern, Hawkman and Hawkgirl are resplendent in red, green, and gold. But gold, red, and blue adorn Atom, Hippolyta, and the Flash as they seek to protect their country from the American Nazi Party. Beyond the golden Art Deco sign welcoming visitors, heroes gather amid brown wooden crates that recall how Hourman and Sandman first braved the Ultra-Humanite’s lair.

 

The Search for the Spectre Prelude Part One: Story

Everyone seems happy as they sit around the team's table. But that's just a photo hanging in the JSA Brownstone Trophy Room. In the present, Jay Garrick and Alan Scott ponder their recent trials. While both men are still capable heroes, experience has taught them that everything comes to an end. Perhaps the JSA's best days are behind them.

 

In his short, follow-up story, Jeff Lemire returns readers to the present. The Flash and Green Lantern link this contemporary JSA story with its predecessor. While Doctor Fate doesn't appear in JSA #17, his admonition to Jim Corrigan echoes through this tale about the power of hope and inclusion.

 

The Search for the Spectre Prelude Part One: Art

Joey Vazquez's layouts and inset panels enhance the energy as Jay Garrick and Alan Scott confront the tragedy of the recent past. The bookshelves in the team photo recall the bookshelves in the Ultra-Humanite's office. The team's distressed table evokes the round table in Camelot. Luis Guerrero's colors shine brightly in this stronghold of power, where the heroes celebrate their past and contemplate their future with holographic displays that hover before wood-paneled walls.

 

Lettering

Steve Wands fills white dialogue balloons with black uppercase letters and red narrative boxes with yellow letters. Words grow bold for inflection and never shrink. Sound effects enhance the battles at Starco and the pain of a recent loss. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

When civilization reaches a crossroads, weak leaders seek strength by adopting a divide-and-conquer strategy, while heroes find it by overcoming their differences. An ever-changing world forces heroes to adapt to overcome the threats facing them in JSA #17.

 

Rating 9.5/10

 

To look inside see my preview of JSA #17. 

Justice League Vs Godzilla Vs Kong 2 #7 Review

 

Writer: Brian Buccellato

Artist: Christian Duce

Colorist: Luis Guerrero

Letterer: Tyler Smith

Cover Artists: Christian Duce, Kevin Maguire, Alan Quah & Carmine Di Giandeomanico

Editors: Michael McCalister & Robert Napton

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $4.99/$5.99 Card Stock

Release Date: February 25, 2026

 

When Mercy Graves lost track of Lex Luthor, the Justice League followed him to a Task Force X facility in the Nevada desert. A Boom Tube brought the heroes to another Earth that parallels theirs in every way bar one. This world lacks cities with metahuman populations. And instead of superpowered people, Titans hold the world in balance while battling for supremacy. The Justice League has faced Titans like Godzilla and King Kong before. But the Boom Tube transported them to an earlier time before the Titans met the Justice League.’

 

Kong has fallen into the Hollow Earth. Godzilla swam away from a fight. Can the Justice League get these two alpha Titans back in the fight? Or will King Ghidorah become the new Tyrant of the Titans? Let’s grab a canister of Titanizing Serum, leap into Justice League Vs Godzilla Vs Kong 2 #7, and see!

 

Story

When Amanda Waller and Colonel Leland Lafayette Shaw III transported the Suicide Squad to this parallel Earth, they sought a means to transform villains into Titans. But mastering the power source that generates Titans isn’t easy. Nor is transporting it safely through a Boom Tube. While Amanda Waller and Colonel Shaw squabble over who was in charge, Peacemaker insists they call the group Task Force X because he doesn’t believe in suicide.

 

After arousing the Titans’ anger, Task Force X’s inadequacies take them off the table. Thankfully, Monarch has been studying the Titans since the 1940s. Agent In Charge Rick Stanton and Deputy Sample Archivist Jae Jorgensen can lend the Justice League resources and the benefits of their expertise. Still, the heroes must clean up the villains’ mess in Justice League Vs Godzilla Vs Kong 2 #7.

 

With Kong and Godzilla out of the fight, King Ghidorah summons other monsters to join his cause. Brian Buccellato follows the Justice League as they split up to battle King Ghidorah’s forces. He also shows Aquaman and Mr. Terrific employ competing strategies to return Godzilla to the fight. The heroes use a variety of means to attack the Titans and overcome the radiation that saps their energy. Yet, communication and coordination prove central to victory. And while he is MIA doing his "Batman thing," the world's greatest detective opts for compassion and healing in Justice League Vs Godzilla Vs Kong 2 #7.

 

Art

Like Rodan, Batman travels with Harley Quinn to an ancient site of power to meet a Titan. Thanks to the Titanizing Serum, Cheetah gives Kong a run for his money. More giant apes highlight Kong’s heroic nature, while Skar King’s Whipslash seems akin to “ice-dog-lizard” Shimo. Christian Duce’s art gives this fast-paced tale an epic scope, filling pages with kaiju fight scenes. Yet he reserves a two-page spread for when the heroes reunite to battle King Ghidorah's forces.

 

Luis Guerrero lavishes a loaded palette of eye-pleasing colors in Justice League Vs Godzilla Vs Kong 2 #7. Aquaman’s light blue marine telepathy links with Mr. Terrific’s travel sphere and heads-up displays, while Godzilla’s explosive emergence from the water echoes Shimo’s white hide and cryokinetic powers. J’onn and Hal Jordan make formidable foes in green, while red, gold, and blue mark a welcome reappearance. 

 

Tyler Smith fills balloons and narrative boxes with black uppercase dialogue that never shrinks, rarely grows bold for intonation, and darkens and swells for raised voices. Wally West shares his thoughts in red boxes. Background colored boxes with symbols and foreground white narrative boxes convey off-camera dialogue. Colorful sound effects enhance the roaring, fighting, and energy flowing through the Human and Titan-sized combatants. Transparent sound effects enhance a brutal takedown and a finale that pays homage to classic kaiju cinema. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

Barry Allen married Iris West without telling her that he was the Flash. Then he traveled to another Earth on his honeymoon and got a concussion battling the Titans. As Barry's fear of complete disclosure gained him nothing, trusting the people in one’s life proves the difference between failure and victory in Justice League Vs Godzilla Vs Kong 2 #7.

 

Rating 9.6/10

 

To look inside see my preview of Justice League Vs Godzilla Vs Kong 2 #7.

Batman #127 Review

 

Writer: Chip Zdarsky

Artists: Jorge Jiménez & Belén Ortega

Colorists: Tomeu Morey & Luis Guerrero

Letterer: Clayton Cowles

Cover Artists: Jorge Jimenez & Tomeu Morey; Guillem March & Arif Prianto; Alex Garner; Inhyuk Lee; Ryan Sook; Jock

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $4.99

Release Date: September 6, 2022

 

Batman feels blessed to have fostered so many capable sidekicks. They are more than fellow crimefighters. Bruce Wayne regards them as his sons and daughters. When he needs them, they drop everything and leap to his aid. But Bruce and his proteges cannot stop Failsafe. With the robot intent on killing him, Batman seeks his former Batcave.

 

Failsafe feels familiar to him. Bruce believes he knows why he does not remember the lethal Bat-robot. Who created Failsafe? And who is the hero who emerges from Batman's old Batcave? Let's leap into Batman #127 and see!

 

Story: Failsafe Part Three

When Tim Drake next sees Batman, his mentor wears a different costume, and his voice has changed. Tim wonders if he can trust this man. But as Batman reveals a secret control room, he explains that Bruce Wayne created him as a backup personality. Zur-En-Arrh is in charge, and his first job is to take down Failsafe.

 

Chip Zdarsky steps outside the chaos in the old Batcave to revisit the scene of Failsafe's clash with Batman and his proteges. GCPD Commissioner Renee Montoya confers with Nightwing as medical attendants treat Duke, Cassandra, and Stephanie. But she cannot protect Batman and his team from censure if Failsafe continues its reign of terror. Unfortunately, that is what is occurring in Wayne Manor, as the robot pursues Zur-En-Arrh and Tim Drake through Bruce Wayne's beloved home.

 

While Batman #127 is a fast-paced thriller, Zdarsky ponders how people who work outside the law must self-check their actions. Like in Superman: The Kryptonite Spectrum #1, Batman prepares for every contingency. But as Failsafe tries to shut down Bruce Wayne, Batman realizes all this is his fault. Superman challenged Bruce to ensure that he could prevent himself from hurting others should he become someone he does not want to be.

 

Art: Failsafe Part Three

In a glimpse of the past, Jorge Jimenez shows Batman in his Batcave. We see Batman from a distance, and from above, but mostly he keeps his back to us. When Superman appears, he faces the camera and demands that Bruce remove his mask. Bruce faces his friend. But he closes his eyes.

 

In his gold, red, and purple suit, Zur-En-Arrh shows solidarity with Robin's gold, red, and green. And instead of gray, Zur-En-Arrh's secret ops room shines with pink lighting. As the black Terminator-like robot hunts them, Failsafe's head glows red and projects beams of red into the darkness. Tomeu Morey adorns their battle with radiant colors, enhancing the big-screen spectacle of Batman #127. But while Batman and Robin fight for their lives, police tape and emergency vehicles surround the crater in a Gotham intersection where Failsafe leapt into the air before crashing down and flinging vehicles away.

 

Clayton Cowles places black uppercase dialogue in white balloons. Zur-En-Arrh speaks white uppercase letters into bluish-purple balloons. Failsafe's white utterances change size and case within their red boxes, while Batman's white lowercase thoughts fill black paper scraps. Sound effects accompany Failsafe as it demonstrates that it can be a more ruthless Batman than Bruce Wayne or Zur-En-Arrh.

 

 

 

Story: Two Birds, One Throne Finale

While Chip Zdarsky began this series with a nightmare of Jokers, the Penguin fuels the engine. In this short story, Catwoman discovers the truth behind the Penguin's ruse. She has gone from being a spectator to a reluctant participant. In the final issue, Catwoman goes beyond her brief to learn why Oswald Cobblepot had to die.

 

This second story in Batman #127 ponders how our environment and adversaries shape us. While seeking to be a force for good, the way we go about solving problems can create conflicts. The short tale also addresses the possibility of starting afresh. Yet it leaves the reader wondering if someone can turn their life around, once they have blackened their soul.

 

Art: Two Birds, One Throne Finale

Belén Ortega transports readers to Metropolis, where a man purchases a muffin from a bakery. When he returns to Blossoms and looks into his bag, a bat-like shadow appears on his counter. Catwoman enters the brightly lit shop in a black cat suit and blazer. His reaction, colored entirely in blue, evokes his previous place of business.

 

Luis Guerrero fills the shop with yellow light as Catwoman confronts the man surrounded by brown wood, green plants, and colorful blossoms. While his face glows pink as he makes a point, the man later plucks a pink rose as he justifies his decision. Clayton Cowles fills this quiet interlude with black uppercase letters in white balloons and shares Catwoman's thoughts with white lowercase letters in black boxes. Thanks to DC Comics for providing a review copy.

 

Now, let's take a look inside:

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

As someone who inhabits the night and attacks from the shadows, Batman prepares for the day when others will lash out at him. Batman #127 ponders how circumstances can force people into roles, making them wonder if life will ever allow them to fulfill their dreams.

 

Rating 9.6/10

 

 

Batman Vol 1: Failsafe is available in hardcover, paperback, and digital formats.