Justice League Dream Girls: A DC Pride Event #3 Review
Writers: Jadzia Axelrod & Nicole Maines
Artists: Brandt&Stein, Jan Bazaldua & Rosi Kämpe
Colorists: Dearbhla Kelly, Adriano Lucas & Tríona
Farrell
Letterers: Frank Cvetkovic & Jodie Troutman
Cover Artist: Brandt&Stein
Variant Cover Artists: Phil Jimenez & Arif Prianto;
Oscar Vega
Editors: Ash Padilla, Andrea Shea & Paul Kaminski
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $4.99 US/Variant $5.99 US (cardstock)
Release Date: June 17, 2026
Everyone wants to condemn Dreamer for aiding Amanda Waller
when she robbed the metahumans of their powers. So, after Galaxy invites
Dreamer along on Star Sapphire's mercy mission to Naltor, Guy Gardner and
Jessica Cruz argue against Dreamer's future participation in the Justice
League. But while the heroes weigh whether Dreamer and Galaxy represent a
greater threat than Lex Luthor, the condemned lie under the Key's spell.
Dreamer may be unaware of the battle raging in the
Watchtower over her future. Yet as she dreams, Dreamer discovers that she is
not a passive participant. And although she refuses to believe that she can be
a hero, Dreamer pushes Galaxy out of their shared dream. Like one of the
costumes she wore in her dreams, can Dreamer embrace a more hopeful view of the
future? And as he lurks in her subconscious, what knowledge does the Key hope
Dreamer can unlock for him? Let’s leap into Justice League Dream Girls: A DC
Pride Event #3 and see!
Story
She helped rescue Steve Trevor in Themyscira. As Robin Hood,
she protected participants in a Pride parade. After visiting exotic places and combating
foes, Galaxy feels exhausted when she revives. Worse, the display screens
filling the Justice League Watchtower are an onslaught on her senses. Yet when
the Question tells Galaxy that her membership in the Justice League is in
jeopardy, she ignores Jon Kent and Kat’s pleas. Galaxy refuses to rest and let
others decide where she belongs.
As Galaxy rushes to defend herself before the Justice
League, Dreamer abandons her recent superhero cosplay in Justice League Dream
Girls: A DC Pride Event #3. As she told Galaxy in the castle, she is tired of
combating the naysayers. After trying so hard to prove herself, she realizes
that the superhero community will never accept her. And rather than be seen as
a villain, it is easier to sleep the pain away.
Before expelling her from their dream, Dreamer argued that
all the heroes love and admire Galaxy. Yet in Jadzia Axelrod and Nicole Maines,
Galaxy must defend her right to stand among her fellow heroes. As they question
her ability to control her powers, they also debate Galaxy's judgment.
All this takes place following the Justice League's decision
to offer amnesty to villains. As Jack Ryder argued on the set of Hardwired, the
Justice League leaders imposed the controversial pilot program on their
membership. In their wisdom, Batman, Wonder Woman, and Captain Marvel threw
open the doors to villains who have stolen, tortured, and murdered people. So
as Galaxy begins to wonder where she belongs, a hero who embodies youth,
change, and idealism becomes a first step toward attacking the leaders’ more
questionable choices in Justice League Dream Girls: A DC Pride Event #3.
Art
After Galaxy clutches her head, she raises her arm before
her face. Jon catches her when she falls, while Kat elicits a smile when she
cradles Galaxy's chin with her hand. Then Galaxy marches off toward the
meeting, where she raises her hand toward the heroes standing above her on the
dais. While Guy Gardner, clad in his priestly robes, crosses his arms and
frowns at Galaxy, Dreamer stands upon the castle parapet. As Dreamer’s
trenchcoat pixelates, the glowing fragments float away like flower petals on
the wind. When Steve Trevor appears, his features shift, evoking how Dreamer
altered her friend’s attire.
As Brandt&Stein, Jan Bazaldua, and Rosi Kämpe portray
Galaxy and Dreamer’s battles for their future, Dearbhla Kelly, Adriano Lucas,
and Tríona Farrell adorn Justice League Dream Girls: A DC Pride Event #3 with a
loaded palette of bright colors. Galaxy’s violet outfit links her with Kat and
Star Sapphire. Her indigo skin links her with Extraño, who regards all costumed
superheroes as vigilantes and rule-breakers.
The blue wraparound viewscreens link with Batman and Wonder
Woman's impartiality. As Dreamer wears a blue-and-white costume, the energy
flung across a blue-and-white corridor represents all the colors in the
emotional spectrum. Yet as Steve Trevor comforts Dreamer in his green flight
suit, Guy Gardner and Jessica Cruz's uniforms reveal what they're most afraid
of losing.
Frank Cvetkovic and Jodie Troutman fill white dialogue
balloons with uppercase and lowercase letters of varying sizes and fonts.
Dreamer’s thoughts inhabit blue boxes, while white letters in black balloons
and boxes signal danger. As laughter and coughing fill the air, and an unseen
threat demonstrates its fiery temperament, sound effects enhance the actions
that alarm the Green Lanterns. The bonus story, One Fine Day, focuses on Poison
Ivy and Harley Quinn’s relationship and illustrates why they have become one of
the most popular couples in comics. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story
with us.
Final Thoughts
Everyone wants to belong. Yet sometimes, the fight doesn’t
seem worth it. As Dreamer loses hope of acceptance, Galaxy fights to retain
what she has achieved. Yet as she argues her case, Galaxy must also question
why she is waging this battle against her accusers. And while the heroes attack
someone who would never willingly hurt them, a villain takes strides toward
achieving power over them in Justice League Dream Girls: A DC Pride Event #3.
Rating 9.5/10
To look inside see my preview of Justice League Dream Girls: A DC Pride Event #3.
For what happened last time, see my preview of Justice League: Dream Girls—A DC Pride Event #2.
For the beginning of Dreamer and Galaxy's dream journey, see my preview of Justice League: Dream Girls—A DC Pride Event #1.
For how this series started, see my review of Justice League Intergalactic Special #1.
For Jack Ryder's argument on the set of Hardwired, see my review of Justice League #19.
