Title: Justice League.
Volume: 7, 8 & 8.5.
Story-arc: The Darkseid War Saga.
Universe: The New 52.
Writer(s): Geoff Johns, Francis Manapul, Peter J. Tomasi, Rob Williams, Tom King & Steve Orlando.
Artist(s): Jason Fabok, Francis Manapul, Bono Dazo, Fernando Pasarin, Matt Ryan, Jesus Merino, Doc Shaner, Scott Kolins, Kevin Maguire, Phil Jimenez, Dan Jurgens, Jerry Ordway, Jim Lee, Joe Prado, Oscar Jimenez, Paul Pelletier & Tony Kordos.
Colourist(s): Brad Anderson, Francis Manapul, Alex Sinclair, Brian Buccellato, Gabe Eltaeb, Guy Major, Hi-Fi, Chris Sotomayor & Romulo Fajardo Jr.
Letterer(s): Rob Leigh, Dave Sharpe, Saida Temofonte, Carlos M. Mangual, Tom Napolitano, Steve Wands & Marilyn Patrizio.
Publisher: DC Comics.
Format: Hardcover – Omnibus.
Release Date: October 17th, 2017.
Pages: 512.
Genre(s): Comics, Science-Fiction.
ISBN13: 9781401274023.
My Overall Rating: ★★★★☆.
Previously on the DC Universe New 52’s Justice League series:
Justice League (Vol. 1): Origin by Geoff Johns
Justice League (Vol. 2): The Villain’s Journey by Geoff Johns
Justice League (Vol. 3): Throne of Atlantis by Geoff Johns
Justice League (Vol. 3.5): Trinity by Geoff Johns
Justice League (Vol. 4): The Grid by Geoff Johns
Forever Evil (Vol. 4.5) by Geoff Johns
Justice League (Vol. 5): Forever Heroes by Geoff Johns
Justice League (Vol. 6): Injustice League by Geoff Johns
There is a myriad of questions that baffle us throughout our lives on humankind and its inherent nature for good or evil. Are we born good? Are we born bad? Are we capable of change? The concept of heroism has often led us to acknowledge the existence of beings who embody vertu with an immutable resolution. These heroes bring us to see them as stellar examples of what everyone should strive for, what we should all be capable of deep down. Despite these symbols, evil also has a face and allows many to see what vice in humankind is like through an individual. However, change is what allows us to believe—to have hope in ourselves and in those around us—that in defiance of acts of evil, there is a possibility for good. To bring his five-year run on the New 52’s Justice League comic book run, legendary writer Geoff John brings forth an explosive and godly saga that questions not only the good and evil in humans but in gods as well.
What is Justice League: The Darkseid War Saga about? The Justice League first formed to stop Darkseid and his Parademon and thus became Earth’s greatest heroes, ready to stop any threat from destroying their planet. Following their encounter with the Crime Syndicate, a far more dangerous evil was teased to be on the horizon and it will not stop until it sees everything turned to dust by its own hands. It calls itself the Anti-Monitor and it is a force to be reckoned with. Unfortunately, the Justice League have much more to worry about than this foul creature as a mysterious being sets loose their master plan to bring Darkseid to Earth and confront the Anti-Monitor right on Earth. This is where the Earth’s greatest heroes must find a way to stop this deadly confrontation between two destroyers of worlds before their own universe is erased from existence. To do so, they must learn the history of these beings and find the answer in the essence of the New Gods.
This beautiful hardcover omnibus edition collects Justice League #40-50, Justice League: Darkseid Special #1, Divergence #1 and all six Darkseid War one-shot tie-in issues to complete the epic saga that marks the end of the New 52 Justice League run. It also includes a stunning variant cover gallery of single issues as well as a sketchbook by various artists including Jason Fabok.
This is a terrifyingly stunning cosmic event that redefines the word “epic” with its unimaginable beauty and multi-layered mystery. Writer Geoff Johns is in charge of galactic wonder that intertwines multiple characters, settings, and history to deliver an action-packed saga that continuously sweeps you off your feet and transports you to uncharted territories where man and gods tangle in the same battlefield. This is how you handle deities while conserving the fundamental traits of heroes and villains to tell a story where the past is history and only the present can determine if there will ever be a future for humankind. Although there are significant plot holes that are difficult to overlook, the central story arc is full of unpredictable plot twists that marks this achievement as a thrilling and authentic contribution to the Justice League lore. The individual repercussions of the events are also intelligently tackled throughout the story for each of our heroes, whether it is superficially through the main series or in-depth through the tie-in issues, which by the bye allow for a pause in the main story arc to explore the changes in the characters who play a key role in the narrative.
Although there are many incredibly ambitious ideas that are attempted throughout this saga, writer Geoff Johns doesn’t hesitate to give this story the necessary flamboyance to propel the narrative in the direction he wishes. From Lex Luthor pursuing his own form of heroism no matter what form takes his means to playing with the genealogy of certain characters, it is necessary to take a step back and recognize the incredible talent of artist Jason Fabok who draws most of this saga and gives it the iconic and grandiose scale that goes hand in hand with the Justice League franchise. His character designs are infallible and assure to convey the godly attributes of every character at play. Together with the rest of the creative team—artists, colourists, and letterers—they breathe life into this epic saga and assures a formidable final product. Despite the sudden, unfortunate, and momentary shift in the artwork that gives the reigns to artist Francis Manapul for an issue out of ten—which isn’t bad per se—as well as some less-than-stellar artwork for the spin-off issues, this saga delivers some of the most top-tier artistic renditions over at DC Comics, especially to close out the New 52 era of the Justice League.
Justice League: The Darkseid War Saga is an exquisite, monumental, and epic cosmic event pitting deities against themselves in a war for world annihilation.
Roars and Echoes 
My only exposure to the New Gods (outside of the Death and Return of Superman saga) was in an Elseworld story. And I can’t even remember ANY details about it. Oh wait, it had something to do with Darkseid. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I remember now. Superman gets raised by Darkseid and still turns out good. That’s right, I mentioned that in one of your other posts. I’m pretty sure the New Gods were in that.
I have to admit that quote by Geoff Johns makes me wonder if that is his view or something he just threw in. Either way, it presents a very disturbing view of what a god is. As a Christian, that is just so foreign to me. It is antithetical to everything I believe that it really makes me wonder. Is that how most people view God? I’d be really interested in your thoughts on the quote (not to argue about or anything, mind you).
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Hahahah It’s pretty funny how you usually find the whole New Gods things so unmemorable but I believe you usually don’t enjoy cosmic-level events, and even less things that focus on groups of heroes after all. To understand all of it better, I’ll gladly share spoilers that might help in understanding where that quote comes from, although I doubt it will change your thoughts on it though hahah
*****SPOILERS IF YOU PLAN ON READING THIS VOLUME*****
You have been warned.
So basically, Darkseid has a child with an Amazonness and that child and her mother grow to hate him. Her name is Grail and she’s prophesized to cause loads of destruction. Now that she’s all grown up, her plan is to bring the Anti-Monitor to Earth and have him kill her father, which is what happens. Upon Darkseid’s death, the New Gods are released and that’s where every member of the Justice League (including Luthor) become a New God, as they each absorb one of the New God. For example, Luthor becomes the God of Apokolips, Superman becomes the God of Strength, Batman becomes the God of Knowledge and what not. The final battle after the death of Darkseid is to take down Grail and the God that she also creates, and that’s where the Justice League members all end up, one way or another, abandoning their New Gods to become what they initially were, “humans”.
I guess the intention behind that quote was to distinguish them from these New Gods that they had become and to show them that they rather be those “frail” human beings who can do what they want without being these immortal beings (gods) who have to be immortal, who have to watch over the world, who have to let things happen because they do. Within the DC universe, I think the concept of God aren’t comparable to that found in the various religions we actually know of. Within that universe, the people are more likely to think that these “aliens”, like Superman, are the Gods that we conceptually know of. It’s probably why it’s harder to “accept” Geoff Johns’ idea in the quote, since we have to sort of relativize it to accept it.
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Context is definitely king! Thanks for the explanation. It still rubs me wrong, but not AS wrong as it did initially 😀
And you are correct, I am not a huge fan of cosmic level, mega-group storylines.
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It sounds like you read a lot of Geoff.
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It was my 2019 resolution to read this saga before the end of the year. I sort of didn’t have the choice to go through all the other volumes written by him to get here. 😀
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Fair enough.
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Looks very nice, it sure looks like you enjoyed this one! It’s always difficult to end a long- brewing saga on a satisfactory note, I’m glad John’s pulled it off 😀
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Yep. It was quite a fun ride, and one that Scott Snyder will be compared to right now after all. For now, both of their runs are pretty different takes on the Justice League but at least Geoff Johns was pretty consistent, even if some of his stories were flawed by its inherent structure.
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Wow! Look at that beauty of a comic hardback!! 🤩🤩🤩🤩 I’m unable to hold back the emoticon wow. I like the art and can see why your that artist’s fan. Hahaha plot holes aside sometimes major twists make up for that just through sheer shock value and wow. Sounds like a stellar omnibus edition of this part of the overall story.
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It really was such a beautiful and formidable saga which weighs a tone but has plenty of amazing moments! I just love Jason Fabok’s artwork too. It works too well! You should how he does the action sequences that I don’t show in the slideshow! 😀 Thanks for reading, Dani. 😛
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Amazing review, I loved the intro! 😊
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Thank you so much, Caroline! 😀 😀
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You made it haha! Fantastic review my friend and glad you enjoyed Darkseid War. I think it was a superb finale to Johns’ run, tying things back nicely to volume 1 (again, I’d love to see an animated adaptation), and the epic concept is made even bigger by Jason Fabok – I can’t wait to see what these two deliver with Three Jokers…when it eventually gets a confirmed release date!
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Thanks, Chris! Thank you for also pushing me into completing the New 52 Justice League run once and for all! 😀 It was indeed a fantastic run with lots of highs and very few lows. I’m also excited about that whole Three Jokers story. It was such a huge surprise for Batman. I hope it’ll surprise us just as much! 😀
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