REVIEW: ‘Justice League: Last Ride,’ Issue #7

Justice League: Last Ride #7 is an alternate timeline comic written by DC Comics. Written by Chip Zdarsky with art by Miguel Mendonça. The colour artist is Enrica Angiolini and Andworld Design is the letterer.

The Justice League was torn apart in a brutal battle with Darkseid and the forces of Apokolips. Facing impossible odds, Martian Manhunter sacrificed himself, Darkseid was destroyed, and Apokolips was shut down. The trauma dismantled the team, their trust in each other in tatters. Years later, they were brought back together and lured to the dead planet with Lobo. But it was a trap, and an army of villains descended. Brainiac, Mongul, and Manhunters all attacked the League. A resurrected Darkseid emerged, imbued with the power of the Green Lantern power battery. All seemed to be lost for the heroes as a universe hung in the balance, but Martian Manhunter also appeared in the Oan energy.

This is a battle for the fate of worlds. Superman is suffering from radiation poisoning. Hal Jordan has lost his power. Darkseid has the power of a Lantern Corps and is threatening to finish the job he failed to complete years ago. But the League has their best friend back, and that means they are capable of anything. 

The final chapter in a long, epic series of battles and darkness, the plot of Justice League: Last Ride #7 does not relent in its intensity. The fight has been turned on its head again with the arrival of Martian Manhunter, and it nearly returns the League to full strength. The comic is fast-paced, moving across the planet and even back into space as the action reaches its conclusion. And yet there is so much content inside. This battle has lasted for many issues and the conclusion rewards the reader for sticking with it. But unlike in other issues, this one does contain this feeling of hope. With all of the trauma and the seemingly endless pit of darkness that has prefaced it, that hope is so beautiful. 

The strength of these characters is what makes them such brilliant heroes, and Zdarsky has examined that perfectly. By showing them at their lowest at the beginning of this series, seeing them in full flight has amplified their outstanding qualities. Perhaps the strongest is their willingness to die for each other, and the pure devotion they have as a family. It has been never been clearer than in this comic. But the idea that this is a soppy drama is extinguished by the fact that any one of them could be lost. There are some fantastic ends to personal arcs, with Wonder Woman and Hal Jordan among the best. 

Mendonça’s art in Justice League: Last Ride #7 is nothing short of magnificent. So much is happening and the true scale of the battle is awesome in its rendition. Darkseid is rippling with energy. Dozens of Boom Tubes open up in the sky as constructs of Parademons swarm out of the sky. And that is just one panel in an entire book full of chaos. Each punch carries weight and each expression carries meaning. All of the characters have so much detail in their uniforms and faces. 

The colours are gorgeous and just as boggling as the art. With so much on the page, it is a mystery as to how Angiolini knew which colours would fit each individual shape. And yet, with so many superpowers, Lanterns, and characters in classic outfits, there is very little clashing among the shades. This may be due to the lightness of the tones that Angioloni uses. While still vibrant, if they were darker, they may have led to the pages being too much visually.

The lettering has been very good throughout the seven issues. Andworld Design creates dynamic word balloons while also ensuring that the words inside are easy to read. If there is a character that readers may feel disappointed by their role in this book, it is The Flash. He is very rarely seen, and the massive arcs that the others are given mean there is little space for him.

Justice League: Last Ride #7 is a blockbuster finale to one of the most epic DC Comics series in years. The balance within this comic is stunning, managing to fit in so much content. There is emotional weight to the dialogue, with incredible speeches and snappy punchlines. But there is also a heavy-metal storyline spanning a galaxy. The storytelling at play here is incredible. For a battle to have been ongoing for close to four issues and to still maintain interest shows fantastic skill by both the writer and the art team. When it ends, the reader feels content but exhausted.

Justice League: Last Ride #7 is available where comics are sold.