REVIEW: ‘Justice League Unlimited’ Issue 4

Justice League Unlimited Issue 4 is published by DC Comics. Written by Mark Waid, art by Dan Mora, colors by Tamra Bonvillain and letters by Ariana Maher.

With Swamp Thing destroyed, the League must find another avatar of the Green to help save the Amazon.

Justice League Unlimited Issue 4 has a brilliant focus despite its enormous scale. The emphasis is on putting out the fire in the Amazon, magically ignited by the evil Inferno group. But to do that, Waid digs into the fabric of the DC Universe. The Green is one of the forces that connects and animates all planet life in the universe, and many characters can tap into it. The most notable and powerful example is Swamp Thing, who suffered a devastating fate in the previous issue. Waid finds a very deep cut from the depths of DC’s history to aid the League in their fight.

This introduction adds an edge to an already intense situation. Every time the scenes return to the extreme forest fire, there is a ferocity to the storytelling. It makes the possibility of success look hopeless, ramping up the pace as the heroes push back against the flames. As Justice League Unlimited Issue 4 reaches a boiling point, it suddenly calms by entering a new realm completely.

There is still a necessity to succeed, but sidestepping the story this way shows that the war against Inferno is damaging the world on a magical, almost spiritual level. It’s chaotic and fascinating and features a heavy punch at deforestation and climate catastrophe in the real world. There are things that the heroes are doing to fix their planet that we can’t do, which is much more alarming.

The last part of the plot isn’t easy to keep up with and make sense of, especially for newer readers. The Green, The Red, and the other forces are universal concepts that are often complicated to comprehend. But the issue delivers a satisfying conclusion. But Inferno still has roots everywhere that can sprout at any moment and cause more pain for the Justice League.

Justice League Unlimited Issue 4 builds new bonds and strains old ones. The high-pressure situation causes friction among the heroes, who are usually so calm. Mr. Terrific has to dig deep to find a solution, damaging his confidence and team leadership. As the forest fire burns, Batman finds Martian Manhunter. One of the most calm and consistent members in the League’s history, Martian Manhunter’s breakdown has been a distressing subplot.

The conversation between Bruce and J’onn is beautifully written. It’s heartfelt and strong, using the longstanding connection that the heroes have. While this series has a large cast, the members’ personality maintains its heart. The newcomers have a pivotal role in saving the world, too. Tefé Holland, the original Swamp Thing’s daughter, is the issue’s central character. Waid’s encyclopedic knowledge of comic book history makes him the perfect writer for a series with such an open, revolving door for heroes. Not every character included likes the League, leading to some interesting dialogue by the end of the issue.

The art is sensational in the loudest and quietest corners of the comic. Mora captures the delicate nature of The Green, illustrating beautiful plants and other elements of nature. But they are being threatened by a relentless magical fire. The fire’s carnage and merciless nature is imposing, threatening to suffocate all those fighting it. And within all the burning Earth are the heroes. They look exceptional in their costumes, straining to save lives.

The representation of the Green is purposefully meant to bewilder those who look at it. Anywhere the Justice League appears, it is noisy and frantic, trying to find answers and solutions. So when it gets quieter, such as when Batman talks to Martian Manhunter, the atmosphere in the panels looks calmer and more stationary.

The colors are crucial to the storytelling in Justice League Unlimited Issue 4. It features the ultimate opposites, The Green, and an unbeatable fire created by Inferno. The Green is welcoming and easy for the eyes to wash over. The orange of the fire is phenomenal and suffocating, trying to destroy everything within. More vibrant shades are included, especially when the magic users get involved. The contrast between the extremities is pivotal for controlling the pressure building within the issue. The lettering is brilliantly clear and easy to read amid the chaos.

Justice League Unlimited Issue 4 fights fire with something very different. With the size of the forest fire threatening the Earth and the Green, it is time for the elemental force to fight back. It changes the planes on which the battle is fought and the powers used. It’s not the most straightforward story to put down on paper; sometimes, this issue showcases some of those difficulties. It’s a lot of abstract concepts and magic, and following it can be challenging. However, the characters serve as anchors, and the plot shows the stakes and the size of the threat needed to make this jumbo-sized Justice League team push itself to the limit.

Justice League Unlimited Issue 4 is available where comics are sold.