REVIEW: ‘Justice League Unlimited’ Issue 6

Justice League Unlimited Issue 6 is published by DC Comics. Script by Mark Waid, plot by Christopher Cantwell and Waid, art by Travis Moore, colors by Tamra Bonvillain and letters by Dave Sharpe.

Justice League Unlimited Issue 6 is Part 2 of the “We Are Yesterday” crossover with Batman/Superman: World’s Finest. Grodd’s plan to infiltrate the Justice League is revealed, including his manipulation of Air Wave and turning him into an inside man.

Justice League Unlimited Issue 6 takes a step into the past, though not quite as far as the first part of the crossover..It connects the dots of Air Wave’s betrayal, revealing how Gorilla Grodd and the Legion of Doom took advantage of him. The pacing is slow and methodical, revealing every detail of how much Grodd changed the young hero’s viewpoint of the Justice League.

This whole crossover will be about time travel, with Grodd’s methodology becoming clear. However, it does mean that almost two full issues of this crossover have taken place in flashbacks, moving forward very minimally. It’s late in Justice League Unlimited Issue 6 when it does snap to the present. At this point, Air Wave is in the lion’s den, or gorilla den to be more precise. The issue lands on a tragic note that rounds out this crossover with a powerful statement.

The focus of Justice League Unlimited Issue 6 is almost entirely on Grodd. The narration is from his perspective. He is cold, calculated, and arrogant. Grodd considers himself the most supreme creature in creation. Even those in the Legion of Doom alongside him are lesser beings. He takes great pleasure in tormenting Air Wave. The young man is a positive blank slate. He’s so excited about joining the Justice League, but his brain is easily infected and influenced.

It’s a terrifying prospect for Air Wave to face the might of Grodd. The ape has been given a power boost, gaining Martian Manhunter’s telepathy. This makes an already powerful villain even more dangerous. Justice League Unlimited Issue 6 has a sad tinge to it because of the torment Air Wave faces. He’s so innocent, and to see such a young hero be turned into a puppet is horrifying. The other Justice League members make their presence known in the last pages of the book, but it may be too late.

The art sees Moore enter and illustrate DC’s flagship superhero team. So many heroes and villains alike are on display in this issue, and they are all impeccably designed. The pages can be filled with bodies, faces, and costumes without looking messy or overcrowded. But for much of Justice League Unlimited Issue 6, Air Wave and Gorilla Grodd are on the majority of the pages.

Air Wave can look ridiculous and funny, but it adds to his charm. The antenna on his head and the cape make him look like a ’50s hero. That’s because he’s a legacy character from that era, and the costume has returned to a classic design. But the current wearer of the cowl is small and slight, making him look younger and more vulnerable.

Air Wave is in the presence of raw danger. Grodd is a hulking gorilla, and the fear that it generates on its own is huge. But he has his telepathy power rippling around his head, making it even more sinister. The expressive power of Grodd’s face is phenomenal, with pupilless eyes that make him void of any softness or sincerity. This is opposed to Air Wave, who looks perpetually overwhelmed and frightened, with incredibly wide and detailed eyes.

The colors are terrific. The vibrancy remains high from Bonvillain. The green and yellow of Air Wave’s costume is unusual but makes him bright and striking to look at. When he runs into action on a space station, the crackling of electricity from the resulting battle is startling and exhilarating.

Grodd is usually a dark figure due to his black fur and dim skin. But with the additional powers, more shades appear around his eyes. It’s a mixture of swirling colors that suggest telepathy and psychic abilities, adding something more interesting to Grodd’s design. The letters add voice and tone without ever affecting legibility. Grodd’s text in his word balloons is bolder than others, but it is still very easy to read.

Justice League Unlimited Issue 6 gives readers the answers they need. It reveals all of the plans and machinations that have been underway since the series’ start. It exonerates Air Wave from his crimes and rounds out his story in a devastating fashion.

However, the annoyance within the story is that so much is stuck in a flashback. The crossover doesn’t feel like it’s started yet. Instead, it’s just caught the readers up and left it right where it finished two issues ago. But at least that allows the next chapter of the crossover to finally unleash old enemies against the heroes once again.

Justice League Unlimited Issue 6 is available where comics are sold.