REVIEW: ‘Justice League Unlimited’ Issue 7

Justice League Unlimited Issue 7 is published by DC Comics. Written by Mark Waid, art by Travis Moore, colors by Tamra Bonvillain, and letters by Ariana Maher.

This is part of the We Are Yesterday crossover. The Legion of Doom takes over the Watchtower, scattering the heroes through time.

The start of Justice League Unlimited Issue 7 suffers from the disjointed nature of the crossover. It doesn’t fully feel like it took place after the previous chapter, but so much has happened since then that it doesn’t matter. The issue rushes, scattering the heroes and making the villains victorious. It’s shocking, with devastating consequences for those left behind.

The story then has a fractured structure, with heroes everywhere in different places at different times. All of the heroes are in grave danger, with many running out of options and on the brink of losing their lives. It had been challenging to get into the comic due to how each chapter feels so disconnected.

The action and chaos in this chapter are exciting. Betrayal and multiple stories are being told at the same time. But Waid moves through them fast because they’re not the most crucial part. Grodd is the focus, and that’s where the actual reveal is. Everything circles back to a plot event before the series even started, combining one villain with the power of another. It seems swamped with everything else around it, especially with the final page that combines all the storylines into one.

Grodd captures the attention as the central character of the crossover. Surrounded by other huge villains, he has been captivating throughout. His sights set on lofty ambitions,  he’s tapping into a being even more potent than the primate. His voice is the loudest, so much so that he dwarfs the other villains.

Justice League Unlimited Issue 7 has the first sign of discontent from Grodd‘s allies. So many of these other villains have felt small and underused in previous chapters, and the case is similar here. There are flickers of how vicious they are when they get a chance to play with one of the heroes left on the Watchtower. However, they have not been sufficiently involved in the scheme.

This is a challenge for the heroes, too. All of them are present and sent to various points in history. Some situations can be slightly irritating because they are not explored enough. The most notable example is Beast Boy suffering in the cold after being banished by Grodd and the Legion of Doom. He’s there with Nightwing, and yet it’s the hero who can turn into a polar animal that’s struggling from the cold.

There are a plethora of panicking heroic voices, more than there are villainous ones. But there’s one that starts to come through and tries to gather all of them once more. It’s a sequence that features a lot of anger and hostility, considering a betrayal that sparked the crossover. Still, it’s a wholesome return that counteracts the snarling menaces of the Legion of Doom.

The art features numerous small snapshots of other stories. The sprawling nature of the comic is captured superbly. Moore provides terrific glimpses of all these locations in time and various scenarios. The heroes look out of place everywhere, all in incredibly hostile situations. They all look like huge stories instead of brief moments. Every panel has a sense of movement and a feeling of danger. Meanwhile, the Legion of Doom is comfortable and enjoying its takeover.

Grodd has been the emphasis of the artwork. Already given an upgrade in power after gaining the Martian Manhunter’s telepathy, Grodd gets something even more powerful. The design is incredible by the end of the chapter, fusing the giant gorilla with one of the most ancient forces in the DC Universe.

The colors look phenomenal. The shades are intense and beautiful. The brightness is terrific, showcasing what’s happening in glorious vibrancy. The power that sends the characters through time looks all-encompassing and impossible to escape, with a distinct shade blocking the background. The lettering is consistent and clear, which is essential in such a busy book.

Justice League Unlimited Issue 7 makes too many moves too late. This crossover has struggled to maintain movement and momentum. This issue has a fantastic concept but the transition between chapters is jarring.  The team being scattered across time and forced to try and survive is so intriguing. But it wasn’t the showdown with the Legion of Doom that was expected. These time-displaced stories could be the premise of a crossover in their own right rather than this one, which has ultimately been limp and poorly paced.

Justice League Unlimited Issue 7 is available where comics are sold.