REVIEW: ‘Justice League Red’ Issue 1

Justice League Red Issue 1 is published by DC Comics and written by Saladin Ahmed, art by Clayton Henry, colors by Arif Prianto, and letters by Lucas Gattoni and Ryan Christy.

Red Tornado forms a new secret team to stop threats before they happen.

This issue is nervous and filled with dread and worry. It’s clandestine, with a headquarters hidden behind the moon and operating with absolute secrecy. This gives Justice League Red Issue 1 a very different tone from the main Justice League Unlimited series. When that book began, it was expensive and inclusive, featuring as many heroes as possible. Whilst here, Red Tornado isn’t telling anyone but those involved, and even then, there are more things not being revealed.

There is a terrific theme in this issue that feels particularly poignant, translated into superheroes. The idea of predictive algorithms, recognizing potential threats before they even exist, is important in the age of booming AI. The tone shifts to get more peculiar and disconcerting as it progresses. The first mission seems standard, with a terrific opening battle for its main characters, until things start to go wrong, and then the distrust only intensifies.

The cast of this series starts small. Justice League Red Issue 1 features three figures, which are very tiny for a team book. Simon Baz (Green Lantern) and Power Girl are the two field members, with Red Tornado serving as the leader and mission commander. It’s interesting how instantly a level of distrust arises among the readers and the heroes involved. The fact that no one else is being spoken to, and the shadowy existence of the squad, makes both Power Girl and Green Lantern uncertain.

Red Tornado is undoubtedly a hero, a revered one at that. Still, his extreme fear of a future that only he can see is making him seem paranoid and leading to actions that could be dangerous or even villainous. Having just the two voices in Power Girl and Green Lantern makes their personalities stand out more, rather than being drowned out by a large group.

The art is fascinating, often suggesting more about the characters than the dialogue. The opening, appearing before the credits page, shows that not all is well with Red Tornado. It’s disturbing and grotesque, unexpectedly bloody and brutal. It’s haunting, before returning to the regular world. Both Power Girl and Green Lantern look amazing in Henry’s art style. They spend most of Justice League Red Issue 1 looking concerned or perplexed, adding to the intrigue of the story.

Their first threat, which they face combined, is a giant robot tediously conceptualized by Henry. The sense of scale is phenomenal, towering over the mighty heroes. It’s a great first battle, if a little too standard. But that’s part of the trick within the story, because there is much more to this mechanical creation.

The colors are terrific. The main characters are so covered in vibrant tones. Green Lantern’s constructs look bright and fascinating. Their headquarters and Red Tornado lead to an abundance of intense red in the pages. Power Girl’s cape is therefore slightly darker, which is a great detail that stops it from getting lost. The lettering is consistent and very easy to read.

Justice League Red Issue 1 is powered by distrust. The comic is unsettling and has so many differences from the bigger flagship title. There’s a figurehead that is traditionally a reliable hero, and yet there’s something about how Ahmed writes him that makes him difficult to trust. The missions themselves are carried out by recruits who are tentative at best.

Where Justice League Unlimited shines with its infinite cast, this series prefers to stay small. The idea of Red Tornado taking action based on probability creates a sense of uncertainty around every part of the comic, making it enthralling and gripping.

Justice League Red Issue 1 is available where comics are sold.