Justice League Unlimited Issue 12 is published by DC Comics. Written by Mark Waid, art by Dan Mora, colors by Tamra Bonvillain and letters by Ariana Maher.
Justice League Unlimited Issue 12 is part of the DC K.O. event. With so many of the League leaving for the tournament, those left behind struggle with a resurgent onslaught of villains. This issue focuses on those left behind. With so many of the integral characters off-world, ready to enter a cosmic tournament that decides the fate of the world, it falls to those still on Earth to aid with evacuations and the villains that are now taking their chances.
The first section of Justice League Unlimited 12 puts pressure on the League, with some surprising attacks that ruthlessly take big names off the board. There’s a little bit of humour in the idea that minor villains are causing such trouble for the might of the Justice League Unlimited, but it soon becomes clear why they are so dangerous.
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There is someone else pulling the strings. But this is just the opening for how this series will function as a tie-in. A small, select group of heroes will drive a separate adventure, whilst the rest of the team deals with trying to make sure civilians are safe. What Waid achieves brilliantly in Justice League Unlimited Issue 12 is remembering a major group of heroes that are being overshadowed by the wider event. There are the time displaced heroes, rammed in the Watchtower and taking up space. But they have now been given a purpose.
The lack of main characters in Justice League Unlimited Issue 12 allows for others to step forward, and the expansive cast to shine. We hear voices at the start of the comic that haven’t made an appearance in the entire series so far. But then there are specifics, a selection of displaced heroes that will become key to the tie-in. All have come from very different points in time, some even speaking different languages. And there is a reason why each one had been chosen by Mr Terrific, notably that they’re dispensable.
Even when they have some time to prepare before their mission, it’s evident how disoriented and out of place they are compared to the rest of the universe. People they think they know have moved on, and their counterparts in the present day have fulfilled the potential they could only dream of. They may not belong here, but they’re still able to fight for it.
The art is sensational. Mora has always been able to cope with the unimaginably large cast and does it again. The first pages are jam-packed, filled with crowds and action and explosions. It’s sensational for setting the time and the sense of danger. The design of the multiple heroes chosen for the special mission is phenomenal. They’re all instantly recognisable, introduced by a nine panel grid.
The cast of Justice League Unlimited Issue 12 shrinks slightly, but the art is still immense. The emotional moments are stunning and haunting, when you realise how alone these heroes are. There’s pain, sadness and forlorn pity. Mora gets closer to the characters, showing their faces as they take in all the new information. The locations all look superb and classic. And there’s also a reminder of another group of heroes that went on their own mission, with an amazing single page.
The colors are wonderful. They are vibrant and dazzling, bringing the best out of the heroes and their classic costumes. The book has a terrific sense of when to be bright and when to let the shadows take over. The lettering is very easy to read.
Justice League Unlimited Issue 12 makes the most of its biggest strength. Even with so many heavy hitters missing, Waid can never run out of chargers to include in this series. They’re literally everywhere. But they are more than just filling the room. The personalities are so quickly prevalent and powerful. This series chooses to step outside the event in a particular way, allowing for the time-fractured element to stay at the forefront of the plot.
Justice League Unlimited Issue 12 is available where comics are sold.
TL;DR
Justice League Unlimited Issue 12 makes the most of its biggest strength. Even with so many heavy hitters missing, Waid can never run out of chargers to include in this series.
