Justice League #40

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    inferiorego

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    Edited By inferiorego  Staff

    The Good

    This is the start to the next story from JUSTICE LEAGUE. It's going to be an all-out war. Here's the thing, JUSTICE LEAGUE has been hit or miss. It's always been executed pretty well, but many of the stories have been forgettable in the New 52. That really changed with "The Amazo Virus." It really brought this sense of fun into the book and we got a memorable story that didn't bleed into the rest of DC books. That all continues here, for now.

    This issue is one, giant "catch em' up" for people who don't know much about the worlds of New Genesis and Apokolips. Sure, it does seem like an info-dump at times (more about that later), but it's put together well and has a broad appeal. New readers will get an understanding between these two worlds and those already familiar with it all with get to see some moments fans haven't witnessed in the New 52.

    The issue follows Metron, who takes the readers through the history between the two planets and how they're locked in war every 100 years or so. We also get to see the two leaders of these planets, Highfather and Darkseid, trade sons as part of a peace treaty. Metron drives the story and while there's no one from the actual Justice League here, Geoff Johns spins a good tale that will get readers invested in the story.

    There's a ton of artists on this book: Kevin Maguire, Phil Jimenez, Dan Jurgens, Jerry Ordway, Scott Kolins, Jason Fabok, and Jim Lee with Scott Williams. Colorists Brad Anderson and Alex Sinclair give the book a cohesiveness to everything. While this laundry list of creators looks a bit weird, it actually works extremely well in the book as those artists have specific duties on very specific pages representing specific times in the DCU. (specific... just had to write it one more time) It really is Anderson and Sinclair that bring this all together though. Maguire and Lee are really the caps here for the book as they work on the most pages, and it is wonderful to see Lee doing some art again. Don't get me wrong, Fabok has been amazing, but Lee's final pages are really beautiful and his work on JL has given this series a specific look and feel.

    The Bad

    This issue is an info-dump. Some of it is needed info while some of it feels like just a tad too much for the overall issue. There is so much info about New Genesis and Apokolips and the crisis that have happened in the past. The issue does read a bit like a history book. It's all done extremely well and lots of the information appears to be vital for the upcoming story, but it can get dense at times.

    So the build up here is great, but there's nagging feeling in the back of my head "more events? more giant stories that can spill-over into other books?" That's not all technically true but there's heavy skeptical feeling I have. Sure, "The Amazo Virus" story was self-contained, but Darkseid War seems almost too big to contain within this single book. This is more of a concern than something "bad" within the book.

    I worry that Metron will get blood clots from sitting all the time.

    The Verdict

    JUSTICE LEAGUE #40 is a pretty big info dump. Luckily, it's done pretty dang well and does a fantastic job at getting the reader excited for the upcoming Darkseid War. More than anything, it's really nice to have this book during this month as a break from CONVERGENCE. It's a breath of fresh air and gives readers something to look forward to. I highly recommend check this out this week just so you can take a break from the event.

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    Squalleon

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    Hyped.

    The beginning was very-meta.

    Like something out of a Grant Morrison comic.

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    Squalleon

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    @inferiorego The Darkseid war will not crossover to other titles.

    But I think it is mentioned there will be some tie-in one-shots.

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    deactivated-5edd330f57b65

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    So the league isn't focused on at all in this? Are they at least seen?

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    KEROGA

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    No actual JLA?! Lol

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    Squalleon

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    @jayc1324 said:

    So the league isn't focused on at all in this? Are they at least seen?

    Only once and in a flashback.

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    vandinejd_1991

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    #6  Edited By vandinejd_1991

    @g-man and @inferiorego: Do you know when the events of the Justice League series take place in relation to other series? Im asking because all of the Justice League members have their original design at least on the cover of 41, and was wondering if Darkseid War takes place before whatever occurs before the Justice League's members post-Convergence redesign.

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    HolySerpent

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    off to great start

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    deactivated-5edd330f57b65

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    @squalleon: Well that drastically decreases my excitement for this issue. But I guess its just a prologue so that's OK.

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    Squalleon

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    @jayc1324 said:

    @squalleon: Well that drastically decreases my excitement for this issue. But I guess its just a prologue so that's OK.

    To be honest. The story set up is very good. Personally I didn't even miss the JL in this issue :P

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    dondave

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    This issue was just confusing.

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    tensor

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    I like it is was on point.

    There is going to be tons of more back stories going forward.

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    TheMantisShrimp

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    I'm gonna start Darkseid War with issue 41 and have read Forever Evil and most of Justice League before Forever Evil. Does anyone recommend this issue as essential if I'm mostly aware of whats been going on with the JL?

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    Squalleon

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    I'm gonna start Darkseid War with issue 41 and have read Forever Evil and most of Justice League before Forever Evil. Does anyone recommend this issue as essential if I'm mostly aware of whats been going on with the JL?

    Definitely essential. It brings you up to date and gives you an overview of the plot.

    But Johns said he made issue 41 as new reader friendly as possible.

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    jwalser3

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    Can't wait to pic this up!

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    justice teen

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    #16  Edited By justice teen

    Love how they connected everything in the History of DC Universe and hinted that there will not be another major reboot for a long time. Not sure how I feel about the anti-monitor being a New god, or Metron being a Monitor.Since one is the predecessor to the others job. Finally saw Darkseid daughter so that's a plus. Convergence was reference but not Multiversity, but in Multiversity NIx utotan said he set loose darkseid. Overall I am ready to see how this unfolds.

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    superior_prime_maybe

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    Im wondering how this, convergence and multiversity fit together

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    Rubear

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    #18  Edited By Rubear

    @superior_prime_maybe said:

    Im wondering how this, convergence and multiversity fit together

    Convergence is mentioned as happening. Dunno about Multiversity.

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    HolySerpent

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    TheMantisShrimp

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    @squalleon: Thanks for the info, I'll definitely check it out at the shop today.

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    dondave

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    #21  Edited By dondave

    @dondave: how was it confusing

    The Anti-Monitor in this story is the same Anti-Moniotr COIE despite the fact that Johns killed him during Backest Night.

    Also that Metron apaprently has existed since before Crisis on Infinite Earths despite all the New Gods being affected by Flashpoint and him being killed by the Source during Death of the New Gods and then hinting that he doesn't seem to be a New God anymore.

    Not to mention the fact that apparently Anti-Monitor is the owner of Mobius chair despite us knowing of his COIE origin story which had nothing to do with him being an observer of universes but rather being the counterpart of the Monitor and trying to kill him.

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    deactivated-5edd330f57b65

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    @squalleon: After reading it, I actually think it was done really well and kept my interest all the way through. But given the effect of DS and Anti-Monitor fighting, I have a hard time seeing how this story can only take place in and affect the justice league series. It seems a lot bigger than that. It definitely got me excited to see the two battle though

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    JuliusTakalua

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    I'm glad the New Gods are getting some limelight!

    Would love to see some characters get more attention though. How big will this story be?

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    Squalleon

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    @jayc1324 said:

    @squalleon: After reading it, I actually think it was done really well and kept my interest all the way through. But given the effect of DS and Anti-Monitor fighting, I have a hard time seeing how this story can only take place in and affect the justice league series. It seems a lot bigger than that. It definitely got me excited to see the two battle though

    Johns said JL will read like an event book. But it will be completely autonomous and not a crossover. He also said while most titles will feel like their own little universes (post convergence), JL will be the title that will make the world-building and will connect them all.

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    deactivated-5edd330f57b65

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    @squalleon: *Sigh* that already sounds confusing and it hasn't even started yet. The "world building" part is what worried me, but I'm still very excited for this story. I'll wait and see though.

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    Starscream_Vs_You

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    @jayc1324: It's not really confusing. It's out of continuity like Action Comics has been lately. If you have a chance read some of the books that have been leading up to this.. Justice League books mostly but Forever Evil is essential..

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    the_stegman

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    #28 the_stegman  Moderator

    This was a great issue. Called back to the various Crises and Convergence and gave more depth to Anti Monitor.

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    StMichalofWilson

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    Cool issue. The war has begun...

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    vinomonster

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    Great start for an epic story arc.. hoping for tie ins.

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    cloudzackvincent

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    Love how they connected everything in the History of DC Universe and hinted that there will not be another major reboot for a long time. Not sure how I feel about the anti-monitor being a New god, or Metron being a Monitor.Since one is the predecessor to the others job. Finally saw Darkseid daughter so that's a plus. Convergence was reference but not Multiversity, but in Multiversity NIx utotan said he set loose darkseid. Overall I am ready to see how this unfolds.

    can you explain where you got this from? i mean its great news but i just seem to have missed it.

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    JuliusTakalua

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    #32  Edited By JuliusTakalua

    So how do you guys think this will tie up to Convergence and Multiversity?

    Would love to have a discussion about all the new retcons and the story of the DC multiverse so far

    No Caption Provided

    Here's the map of the DCMU just in case people did not read Multiversity

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    asjmooney

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    #33  Edited By asjmooney

    Pumped for this

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    Fastestmanalive

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    Amazing issue. Haven't read such a good comic in awhile. Excited for this.

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    Kal'smahboi

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    #35  Edited By Kal'smahboi

    I liked this issua a lot. Got me excited for the story.

    And we knew this was going to be a "catch up" issue. The title was "Prologue" lol.

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    deathstroke52

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    #36  Edited By deathstroke52

    The hype for #41 is real!

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    JakeN7

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    OUTBREAK666

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    @dondave: I don't think you actaully read the lssue lol it was not confusing at all. There's gonna be a war against darkseid. Any questions?

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    Koays

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    @dondave said:
    @holyserpent said:

    @dondave: how was it confusing

    The Anti-Monitor in this story is the same Anti-Moniotr COIE despite the fact that Johns killed him during Backest Night.

    Also that Metron apaprently has existed since before Crisis on Infinite Earths despite all the New Gods being affected by Flashpoint and him being killed by the Source during Death of the New Gods and then hinting that he doesn't seem to be a New God anymore.

    Not to mention the fact that apparently Anti-Monitor is the owner of Mobius chair despite us knowing of his COIE origin story which had nothing to do with him being an observer of universes but rather being the counterpart of the Monitor and trying to kill him.

    I'm pretty sure their saying that Anti-Monitor and Metron exist outside the Multiverse and remain aware of all the previous timelines on a level similar to the current Braniac who despite having different incarnations in different timelines and Multiveres has always been the same Braniac.

    Perhaps implying that whatever caused Anti-Monitor to lose his seat on the chair also gave him a different origin in the past Crisis.

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    comicvine_is_jericho529

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    Im wondering how this, convergence and multiversity fit together

    Well they havnt mentioned multiversity

    but convergence is mentioned in the title and its pretty funny because in this issue a "certain character" basically blows the whole event off as meaningless lol

    i won't spoilt it but i think Geoff Johns is taking a shot at that event as if he were saying this event MATTERS more than Convergence. Convergence is basically a filler meant to be a gap so that the writters of the other titles like Batman, green lantern, superman etc. can play catch up and writters can be shifted to new titles etc.
    its also meant to bridge a gap for earth 2, which i havnt been following but other viners have told me that as well

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    superior_prime_maybe

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    @superior_prime_maybe said:

    Im wondering how this, convergence and multiversity fit together

    Well they havnt mentioned multiversity

    but convergence is mentioned in the title and its pretty funny because in this issue a "certain character" basically blows the whole event off as meaningless lol

    i won't spoilt it but i think Geoff Johns is taking a shot at that event as if he were saying this event MATTERS more than Convergence. Convergence is basically a filler meant to be a gap so that the writters of the other titles like Batman, green lantern, superman etc. can play catch up and writters can be shifted to new titles etc.

    its also meant to bridge a gap for earth 2, which i havnt been following but other viners have told me that as well

    Oh yeah. All these event are preludes to Divergent i believe. Kinda like the time with all those major crossover preludes with Infinite Crisis.

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