Justice League #35 Review

Justice League transitions from an epilogue issue of one story arc to a prologue issue of another. That puts the series in danger of losing too much momentum, especially in light of the sluggish shipping schedule that has persisted for much of this year. But frankly, this series has always been at its best when it slows down and focuses on the characters rather than action and spectacle. Characterization is why Justice League has become a markedly better book since the "Throne of Atlantis" crossover, and it's why this issue works too.

Geoff Johns focuses heavily on the Bruce Wayne/Lex Luthor dynamic as the two men officially announce their business partnership and the rest of the League place their hopes on Batman exposing whatever scheme Luthor has cooking. The fun, of course, is that it's not clear whether Luthor actually has anything cooking. He's not a man to be trusted, given his history, but it's also clear that he has been profoundly affected by his recent experiences. That sense of unpredictability with the League's new sponsor may just be the book's strongest element right now.

Johns focuses a bit on other relationships, including the Cyborg/Shazam "Odd Couple" dynamic and Power Ring's struggle to deal with life as a public figure. All of this eventually leads to some stage-setting for the "Amazo Virus" story arc. But this issue doesn't do much to build excitement about that impending conflict. It's all about the characters in this case.

Get full review from IGN here.