New Recruits And J’onn J’onnz Are Hunted Down In Justice League #27

Justice League #27 gives you the second part of the Apex Predator storyline as penned by James Tynion IV and illustrated by Javier Fernandez and Bruno Redondo, as we catch up with J’onn J’onzz who was facing down a very angry Lionel Luthor from the cliffhanger of a last page of the previous issue. But, not all is as it seems and the mystery of Luthor’s dad being alive and well is revealed as something else entirely. Enter a familiar face to Justice League fans, but one who doesn’t seem ready for taking on the Martian Manhunter, even though it does seem he’s doing a good enough job of keeping J’onn imprisoned for nefarious reasons. And, of course, this all ties to the Legion of Doom and the machinations of Lex Luthor. 27 issues in, and he’s only grown stronger in every way imaginable. Seems reports of his death were greatly exaggerated.

Meanwhile, a faction of the Justice League continue to recruit big hitters to take on Luthor and Perpetua as Starman comforts a distressed Shayne – the sole survivor of the ‘fake multiverse’ of previous issues.

Fernandez’s grittier art style suits those scenes in which we witness J’onn J’onzz captured. It adds to a sense of horror at what is happening, while the few pages from Redondo work well in depicting Starman, Shayne and Mera back at the Hall of Justice, but it does jar at the end, somewhat, when a frailer looking Martian Manhunter is suddenly transformed, with a turn of the page, into a far more muscular figure. Having different artists with very different styles depict different scenes works for me, but when they both share art duties over the same scene, I think it’s important that there’s more coordination. Although, it may well be for time constraints, given this occurs only at the end of this issue.

Still, with another cracking issue from Tynion IV, the stakes continue to get higher as the Year of the Villain starts heating up. It’s an issue that once more offers up some surprises, as well as further interesting turns when the newest member of the Justice League suggests the next recruit to join in the fight against Perpetua lives on the very outskirts of creation and in the Anti-Matter Universe itself. Seems the Justice League are bound for Qward while J’onn is given an offer he may not be able to turn down.

Justice League #27 is out now from DC Comics.