Justice League #36 Review

Deadly Exposure.

Johns continues his Amazo Virus run with new artist Jason Fabok coming on board. While it’s still very good in exploring the Justice League’s presence, there are some missteps that make this a flawed read.

But whatever complaints I have about the plot goes out the window when I get to the artwork. This is one beautiful looking book – Fabok manages to give each character a different personality, and Wonder Woman’s change is the most striking. Fabok manages to visually balance her loving nature and warrior spirit in a way few have.

SPOILERS FOLLOW………….

It’s been twenty four hours since the virus was unleashed, and over half of Metropolis is infected and abandoned. Most of the Justice League is also down (alongwith Neutron), with only the aliens (Superman), gods (Wonder Woman) and the careful humans (Lex Luthor, Batman and Captain Cold) unaffected.

Apparently, Lex isolated the virus from the Amazo android. We have yet to see Amazo in action, with very brief teases here and there. Its purpose was to mimic Superhuman abilities, and the virus apparently was supposed to negate them – but had the effect of giving normal people abilities that would ultimately destroy the host.

Steve Trevor and the cavalry arrive while the person ordering the hit on Luthor recruits another mercenary going by the name of ‘Bullet’.

Above all this, Lex believes the key lies with Patient Zero – the first human to be exposed to the virus. We see Batman and Superman find him all hulked up (oddly reminiscent of Young Justice’s Blockbuster) as he prepares to attack. He feels pretty important, so I’m wondering whether he is a known DC character or not.

There were some great moments here. Batman’s helmet is cracked at one stage and gives a good opportunity to see how he and Superman inspire each other. And when Lex says that the Flash may die if no cure is found, the smirk from Captain Cold speaks volumes of their history together.

And going back to Wonder Woman, Fabok crafts one of the best visual representations of her since the New 52 started – she’s at once loving and bristling for a fight. Her scene with Lex expands on an earlier one and shows how those two are at odds in temperament and world view.

I have a feeling Diana and Clark are next on the infection block, and may be followed by Bruce. So, time for Lex to save the world again?

SPOILERS END……………

As usual now, Lex gets the spotlight as the savior, but Johns tempers it with some great World’s Finest moments and some good character interactions.

Fabok blows the competition away as he crafts one of the best looking Justice League books in recent memory, the star of which is Diana.

So, I give it 8.5 out of 10.

+Some great character interactions

+The visuals are great

+The virus is intriguing

+Fabok does a great Wonder Woman

-Slow plot

-The virus’ abilities aren’t all that well defined