“We Are Yesterday” may have concluded, but the aftershocks live on! The JLU have defeated Gorilla Grodd’s Legion of Doom. This came with a dangerous cost. Grodd’s plans involved time travel. This also affected the DCU’s finest. Many time-displaced heroes are now stuck in the present. Their mere existence is causing monumental disruptions that threaten all. How does the League respond with no answers in sight?
JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED #9 by Mark Waid, Dan Mora, Tamra Bonvillain, and Dave Sharpe pick up the pieces in thier latest chapter.
Let’s take a closer look at where things stand now.
JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED #9 by Mark Waid, Dan Mora, Tamra Bonvillain, and Dave Sharpe (DC COMICS)
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
Waid breaks this issue down into two separate stories. The first being the issue with the time-displaced heroes. Seeing the conversations provide a light break from the looming danger ahead. The dialogue quicky turns when Time Trapper and Alpheus arrive. Their assessment of the “time quakes” elevates the pressure. It leads into a drastic proposition. Waid spins this into an exciting action sequence. It ultimately resolves in a very unlikely manner. Desperate times call for extreme measures.
The other arc dives into Mr. Terrific’s attempts to save Air Wave. Waid’s writing shows an unusual side of Terrific which is rarely seen. Ironically, Blue Beetle calls it out during their time. Readers watch as the newly defined focus pushes towards a positive attempt. The outcome gives readers a semblance of hope. It is much different than the closing pages. With all the moving parts, the groundwork is being laid for another monstrous event. It still provides an enjoyable experience with DC’s finest heroes.
Mora and Bonvillain open up with the original Harley Quinn swinging her mallet via full page. This launches in to a mix of past, present and future versions of the heroes. The nostalgia gives way to the pair of time controllers crashing the party. Their near full page entrance adds extra gravity into the tense situation brewing. Seeing their breakdown of events puts the dangerous call into question. The art shifts into high gear as the fighting escalates. Readers will be impressed with the action going down. It ends on a more calm note but not without impact.
The same can be said for the Terrific saga. Seeing the calm genius shaken up makes quite the statement. Mora hones in on the frustration extremely well. Panels key in on this factor until Beetle’s deciphering. Once here, the art shows the desperate attempt to salvage their fallen friend. Sharpe’s lettering drills home the risky moves. It serves as a strong complement to the frantic art. Panel set-ups also tell the story. It guides readers to its fantastic conclusion. The final page reveals more trouble on the horizon. Would readers have it any other way? With art like this, no one will complain.
OVERALL GRADE: 8.8
Any moment a timeline is tampered with, it’s not an easy reset. Waid steers the ship into its’ new path with strong writing. Mora and Bonvillain’s magnificent art balances the ever-challenging landscape. There’s no time to look back, just forward where this series is heading.
Let me know your thoughts on Justice League Unlimited #9 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!