Justice League #26 Review

It's Your Kids...

Written by: Bryan Hitch
Art by: Fernando Pasarin, Oclair Albert, Brad Anderson and Richard Starkings
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: August 2, 2017

Well, it appears that this Legacy story is going to be Bryan Hitch's last on this book.  While some will have mixed emotions about that, I just hope that he can wrap all his dangling threads and somehow make it all payoff in a kick-ass sendoff that will, at the least, make the ending memorable.  This whole "Time Crisis" idea has been building up since the Rebirth began in this book, so we can only expect to get an ending of some sort, good or bad, right?  I ask because Hitch's biggest problem seems to be ending his stories, but I'm going to maintain a wait and see attitude.  So, does this first issue of his last arc hold promises of a better day to come?  Let's find out...


The issue starts mysteriously enough with a bunch of kids either heading off to a crazy cosplay party or actually being the children of the Justice League.  Hint...it's the later.  The art is really good from the get go and while it took a little to get my bearings, once I learned it was twenty years in the future and Mt. Olympus was smack dab in the middle of New York City, I was ready to cast away my preconceived notions and immerse myself in a fresh new story.

That's the thing here, the interactions with these kids and the hints they were dropping got me excited. Sure, Hitch throws a bunch of names at the reader with little to no explanation, but I eventually caught on and it felt like these were characters that Hitch really cared about.  Plus, this future had a bunch of neat things I want to learn more about.

The story continues with the kids making their way through the city and even though I was sure something bad would happen, Aquaman fused with Cyborg's tech wasn't on the top of my list!  The battle between them was full of action and again...mystery. What was "Lightfall"?  Is that why the Black Lantern ring is now called a "Dark Ring" and doesn't function the same?  I am giving Hitch the benefit of the doubt because I'm hoping this is all part of something good that will eventually be explained.  If it isn't...I'll be fucking pissed!

The issue continues with the group heading to the rubble of the Infinity Corps building and it's a nice bit of tie-in to readers of this whole series and Hitch's JLA run that came before it.  We get a Jane name drop and see Vincent (sort of) before the team is attacked by a monstrosity called Sovereign.  They are only saved by using the Stones to travel back in time...to our present.

Before the arrive, though, we get the Justice League doing...well, Justice League things.  This is where the issue takes a bit of a dip for me.  I loved the first half with the kids, but when we get out regular team, we get some of the book's regular problems.  The dialogue is not great and the voices don't feel like the heroes we know.  Still, hearing Wonder Woman talk about the fatigue of world ending event after world ending event felt kinda meta to me and made me laugh and it all goes by fast enough.  The cliffhanger is nothing shocking, but has me excited to see if Hitch can keep this story going forward with a full head of steam.

I liked this issue.  It's nice to say that for once and I really do hope I keep saying it until this run is over.  While Hitch ties up a few things from his run, he opens up a couple more questions and right now, I want those answers more.

I loved Fernando Pasarin's art.  His character designs kicked ass along with everything else.  I hope he stays on for this entire arc.

Bits and Pieces:

This is my favorite issue of Bryan Hitch's Justice League and it makes me happy to say that.  I loved seeing the future of the DCU and the children of the Justice League seem pretty cool.  Fernando Pasarin's art was great and while I don't think those who dropped this book need to jump back on just yet, those who stuck it out may just be rewarded with a good final arc.  Fingers crossed.

8.0/10