Justice League #11 Review and **SPOILERS**

For the Waters Will Engulf Us if We Do Not Dare to Tread

Writer: Scott Snyder 

Art, Color, Cover: Francis Manapul 

Letters: Tom Napolitano 

Variant Cover: Francisco Mattina 

Assistant Editor: Andrew Marino 

Editor: Rebecca Taylor 

Group Editor: Marie Javins 

Cover Price: $3.99 

On Sale Date: November 7, 2018

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

It’s part two of “Drowned Earth,” somehow, despite me reading at least four different issues dealing with this event. And technically speaking, at least according to the cover dress, none of them have been Aquaman. They do say that folks can get disoriented when floating in a large body of water, though. Let’s see how disoriented we get reading my review of Justice League #11, commencing now!

Explain It!

The Earth is underwater. Still. And it’s not that sweet-smelling, viscous water that pumps out of the back of the Brach’s candy factory and kills all the fish in the swimming hole, but a stinkwater that turns everyone it touches into sea monsters. But you know this already, it was established weeks ago in an issue of Aquaman that followed the “Sink Atlantis” crossover with Suicide Squad. Having been messed up by one of the Ocean Lords, the ones from another dimension that are causing this deluge, Superman wears a red eye patch—but is otherwise not yet the Kryptonian pirate we’d like to see. The Flash has been touched by the bad water, but he’s using the Speed Force to keep from becoming the Creature from the Black Lagoon. Mera shows up to save their asses from various water-borne beasties, then says they’ve got to come with her to unearth the Tomb of Arion.

Meanwhile, in the Ocean Lords’ domain, they’re screwing with Arthur something proper, especially now that he doesn’t have his superpowers. Name-dropping Batman as a personal buddy, Aquaman is able to put forth a little fight against the Lords, but is eventually cast off a high cliff to his ultimate doom, until Wonder Woman shows up in a flying boat to save his hash. She wants to take Aquaman back down to Earth, to fight the good fight, but Aquaman convinces Diana to steer the bow towards Poseidon, looking all old as hell in the Graveyard of the Gods. There, Poseidon points out that if he had any real power, he wouldn’t in a graveyard, and then he stabs Arthur in the stomach with his trident! At that moment, the Hall of Justice starts leaking on its only living inhabitants: an incapacitated Batman and the telepathic Jarro.

Back to Mera, Superman, and the Flash, they make it to the Atacama Desert, the only place on Earth yet to be flooded, and there they uncover the hidden tomb of Arion. Descending into its spooky depths, they hope to find the Tear of Extinction—but Black Manta already pilfered it! He’s there now, taunting them before he floods the place with puke water and takes off. Or maybe he hangs around a while, I dunno. Later, the Hall of Justice is breached completely—by the Legion of Doom!

It’s a fairly paint-by-numbers story that, perhaps for that reason, works well and winds up being a satisfying read. I’m a little tired of having the whole concept of the thing reiterated in half a dozen issues, but it’s not like there aren’t big story developments and unforeseen twists to pile on plenty of interesting stuff. Francis Manapul is an absolute master of the craft, and to even critique his work seems silly. It’s amazing, every part of it, right down to the layouts which are spectacular in and of themselves. Though I’m still scratching my head about some of the particulars of this event, this issue was a good time that propelled the story, which is really all we ask for our four bucks.

Bits and Pieces:

The event moves along with some dicey turns that prove to be intriguing, if not exciting. Manapul's visuals go a long way to present some of the stark scenes contained in this issue.

8.5/10