Justice League #27 Review

Hall Monitor

Written by: James Tynion IV
Art by: Javier Fernandez, Bruno Redondo, Hi-Fi, and Tom Napolitano
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: July 3, 2019

Scott Snyder said this is now an Event book and James Tynion ran with that last issue.  It felt big and important and even a little fun.  Does that continue this issue?  Let's find out...



The issue opens with Martian Manhunter captured from last issue's cliffhanger and while it was a bit confusing at first, there is a tweest that makes it way cooler than just having Lionel Luthor in a hoodie!

We then go to the rest of the League who are seeking out a Monitor and if you are a stickler for continuity, the way that the characters fling around the word "Crisis" may get you a bit upset and while I am not the Continuity Kid (or America's Sweetheart for that matter), when Barry Allen starts talking about "Echos" of the past, I even rolled my eyes!  If we are going to play this game, can someone please just explain what the characters remember and don't!!!  Superman mentions Final Crisis, Barry has echoes and I remember buying Fun Dip at the pool when I was 6. 

After Superman flashes a smile and the World Forger asks a couple of times, Mar Novu (not Club Nouveau)  joins the team and it's off to find the Anti-Monitor.  I do appreciate that James Tynion gets things moving here, but I really thought it was going to be a little harder to find and convince the Monitor to join up.

Back with Martian Manhunter, Tynion ties up a bit here with Brainiac that was really good and then starts expanding everything we saw earlier in the series with Lionel and the Legionnaires Club.  I am trying not to spoil some big reveals here so if I am being cryptic, please forgive me. 

After Martian Manhunter's knight in shining wings shows up to help him, we go back to the Hall of Justice where we get a really nice scene with Starman and Shayne.  Little Shayne wants to know if he's real and I still want to know why he has wings.  I know he is the alt-son of Kendra and Martian Manhunter, but Kendra doesn't have real wings...why does Shayne??????  He's a monster I tells ya!

Meanwhile, the issue ends with Kendra yelling at Jonn about his family responsibilities (I guess what happens in the Sixth Dimension doesn't stay in the Sixth Dimension!) and both of them getting a visit from Lex who kind of makes an offer but it's a bit different than just a bunch of loot and scientific doodads.  This one is personal!

I liked a bunch of things we got in this issue, but it felt very rushed to move things forward to then slow down to get extended scenes that were less important.  It really had an odd pacing to it, bit overall, I liked it enough.

I love Bruno Redondo's art so seeing him here flexing his art muscles was awesome and I continue to be impressed with Javi Fernandez who is putting up some real nice art as well.

Bits and Pieces:

This issue is a mix of a huge scene that felt rushed and a couple other scenes that lasted a bit too long.  It kind of works itself out in the wash and overall, I liked this issue enough.  It's not my favorite issue of the series, but good art and the crazy cliffhanger have me looking forward to the next issue.

7.5/10