Review: Justice League Vol. 4- The Grid
Quick Summary
Pros: The more relaxed and decompressed story works well at this time. Seeing minor characters in a big book like this is great. The mystery started here is very intriguing.
Cons: Superman and Wonder Woman’s subplot presents them in a very odd way.
Overall: This is a short but needed reprieve in the nonstop drama in which the Justice League typically engage. The action is still on point and there is still some mystery building up, but the stakes are lower and the characters are more at ease. It is a nice story to read and one that gets readers ready to read more in the future. This might not be the best volume to read on its own but it works well for anyone who has been reading along with the series.
Review Notes
The “Trinity War” storyline is an intense crossover between the Justice League, Justice League Dark, and Justice League of America comic series. Realistically, just reading the Justice League issues will not give readers the information necessary to understand what is going on. Since this volume contains issues that are a part of the “Trinity War” crossover, we will be omitting those in our review.
See our Trinity War reading order here
Instead, we will be reviewing the entirety of the “Trinity War” storyline in our review of Trinity War (found here) instead of within this review. This review will cover the portions of Justice League Vol. 4: The Grid which are not part of the “Trinity War” storyline. Therefore, this review will only cover issues #18-20 of Justice League.
Story
These few issues provide a nice, decompressed interlude between the “Throne of Atlantis” and “Trinity War” two large storylines in the Justice League’s timeline. They still have their fair share of action, but are definitely more focused on world building and character development. Overall, this was a great decision by writer Geoff Johns as it allows readers to relax for a bit before being thrown right back into action again.
(spoilers start here)
The best part of this collection revolves around the addition of new members to the Justice League’s ranks. It feels nice to see the Justice League grow and allows a lot of lesser known heroes to have a little bit of time in the sun. Characters like Black Lightning, Zatanna, Element Woman, and Firestorm are big time fan favorites who don’t receive nearly the amount of attention that they deserve.
Alongside this, the decompression in this issue is a real treat. Positioned directly between two massive events, this storyline is at a place in the Justice League’s timeline where fans need a break from it all. Having some low stakes attacks and a seemingly innocuous mystery is the perfect reprieve from the typical “end of the world” storyline that the Justice League typically deals with.
It also does a fantastic job in building intrigue and excitement for future stories in this series. Double agents, secrets histories, and the mysterious Batcave break-in are all things which raise questions while also contributing to the current storyline. It places emphasis on the future without sacrificing the present. If the series continues on like this then there is a large possibility that readers will be in for an even more amazing time in the future.
In terms of negatives, most of them revolve around the weird characterization of Superman and Wonder Woman. The two are acting more authoritarian and rash than they usually do and feel eerily reminiscent of their Superman: Red Son versions. It doesn’t fit their current characterization in the rest of the New 52 and seems odd to see in this story.
(spoilers end here)
Art
A few different artists split the work throughout this collection, with most of them doing very well. The first issue is done by Jesus Saiz, who’s less detailed drawings fit the issue well. There are no large scale battles to depict so this art style works better for this more relaxed moment in the Justice League’s life. Meanwhile, Ivan Reis’s super detailed style works better for the next issue, which has to depict places like the bowels of the Batcave and the landscapes of Kahndaq. The only disappointment in this collection is the final issue, which is a significant dip in quality compared to the others.
Continuity
Justice League Vol. 4: The Grid continues the story from Justice League Vol. 3: Throne of Atlantis (Review).
Though the next volume is Justice League Vol. 5: Forever Heroes (Review) the story here continues in Trinity War (Review)
This volume also references stories from other comic books, all of which are detailed below.
- Three of the potential recruits for the Justice League are shown on their own adventures before being recruited.
- Firestorm was approached by Superman about joining the Justice League at the very end of The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men Vol. 3: Takeover.
- Black Cannary is shown fighting Copperhead, clearly on a mission with the Birds of Prey. It does not reference any specific Birds of Prey storyline, but her work with the team begins in Birds of Prey Vol. 1: Trouble in Mind (Review)
- Zatanna is talking about how John Constantine asked her to leave the Justice League Dark. This does not happen at any point in the Justice League Dark series.
- Flash mentions being absent for the events of Justice League Vol. 3: Throne of Atlantis (Review) because of a “City of Gorillas”. This is a reference to the events of The Flash Vol. 3: Gorilla Warfare.
- Blue Devil and Black Lightning are shown as crime fighting partners in this comic. This is due to the events of DC Universe Presents Vol. 3: Black Lightning and Blue Devil.
- The death of Zatanna’s father is discussed. This is shown in Justice League Dark Vol. 2: The Books of Magic (Review).
- References are made to Jason Todd and Damian Wayne’s deaths.
- Jason died in Batman: A Death in the Family.
- Damian died in Batman Incorporated Vol. 2: Gotham’s Most Wanted.
- Though references are made to a time where Martian Manhunter was on the Justice League, this time period is never shown in any comic from this continuity.
- Batman having protocols to take down each member of the Justice League is most likely a reference to the “Tower of Babel” story collected in JLA Vol. 4.
- The end of the volume makes a reference to the newly created Justice League of America, who’s adventures began in Justice League of America Vol. 1: World’s Most Dangerous (Review).