Justice League #48 Review: The Darkseid War Part 8

Justice League #48
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Jason Fabok
Colored by Brad Anderson
Published by DC Comics

With the news that Geoff Johns and Jason Fabok are leaving Justice League with issue #50, reviewing the series has become somewhat bittersweet. While I understand why the two would leave the title with the imminent arrival of Rebirth and a twice-a-month Justice League title, it will nonetheless signify the end of an era.

Because make no mistake, Johns’ work these last several years on Justice League will go down as one of the greatest eras in the history of the title. Up there with some of the best there ever was, including Grant Morrison, Keith Giffen and George Perez.

There will be enough time to reflect on the Geoff Johns’ Justice League in the months to come. For now, let’s focus our attention of the latest chapter of “The Darkseid War,” which continues the epic struggle of the heroes of the Justice League to stop the Anti-Monitor from destroying all that is.

Because if the Geoff Johns Era of Justice League has to end, at least it is going out with a bang and not a whimper.

Justice League #48 sees the members of the League dealing with their counterparts in the Crime Syndicate as they form a plan of attack against Mobius. The issue is pretty much wall to wall action as they take the battle to the Anti-Monitor in Gotham City after making a deal with the Syndicate they may come to regret.

Before we get to the story (which is awesome) I want to talk about the art. Every issue of “The Darkseid War” I’ve reviewed so far I’ve gone on and on about how incredible the artwork of Jason Fabok is. How even the smallest details are not overlooked and how he packs so much action into each page. How, other than maybe George Perez, I can think of no other artist who has worked on a Justice League title who brought this level of grandeur and epic scope to the book.

Somehow, in issue #48, Fabok upped his game yet again.

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There are double-page spreads here that need to be posters. The sheer workmanship on display is just remarkable. I have yet to see any book from Marvel or DC that looks as good as Justice League has when Fabok is doing the art. Period.

Of course it takes a great story to make great art, and Johns provides a doozy here. When I reviewed issue #47, I mentioned how the book seemed to be having some problems getting the momentum back after the tie-in issues and Francis Manapul did some fill-in art.

Consider the momentum back and then some.

Johns seriously kicks things into overdrive as we approach the concluding chapters of the story. Reading issue #48, I got the same feeling I got when I was reading the final few issues of Crisis on Infinite Earths, that “anything might happen” vibe as all the plotlines race start to converge as we near the conclusion. The dramatic arrival of Lex Luthor, what exactly Grail is up to and the mystery surrounding Superwoman’s baby all look to factor into how “The Darkseid War” is going to end.

And it looks like it will be an ending for the ages.

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The Bottom Line: Justice League #48 returns “The Darkseid War” to the instant classic status is had before the tie-ins and fill-in art slowed things down. It ups the spectacle, increases the widescreen action and has readers on the edge of their seats practically from page one. I cannot wait to see how this all plays out and how it might set the stage for Rebirth in the coming months.

I dare you not to buy this comic. I dare you.

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