Justice League: Rebirth #1 Review

Spinning out of the events of DC UNIVERSE: REBIRTH #1, a new day dawns for Earth’s greatest heroes as they welcome three new members to the team, including…Superman?

Justice League: Rebirth #1
Written by: Bryan Hitch
Illustrated by: Bryan Hitch
Variant Cover by” Joe Madureira
Published by: DC Comics

The Justice League will have to move forward with new superheroes in their latest adventures after the events of DC Universe: Rebirth #1. Writer and illustrator Bryan Hitch (America’s Got Powers, Justice League of America, True Brit) gives readers a somewhat detailed look into what the future of the Justice League will look like after the events of Rebirth.

Not only did Hitch write a terrific one-shot story, but the artwork that accompanies the story is magnificent. Hitch was out to prove that not only can hit write a fantastic story, but he can also draw one as well.

The story of Justice League: Rebirth is called “Fear The Reaper,” and it does just that for these great heroes of the planet Earth. The issue begins with the current Justice League (Batman, The Flash, Aquaman, Wonder Woman, and Cyborg) battling an alien creature they have never faced before.

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This creature is attacking New York City and infecting citizens with mini cockroach-like insects that transform them into mindless zombies, and causing them to walk towards the giant creature.

In the midst of all this happening, pre-Flashpoint Clark Kent is in Smallville, Kansas with his wife Lois Lane and son Jonathon Kent.

Clark is trying to appeal to Lois that just because he was their world’s Superman, does not mean he should be this Earth’s Superman. He pleads with Lois that with great power comes great responsibility, and if he accepts life as the “new,” Man of Steel, there is no going back.

Hitch’s artwork on the first part of this issue is quite remarkable. Not only does he do a terrific job of making the latest threat to the Justice League seem like a true menace, but the creature is also downright scary.

Hitch also does an amazing job with the story. He doesn’t dwell on any sequence more than another but he makes the individual panels truly matter in the grand scheme of things.

The second part of the issue is catching up with the Green Lanterns; Jessica Cruz and Simon Baz. The two rookie Lantern cops received a distress signal from the league; Cruz wants to arrive at the scene right away while Baz has his reservations due to his past encounters with the League.

Baz also doesn’t want the Justice League situation to deter them from their current mission, saving the world from The Red Lantern Corps. The officers swiftly arrive in New York where they join the Justice League in the belly of the beast.

While the League is making their way through the inside of the creature, Aquaman has a difficult time moving through the creature until he tells the League in agony that the creature is a “reaper,” and that is time for humanity to pay their dues.

The next sequence is a flashback to right after the death of the New 52 Superman. The League is in the Watchtower and Batman tells the League that he trusted the old Superman but that they need to keep a close eye on this “new,” Superman. Some of the League, including Wonder Woman, have their doubts about this new Superman and if it is completely safe to trust him. Batman assures the team that he knows what he’s doing, and it is the right move for the League to do.

The aid of the Green Lanterns helps in the combating of the Reaper, but when Superman arrives, the outcomes becomes a success for the League. The issue ends with a news reporter saying that the League is earth’s “first and last,” defense against the unknown and that the world is thankful to have them.

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The Bottom Line: Bryan Hitch will be having the time of his life with the upcoming series Justice League and Justice League: Rebirth proves that Hitch knows what he’s doing when it comes to these iconic characters. The story will be excellent because Hitch will be dealing with the writing primary while he leaves the artwork to Tony S. Daniel.

Justice League: Rebirth #1is one of the better Rebirth specials because it is one of the only one-shots that have directly connected itself to the events of DC Universe: Rebirth. Justice League will be one of the premiere series coming out of Rebirth and it should be on every DC Comics fan’s pull list.