Tony Black reviews Justice League #5…
“THE EXTINCTION MACHINE” part 5! In this concluding chapter, the race to the corners of the Earth is on for Aquaman as he holds the key to saving our planet from destruction—if he can make it in time before the last doomsday machine powers up! Can Superman survive his trip to the Earth¹s core? Is this the final battle between the Justice League and The Kindred—or just the start of something far worse?
SEE ALSO: Read a preview of Justice League #5 here
We reach a climactic showdown for the finale of ‘The Extinction Machines’ from Bryan Hitch, which has successfully managed to convey a genuine sense of scale and otherworldly scope as the Justice League work to battle the Kindred, gigantic, distinctly Dr Manhattan-esque (coincidence?) beings looking to transform the Earth in order to achieve a very cosmic aim. Hitch, backed up by some stunning artwork by Tony S. Daniel, brings the entire JLA back together so they can battle and take down the threat – it’s just a shame, given the build up, that the battle against the Kindred almost seems to peter out, lacking the gravitas we may have hoped.
The previous part after all ended with the great cliffhanger of Cyborg being replicated into a Kindred army essentially, but we never really get all that much done with this problem in the end; the Flash manages to make himself useful by running very fast around the bad guys, as do the Green Lantern duo, while Aquaman (who really has been short changed by this storyline) shows up with some deus ex crystals to help save the day, but it’s really Superman who continues to get the best narrative – battling with the Earth’s core, continuing to self-doubt, and ultimately gaining a new level of respect and place amidst the JLA group.
It’s possible in hints to Wonder Woman by the Kindred before they meet their fate that all of this could have major repercussions later – talking of their aim being ‘the Forever Crisis’ is too epic and ominous a thing to not mean something, and could well link to the overarching Rebirth storyline. We’ll have to wait and see. For now, Justice League ends its first run with a decent finale to a solid, suitably epic and often colorful and vibrant storyline.
Rating: 7/10
Tony Black
Originally published October 3, 2016. Updated November 14, 2019.
