Tony Black reviews Justice League #3…
“The Extinction Machine” part three! The hive-mind entities known as the Awakened take their vendetta against the Justice League to the next level by changing ordinary people into grotesque monsters bent on hunting down super-humans all over the world. Meanwhile, Superman journeys to the center of the earth to stop the catastrophic quakes that are taking lives all over the world.
SEE ALSO: Check out a preview of Justice League #3 here
‘The Extinction Machines’ continues in this epic third issue of the Rebirth of Justice League, and Bryan Hitch–after an issue full of exposition about the strange Kindred aliens and what they’re doing to the Earth–manages here to ripple out all of our heroes into different story threads as they attempt to stop the wave of attacks which are taking out people and cities across the planet. What began as a certain neo-Gothic menace transmutes itself into a cod-Dr Manhattan source of antagonism here, perhaps presaging the overarching narrative of bringing Watchmen into the DC mythology, and Tony S. Daniel’s panels reflect the colourful otherworldliness of the giant Kindred aliens who begin growing out of the fused possession of human beings. Whatever they are or what they want, not answered here, obviously relates directly to humanity itself in a very ancient way. It’s a fascinating storyline Hitch handles well.
Wonder Woman continues to be the toughest cookie of the bunch as she tries to confront the Kindred head on, only to find herself in a strange, otherworldly realm it seems beyond her level of understanding; among the ground troops, the Flash works with the Green Lanterns in order to help protect people, until giving them the chance to head off world and follow a breadcrumbs trail to a clue which may provide some understanding of the Kindred’s origin down the line – plus along the way there’s a brief but nice reminder of the Flash’s connection to Jessica Cruz; Aquaman remains in Atlantis attempting to confront one of the Kindred creatures who potentially offers a way to destroy them, but again he’s underserved in a story which encompasses by necessity a great deal.
What is great is that Superman fully comes into the mix here, as Batman seeks him out to undertake the desperate mission into the Earth’s core to take out the titular machines; with Cyborg’s help, and having said a tearful goodbye to Lois & Jon (which all the while never forgets the growing family bond between this alt-world family), Superman undertakes a job which for once might be too much for him. It allows for the strongest of a great set of cliffhangers which continue propelling this epic story into new areas.
If the last issue utilised exposition to forward understanding, this issue of Justice League forwards the story as Bryan Hitch moves around pieces on the board and sets the scene for the bigger battles to come, placing all of the JLA in different places and scenarios all tethered to the strong, strange enemy that is the Kindred. With some moments of characterisation amidst the large scale action, keeping one foot on the ground within what is a very out there narrative, Justice League manages to be enjoyable and beautifully presented as the stakes continue rising in this opening arc.
Rating: 7/10
Tony Black
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Originally published August 23, 2016. Updated November 14, 2019.
