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| Darkseid and the Anti-Monitor in battle |
The premise of The Darkseid War alone should be enough to convince most Justice League fans they need this story in their lives. While the title suggests it may be the DC equivalent to Avengers: Infinity War, the conflict in question is a little more complex than just heroes versus the big bad. Writer Geoff Johns, who rebooted continuity with Flashpoint and Justice League: Origin, makes readers' dreams (and heroes' nightmares) reality as he pits DC's two baddest villains against each other: Darkseid and the Anti-Monitor.
Johns begins by establishing that the multiverse is still reeling from the effects of big events prior to Flashpoint, and that another crisis could damage reality beyond repair. The struggle in this saga is orchestrated by Darkseid's daughter, who was first alluded to at the start of the New 52 reboot. Born on Themyscira the same night as Wonder Woman, Grail plans to summon the Anti-Monitor to eradicate her father and fulfil her duty as a peacekeeper.
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| Amazons Diana, Grail and Myrina |
Grail serves as an excellent mirror image to Diana, who plays a central role in the story. Their differences in motivations and methods are compelling, and the decision to tie the Wonder Woman mythos to that of the New Gods is a great step forward. The Anti-Monitor is also included in Fourth World lore - Johns tells us his real name is Mobius, former owner of the omniscient Mobius Chair. The history of Mobius becomes an integral part of the overall story, which Batman must uncover.
Each character in the story feels important and helps to drive it forward. Not only that, but it impacts the characters - the Power of the Gods one-shots explore how each Leaguer changes halfway through the saga, and major revelations are made known towards the end that lead into DC Universe: Rebirth. This reciprocity gives The Darkseid War a lot of weight, making it lean into event book territory rather than just having it feel like a self-contained story arc.
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| The book's Justice League lineup |
However, the war still pales in comparison to the cataclysms that Darkseid and the Anti-Monitor have previously caused. Crisis on Infinite Earths and Final Crisis had each of these antagonists deal a hefty blow to the fabric of time and space - this story undoubtedly influences the main DC continuity, but the rest of the multiverse remains pretty much unscathed.
The absolute greatest part of The Darkseid War is that it's illustrated by the incredible Jason Fabok. The characters are brought to life with meticulous care and each panel is beautifully cinematic. Long-time comic fans will be delighted by recreations of iconic covers, and all readers will be in awe of the many breathtaking splash pages. Fabok might just be the king of DC's modern house style - he really gives Jim Lee a run for his money.
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| One of Fabok's double-page spreads |
The Darkseid War might not be the biggest threat the Justice League have had to tackle, but it's a thrill nonetheless. With an engaging plot and spectacular art, there's no reason for DC fans not to read this awesome comic - it's particularly essential for anybody following the road to Rebirth. Pick up a copy and place your bets.
Rating: 8/10
The "essential edition" of The Darkseid War comes out this month, collecting the entire saga in a single volume. If you can't wait to see who wins, grab the digital editions on Comixology right now.
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