Review: Justice League Volume 2, The Villain's Journey

In Justice League Volume 2: The Villain’s Journey, writer Geoff Johns and artist Jim Lee deal with the aftermath of the Justice League’s first adventure as a team. They explore the consequences of saving the world and the voracious appetite the public has for celebrities.

Five years after the Justice League defeated Darkseid, the team has become a worldwide phenomenon and is loved by many. However, not everyone is pleased with the presence of the Justice League. The government is eager to learn their secrets and there is a menace threatening to destroy the League’s reputation. Johns has a very clear understanding of modern society. This is seen in the way in which the public has become fascinated by the presence of a team of superheroes. Much like contemporary celebrities, they are plagued by the paparazzi and constant media scrutiny. He also manages to write the characters distinctively and is able to convey their unique personalities with his dialogue. That said, he still struggles to find a balance with the characters. He continues to favour Green Lantern, while Aquaman is largely relegated to being a background character.

There are two very important narratives that drive this collection. The first is that of the primary antagonist David Graves. His motivations are clear and his character is well developed. His design is also to be commended. It is eerie and menacing without being cartoony. The second plotline is that of Steve Trevor and Wonder Woman’s tenuous relationship. Johns continues to allude to their past together, but never quite divulges what really happened between the two. Truth be told, a flashback sequence would have been nice. Nevertheless, his decision to focus on these two characters is admirable. Most contemporary writers have largely ignored Steve Trevor and it’s very uncommon for Wonder Woman to be given much attention in Justice League stories. The tone for the Amazon Princess’ character is much more even and Johns seems to have a firmer grasp on how he wishes to portray her. It’s also worth mentioning that nearly all the most memorable action scenes and the most touching moments within this collection feature Wonder Woman in some way. This includes a rather satisfying knock-down drag-out fight Wonder Woman has with Green Lantern (he definitely had it coming, that pig) and the kiss between Superman and Wonder Woman that sent fans into a tizzy.

Justice League Volume 2: The Villain’s Journey is the perfect follow-up to the first collection of the New 52 Justice League stories. It smartly deals with the conflicts that would arise following the foundation of a team like the Justice League and takes great care to address the emotional needs of the characters. Johns’ writing has become much more consistent and Lee’s art is as dynamic as ever. For fans of the world’s greatest superheroes, this will be a collection you’ll want to read. That said, new readers should be forewarned that they’ll still be needing to do a little extra research to make sense of some events and references (namely, Green Arrow's origins and the Court of the Owls).

Rating: B+