Justice League #21 Review

By Harrison Rawdin on Wednesday, June 26th, 2013

It’s time for the end of the reintroduction to magic’s champion in this DC universe, but was it really worth the wait? Read on to find out.

The official description from DC:

THE MARCH TO TRINITY WAR CONTINUES! This is it! Shazam’s origin story concludes in an extra sized extravaganza! As Black Adam threatens to gain control of all magic, Billy Batson learns that in order to stop him, he’ll need help from the unlikeliest of people. But what greater role awaits Shazam in the larger DC universe? And what does the Justice League have to do with it?

From the first back up feature on this saga has grappled with a lot of complex emotions while dealing out a fascinating retelling in the wake of the New 52. Perhaps the most important aspect is the one that revolves around Billy Batson discovering the meaning of friendship and family. He’s been a loner all his life but now he’s got to learn to trust people even when the chips are down.

The script by Geoff Johns offers up something that’s both heartfelt and strangely plucky. The seasoned author has never lost sight of the point buried within this confrontation, as the shear amount of character development for both our antagonist and protagonist gives way to a fitting finale that will make eager fanboys and fangirls smile. There were some moments where the scope seemed to be running the narrative off of its natural trajectory but trust me this scribe had it all under control.

Gary Frank handled the art and what else can I say except that the man’s a master. When it comes to illustrations there are a handful of people that I would trust with just about any character in any bizarre situation, this talent earns a top spot as his realistic renditions blend seamlessly into this world of power. His sensibilities perfectly suit this tale as audience members are destined to leave this experience thoroughly satisfied with the hefty offerings.