(Photo Credit: Warner Bros.)
It is no surprise that the Justice League is now recruiting villains to the ranks of the World’s Finest heroes. This plot point was revealed in the covers and promotional materials for the DC Next Level initiative. However, a new comic has revealed why the team is now working alongside their greatest enemies.
Written by Mark Waid, with art by Clayton Henry, Justice League Unlimited #17 sets up the status quo following the DC K.O. event. The climactic final battle between Superman and Darkseid ended with the Man of Steel sharing the creative Alpha Force that countered Darkseid’s Omega Force. The heroes and villains who aided in the final battle all experienced premonitions that, despite their victory, a new crisis was on the way.
(Image Source: DC / Clayton Henry)
These visions also left those heroes and villains in attendance for the final battle with impressions of something they needed to be doing. Some of these notions were specific. Others were unhelpful and vague. The one unifying point was a feeling they needed to do these things for reality to survive the next battle with Darkseid.
Justice League also needs help for next Crisis
Given her feeling of something bad coming, Wonder Woman suggested that the Justice League needed to expand in order to meet the challenge ahead. To that end, she suggested that they offer amnesty to any villain who had been part of the final battle who was interested in helping them. Ever suspicious, Batman was skeptical of the idea. However, he agreed to give it a try after, unsolicited, the villains Tarpit and Girder came to the aid of civilians after an accident.
(Image Source: DC / Clayton Henry)
The Flash‘s rogues pointed out that the Justice League never gave them a chance to offer their aid during the DC K.O. event. There are many supervillains who, when push comes to shove, will help their enemies when the world is at stake. This logic, coupled with Superman’s belief in redemption, led the heroes to accept the villains on a probationary basis.
(Image Source: DC / Clayton Henry)
It remains to be see how successful this plan will be in the long-term. Certainly there are several anti-heroes, like Harley Quinn and Lobo, who have their own unique codes of honor. However, it’s hard to see how Lex Luthor won’t try to exploit his new role, particularly in a world without a Superman.
Justice League Unlimited #17 is now available at comic shops everywhere.
