JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED #14 (Dc Comics)

“The road to Hell is paved with good intentions”, eh?

Tell that to Mr. Terrific. With the heavy hitters of the JLU tied up with DC K.O., there is a void to handle threats. Terrific puts together a team of time displaced heroes to handle the problem. Little did they know this mission would take them to Hell. Literally.

Bodies are dropping. Time is running out. Can Terrific pull some magic out of thin brimstone to defeat DC’s devil himself?

JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED #14 by Mark Waid, Dan Mora, Tamra Bonvillain & Ariana Maher continues its tie-in with the “DC K.O.” event.

Let’s take a deeper dive into the dark side of Hell for this adventure.

JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED #13 by Mark Waid, Dan Mora, Tamra Bonvillain & Ariana Maher

*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***

Waid opens up events with a horror feel as the heroes move in darkness. Knowing the unknown danger they walk into, the writing never lets up on the tension it has created. Even when they find passage to get to their next stop, it comes with a heavy weight. The encounter with Charon comes with a steep cost. Readers watch as the heroes must make sacrifices to secure passage. One in particular gives up more than bargained for. This leads into more cautious territory that doesn’t include safety.

Meanwhile, the remaining League has their hands full on Earth. Watching Neron’s “Holy Army” take over a small town leads to a steady confrontation. It provides a break form the journey into Hell. Once the story returns here, action picks up quickly. There are some great heroic moments during this latest melee. It does not come without another member falling in action. This pivots events to the closing act. There are more dangers unraveling before the League’s eyes. Without a fully loaded team, hope is slipping further into the darkness.

READ LAST ISSUE’S REVIEW HERE!

Mora and Bonvillain open with a very cool scenario. Having the heroes walk in total darkness (save for Superman Blue’s lighting) sets up the horror movie aspect. It gives way to the terrifying reveal of matters. Charon’s standoff pours with devious intentions. Knowing what the heroes want, it is very clear to see on his face this won’t be easy. One hero pays an ultimate price in buying passage. The expressions shown there compliment the dire mood in the air. The same can be said for the other drama in play.

Not even a full shot of Red Tornado directing traffic can raise up the heroes confidence. Their advancement to Oklahoma City is full speed ahead. The innocent view of a church harbors more evil inside. This leads into a rash action from one of the heroes. The result is an explosive page which kickstarts this squads’ latest challenge. As events return to Hell, there are fantastic full page spreads by the art team. This amplifies the conflict Terrific’s team is dealing with. One hero steps into the spotlight and shines. It quickly becomes short lived as a half panel seals their fate. This reflects the other conflicts going on. The art team leaves no doubt of what is unfolding here.

FINAL GRADE: 8.4

Heroes rise and heroes fall as the “Terrific Ten” pays a high cost in their journey in Hell. Waid throws many looks at the readers with the ever mounting drama. Mora and Bonvillain construct amazing images cementing the losing fight the League has gotten wrapped up in. One thing is for certain here: There is no easy way out.

Let me know your thoughts on Justice League Unlimited #14 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!