[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers.]
Writer: Bryan Hitch
Artists: Fernando Pasarin, Andy Owens, Mick Gray, Scott Hanna
Reviewed By: Derek McNeil
Summary
“LEGACY” part five! Sovereign has come, and she’s brought Olympus with her. The Great Darkness is growing, and it’s ready to consume the Earth—and the Justice League is missing! Batman, Wonder Woman and the future children of the Justice League must put aside their differences if the present and the future are to be saved!
Positives
Despite some problems in the underpinning logic of the story, there are some interesting tidbits in the story. Chief among them is the revelation of Sovereign’s true identity, which I won’t spoil. The revelation clears up why Sovereign is so concerned with Wonder Woman and her future son, Hunter.
It’s also interesting that Hunter reveals that he is not the son of Steve Trevor, who would be the obvious guess for fathering Diana’s child. But if not Steve, then who? Out of sheer curiosity, I hope this question is answered, even if it turns out to have no bearing on the story.
Also interesting is the revelation that the future Aquaman’s plight is due to the actions of his daughter. She has apparently forbidden him from using water, which has forced him to use Cyborg’s cybernetic shell to survive.
And the one true note that this story strikes is how seeing his old teammates again rekindles hope in the future Aquaman, bringing him back over to the side of good.
Negatives
Unfortunately, there are quite a few problems with the story. Most importantly, is that the whole situation seems impossible to begin with. Steve Trevor suggests that idea that the League’s children having traveled back in time may end up changing the past. I suspect that Hitch intends for their presence to erase their future timeline.
However, we already know that timeline can’t happen anyway. The Kent’s are about to move away from their farm in Hamilton County without Hunter’s intervention. Barry is destined to marry Iris West, not Jessica. In fact, Barry and Jessica’s relationship does not seem to exist outside of the Justice League title.
I also find myself confused as to what is going on with “the Dark.” Is it in cahoots with Sovereign or opposed to her. This is something that probably should be clear this far into the storyline.
Another minor quibble concerns the art. The art is actually really good, but I find the depiction of Cyborg’s son Cube confusing. Given the choice of facial features, hairstyle, and hairband, I would assume Cube to be Cyborg’s daughter. In fact, I did until the first time the text indicated his gender.
Verdict
There is the makings of a great Justice League story in here, but it just seems off somehow. Some story elements are confusing, while others seem contradictory with what else is going on in the DCU. Also, it seems hard to care too much about children of the League that we barely know and that come from a future that could never happen.
