REVIEW: Superman Unlimited #20
Justice League Unlimited #20, “Escape from Powers Planet: Part One,” is about the trouble arrogance creates—whether it comes from a villain, a hero or someone who believes they can control every situation. Mark Waid delivers another thrilling chapter with spectacular art by Dan Mora and Fico Ossio, colors by Tamra Bonvillain and lettering by Ariana Maher.
I felt like Commissioner James Gordon last issue when he asked Batman whether he had lost his mind over the Villain Amnesty program. Honestly, I am still asking that question. But first, the covers.
Dan Mora’s standard cover drops readers right into the chaos of Powers Planet. Guy Gardner, Hawkgirl, Mister Terrific and Metamorpho face a hostile alien world after the Justice League’s lost reserve of superpowers transforms its inhabitants into dangerous threats. Guy stands front and center with a glowing, spiked baseball bat construct as his teammates brace for battle. It is colorful, chaotic and energetic—and, naturally, this mess can be traced back to Guy Gardner doing what Guy Gardner does best: making a difficult mission even worse.
Bruno Redondo’s card stock variant turns Black Lightning into a powerful piece of street art. Jefferson Pierce’s profile sits against a blue-and-yellow brick wall, framed by a massive lightning bolt and graffiti textures. It feels like a bold public tribute to one of DC’s coolest and most community-rooted heroes.
The Supergirl movie variant by Bilquis Evely and colorist Mat Lopes is a beautiful spotlight on Kara Zor-El and Krypto. Kara stands confidently in her familiar jacket and Supergirl uniform against a surreal cosmic backdrop. Because Evely and Lopes previously worked on Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, the story that inspired the new film, this cover is a fitting tribute to the new movie.
Justice League Unlimited #20 offers a terrific range of covers for DC fans and collectors alike, these include covers by Nathan Szerdy, Fabrizio De Tommaso, Yasmín Flores Montañez and Jessica Fong.
Mora always delivers, and Ossio, Bonvillain and Maher match his energy perfectly. The story moves at a rapid pace, but the action never becomes hard to follow. From the return of the Brainiac Queen to the newly super-powered inhabitants of Powers Planet, every page feels urgent.
Waid remains the glue holding this enormous cast together. He moves between Powers Planet and the Watchtower while giving each character a purpose. His dialogue is sharp, the pacing is strong and he understands exactly how these heroes should sound. Waid needs a Masterclass—I would be one of the first people signed up.
In no scenario—not an alien invasion, the end of the world or a cosmic emergency—should anyone trust Lex Luthor. I understand keeping enemies close, but just as The Joker was left out of the Villain Amnesty program because of his unpredictability, Lex should have been excluded because of his opportunistic nature, deceitfulness and need for control.
Batman knows exactly who Lex is, yet he lets him into the program. Lex immediately challenges Batman, disregards orders and searches for every advantage. His arrogance is expected. Batman’s arrogance is different: he believes he can always be prepared for everyone and everything.
Guy Gardner’s arrogance causes a crisis that never had to happen, while Ryan Choi receives a sobering lesson after his pride leads to a failed encounter with the Brainiac Queen. That is what makes the theme work. Arrogance can bring down a villain, a hero or even the person convinced they have every contingency covered.
(10/10) Justice League Unlimited #20 is a fast-paced, visually spectacular chapter with strong character work, high-stakes action and plenty of reasons to be nervous about the Villain Amnesty program. I would have loved even more time on the Watchtower, but that is not a weakness. It simply proves how compelling Waid and the creative team have made that storyline.
