'Justice League' #48 Review: How far should the League go to save the world? When must they draw the line?
Spoilers for 'Justice League' #48
In the run-up to its 50th issue post-Rebirth, Si Spurrier and Aaron Lopresti take on the title in a three-part story that seems to focus on the old Chinese proverb that states that once you save a life, you are responsible for it. For the most part, it's a sentiment that the Justice League has ignored — they rarely stick around to check on the lives of the people they've saved because there are always more lives that need saving. What happens, though, when their actions are responsible for the destabilization of an entire planet — and its people are looking to them to set things right?
The League rescue a group of children who have been exiled from Trotha, a civilization split into two distinct people both ruled by a tyrant with an iron fist. The simple act of rescuing the exiled children inspires the populace to revolt against their tyrant, and suddenly the Justice League has inspired a revolution. They're asked to lead the people of Trotha, who would be lost without them — and whose current state of instability may be indirectly the Justice League's fault, but is still their responsibility.
Aaron Lopresti's art is a more classic style, simple and clearly defined. It does a lot of the heavy lifting in terms of the worldbuilding that's being done this issue — from new beast designs to the look of the two major aliens who share a common heritage and form but vastly differ in terms of what their bodies are made of. The Trotha are a fascinating species with a complex way of life, one that is well exposited by Spurrier and Lopresti in a few clean, simple layouts.
Si Spurrier gets what makes the Justice League work, as a team. The quick rescue of Trotha children at the start of the story really highlights each Leaguer's strengths, in addition to how well they work together. Wonder Woman and Superman are definitely the stars of the first part of this story, as their points of view come into direct conflict with each other: Superman wants to do all that he can to save everyone, no matter what, while Wonder Woman takes the more diplomatic approach — the League doesn't understand the Trotha, are unfit for rule and ought to avoid interfering as much as possible.
This series raises a lot of difficult questions as to just how much the League is responsible. Though they're dealing with an alien planet, these questions apply just as much to their role on Earth — does their power and moral authority automatically make it right for them to destabilize foreign nations and rule over them? Even if their results were accidental, are they still responsible for them? The League has no time to mull these questions over, as it is one crisis after another, ending with a violent terrorist attack — meaning that there's little time to debate, and whatever morals the League members adhere to now are the ones they will enact.
There's a lot that happens in the space of a single issue, and none of it feels rushed. It's a step away from modern comics' decompressed storytelling style, filling an issue with a lot of action, great superhero moments, and forcing the Justice League to put their personal philosophies to the test on an unprecedented scale. It asks just the right uncomfortable questions of its heroes, and wherever the League chooses to draw its battle lines, fans may never quite look at them the same way again.
Writer: Si Spurrier
Pencils: Aaron Lopresti
Inks: Matt Ryan
Colors: David Baron
Letters: Tom Napolitano
The next issue of 'Justice League' is set to release on July 14, wherever comics are sold.