Justice League Odyssey #5 // Review
Still spiraling out from the repercussions of Justice League No Justice, while simultaneously searching for the series’ overall purpose, Joshua Williamson and Carmine Di Giandomenico continue the galactic journey across the Ghost Sector with this group of ragtag heroes. While remaining an entertaining read, the series unfortunately stands as the weakest of the three Justice League titles in regards to weight and importance towards the DC Universe as a whole.
As the heroes are left within the Ghost Sector to fend off against their extremist worshippers, meanwhile Darkseid continues to scheme from behind the scenes. While Vic attempts to stop a group from using their own motherbox to make an army of Cyborgs, Azrael is left to face down against his own crazed assassin, mirroring themselves after the religious hero. As secrets come into the light, the heroes learn the truth behind Darkseid’s guiding hand which duped them all.
Williamson continues to bring readers on a journey across the cosmos of the DCU, albeit his iteration of the team continues to lack from having a greater purpose in the grand scheme of the wider universe. Coming off as seemingly spinning his wheels, Williamson seems unsure of what to truly do with this band of heroes. Darkseid stands, without contention, as the focal point of the series while no one else is ever given any role of importance. With this first arc finally coming to its end after multiple delays, the second arc and onward will truly help to set the stage and hopefully add some more weight for the title moving forward.
The kinetic high energy pencil work of Carmine Di Giandomenico fits perfectly with this high octane space faring adventure. Long time collaborator of Williamson, having worked together previously of The Flash, Giandomenico delivers some of his best work at DC with this series. Between the fast action in the Ghost Sector steaming with life exploding off the page, back to the desolate wasteland of Tamaran with Darkseid and Blackfire searching for secrets within the planet, Giandomenico brings forth a symphony of needed sensibilities to this series.
Williamson and Giandomenico continue to display their ability to collaborate tremendously well, although this entertaining space opera lacks the higher purpose, still remains an entertaining title will bringing readers out each month. As the JLO move one step closer towards becoming a true to form team, secrets still hide behind everything, especially when Darkseid is involved.
