DC Reveals 18-Part Crossover Called Forever Evil: Blight

This morning DC announced an 18 part crossover story named Forever Evil: Blight, that will run from October this year till March next. The crossover will feature in the Justice League Dark, Constantine, Trinity of Sin: Pandora, and Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger series'.

DC Editor-in-Chief Bob Harras said, “And when he wakes up, Constantine will refuse to believe that his teammates – particularly Zatanna – are dead. Therefore, he casts a spell to locate them … but his search is quickly blocked by a dominant force within the metaphysical world. It seems that the Crime Syndicate’s invasion has significantly enhanced the levels of evil in the universe, and that this evil has a physical manifestation: Blight. In order to save Zatanna, Constantine will be forced to take on Blight. Along with Swamp Thing, Nightmare Nurse, and the Trinity of Sin themselves – Pandora, Phantom Stranger, and The Question – Constantine will need to defeat Blight if he wants to ever see the woman he loves again. But when Blight becomes aware of Constantine’s quest and draws in a human host to take him down, will Constantine and the army he’s assembled be enough to battle a force that encapsulates all the evil in the world?”

This story will be be told across the following issues:

Part 1: Justice League Dark #24
Part 2: Justice League Dark  #25
Part 3: Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger #14
Part 4: Constantine #9
Part 5: Trinity of Sin: Pandora #6
Part 6: Justice League Dark  #26
Part 7: Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger #15
Part 8: Constantine #10
Part 9: Trinity of Sin: Pandora #7
Part 10: Justice League Dark  #27
Part 11:Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger #16
Part 12: Constantine #11
Part 13: Trinity of Sin: Pandora #8
Part 14: Justice League Dark  #28
Part 15: Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger #17
Part 16: Constantine #12
Part 17: Trinity of Sin: Pandora #9
Part 18: Justice League Dark  #29

My Thoughts

Although I feel there are enough Forever Evil tie-ins going around I actually really like the idea of this one, as with it connecting all the dark and mystical DC series' it allows for something really unique. It also is a good way for people who only read certain series in this event a chance to try the others, as although it will upset some that they'll have to get more series, it's a good chance for the others to get a bit more promotion. I also like the fact that Constantine will be the centre of this story, and overall am really looking forward to it.

Justice League #23 Review

Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist: Ivan Reis

As a whole this series has been fantastic, and although it's not been the best that DC has produced, it hasn't been far off, having produced some fabulous storylines so far. The current Trinity War story that finishes this issue has however intrigued me the most recently, and I look forward to seeing how it leads into Forever Evil.

Plot

All the heroes have assembled in Greece, with Pandora's Box turning everyone against each other, with The Outsider makes this play to his advantage.

Review

This was a phenomenal issue, and easily the best issue in the story, ending on a high note. Geoff Johns has done a great job in wrapping this story up, whilst also setting the following storyline up perfectly. The drama, and suspense in this issue was also amazing well handled, as Johns managed to give the perfect tone for this issue, making it exciting, whilst also being entertaining. The dialogue in this issue was also spectacular, as with the amazing action in this issue you could easily forgive less than perfect dialogue, but you don't have to with this, as it's simply amazing, being extremely dynamic. I also loved the revelation of all the mystery, and look forward to seeing what Johns has in store with Forever Evil.

The art from Ivan Reis in this issue was simply astonishing, and truly some of the best work that he has every produced. From the amazing re-telling of previous Justice League events at the start of the issue, to the phenomenal action in the present, Reis managed to excel in all areas. The detail was also outstanding, as with all that was happening in this issue you'd probably expect very small imperfections, but if there are, they're hard to notice. I also loved the amazing emotion that Reis showed on the characters, which was simply fantastic, adding a lot of depth to the issue. Reis' layouts were also once again sensational, being very dynamic, and I especially loved all the double pages that he added.

This issue would start with a quick re-telling of the Justice League's adventures up till now, whilst also telling The Outsider's story. Now I found this a very interesting way of allowing new readers to quickly get up to date with the events that the Justice League have been a part of. I also loved this monologue from the Outsider, giving an insight into his personal journey as well, building up to the revelation of who he truly is. I also loved how this mystery was solved, and I was surprised that I didn't catch on as to who he really was sooner.

This issue would also have a huge fight between all the superheroes over Pandora's Box. I just loved how it started gradually, going from Constantine warning them, to a full scale war. I was also happy to see some re-drawing from The New 52 FCBD Special Edition as although there was some minor changes, it shows that this is truly the same event that was teased all that time ago. I also loved the dialogue during this sequence, and I loved that we got to see some of the characters deepest, and truest feelings, as although it's the box that has turned them bitter, it's obvious that the characters actually have these feelings, which was nice, making it feel more realists.

The revelation of the Outsiders traitor was also revealed in this issue, and although I won't go into any details, or reveal their identity as to avoid spoilers, I will say what I thought of this revelation. To be honest I wasn't that surprised as to who the traitor was, and although this choice worked well with the story so far, it would have been nicer for it to have been a bigger surprise, with more shock value to it. I did however love the reactions from the character to this revelation, and look forward to seeing if there's any follow-up to this in Forever Evil or not.

Final Verdict

This was a truly amazing issue, and a phenomenal way to end the story. It managed to end this story on a shocking, and entertaining note, whilst setting up the next storyline perfectly. It also had plenty of action, as well as tremendous suspense, drama, and excitement. The revelations within were also outstanding, and due to this I can't wait till Forever Evil. Due to all this I'd highly recommend this issue, but would also recommend the entire story as well, as there's only one reason to get it otherwise. That reason would be for anyone who's missed this but is getting Forever Evil, as this is a great set-up for that.

Rating: 10/10

Justice League Dark #23 Review

Writer: Jeff Lemire
Artist: Mikel Janin

This series has been amazing ever since Jeff Lemire took over, and although it has been variable over just how good it is as of recent, it has always been at least good. The Trinity War story that it is in the now has also been great, as although the last part wasn't spectacular the story has a whole has been.

Plot

Madame Xanadu is coming to terms with what is actually going to happen, while there is a fight for Pandora's Box, with Shazam (Billy Batson) makes a dramatic return.

Review

This was a brilliant issue, and much better than the last part of Trinity War, but not quite as good as the last issue from this series. Jeff Lemire did an amazing job of continuing from where the last part left off, creating a very exciting issue. I've really enjoyed how Lemire has managed to keep the Justice League Dark feel about this series during this storyline, as although it ultimately follows on with that story, it still feels very much like a JLD issue, having all the characters present. I also loved the action that Lemire added to this issue, and found it to be very spontaneous, and exciting, being very entertaining, and unique.

The art from Mikel Janin was absolutely amazing, and although there was one thing that I didn't like about the art in this issue, that was more due to Jeromy Cox's colours, as the red on Shazam wasn't as slick as it's been in the previous parts of this story. The detail in Janin's art was however brilliant, with everything looking perfect, and crisp. I especially loved how he drew the characters, and more so how he showed their facial expressions throughout this struggle, feeling that the change in their attitudes caused by the box was perfectly shown. The action was also explosive, and exciting, with a very dynamic layout throughout.

This issue would show would be narrated by Madame Xanadu, and show her starting to understand what's about to happen. I've always found Madame Xanadu interesting throughout this series, and I was very happy when I first noticed what her role in this story would possibly be. This however has shown us more, and her narration in this issue was very gritty, and interesting, adding a brilliant overtone to the issue. Xanadu's role in this issue also added more mystery as well, creating brilliant build-up.

This issue would also see the return of Shazam, as following his encounter with John Constantine, and how Constantine tried to steal his powers in Constantine #5, he hasn't featured in the story. I was happy to see him return, but I was more happy that it managed to quickly sum up what happened in Constantine #5 for anyone who hasn't read it, as although I read it myself, it's nice to have that for people who haven't. I also loved the new attitude that Shazam brought in this issue, as following the way he was treated by Constantine he has a very different view of being told what to do, and that was obvious in this issue.

The most exciting part of this issue would have to be the huge fight that would take place between all the heroes around Pandora's Box, and even Shazam once he arrived got involved, with the box having an affect on anyone nearby. The dialogue during this was also great, as it was nice to see all these proud superheroes talk in such a manner, making things even more exciting, with the fighting itself being very explosive, and entertaining as well.

Final Verdict

This was a great issue, and although not the best in the story so far, a big improvement over the last part, setting the finale up perfectly. It also had great drama, and action, with explosive action, and entertaining dialogue. Due to all this it's easy to recommend this, and I'd also highly recommend the rest of the story, looking forward to the final part even more now.

Rating: 8/10

Justice League of America #7 Review

Writers: Geoff Johns & Jeff Lemire
Artist: Doug Mahnke

Since this series started it has been very good, as although some issues haven't been spectacular, they have all been amazing, and very interesting. The Trinity War crossover event itself has also been very exciting, and although the first JLA part wasn't amazing, the story so far has been.

Plot

With the teams now being a mixture of all three groups, going in three different directions, one heads to look for Dr. Psycho, whilst another are at The House of Mystery, and the third are looking for Pandora's Box.

Review

This was a brilliant issue, but nothing spectacular, feeling much like a filler, setting up the final part of the story. I did however feel that Geoff Johns, and Jeff Lemire did a great job of the writing on this issue, as despite the lack of much proper story development, there was plenty of suspense, and drama, as well as a little bit of action which was exciting, but at the same time nothing special. I have however found the interaction by these mixed teams to be very interesting, as although I never expected things to go this way, it has given for a very unique direction, with Johns, and Lemire doing a great job of building on that in this issue. The series has however once again not done much to help the quality of the story.

Doug Mahnke did a great job of the artwork, with his art on this issue being much better than it was last issue, feeling less crowded, or rushed, with the detail being much better. I also loved Mahnke's layouts, as it gave great tone, and depth to the story, making it feel more dynamic. Mahnke also drew the characters brilliantly, and especially Wonder Woman, as although she didn't appear much during this issue, Mahnke made her look amazing. The small bit of action during this issue was also amazing, being very explosive, with the artwork being very vibrant. The character emotions were also handled perfectly, as Mahnke did a great job of showing what the characters were feeling throughout the issue.

This issue would introduce Lex Luthor into the story, as whilst getting told that he may soon be a free man, he is more interested in the headline talking about how Superman killer Dr. Light. Now I initially questioned the sudden appearance of Luthor, but thinking forward to the upcoming Forever Evil story arc, it would make sense for him to have a role in this story seems it'll play into Forever Evil, which Luthor will be a key character in. Besides that I loved how he was used, as although it was nothing special, it was very interesting, and believable, and I look forward to seeing what role, if any that he'll have in the remainder of this story.

Whilst this was happening the Justice League team that sided with Superman were heading to Pittsburgh, where they would find Dr. Psycho, the man they believed caused Superman to kill Sr. Light. Now I don't know a lot about Dr. Psycho, bar the fact that he's usually a Wonder Woman villain, but I was interested to see him in this issue. I did however feel that his presence was just a stepping stone for the JL, as although the sequence he was in was dramatic, and interesting, it didn't really do much for the development of the story, revealing to the JL something that the reader already knew, which could have easily been told over a couple of pages.

The Justice League team that stayed with Steve Trevor where at the House of Mystery during this issue, trying to work out what the Phantom Stranger did to Batman, Katana, and Deadman in The Phantom Stranger #11. I found it nice how the issue easily moved round the events of Phantom Stranger, meaning that people who missed it wouldn't be too confused. I did however also feel that this was another unnecessary sequence, as although there needed to be clarification as to whether these characters would return, it could have also been done quicker. The sequence itself was however still very entertaining, with some interesting dialogue.

Final Verdict

This was a good issue, but probably the worst in the story so far. It had some interesting points, also having some brilliant drama, and suspense, but overall it didn't too much to develop the story, and felt like a filler issue, with the sole purpose of setting up the final two issues in the story. I would however still recommend it, but only to people considering getting the entire story, or who have been getting the story so far, as it's a good continuation, but would be too confusing on it's own.

Rating: 8/10

Justice League Dark #22 Review

Writer: Jeff Lemire
Artist: Mikel Janin

This has been one of the more surprising series I've read, as it's been amazing, and I have loved every issue since Jeff Lemire took over. I have however been more interested in the crossover that it's a part of, Trinity War, and am happy to see the Justice League Dark finally have a proper role in it.

Plot

As Wonder Woman goes to the Justice League Dark for help, Phantom Stranger warns the other Justice League members to stop her, whilst the Question (Vic Sage) tries to help Superman.

Review

This was an amazing issue, and a great continuation from the last issue, which was slightly slow. Jeff Lemire has done a superb job with this issue, balancing it perfectly, by having enough action to keep it entertaining, and exciting, whilst also making some shocking changes to keep the story dynamic, interesting, and even more exciting. Lemire has also done a great job of adding more mystery to the story, making me question even more about what is actually behind this, and what will happen next. He also added a lot of tension, and drama, and although this issue didn't have as much excitement as the first part, it was just as exciting due to the changes made.

Mikel Janin once again amazes me with his great artwork, as although he's always done a great job of drawing the JLD, I wasn't sure if he could keep the same level of quality when it comes to adding more characters. I however should have never doubted him, as his art was amazing, and he did a great job with all the characters, and I'm sure he'd do a great job on any Justice League title. His art was so fabulously detailed, with a nice crispness to it, as well as a very dynamic layout, which adds more drama to the story. Janin also did a great job of the small pieces of action in this issue, and overall made everything look spectacular, and intense.

Finally all of the Trinity of Sin have been shown in this series, with Phantom Stranger making his first appearance in this issue. The whole Trinity of Sin involvement was one of the key things that I was looking forward to with this series, as although Pandora is a fairly new character, I have always been interested in the Question, and Phantom Stranger, and although the later has had his own series for about a year, it's nice to see him in a story that I'm reading, as was seeing the Question in the New 52 for the first. I also found his presence in this issue to add more depth, and mystique to it, and also questioned why the JL had no problem trusting him.

This issue would continue Wonder Woman wanting the JLD's help, with every on bar John Constantine being happy to help. The conversation between Wonder Woman, and the JLD (Constantine in particular) was also interesting, and very entertaining, with tons of mood, and drama. I also stated the reasoning that the JLD were introduced last issue, which was looking for the missing Madame Xanadu, and although it was kind of obvious it was confirmed in this issue. It was also nice to see what actually happened to Xanadu, and the events shown just leave even more questions to be answered, keeping my interest.

Probably the most interesting event in this issue would be when the remaining Justice League members (from both teams), intercepted the JLD, leaving each team to decide what side they were on, forming two teams sharing members of each group. I found this very interspersing, and besides the tension it adds, it also leaves the question of what will come out of this. Another thing that I enjoyed about this entire situation was the interaction that everyone had with each other, but the one that appealed to me the most was between Constantine, and Zatanna, as I loved their interaction in the past, and have missed it since she left the JLD.

Final Verdict

This was a fantastic issue, and an fantastic continuation to the crossover. It may not have had as much action as the first part, but it made up in excitement with fabulous confrontations, and entertaining interactions. It also had a lot of drama, and mystery to it, with tons of depth as well, keeping me very interested in the further development of the story. Due to all this I'd highly recommend this issue, as well as the rest of the event, and hope that it has converted some off you into JLD fans.

Rating: 5/5

Justice League of America #6 Review

Writers: Geoff Johns & Jeff Lemire
Artist: Doug Mahnke

Overall this series has been very interesting, and has had one of the more stronger starts from the New 52 series, even if it has been slightly inconsistent. I has however been Trinity War that has enthralled me recently, and I loved the opening in Justice League #22, and hopefully the story will continue to amaze.

Plot

After killing Dr. Light it is questioned whether Superman is safe to be around, and whether he's in control of his powers, or not. The Question (Vic Sage) also interjects himself into the war, trying to find out who is behind the evil.

Review

This was a brilliant issue, and although it's not quite as good as the last part, it was still very enjoyable. Geoff Johns, and Jeff Lemire did a terrific job of writing this issue, as although the pace is slowed down, it still focused on some serious points, whilst moving the story forward. Both Johns, and Lemire also did a super job of showing more of the fabulous fight between the two teams, as introducing more character's to the story, making me intrigued as to where the story will go next. It was also interesting to see how Johns, and Lemire handled the interaction between the two teams in a calm environment, as although it wasn't anything special, it was interesting.

The art from Doug Mahnke was amazing, as although it's not got anything on Ivan Reis' art from part one, or Justice League Dark artist Mikel Janin, it was still very good. I did however find his art to be a little too rough at times, and it looked as if he had trouble drawing all these big character's in one panel, as his art is usually much smoother. The art was however much better in the pages/panels that had less going on, with brilliant detail that really stood out. The character's facial expressions, and character emotion were also handled perfectly, as you could really tell what the character's were feeling, which gave more depth to the issue.

Although The Question was shown in the Trinity War prequel issue, Trinity of Sin: Pandora #1, this issue had his first proper appearance in the storyline. Now the Question is a character that has interested me for years, and he is the member of the Trinity of Sin that interests me the most. What I loved about his appearance in this issue was that it was gradually made, with him apparently going about his normal life, trying to find out who he is, and what's behind the evil. I do however look forward to seeing more from him, and with the Question featuring in this issue, and Pandora featuring in the last part, I would expect the Phantom Stranger to appear in the next part, Justice League Dark #22.

The most interesting part of Justice League #22 was the fact that Superman killed Dr. Light, and that continued into this issue, with the question of whether he was in control of his powers at the time, and whether he's safe to be around being the main focus points of this issue. I personally found this to be a brilliant development point for the story, as although everyone knows that Superman doesn't kill, it shows what magic can do. I also loved seeing the reaction from certain character's, and how they responded, but it was Superman's response that interested me the most, and I look forward to seeing it developed.

This issue would also see the first appearance from the Justice League Dark in this storyline, and although they don't really do much, it still made me happy, as I have really been enjoying their series. Anyway I won't go into too much detail about their appearance in this issue, as to avoid spoilers, but it would appear that they're investigating Madame Xanadu's disappearance, which I expected they would. Besides this they had an interesting conversation with an other character in this issue, and I really look forward to seeing how they fit into this story.

Final Verdict

Although slower than last issue, this was a great continuation of the Trinity War storyline, setting up future developments, as well as exploring ones that have already been started. It had a little action, which was awesome, as well as some emotion sequences, and yet more mystery. Due to all this I'd highly recommend this issue, and am really looking forward to Justice League Dark #22.

Rating: 4/5

Justice League Dark #20 Review

Writers: Jeff Lemire & Ray Fawkes
Artists: Mikel Janin & Vicente Cifuentes

Although I only caught up with this series recently, I have really enjoyed it, and it's been one of my favourite series in the New 52, and it's stuff like this, and Swamp Thing that show why the Dark series' are just as good, if not better than the more well known series like Superman, and Green Lantern.

Plot

With the help of the Flash (Barry Allen), Frankenstein is able to save the rest of the Justice League Dark from their nightmare's, whilst Doctor Destiny keeps torturing Swamp Thing (Alec Holland) in The House of Mystery.

Review

This was a brilliant issue, and it continued to show me why this has become one of my favourite series' out at the moment. Jeff Lemire, and Ray Fawkes continue to amaze me with their weird, and wonderful stories, and although this would appear to be just a filler story in the build-up to Trinity War, it's as good as many stories that have been out recently, and although this issue, along with last issue haven't been the best in the series, they're far from being the worst. The way that Lemire, and Fawkes handle the magic in this series has been phenomenal, and very clever, and that doesn't change in this issue, as although we're seeing the continuation of the House of Mystery's nightmare's, like we saw in issue 14, Lemire, and Fawkes have made it much more exciting, and unique. Lemire, and Fawkes have also did an excellent job with the dialogue in this issue, and I especially loved whenever Flash interacted with people, especially with Frankenstein, and John Constantine, but I'll talk more on that later on in my review. The action in this issue has also been handled perfectly, and Lemire, and Fawkes really know how to add as much drama as they can to this series, which is brilliant, and I hope they can continue this in Trinity War.

The art in this issue was also brilliant, and Mikel Janin once again did an excellent job, this time only doing the layouts, and Vicente Cifuentes did a brilliant job of the finishes. Now I still don't exactly know the difference between the layouts, and the finishes, as I always thought that the layout artist would give a very rough sketch of what he wants, whereas the finishes artist would re-draw that in full detail. I'm not entirely sure however if this is the case, as like when Janin only did layouts before, it looks very similar to his normal artwork, which makes me think that finishes here really means inker (but I may be wrong). Anyway onto the art itself. The layout was as usual phenomenal, and the thought put into it, as well as the drama that comes out of it is amazing, and really makes the issue that much better. The detail is also brilliant, and I especially love how the Flash's speed has been handled in this artwork, as it looks just like you'd expect the Flash to look which is nice. The facial expressions were also handled perfectly, with the character's emotions easily showing through, which really helps the reader to understand what the character is feeling. I also really liked how both the action, and nightmare's were handled, as they both looked outstandingly phenomenal, and added yet more excitement, and drama to the issue.

One of the things that I was most looking forward to with this story was the addition of Swamp Thing. To be honest I'm slightly disappointed with Swamp Thing's appearance in this story, and mainly this issue, as he's not really done much, and I was really looking forward to either him fighting the JLD or preferably working with them, and potentially becoming a member sometime in the future. I do however think it's good for the story overall, as it gives Doctor Destiny a powerful hero as a hostage, showing that if he can capture Swamp Thing easily, he could probably do the same with the rest of the JLD.

Early in the issue, the Flash, and Frankenstein get to know each other, and I really enjoyed the interaction between these two character's, seeing it as one of the more interesting parts of this issue. The fact that Flash didn't know whether Frankenstein was a friend or foe to start with was a brilliant addition, as to be honest if you'd never met Frankenstein before it'd be easy to mistake him for a villain, especially considering he's literally a monster. I also liked how Frankenstein saw Flash as a strange individual, and how you could tell that he was slightly annoyed about Flash not being able to stay in on place for more than a minute.

In continuing with the Flash, I really enjoyed his appearance, and more than just his conversation with Frankenstein, as he was a real asset to the team in this issue. Besides this I've been a fan of the Flash for a few years now, and am currently loving his solo series, and when I noticed that he'd be featuring in last issue I was ecstatic. I was however disappointed when it landed up being a very brief appearance at the end of the issue. This issue however made up for this, as his presence was amazing, and the way he ran about the place helping, whilst also slightly annoying certain individuals was also entertaining. I also loved how he interacted with the rest of the JLD, and especially Constantine, who initially hated the fact that Flash was here.

Talking of Constantine, his nightmare was probably the best, and most interesting in this issue, and I really enjoyed it. Now I won't go into much more detail as to avoid spoilers, but I will say some of my thoughts on the nightmare. Although it was much simpler than the other nightmare's shown in this issue, it was still by far the cleverest, and I feel the simplicity had a lot to do with that. I also loved how Constantine handled it, and how Flash wasn't as well prepared for this nightmare as he was for the rest.

Final Verdict

This was an excellent issue, and although it's not the best that the series has seen so far, it's far from being the worst. Lemire, and Fawkes continue to give you magic in a clever, and unique way, and this along with the action, and guest appearances really made this a special issue. Due to all this I'd highly recommend this issue, along with the rest of Lemire, and Fawkes run, as it's been truly amazing.

Rating: 4/5

Justice League Dark #19 Review

Writers: Jeff Lemire & Ray Fawkes
Artist: Mikel Janin

I only caught up with this series recently, having gotten every issue since Jeff Lemire took over writing, and I'm glad I have as it's been phenomenal, and although since Ray Fawkes became co-writer it's not been consistently phenomenal, it's still been outstanding, and had it's moments of brilliance.

Plot

After getting blown up at a race course John Constantine has lost his connection to The House of Mystery, and after telling the rest of the Justice League Dark about this he summons Swamp Thing (Alec Holland) for help. Steve Trevor also tries to enlist the help of Deadman.

Review

This was an amazing issue, and although it started a little slowly it was the perfect start to what I'm hoping will be a phenomenal filler before Trinity War starts. Jeff Lemire, and Ray Fawkes once again show why the Dark side of the New 52 is more interesting, and now that they've basically brought my two favourite Dark series (this and Swamp Thing) together, whether it's a one of thing or not is brilliant, and makes it all the more interesting. Besides the fact that this story's already oozing with interesting possibilities, it also continues to show the mystical side of this series perfectly, also adding for more drama, and excitement. Lemire, and Fawkes also continue to write the characters perfectly, showing their characteristics brilliantly, and they've also done a terrific job of writing Swamp Thing, and I'd happily see either writer have a shot at writing Swamp Thing sometime in the future, although not soon as Charles Soule is doing a very good job after his first issue on that series. This story also had some brilliant character emotions in it, and Lemire, and Fawkes handled them well, making it very dramatic.

Mikel Janin continues to amaze me with his artwork, and although Lemire, and Fawkes give him phenomenal scripts to work with, it's his art that I love the most about this series. His style of art is amazing, and the smooth, crisp lines are what I like the most about his art, as although there are fabulous artists out there that use a more rougher style, I always love when an artist is able to show as much detail, whilst also making the finished work neat, and smooth. The way Janin lays his artwork out is also brilliant, and I really love the way it's bordered, as like most New 52 series it gives it it's own unique style, and tone. The thing that really stood out to me from Janin's art in this issue was the way he drew Swamp Thing, as it was brilliant, and I'd be more than happy if he ever worked on that series, but even more so if Swamp Thing became a current feature in this series as well. Janin also draws the little action that's in this issue, and the character's emotions brilliantly giving more drama, and suspense to the issue. Jeromy Cox's colours were once again amazing, and gives the right tone that this series needs.

This issue started with Constantine being blown up at a race track. This was an interesting, and explosive way to start the story, and was very unique. The thing I probably liked most was that this was the first time since Lemire started on the series that it didn't carry on directly from the previous story, which was nice as even superhero's need a rest. It was also interesting that Constantine won a 100/1 bet, as he's usual quite unlucky with stuff like that, and it made the set-up of the explosion even more suspenseful, as it was obvious that not everything was as it seemed.

Due to Constantine protecting himself from the blast he was disconnected from the House of Mystery temporally, giving change for someone to steal it. Now this was the main part of the story, and what the rest appears to be focused on. It was actually a little surprising as although I was expecting it to be involved, from the cover it looked to be in a different way. The mystery, and drama that would come out of this was also brilliant, and it has me really interested in the future of this story, as well as who took the House of Mystery.

After Constantine was blown up it showed Deadman, in another person's body visiting Steve Trevor. Now besides the last issue being the end of the last story, it also showed that the connection that the JLD had with A.R.G.U.S. was severed, and that A.R.G.U.S. would be after the JLD. This was interesting, and to see the continuation of it in this issue was interesting, especially considering Trinity War is on the horizon. The fact that Trevor wanted Deadman to be a spy for him, even offering him a part in the Justice League of America, was even more interesting, and the overall conversion showed both character's characteristics. I did however find it interesting that Deadman didn't actually give an answer.

This issue saw the first appearance of Swamp Thing in the JLD. Now I've really been loving Swamp Thing in the New 52, and since I started getting this series I felt that Swamp Thing would be the perfect fit, especially considering he has history with Deadman, Frankenstein, and Constantine (although they can't remember). The fact that they brought this up in the issue, referencing Rotworld, and the fact that no one bar Swamp Thing (and Animal Man) remembered it. I also liked how like everyone Constantine summons that Swamp Thing wasn't happy, and actually threatened Constantine. Now I won't say much more as to avoid spoilers, but I'm looking forward to seeing more of Swamp Thing in this story, and hope that at some point he becomes a regular member.

Like the cover stated this issue also featured the Flash (Barry Allen). Now this was actually a bit disappointing, as with Flash featuring on the cover I was expecting him to have a biggish role in the issue, but he only appeared at the end. I wasn't however that bothered about this as it was the Swamp Thing appearance that I was more interested in, and the Flash was just an added bonus. I did however like the small appearance, and am looking forward to seeing what he has to offer as the story continues, and with Trinity War coming up it'll be interesting to see a member of the normal Justice League, team-up with the JLD.

Final Verdict

This was the perfect start to a new story, which looks to be a brilliant short filler before Trinity War. With the addition of Swamp Thing I expect big things from this story, and with the extra addition of the Flash even more. This issue didn't have too much action, but it was still exciting, and mysterious, as well as very unique. I would highly recommend this issue, as well as the series since issue 9, as it's been one of the best series in the New 52.

Rating: 4/5

Justice League Dark #18 Review

Writers: Jeff Lemire & Ray Fawkes
Artist: Mikel Janin

After all the nice things said about this series, as well as the release of the new Constantine series I finally decided to try this series, and I'm very glad that I did, as the Books of Magic storyline was phenomenal, and this series as a whole as been one of the most unique series I've read from the New 52, and I look forward to seeing what comes next.

Plot

This is it, the battle between magic and science... so who will win? Plus how will the Justice League Dark fair in all this?

Review

I have to admit this story overall hasn't been as good as I'd hoped it would, but it has been better than a lot of other stories out at the moment, and it has ended phenomenally. After the events of last issue I was expecting a lot from this one, and I wasn't disappointed. Jeff Lemire has done a fantastic job throughout his entire run on the series, and although it's not been quite as good since Ray Fawkes became the co-writer, it's nothing to do with his abilities, as the story still had a fabulous start, and end, with the middle taking too much time in developing the story, but it's been worth it as it really helps this issue, as with everything all explained, and set-up we get this epic battle. Lemire and Fawkes do however continue to keep it very interesting, whilst keeping this excitement in full gear, and although the mysterious nature of this series has been put to the side for this issue, there are still some shocks (all be it minor ones), and things to question.

As ever the art from Mikel Janin is outstanding, and this issue is no different, and in a lot of ways even better than most of his art. What I've loved about Janin's art has been how smooth and realistic it looks, and how all the lines are very crisp, with not much roughness to it. The best thing about Janin's art this time however had to be the way he handled the action, as everything was phenomenal on epic proportions, and it was easily some of his best work on the series to date. I also loved how he drew the characters as despite still having the physical changes from entering Epoch, he's also done a marevllous job of showing the scars of battle, and mainly in the likes of the more mortal John Constantine. The detail in Janin's art is also brilliant, and he also does a fabulous job of showing the character's emotions, which also helps make the series more realistic, as well as making the art overall better. Jeromy Cox also continues to do a brilliant job on the colouring of this series, and I've really enjoyed it on this story, and although I wasn't fond of the colouring to start with, I've started to like it more, and more throughout, feeling that it really helps set the tone of this story.

I'll say now that this review may be a bit shorter than my others on this series as with most of the issue focusing on the battle, and the few bits that don't contain spoilers, and although I will mention them, I won't specify details as to avoid spoilers. Anyway what a battle it was in this issue, and it was as good if not better than the final battle in the Books of Magic story, although with all the build up it'd need to be. The main battle has Tim Hunter's army of magical creatures battling the science enforcers. What I liked most about the fight that despite being epic, and exciting, it also had lots of emotion, as you had the likes of Vikar torn between saving the civilians, and fighting the magical creatures, whilst at the same time Tim, and Zatanna question if they're doing the right thing, and overall it made for a much deeper fight than just the excitement.

Now although the fight focused on Tim's magical army and the science enforcers for the better part, the rest of the JLD still had their fair share of trouble, also having to fight members of the science enforcers that followed them. There was two things that I liked most about the JLD's involvement, and that was the determination, and war experience of Frankenstein, and that the story in general was narrated by Constantine. I also liked that we see more humility from Constantine, as due to being changed so that he can't lie he says what he truly feels, which I'm sure will help the series' future, leading for some interesting possibilities. Besides this the JLD didn't really do much, but it was never really their battle, and that also is one of the reasons that this story wasn't as good as Books of Magic on the whole, even though this issue was brilliant.

Last issue also saw a decision maid by Johnny Peril, Steve Trevor, and more so Tim's dad Jack Hunter when Jack decides to go to the alternate dimension and try and save the JLD, Zatanna and his son. Now I won't go into any details about this sequence as it's full of spoilers, but I will say how I felt about it. Although I kind of saw the events that transpired from this happening I was still a little surprised with what actually happened, and how it effected the story as a whole. I also liked how it had a few extra surprises that although I realise now, I hadn't thought of previously, which made the story more interesting, and over all suspenseful.

The events at the end of the issue also have me really looking forward to the next issue, and more so with the guest appearances from the Flash (Barry Allen), and especially Swamp Thing.

Final Verdict

This was a phenomenal conclusion to the Death of Magic storyline, and although the story has a whole hasn't been quite as good as Books of Magic, it has still been brilliant, and couldn't have ended any better. I'd highly recommend this issue, as well as the series, and can't wait for the next issue, and the appearance of Swamp Thing.

Rating: 5/5

Justice League Dark #17 Review

Writers: Jeff Lemire & Ray Fawkes

Artist: Mikel Janin

After all the nice things said about this series, as well as the release of the new Constantine series I finally decided to try this series, and I'm very glad that I did, as the Books of Magic storyline was phenomenal, and this series as a whole as been one of the most unique series I've read from the New 52, and I look forward to seeing what comes next.

Plot

The Justice League Dark have been captured by Vikar, and are being kept captive. Meanwhile Tim Hunter needs to live up to his destiny, and Johnny Peril has to find a way to stop the crisis that's facing both dimensions.

Review

Again a very good issue, but at the same time still not as good as the Books of Magic issues. Although not as good as Books of Magic, this is still a very unique and interesting story, and in many ways more interesting than Books of Magic, but unfortunately it's also not as exciting. Jeff Lemire and Ray Fawkes do however continue to create a story that is mysterious and suspenseful, and they've done a brilliant job at setting up the conclusion in the next issue. What I've really liked about this series is that it's taken the magic element and produced some phenomenal concepts, and all the different unique ideas that have been shown throughout is what I love about the series. However like this issue, I didn't feel a great deal of excitement, and it mainly felt like a set-up issue, setting up the finale, but the excitement that was in this issue was brilliant. I did however like that Lemire and Fawkes managed to make this a very serious, and dark issue, whilst also adding humor, and keeping it dynamic, and overall this was still a very good issue.

As I've said throughout my reviews, the thing that I love each and every issue, no matter whether the issues as good as the previous is the art, and Mikel Janin continues to amaze me. Although Lemire has been producing fabulous stories since he joined the series, I still don't think it would be the same without Janin's art, and it was a big difference when he didn't do the art, even though Lee Garbett's suited issue 0. Anyway, I also feel that Janin's best work has came out of this story, as the fantasy feel, added to the mysterious magic tone, has really made for some epic artwork, and his art throughout has been phenomenal. The thing I like most about Janin's art is that it's very smooth, and realistic, and also very well detailed. I've also loved how he's drawn the characters over the series, but more so in this story, as we've seen physical changes in some, giving for a different look, which Janin's handled brilliantly. The colours from Jeromy Cox are also amazing, and although I didn't love them to start with I feel that they really suit this story as a whole, as it really suits the new fantasy, and techno elements.

The JLD were captured by Vikar, and are now prisoners of the science community. Although this sequence was mostly dull, it did have it's upsides as we get some brilliant dialogue from John Constantine, Madame Xanadu, and Deadman, but it's the dialogue from Constantine and Xanadu that interested me the most. As I said in my previous review they've all changed with Constantine admitting his feelings, and Xanadu getting real old, and appearing to be near deaths door, so you can understand why the things they say are interesting, as Xanadu wants to get a vision she had off her chest whilst she still can, and due to his true feelings Constantine wants to comfort her, telling her that they'll be alright. Black Orchid doesn't really do much, but she doesn't need to, and Deadman adds the odd humorous line every now and then as usual. Frankenstein however was kept in a different place, were scientists were trying to examine him, and the reaction Frankenstein showed was brilliant. I'm happy that Frankenstein is still with the JLD as since seeing him in this series I've started to notice that he's a much deeper character than he appears, and also a very interesting one.

Whilst this is happening Tim has to accept his fate as the King of the magical creatures, and along with Zatanna they decide to go and rescue their friends the JLD. I really felt a lot of emotion in these sequences, as it starts with Zatanna trying to warn Tim, saying that this may be a trap, but once they discover that their friends are in danger Tim decides to trust them, and Zatanna just wants to find Constantine. This also continued to show that there's still feelings between Zatanna and Constantine, and I see it as only a matter of time before they do anything about it. The scientists, and more so Vikar's response to all this was also very interesting, and I look forward to seeing the fight between magic and science in the next issue.

Last issue also ended with a major imbalance in both dimensions, and this issue shows Johnny Peril, and A.R.G.U.S. continuing to find a way to fix everything, and save the JLD. Like last issue this part of the story didn't take up much time, but at the same time it didn't need to, and if it was longer it would have spoiled the development of the story as a whole. At the same time if it was shorter it would have done the exact same thing, so it was essential. Like last issue I won't go into detail about this sequence as to avoid spoilers, but it really set the final element of the story up nicely, and with everything else that happened in this issue I'm expecting a phenomenal conclusion.

Final Verdict

This was a very good issue, but like the last issue it wasn't as good as the Book of Magic story, and it was a bit slow at times. Besides that it was still a very unique and interesting issue, and Lemire and Fawkes have done a brilliant job. I'd still highly recommend both this issue as well as the series, and hope that next issues conclusion is as good as expect.

Rating: 4/5

Justice League Dark #16 Review

Writers: Jeff Lemire & Ray Fawkes

Artist: Mikel Janin

After all the nice things said about this series, as well as the release of the new Constantine series I finally decided to try this series, and I'm very glad that I did, as the Books of Magic storyline was phenomenal, and this series as a whole as been one of the most unique series I've read from the New 52, and I look forward to seeing what comes next.

Plot

The Justice League Dark have crossed over into Epoch, the dimension that Zatanna and Tim Hunter were taken to. After being briefly alive in this dimension Deadman is dead... again, and he's not the only one that's been affected, as there are changes to all JLD members. The history of Epoch is also revealed.

Review

Another good issue, but after the fabulous opening to this story I was expecting a bit more. This issue was however still very good, and Jeff Lemire and Ray Fawkes still manage to give us a very entertaining, and unique issue, that's also interesting. The thing that I felt let the issue down as a whole was that it took too much time developing the story. Don't get me wrong stories need development, and I'd much rather an over developed story than an under developed story, but at the same time it does sap a bit of the life out, slowing it down a bit. I did however enjoy how Lemire and Fawkes started to show more of this world, and the entire concept is brilliant. They've also continued to make a very unique story that's dark, and mysterious, which has been the thing I've liked most about this series. Lemire and Fawkes have also started to introduce new experiences for the characters involved, which I'm sure will change there thoughts of one another. Overall although this isn't the most exciting issue that Lemire and Fawkes has written, it's still interesting, and has it's moments.

Mikel Janin continues to impress me with his artwork, and he's really done a tremendous job on this series. What I love most about Janin's art is that it's very smooth, and realistic, and the crispness of the lines is fantastic. Janin's art is also very unique, and the detail and emotion put into it is phenomenal with everything looking fantastic. There's also a lot of new elements in this story, and Janin uses them to his best advantage, creating new and wonderful things that don't only add a new concept to the series, but also compliments it. I also love the way he's drawn the characters in this issue, and especially considering the changes that have happened to them, as they look fantastic, with ton's of detail. The layouts also continue to impress me, and I've loved how they've really suited not just the series, but the sequences within the series. Janin also did a brilliant job of all the magical characters that were awful fantasy and fairy tale like, and I also loved that they had their own layout design. The colours from Jeromy Cox are once again brilliant, and I much prefer them this time round now that I've became more used to them, as they actually really suit this type of story.

This issue started with Deadman, who was recently killed by Vikar, and has to escape the afterlife by battling Infernal Core. When Deadman was killed at the end of the last issue I was angry, but after a couple of seconds realized that he was already dead, and that he'd just be a ghost again. Either way it must have been hard for Deadman having a moment of life, just for it to be ripped away. He did however have a bit of fun with Infernal Core, as apparently he's able to touch things in the afterlife, meaning that he can fight Infernal Core without possessing anyone. The fight was fairly short, but it was very exciting, and I really enjoyed seeing Deadman let out some of his frustrations, whilst also having fun. I won't ruin the fight but I will say that the best bit about it was the ending, which was very entertaining, and slightly unexpected.

Besides Deadman's return to life, followed by death again, there were changes to every member of the JLD, apart from Frankenstein, with Madame Xanadu turning extremely old, Black Orchid turning into some kind of monster, and John Constantine not being able to lie, revealing his true feelings. It was these changes that kept the story interesting, as besides that the issue was basically all development, explaining the history of Epoch, but I'll talk more on that later. The change I actually liked best was in Constantine, as although Xanadu and Orchid's changes were more noticeable, I was still more interested in the fact that Constantine has went from this person that doesn't show his emotions, and also appears fearless, into someone the complete opposite, showing that he cares for the team, and that he truly is afraid, and that he's just had a front on. I probably liked this more as I'm a big fan of Constantine, so the change in characteristics was hilarious. Xanadu was probably the most interesting following Constanitine, as for someone supposedly immortal, the years didn't half catch up quickly, and it's the development of this that I'll be most looking forward to.

The main bulk of this issue was focused on the history of Epoch, and how it was once inhabited by many more magical creatures, until man found science and eradicated magic, killing anything with a connection to it. It also went on about Tim's ancestor, and the magical creatures King, The Hunter, and even went on to say how the Books of Magic were created. I found this sequence very interesting, and although it took away from the other sequences, slowing the issue down, I still liked it, and found it a necessary delay. What I liked most about this sequence was the art, as it was truly stunning, and I loved how everything was so magical (no pun intended), and that it made the series a bit more lighthearted, whilst also keeping a dark background nature. Again, although it slowed the issue down, I'm still looking forward to seeing the development of this part of the story, as being the main focus of the story, it's what needs to be good.

There was also a very minor appearance from Johnny Peril and Steve Trevor of A.R.G.U.S. near the end, and although I won't go into details as to avoid spoilers, I will say how I felt about this addition. It didn't really do much for the story, but this sequence did shine a light on what might happen in the next issue, and I for one am really looking forward to seeing what happens.

Final Verdict

Not the best issue in the series, but still a very good issue, and although it spends most time developing the story, essentially slowing it down, it was still very interesting, and also very unique. I would still easily recommend this issue, as despite being a bit slow it had it's moments, and is still better than a lot of other series' out the now.

Rating: 4/5

Justice League Dark #15 Review

Writers: Jeff Lemire & Ray Fawkes
Artist: Mikel Janin

After all the nice things said about this series, as well as the release of the new Constantine series I finally decided to try this series, and I'm very glad that I did, as the Books of Magic storyline was phenomenal, and this series as a whole as been one of the most unique series I've read from the New 52, and I look forward to seeing what comes next.

Plot

John Constantine, and the rest of the Justice League Dark continue to work with A.R.G.U.S. expert Johnny Peril on finding a way to find Zatanna and Tim Hunter, whilst Zatanna and Tim wake up in a mysterious place called the Wild Area.

Review

The start of a new story, and Jeff Lemire who's been doing a phenomenal job on this series now has a co-writer in the form of Ray Fawkes (who also co-writer the new Constantine series with Lemire). Although I've enjoyed Fawkes' work on Constantine and Batgirl, I've not read enough of his work to know what type of writer he is, let alone how good he is, so I wasn't sure what to expect on this. He has however made a brilliant contribution, and although I think Lemire's still doing most of the writing (with Fawkes doing most of the writing on Constantine) it's still brilliant, and from this issue, and the first issue of Constantine they appear to be a good team. Anyway, after a nice fun filler issue the series is back on track with the next big story, which follows straight from the previous. Lemire and Fawkes have managed to produce something that is once again dark, mysterious and overall interesting, and although I'm not quite as gripped with this story as I was with the Books of Magic story, I am still very excited to see how this story's developed. Lemire and Fawkes also did a brilliant job of adding new elements to this series, and it overall makes it more unique, and interesting.

Mikel Janin returns to do the artwork on this series again, and I'm very happy he has. Although Graham Nolan and Victor Drujiniu did a decent job on the artwork last issue, it's nowhere near as good as Janin's and I'm glad he's back. Everything about Janin's art is brilliant, but the thing I've loved the most about it is that the lines are so neat, and crisp, making for a very smooth image. Don't get me wrong there are artists that have a rough style that produce amazing art, but I still think that it's this unique, neat style that suits this series more. The detail in Janin's art has also been phenomenal, as no matter what he draws, whether scenery, characters, whether in the distance, or in the foreground, as everything is highly detailed, looking immaculate. Janin's layouts are also fabulous, and they continue to help with the mysterious nature of the series. I was however not as fond of the colouring this time, as although I liked it, and think that Jeromy Cox did a fantastic job, I much preferred the edgier colours from Ulises Arreola, which I felt suited this series much more, but Cox's was still brilliant.

This issue doesn't waste any time, and it finally shows us what has happened to Zatanna and Tim, and they appear to have been transported to a mysterious land called the Wild Area. There was a Wild Area that featured in DC comics a while ago, and although I don't know much about it I wonder if it has any connection to this, but either way it was one of the more mysterious settings in this series to date. We've seen magic feature a lot through this series, but although it appeared that the Books of Magic were more science than magic, this land appears to be a mixture of the two. Following that I found it very interesting that this area appears to change people, as it gave Zatanna much more power than she usually has, making for more curiosity, and mystery.

The inhabitants of this land are also very mysterious, and magic, as there's characters you only see in fantasy and fairy tales, and also characters that are very technological looking, which continues to show that this land clearly has a mixture of both science and magic. I also found it interesting how Zatanna and Tim reacted to these creatures/people, as they were very shocked by what they were, but due to all the weird stuff they've seen Zatanna quickly got used to it. There was one character from this place that particularly interested me, and that was a very technological looking character named Vikar, who appeared to be an officer that enforced law against people using magic. I won't go into much more detail, as to avoid spoilers, but I found this Vikar a very interesting character, and look forward to seeing more of him in this story.

Whilst this is all happening the JLD and Peril continue to work on a way of to find Zatanna and Tim, and they believe using the DNA from Tim's father, as well as Doctor Mist possessed by Deadman would help with this, and make the preparations. Due to most of this happening in the later half of the issue I'll avoid going into detail, as to once again avoid spoilers, but I will say about how I felt with the sequence. I really enjoyed it, and although the sequence with Zatanna and Tim in it was overall much more mysterious, and exciting, I still found this part of the issue to be more interesting, and that although we found out where Zatanna and Tim where, as well as what's there, I still thought that this sequence helped more with the overall development.

Final Verdict

A new story, and a new co-writer, Lemire, now with Fawkes as his co-writer have put together a brilliant opening chapter to the next part of this mysterious series that's called Justice League Dark, and it continues to be interesting, as well as exciting, and much more mysterious. I would highly recommend this issue as it was a very entertaining read, and I'd also recommend the series as a whole, as it's been very unique, and very dynamic.

Rating: 5/5

Justice League Dark #14 Review

Writer: Jeff Lemire
Artists: Graham Nolan & Victor Drujiniu

After all the nice things said about this series, as well as the release of the new Constantine series I finally decided to try this series, and I'm very glad that I did, as the Books of Magic storyline was phenomenal, and this series as a whole as been one of the most unique series I've read from the New 52, and I look forward to seeing what comes next.

Plot

John Constantine talks to A.R.G.U.S.and there top expert Johnny Peril about trying to find Zatanna and Tim Hunter, whilst Frankenstein, Black Orchid, and Amethyst search The House of Mystery, finding some surprises along the way.

Review

Although this was yet another good issue in this marvellous series, it was however easily the worst I've read, but that just goes to show how good a series it is, when a issue as good as this is the worst. Jeff Lemire has done a very good job at giving us a nice fun issue to fill the gap between storylines, but at the end of the day it was nothing more than a filler, even if a fun filler. Lemire did however do a brilliant job of bringing newer readers up to speed with the shocking conclusion to the previous story, whilst also giving a very fun, and unique story, making this a very reader friendly issue, as you don't have to have read the previous story to enjoy this one, although I'd still recommend getting it if you can, as it was nothing short of phenomenal. I also liked that Lemire decided to use this opportunity to explore the House of Mystery a bit more, as with this being nothing more than a filler it's the perfect time, but I'll talk more about that later on in my review. Lemire did however also manage to keep a dark enough feel to this issue whilst still making it very fun, which I liked, as it wasn't too dark.

The art in this issue was what really disappointed me. I've really been enjoying Mikel Janin's art on this series, and although Graham Nolan, and Victor Drujiniu did a decent job, it was nowhere near as good. Don't get me wrong it wasn't terrible, and I have seen a lot worse artwork, but there was times were the art just felt a bit awkward. I also found that the lines were inked a bit too heavily, as it stood out a bit too much, making the whole thing look unnatural, as well as unrealistic, and overall it disappointed me. As I said the last time someone apart from Janin did the art (issue 0), I've probably just became too accustomed to Janin's marvellous art, so whenever I see something not to that standard it disappoints, but in saying that Lee Garbett's art suited the style of story that issue 0 was, whereas this issue feels like it could have been better. The layout however was good, and I liked that it felt very dramatic, but at the same time it didn't outweigh the rest. The details were also not too bad, and although they also could have been better, I have seen much worse.

Following the shocking conclusion to last issue I was happy that Lemire took some time to develop this, as it would have been a bit unrealistic if the answer was presented straight away. I also liked that this kept me curious, and interested about what may have happened to Zatanna, and Tim. The issue would continue to do this, as we didn't actually find out what happened to them, but the sequence involving Constantine and Peril didn't half speculate. The dialogue in this sequence was also very interesting, and I liked how it was very technical without being confusing. The dialogue I liked the most was from Constantine as we get to see concern from him, something you don't see a lot of, and although he still doesn't show the whole of his feelings, you can see that he has them.

The story however would have been very dull if this is what the issue was filled with, so that's were the House of Mystery comes in. The addition of the House of Mystery added much more interest to this issue, but at the same time it also made it fun. Although I know that the development is key, and without the sequence with Constantine and Peril trying to find Zatanna and Tim that the development would be slowed to a halt, but at the same time a comic needs excitement, and this is what we get. The House of Mystery was the thing that interested me the most way back in issue 10, and I've enjoyed seeing it since, but we've still not had any development to the mystery of the house that was said to move around, but we did now. The rooms were fantastic, with each one feeling like something out of a novel, or B list horror movie, and I really enjoyed it. I also liked that this gave Lemire a chance to get creative, as he was able to have small unique sequences that were exciting, but due to the nature of the house it wasn't upsetting when they ended, and this was overall a great thing. There was one room in particular that interested me, but I won't mention it as it contains spoilers, all I will say to those who've read it, is that it's the room that shocks Orchid.

The characteristics of Frankenstein, Amethyst, and even Orchid was shown more in this issue, and although this wouldn't necessarily be brilliant for someone that's followed the characters (Frankenstein in Frankenstein, Agent of S.H.A.D.E., Amethyst in Sword of Sorcery, and Orchid from pre-New 52) for someone like me it was interesting. Although they made brilliant additions in Justice League Dark Annual #1, we didn't actually get to see much of Frankenstein, or Amethyst's characteristics, and Orchid has always been a mystery, so seeing them put in a situation like this was interesting. It was however Frankenstein and Amethyst that interested me most, as Amethyst seems a very timid character, and Frankenstein is nothing but the gentleman, and these aren't what I'd have expected from two characters that mainly attack using swords. I did however also like that Frankenstein is actually a much more deeper character than you would think, and actually seems more emotional, and free thinking than most other characters, and very different from the one I read in the Mary Shelley novel. Orchid did however remain a mystery, but it was interesting to see how she coped in a new environment, and it was also interesting to see her shocked.

Final Verdict

Although not as good as the other issues in this series, this was still a very good issue, and Lemire did a brilliant job of developing the shocking conclusion to the War for the Books of Magic, as well as giving us something fun, and unique. I'd still recommend this issue, as it shows how good a series this is when this is the worst issue I've read.

Rating: 4/5