Forever Evil (The New 52!) by Geoff Johns, David Finch, Richard Friend and Sonias Oback (graphic novel review).
I initially thought there was a storyline jump when Lex Luthor arrived at Wayne Manor in the sixth volume of ‘Justice League (The New 52).’ Thankfully, I had purchased ‘Forever Evil,’ which reprints the title’s issues #1-7, though I hadn’t made the connection that this series came next.
This wasn’t helped by the lack of indication in ‘Justice League Vol. 5’ that ‘Forever Evil’ was a necessary read. In ‘Forever Evil,’ the Justice League has been defeated and mostly trapped inside a subdued Firestorm by the Crime Syndicate, who then unleash the villains of Earth to do their bidding.
Just before this chaos, Lex Luthor persuades Thomas Kord to sell his company to him at a ‘reasonable’ price, under the threat of death and leaving his family destitute. However, Ultraman unexpectedly destroys Luthor’s helicopter, prompting Luthor to protect his turf and form alliances, including one with a caped bat. He even activates Subject B-Zero five years early out of necessity.
The Crime Syndicate is busy forming their new team, and it’s interesting to scan the villains to identify familiar faces. There was speculation about the Joker and Harley Quinn being in the crowd, but they were reportedly absent. Not all villains are pleased with the Syndicate’s rule, as demonstrated when the Monocle is disintegrated for questioning them, leading most to comply.
Numerous agendas unfold throughout the story. Owlman unmasks an unconscious Nightwing, revealing his secret identity publicly as part of his plan to reunite his family. Johnny Quick and Atomica create chaos, while Ultraman, having repositioned the Moon to cause a constant eclipse, is running out of kryptonite to maintain his powers. The exclusivity of green kryptonite leads to speculation about the effects of other colors.
Without delving into spoilers, the story is essentially one type of evil clashing with another, with shifting alliances along the way. This seven-issue graphic novel is engaging enough to warrant over 90 minutes of uninterrupted reading.
One critique is the underutilization of certain characters. Catwoman, constantly by Batman’s side, acts more as a confidante than engaging in physical action. The perspectives of normal humans, military, and police forces are notably absent. While the argument is that this isn’t their story, one would expect some acknowledgment of their reactions.
Overall, ‘Forever Evil’ is a tour de force, and it’s essential to read this volume before returning to the ‘Justice League’ series, which has three volumes remaining.
GF Willmetts
December 2023
(pub: DC Comics, 2014. 240 page graphic novel softcover. Price: varies. ISBN: 978-1-40125-338-7).
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