[Spoilers for Justice League Dark: Apokolips War]
DC is no stranger to dark stories – from Injustice comics and games to films like Justice League Dark and Flashpoint or even the upcoming Justice League Dark show on HBO, DC has proved over and over that they are more than capable of handling darker stories. Surely Marvel has its own share of Dark stories, but when it comes to apocalyptic worlds where all hopes die, DC has got the upper hand. They proved it again with their latest release, Justice League Dark: Apokolips War.
If I were to summarize Justice League Dark: Apokolips War, I’d use “Deaths, Failures and more Deaths”. From the get-go, Justice League members like Hal Jordan Green Lantern, Aquaman and many other dies by Darkseid‘s newest minions, ParaDooms – half Parademon, half Doomsday, in an attempt to stop Darkseid from his conquering attempts.
Then we are shown the apocalyptic world after 2 years of Darkseid’s invasion. We see the failed Justice League members drowned in their miseries and broken by their failures. But Superman, being the big blue boy scout, doesn’t stop trying.
This time, in his attempt, Superman is able to get John Constantine into his team – who is still broken by the death of Zatanna. With the help of John and Etrigan, Superman & Raven put together a team to stand against Darkseid’s attempt to destroy Earth.
The team includes Justice League, Justice League Dark, Teen Titans members as well as Suicide Squad and Lois Lane. Later even Lex Luthor joined the cause and died heroically with Lois and Suicide Squad members including Harley Quinn, Black Manta, Captain Boomerang & King Shark.
On Apokolips, the home world of the new God Darkseid, the rest of the team faces their old friends, now turned evil by Darkseid’s influence. But thankfully John helps Wonder Woman realize who she is, and later she defends her old teammates against Darkseid’s cybernetically enhanced Martian Manhunter, Mera, Hawkman, and Starfire.
But the toughest confrontation was between Damian Wayne, a.k.a. Robin, and Batman, who serves Darkseid now while being in his Mobius Chair. As you’d expect, the son was able to break his father from Darkseid’s persuasion only to die by Darkseid himself, in an attempt to save his father.
The team also finds Barry Allen, the Flash, on a treadmill, running for the last 2 years endlessly, powering Darkseid’s planet and machinery. They are able to free Barry from Darkseid’s grasp, but it is too late, Barry is now broken, weak and afraid.
The confrontation between Darkseid and Justice League shifts towards a godly mode when John Constantine sets Trigon free, later to be killed by him.
But destiny brought him back as Batman being Batman thought of everything, way before he was under Darkseid’s influence.
Later, during an epic battle between Darkseid & Trigon, the team barely flees with the help of a broken Cyborg. But it was still too late. Darkseid was almost successful in his plan, and the toll on earth is critical.
In a devastated world, seeing no hope of a bright future, Flash decides he must run – run to create another Flashpoint and give a new slate for the heroes.
This was first published on Knoarrz and later archived here at rifatahmed.com