Written by: Geoff Johns
Art by: Ivan Reis, Joe Prado, Oscar Jimenez, Paul Pelletier, and Tony Kordos
Publisher: DC
The Darkseid War arc by Geoff Johns has been, for the most part, interesting and fresh with new layers of DC lore introduced. This issue/special is no exception as we get to learn more about Grail and her backstory.
I’m not sure what I expected from this special as I went into it knowing nothing aside from its title. That said, I’m glad the creative team decided to make the issue about Grail and Myrina. Grail is, of course, Darkseid’s daughter who occasionally hangs out with the Anti-Monitor. She is fleshed out as a character and made more relatable; I never really cared for her as a character until this issue, as she came across as a one dimensional character. The issue also has a secondary storyline with Jessica Cruz, Power Ring’s successor, after her soul is pushed into her ring. Considering how the narrative flows with Grail at its center, I honestly have no idea why Jessica Cruz is even in here. The parts of the story with her in it feel out of place and seem like afterthoughts tacked on to a much more compelling narrative. The Volthoom storyline also feels tonally different from the rest of the issue which only makes the transitions between the storylines that much more jarring.
Where Darkseid War shines is in the characterization of Grail. The reader feels legitimately conflicted about their feelings for her. The possibilities for her character in the future also seem promising, and at this point, I don’t think that she’s unequivocally past redemption. I hope that Johns doesn’t drop the ball and forget about Grail’s character arc, although that does seem unlikely.
Speaking of Johns, this issue exemplifies his strength as a writer. He conveys character motivations without beating the reader over the head with them. The mother-daughter dynamic between Myrina and Grail is perfect.
One of the biggest disappointments for me was the art in this issue. With so many artists, it’s no surprise that the art style seems jumbled, and the panels set in the cave are so bad that they could potentially destroy immersion . It is also weird to see the art style change so significantly from page to page. The art in the other storyline with Jessica uses a different perspective and level of detail, which doesn’t help my perception of that storyline. I do believe that fewer artists could have helped create a more unified art style.
Readers will be delighted to know that there are some cool reveals towards the end of the issue in both storylines. Johns sets up the rest of the run quite well as we do get to see Grail in the present. On the whole, this is a great chapter in Geoff Johns’s saga. It does require the reader to be caught up on Justice League, so I would not recommend this issue as a good point to jump into Johns’s run.
