Release: March 2026 | Writer: Mark Waid | Artist: Dan Mora & Sean Izaakse | Colorist: Tamra Bonvillain
The Terrific Ten are dead except for one person, Mr. Terrific. How does the Justice League begin to bounce back after the results of the DC K.O. Tournament? A new arc for The Justice League begins here!
*Justice League Unlimited #17 SPOILERS ahead!*
UNLIKELY HEROES
Terrorists attack innocent civilians in Bialya. As they try and force information out of these people. Threatening their families in the process, the ceiling crashes down above them. And they are met by...
The...Justice League?
Blue Beetle and Red Tornado view the monitors on The Watchtower 72 hours earlier as the world begins to rebuild itself following the King Omega Tournament. Blue Beetle watches on in excitement but his excitement is cut short as Kid Flash Air Wave and Mr. Terrific warn him that something is happening with the Omega Rift that appeared in the DC All In Special.
Out of the rift comes all of the heroes and villains that were defending Earth in the tournament. The good guys won!...Or did they?
Each hero seems preoccupied with images in their heads making them look almost nervous. Everyone from Aquaman to Cyborg to Captain Marvel all look uneasy as Blue Beetle asks the question on everyone's mind in the room.
Where's Superman?
The Justice League explains to everyone how Superman became the King Omega and was able to put a stop to Darkseid for the time being. But due to that he has disappeared. He isn't dead but he made a sacrifice for the betterment of Earth. In the meantime the heroes that were in the tournament equally received the Omega power that Superman had, due to him feeling like no one person should have that much power.
But it's caused some visions that have been haunting these heroes. Visions that are showing them what they need to do to improve their chances the next time Darkseid comes back. These visions are very vague and are only leaving breadcrumbs for these heroes to follow.
DANGER! Red Tornado breaks up this meeting to notify the heroes of some villains that haven't been returned to their prisons, so Kid Flash, Air Wave and Stargirl are on the case!
These villains are doing something unprecedented though.
They appear to be helping the civilians in the downtown area from a catastrophe. The heroes question whats in it for them before Girder and Tar Pit exclaim that they aren't doing this for themselves. And that the issue with these heroes. They see them as less than. People who can't reform, and they proved this by forcefully keeping them in prisons instead of having them help the fight against Darkseid. They never stopped to question if these villains wanted a chance to right their wrongs.
Batman takes Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel to the Phantom Zone where they've been keeping the villains under lock and key under Mon-El's watchful eye. Batman takes what he heard Girder and Tar Pit say over comms to heart and asks the same question about the villains that DID make it into the tournament. Do they get a second chance for the effort that they put in? Do they have a chance at redemption?
Could they also be members...of The Justice League?
CONCLUSION
DC K.O. has changed the landscape of the DC Universe without question. This issue of Justice League proves that by possibly providing Justice League level credentials to some new familiar faces. Having entities like Lex Luthor, Harley Quinn and Lobo to name a few, joining the Justice League is monumental.
This issue sets up what could be either a very conflict heavy or surprisingly cordial time in the JLU with this new mix of people on the team. Especially Lex Luthor. Even when Girder and Tar Pit were explaining their reasons for trying to do good in the city, it felt grounded and real. Explaining how maybe they wanted to have a change to redeem themselves after years of crime made you feel for them. The heroes, and the reader as well, never stopped to ask that big question. What do these villains have outside of the things we see them do? Family? Dreams and aspirations? We never know due to them just being the villain of the week and them asking this important question opens up a new door of sympathy for some of the villains in the DCU.
Very well written issue with all the content it contained and read as smooth as butter to set the stage for what's to come.