“You got duped by Grodd for the most forgivable reasons—because you have a huge heart and because you want to do what’s right. Not everyone does.”
The war is won! Justice triumphs over Doom once again, but there is still work to be done after Grodd’s assault on the Watchtower. As the rest of the League deals with the time-displaced heroes roaming the base, Mr. Terrific works tirelessly to find Air Wave before his scattered form is lost across the time stream. It is unfortunately too soon when an otherworldly force intervenes, warning our heroes of more danger yet to come.
With this issue, the book regains the momentum that was lost in the previous chapters’ fun, albeit hectic, crossover shenanigans. It acts as a proper epilogue that harkens back to the series’ strengths, namely that the big cast is most enjoyable when there is a more intimate focus on a couple characters to focus the narrative. Those characters are two Mister Terrifics (yeah) accompanied by Ted Kord as they search for a way to say Air Wave. Terrific, AKA Michael Holt, has gained more popularity following Edi Gathegi’s performance in James Gunn’s Superman, so it is fitting to say that he has been the best and most consistently written character since Justice League Unlimited began.
DC
The biggest highlight of this month’s edition is definitely the dynamic between the aforementioned Mister Terrific, one of DC most consistent long-running characters, and Air Wave, a character who is relevant for the first time in forever. Waid’s strongest aspect of “We Are Yesterday” has been that duo as it reflects a subtle parental dynamic with Michael doing everything in his power to make sure Harold understands that he isn’t the villain he thinks he is. It has been a consistently sweet dynamic that comes to a head in this epilogue, highlighted in a heartfelt scene where Michael shows a refreshing vulnerability that comes with all the stress of being a resourceful leader who believes he failed.
The arrival of the Time-Trapper and the Anti-Monitor’s brother throws an interesting wrench into the mix. Evidently after their appearance in the last issue, the crossover undoubtedly has large implications for a future time shattering event, and we know very little about what All In has been leading to. However, why not speculate it with a moral discussion on what should be done to prevent another disaster? This is where the central conflict of the issue draws from, and it’s quite a strong method to calmly wrap some things up as they pilot where they will go next. Amidst the conflict, we are also treated to several charming interactions with the time displaced heroes, namely a quick one where Hal Jordan shares a moment with his predecessor Abin Sur, as well as a further display of Supergirl’s nature as a time anomaly.
DC
Also benefitting from the more focused narrative is Mora’s and Bonvillain’s artwork. This epilogue is noticeably less hectic than their issues during the crossover, which were by no means bad but were absolutely packed with characters and perhaps too heavy on action. That’s not to say there isn’t action in this issue, far from it, but it is grounded by moments where we are allowed to really linger with the characters and they are allowed to assess all the chaos of the past, present, and future.
Justice League Unlimited #9 is a fitting epilogue to “We Are Yesterday” that feels like the calm before a storm, and not to mention a return to form for the creative team’s best sensibilities that made this series when it started. A tighter narrative allows for some meditation on previous events, getting back to the series’ main story in a way that lacks the growing pains of a packed crossover. The battle with the Legion of Doom is done, but the universe is still far from safe from the Omega energy, and this new League is once again caught seriously unprepared. And with the flagship All In getting its momentum back, it’s no doubt that the future is lined with time-travelling fun and new threats on the horizon.
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