Justice League Red #4 is a satisfying read for me in so many ways. Not only has it finally brought together its core team of Power Girl, Simon Baz, Cyborg, Red Canary, and Deadman together, but it’s also revealed why Red Tornado is so hellbent on deploying them on morally questionable missions. He aims to save the world from Black Adam, who will destroy the world if he’s allowed to complete a ritual following the events of DC K.O. (at least, in one timeline). The only way to stop Adam’s destruction is to kill him, but that brings Tornado and his “team” to blows.
The reveals don’t stop there, as writer Saladin Ahmed decides to reveal the source behind Red Canary’s new powers, and what’s become of Tornado’s body post-Absolute Power. The former has ties to DC’s mythical realm and could catapult Red Canary into the spotlight, which would be amazing. I think she’s a character with a lot of potential, and any hero who makes Seattle their hometown is one we need to see more of. The latter results in some excellent horror imagery, thanks to Clayton Henry; it’s also a reminder that Tornado is slowly losing more of what makes him human in his pursuit to save the world, with chilling implications.
Beyond flexing his horror chops, Henry also gets the chance to draw a knock-down, drag-out fight between Justice League Red and Black Adam. He doesn’t hold back with how ruthless Adam is, as the King of Khandaq ruthlessly decimates his enemies one by one. It does teeter on the ridiculous that he has weapons specifically to counter anyone with Superman or Green Lantern’s powers. Still, he’s put the team on the ropes and introduced the first legitimate threat they’ve faced.
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The presence of Black Adam also lets Arif Prianto shake up his color scheme, turning the antihero’s gold-and-black costume into the eye magnet it needs to be. Red continues to play a role throughout the issue, from Red Canary’s suit to Tornado’s holographic form to the satellite Justice League Red calls home. Pranto even makes the red stand out in the gray flashback sequences that comprise the opening pages of Justice League Red #4, which takes a great deal of skill.
Something I appreciate about Justice League Red #4 is that the creative team plays fair with the audience and the characters by showing the stakes. Rather than reveal that he’s been lying to them, the threat that he’s been fighting against is shown, which makes the question “Do we kill Black Adam or not?” feel like it has actual weight. The team also forms a tenuous bond, despite being brought together under false pretenses, offering hope that they can work together on future missions.
Justice League Red #4 finally brings together its team, as they’re faced with a morally taxing mission and a mighty foe in Black Adam. It took a while, but now it feels like the book has finally gotten into a good groove.
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