In this review of Justice League Unlimited #20, chaos erupts as the Brainiac Queen invades the Watchtower, while in deep space, Mister Terrific, Guy Gardner and Hawkgirl contend with a dangerous situation of their own making.
JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED #20
Written by MARK WAID
Art and Main Cover: DAN MORA
Variant Covers: BRUNO REDONDO, NATHAN SZERDY, FABRIZIO DE TOMASSO, YASMÍN FLORES MONTANEZ, BILQUIS EVELY, JESSICA FONG
Page Count: 32 pages
Release Date: 6/24/26
This review contains spoilers
Justice League Unlimited #20 begins as the heroes react to Brainiac Queen’s unexpected arrival on the Watchtower (poor Air Wave). Elsewhere, Batman barks orders to contain her as Wonder Woman returns from the Phantom Zone to help out. Diana attempts to reason with the outraged cyborg who is seeking Amanda Waller (long story).
Batman orders Red Tornado to bring back every available hero and reformed villain (except for Lex Luthor). Atom (Ryan Choi) defies Batman and engages the Brainiac Queen and gets a terrifying look inside her mind. Elsewhere, Mister Terrific, Guy Gardner and Hawkgirl contend with a nightmare scenario as a remote alien planet has been impacted by the unexpected release of stored superpowers, and 760,000 dinosaur-like creatures possess flight, super strength, heat vision and freeze breath.
Back on the Watchtower, Brainiac Queen unleashes her full fury against the heroes, but the trapped Air Wave manages to talk her down, only to have her blasted by Lex Luthor. Batman and Wonder Woman confront Lex who orders Giganta and Warp to dispose of Brainiac Queen by portalling her into the sun.
Justice League Unlimited #20 ends as the heroes fight the gravitational pull to rescue Brainiac Queen (and Air Wave), but the cyborg manipulates Warp’s powers seconds before she disappears. And no one knows where she went.
Analysis
Justice League Unlimited #20 pulls out all the stops with two titanic stories with massive implications for the DCU. Writer Mark Waid still uses this series to spotlight lesser-known heroes, but a story of this magnitude calls for the return of big guns Batman, Wonder Woman and Shazam. Batman takes charge immediately, formulating plans as he barks orders (while running) as Wonder Woman imbues the fierce optimist and Shazam utilizes the wisdom of Solomon to back them up.
Lex Luthor again casts a dark, manipulative shadow across the proceedings as the “reformed” villain continues to play his own game to amass power, influence and good press coverage. Lex’s narcissism has guided his decision making during this amnesty program, while his callous disregard for others (Air Wave) should automatically bench him for good. He makes a good foil though, even though his arguments are paper thin.
Poor Air Wave again becomes an unwitting dupe for another villain in this series, but at least this time he uses his experience as Grodd’s pawn to reach Brainiac Queen. Meanwhile, the “Justice Gang” gets a small moment in Justice League Unlimited #20, but they are outshined by the 760,000 alien creatures they accidentally empowered. Seriously, even with this formidable team guarding the “power bank”, trouble was bound to happen on their way to Oa.
Artists Dan Mora and Fico Ossio team up to provide some dazzlingly impressive artwork for two action-adventure stories crammed into a single issue. The epic fight sequences, the dramatic panel angles (giant alien horde) and the emotions scrawled across the faces of the weary Watchtower heroes (Batman’s five o’clock shadow), along with Guy Gardner’s smugness, Lex Luthor’s arrogance and Brainiac Queen’s growing sense of frustration.
Tamra Bonvillain’s colors assist in creating the necessary mood throughout Justice League Unlimited #20 (that Brainiac Queen/Warp sequence), Brainiac Queen’s mix of reds and greens, and the distinct palette used for the heroes’ costumes.
Final Thoughts
Justice League Unlimited #20 delivers a rollicking fun thrill-ride with two parallel stories full of wild action, gorgeous art, a cinematic scope and a twist on the traditional morality play of heroes vs villains.
