In this review of Justice League Unlimited #8, it’s the “We Are Yesterday” finale, as the Omega powered Gorilla Grodd and his Legion of Doom throw down against an unexpected team of substitute heroes. Also, what revelations rock the DCU in the final two pages?
JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED #8
Written by MARK WAID
Art by TRAVIS MOORE
Main Cover: DAN MORA
Variant Covers: EJIKURE, TIAGO DA SILVA, SALVADOR LARROCA, TRAVIS MOORE, HAYDEN SHERMAN, GEORGE PEREZ
Page Count: 32 pages
Release Date: June 25, 2025
This review contains spoilers
Justice League Unlimited #8 kicks off in the middle of a brawl aboard the JLU Watchtower as Gorilla Grodd (calling himself “Gorilla God”) leads the charge against a team of substitute DC heroes from across time and space. The time-lost heroes make short work of most of Grodd’s Legion of Doom before Grodd goes all scorched earth by unleashing a magic-enhanced Omega beam blast that tears a hole in the watchtower.
Meanwhile, former misguided traitor Air Wave gets a helpful recharge thanks to Red Tornado which helps him to bring back the JLU heroes from their banishment by the Legion of Doom. In the throes of a homicidal rage, Grodd withstands a combined frontal assault, but the attacks weaken Grodd enough that he begins leaking volatile Omega energy, which is also affecting Air Wave due to their previous psychic link.
Martian Manhunter seizes the moment to pounce on Grodd and deploy a machine to retrieve his psychic abilities from the gorilla gangster. Air Wave delivers the stunning coup de grace as the watchtower is filled with unleashed Omega energy. In the aftermath, Air Wave has vanished, Grodd and the Legion are in JLU custody, while some of the heroes work to contain the unstable Omega energy leak.
Justice League Unlimited #8 ends with Mister Terrific mounting a search and rescue mission for the missing Air Wave, while the time displaced heroes discover that they are stuck in the present for the time being.
Analysis
Justice League Unlimited #8 cranks up the time twisting bedlam with some wild chaotic action before inevitably cooling off, as “We Are Yesterday” comes to a stunning close. Writer Mark Waid reaches across the vastness time and space (or maybe his toy box), to populate the substitute JLU team with fan-favorites and some obscure deep dives from the DCU archives.
Despite the potential pandemonium, Waid remarkably keeps his sprawling plot focused as he sets the stage for the next big thing.
Waid’s scripting in Justice League Unlimited #8 is all character observation and exposition, no omniscient narrator, but he manages a clear throughline that leads up to the surprising final reveal(s). Eagle-eyed fans will note the various substitute heroes appearing in Justice League Unlimited #8, including one that Waid is currently writing in another title.
Air Wave gets a modicum of screen time in Justice League Unlimited #8, but Grodd is again the closest thing to a lead character in this crossover event, (possibly because the entire affair was his plan). Readers aren’t privy to Grodd’s inner monologue as in previous chapters, but he makes his intent clear while unleashing a string of vile epithets as the combined JLU struggle to take him down.
Grodd is pure psychopathic rage in his contempt for others, and in his desire to end all living things. Is this behavior a side effect from Grodd absorbing Darkseid’s Omega energy or just an excuse? Grodd was already a powerful telepath (and self-proclaimed genius), but add to that Martian Manhunter’s telepathy and magic enhancements, and it is surprising Grodd even survived the experience.
The impetus for “We Are Yesterday” and the entire JLU ongoing series spawned from Grodd’s unquenchable desire for power that drove him to not only possess one of the most arcane forces in the DCU, but also to recruit allies (pawns) from the past as a private army called Inferno. Does Waid have more plans for the now depowered and captured Grodd? Redemption is unlikely, as Grodd is intelligent but lacking in empathy.
Returning series artist Dan Mora seems to be enjoying himself as much as Waid is, playing around with this huge battle royal issue featuring the JLU, the Legion of Doom and the substitute heroes including Jonah Hex, 1990s Aquaman, New 52 era Harley Quinn, Flash: Year One Barry Allen and many more.
Mora excels at many aspects of comic art including in-your-face action, dynamic storytelling, heroic group shots and epic fight scenes, (that full page image on page 2 for example), all of which are on full display in Justice League Unlimited #8. His range of character facial expressions is astounding, and the impact from the wordless panels still speak volumes (that World’s Finest moment).
Final Thoughts
Justice League Unlimited #8 sticks the landing on “We Are Yesterday”, providing sharp writing, gorgeous art and some nice character moments as JLU bids farewell to the threat from Grodd and the Legion of Doom, while ushering in new challenges for the DC heroes.
Rating: 9.4
