In Gods We Trust

Justice League Beyond

by Derek Fridolfs, J.T. Krul, Howar Porter (Illustrator)

Spinning off from the hit WB series BATMAN BEYOND comes JUSTICE LEAGUE BEYOND! Sector 2814's newest Green Kai-Ro has been posing as a student to expose a secret organization called The Brain Trust which is brainwashing young students and training them to destory the Justice League.  It is within the walls of the sinister Academy of Arts & Sciences that Kai-Ro befriends Mary Marvel and helps her regain her memory and her powers.  The Justice League also adds another new Shazam!

JUSTICE LEAGUE IN GODS WE TRUST is collected here in its entirety for the first time, written by Derek Fridolfs ( ARKHAM UNHINGED, LI'L GOTHAM) and J.T. Krull(TEEN TITANS, CAPTAIN ATOM).

This volume collects Justice League Beyond digital Chapters  17-25, Superman Beyond Digital Chapters 11-20

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Dc Comics, Graphic Novels Comics, Batman, Science Fiction, Superheroes

208 pages, Paperback

First published March 18, 2014

About the author

Derek Fridolfs has worked professionally as an writer, inker, cover & sequential artist for DC, Marvel, Dark Horse, Boom, IDW, and a majority of comic companies the past 20 years.

#1 New York Times Best Selling Writer for the DC Secret Hero Society book series through SCHOLASTIC. And Eisner Nominated co-writer of Batman: Li'l Gotham at DC.

He's also written for such titles as Adventure Time, Regular Show, Clarence, Looney Tunes, Scooby-Doo, Teen Titans Go!, Dexter's Laboratory, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The New Animated Adventures, Batman Arkham City, Batman Arkham Unhinged, Adventures Of Superman, Sensation Comics Wonder Woman, Justice League Beyond and many more.

Reviews

[Cale · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is uneven. There are several separate pieces - the secret origin stories aren't bad; for Flash especially it was kind of touching. Then there's the 'In Gods we Trust' story that is pretty weak (it telegraphs its conclusion within the first couple of pages). Then there's the Superman Beyond story, which was surprisingly deep and nuanced, as another planet that Superman affected brings the ramifications of his actions back to him. It gets into the grayness of taking action without knowing all the details, and can actually serve as a metaphor for racism if you want to dive into the symbolism. The art is workmanlike, although there are a couple questionable costume choices (Barda especially) that seem out of theme with the rest of the series. But overall, it's a nice alternate world and series.

[Nerdish Mum · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great collection of story lines and nice to see new characters introduced (to me anyway). I really enjoyed this book, I think my favourite story was the Superman Beyond one with the Trillions vs the Mangals. It had Lobo, it had Martian Manhunter, it had Starfire, it had a great story and plenty of action, what more could you ask for?

[Sean · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was terrible and not just because it doesn't contain all the issues that Goodreads says it does. Its terrible because the story is asinine, the dialogue stilted, and the art is worse. These digital first stories are getting worse by the minute. Overall, this is a complete misfire that doesn't show anything interesting about a new generation of League.

[Sylvester · Rating 2 out of 5]

This volume combined the remaining issues of Superman Beyond and the rest of the Justice League Beyond. The Superman Beyond part was OK, but the Justice League Beyond issues were incoherent.

[Soren Laskin · Rating 4 out of 5]

the superman part was rlly interesting

[Chris Richards · Rating 4 out of 5]

An odd collection, In Gods We Trust collects the endings for the Justice League Beyond series and the Superman Beyond series.

Origins: Micron gives some much needed character and backstory to Micron, the most underused member of the JLB.

Flashdrive provides a surprise epilogue to Return of the Joker with a flashback to Batman, Batgirl and Commissioner Gordon burying Joker’s body together. This leads to a Beyond adventure featuring Bruce’s secret supervillain corpse collection (yes really) and the debut of Flash Beyond. Origins: The Flash further develops this new character and I really like her.

Danica Williams, the fastest girl alive, is instantly likeable and a great design. Hearing voices from the Speed Force (from Wally West, Jay Garrick and Bart Allen) gives her a unique twist. I’m a fan.

In Gods We Trust, sees Green Lantern go undercover at the school of the evil ‘Brain Trust’. It’s odd but I enjoyed the focus on Kai Ro and his growing relationship with Mary was cute. Revealing Mary is not just Mary Marvel but Billy Batson and the whole Shazam family sharing one body makes that weird though. The art style really hurts this one too.

Origins: Green Lantern was great and probably my favourite JLB origin. Also reveals assassin Curare from the Batman Beyond show is his evil sister.

The second half of the book then sees Superman adopt a new civilian identity as a firefighter which I thought was great. The main story here is Superman caught in a moral dilemma of which side to take in a war between aliens he partially caused. It’s an interesting moral dilemma dragged on for too long to be entertaining.

Superman is reported by old friend Martian Manhunter, now in practice as a private investigator. Lobo rocks up briefly. The space members of the JLB and inexplicably Starfire making her super random DCAU debut help Supes out near the end. None of these characters have the impact they should though, leaving this arc a disappointment.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Origins: Origins: Micron

I thoroughly enjoyed the origin story of Micron as I have never heard of the character before reading this! The artwork was pretty cool too, I would love to read more of Micron and his journey!

Origins: The Flash

Felt like the artwork was similar but yet distinctly different to the other volume. I haven't really read alot about Batman or Batgirl, Kinda confused over old Harley Quinn? Perhaps a different version that I was unaware of?
So Danica's the new flash? Bout time we have a female flash (that I know of!) Love the race between the new flash and the superman! Classic! Really liked her origin story too!

Origins: Green Lantern
Other than knowing Batman, Superman, the other members of the Justice League I struggled to keep up who they were as they didn't look familiar.
Mary is Shazam? WHAT?!?! Still found the story enjoyable to read :)

Superman Beyond
Clark Kent is a fireman?!? Lol ok then
Lobos?! Heck yeah!!!
I didn't know about the Trillians or their world, so I found their story an interesting one that Clark had inadvertently started a racial war between two species on an alien planet by freeing the enslaved Mangals who had been abused and tortured.

The Mangrals view Superman as their saviour, their messiah, while The Trillians are out for blood, vengeance. All the while Superman finds himself in the middle, trying to get either side to change course, make peace.

Some familiar faces of the Justice League, which is awesome to see! My faves Martian Manhunter and Starfire. I find Kai-Ro - Green Lantern an interesting character!

Overall I found this comic very fast-paced and a captivating read!

[One Flew · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was a big fan of the Batman Beyond animated tv series and was particularly impressed by the Justice League episodes. This however was so utterly bland and boring. The stories are so flat and the characters would be lucky to be one dimensional.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

fun to see the 'update' of the League, and some origins to boot.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Janice · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

via NYPL - The Flash and Superman chapters were solid if unremarkable superhero yarns. The GL/Shazam tale was a bit of a mess though. Mediocre to subpar art throughout.

[JaCoby Shaddix · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was SUPER good. Funny, cool, good story.

[~Cyanide Latte~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

[REVIEW TO COME LATER UPON RE-READ.]

[Vail Chester · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty nifty, but sometimes the art style REALLY detracts from the established neo-noir that Batman Beyond had going for it.