Justice League: Endless Winter

Justice League: Endless Winter #1-9

by Andy Lanning, Ron Marz, Clayton Henry (Artist)

There’s an extinction-level storm wreaking havoc on the entirety of Earth, and the Justice League finds themselves fighting a literal force of nature! Enter the Frost King, a monster mad with power, with an ice army at his command! What devastating mystery lies in his past? And how is he tied to Queen Hippolyta, Swamp Thing, Viking Prince, and their reluctant ally, Black Adam? Past mistakes and present dangers collide in this subzero story!

This volume collects Justice League: Endless Winter #1-2, The Flash #767, Superman: Endless Winter Special #1, Aquaman #66, Justice League #58, Teen Titans: Endless Winter Special #1, Justice League Dark #29, and Black Adam: Endless Winter Special #1, the full run of Andy Lanning and Ron Marz’s icy epic as realized by a host of fan-favorite artists including Howard Porter, Marco Santucci, Clayton Henry, Phil Hester, Xermanico, and more!

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Dc Comics, Superheroes, Comic Book, Wonder Woman, Fiction

219 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2021

About the author

Andy Lanning is a British comic book writer and inker, known for his work for Marvel Comics and DC Comics, and for his collaboration with Dan Abnett.

Reviews

[Sam Quixote · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not-your-grandpappy’s-Frosty the Snowman turns the whole world cold so capes’n’masks gotta punch ice until things somehow get fixed! I know, it sounds like a Eugene O’Neill play, doesn’t it? It’s the worst Justice League book since… well, the last one. They’re all bad!

Endless Winter is crap even by… actually no, this is on par with what I’d expect to see from Andy Lanning and Ron Marz. A comic even lobotomy patients would describe as woefully uncreative and simple.

You know how Mister Freeze’s backstory is that he’s trying to revive his frozen wife Nora? Well, the Frost King’s totally original backstory is that he’s trying to revive his frozen wife… and kids! It’s completely different from Mister Freeze, even though they also have the same powerset too. Frost King’s got a beard, my dudes - he’s such a new, imaginative character!

There’s a pointless backstory set in the past where ye olde Justice League made up of Black Adam, Hippolyta, Swamp Thing and Viking Prince (who’s definitely not DC’s piss-poor Thor stand-in), punch ye olde version of Frost King. It’s essential to show readers that Frost King has been punched by superheroes for centuries, so the audience can appreciate what a massive waste of time this drivel is - it’s not to eat up the page count of this flimsiest of storylines.

95% of the book is superheroes punching ice monsters and it’s as gripping to read as it sounds. I know I was on the edge of my seat wondering if the Justice League would defeat the villain of the weak.

This year, give yourself the gift of not reading Justice League: (Thankfully Not) Endless Tedium.

[Chad · Rating 2 out of 5]

This felt very much slapped together. It's more of a lead-in to the post Future State of the DC universe more than anything else. Black Adam is the main lead. He's written so one-dimensionally arrogant with nonstop complaining that he knows better than the Justice League. Lanning should have looked back at Geoff Johns's JSA run to see Black Adam done right. The book is meant to be a lead-in to Black Adam and Hippolyta joining the Justice League. With some introductions to Titans Academy and Swamp Thing comics to come as well. There's a whole lot of wheel spinning throughout the middle issues with the only real story of interest the flashback to the Frost King's first rampage back in the 10th century.

[Khurram · Rating 3 out of 5]

A ok DC crossover. If you are going to push the mist powerful characters in the DC universe to the limits you need a powerful enough villain.

A tragic story of crossing the line between man and monster. I would have liked more of Batman in the book but I think it was the right choice to let the more powerful characters take the lead and have the Justice League stretched. I do also like the personal sides of the JL is also mentioned, but I thought more could have been done with that.

There us nothing really unexpected in this book, but I do see seeds sown for later. It will be interesting if it comes to fruition in an even bigger story.

[Subham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an epic read!

It starts with JL taking down some weird criminals like Icicle and Dupilex but when an ancient foe called the Frost King (Edwald Olafsson) comes in and freezes the entire world, the JL has to split up and reach their own answers and reunite to defeat this foe and we like switch to the past where we see the JL of the Viking age aka Hippolyta, Black adam, Viking Prince and swamp thing fighting this monstrosity and its origin. Its such a great and simple origin and I loved that part.

In the modern day we follow different characters in their own issues like Flash and how he meets with Black adam and him and Iris, Aquaman teaming with mera to recruit the fire trolls, Superman and Lois and how they save and inspire the people of Metropolis, Green Lantern (John) and how he helps certain people and like realizes JL is his family and man that made me tear up, that was so good and well written! AND Perfectly summarizes each member of the team!

And the titans and JLD and finding answers and surprise allies and we follow Black adam and what he has been doing and then all the plot points connecting for an epic fight and an even grander conclusion!

What an epic read, and I loved it! Its told in a very un-linear fashion but never hampers the reading experience and gives each member of JL their moment to shine and like even has great moments for Hippolyta and Black adam and maybe redeems the JL of the past and that was really well done. A failure of one corrected by their successors and I love the concept of legacy here!

Then the coming together of the team was so well done but the real champion is the art and it never lets down, each panel is a marvel to look at and its surreal and amazing and ahh I loved it! Its one of those books you can read in the evening or night and enjoy so much!

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Last Christmas' winter event is finally collected just in time for this Christmas because synergy! A monster from the past returns when some ill-advised digging awakens him from his slumber, and it'll take the remnants of two Justice Leagues to put him back to sleep.

Endless Winter's an inoffensive mini-event that passed the time last year between the end of Death Metal and the beginning of Future State. It's a story we've seen before, but there's some clever plotting from Ron Marz and Andy Lanning as they weave in and out of the DCU's continuity at the time to tell a story that makes sure to respect all the characters involved without throwing them into new situations that don't make any sense. From the set-up drawing on The Terrifics to the tie-in issues setting up the future (like Hippolyta and Black Adam joining the Justice League, or the opening of Teen Titans Academy), it's all surprisingly tight.

The art's a little bit of a mishmash since each issue is drawn by a different artist, but there's a back-up story in almost every issue with art by Marco Santucci that ties it all together, detailing the flashbacks that set up the old Justice League's fight against the villain of the piece as well as how he was eventually defeated.

If you're looking for a quick bit of winter reading, Endless Winter's a good shout. It won't light the world on fire, but it was never really meant to. It's all just a bit of fun, but that doesn't stop the writers from making sure it fits where it's supposed to.

[Alek Hill · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very disappointing flop if you ask me.

It had all the makings of something great. An ancient Justice League comprised of Hippolyta, Swamp Thing, Black Adam, and the immortal Prince Jon! Character plot for Black Adam (a very complex charater) that could provide back story and growth. And Vikings!!

But it was all executed terribly! For some reason the back story of the Frost King and the ancient "justice league" team up was told in sections, as a mini prelude story at the start of every issue. And the present day justice league doesn't learn of the connection until one issue before the end?!? It really undercut what could have been a really cool origins and flashback sequence.

The characterization of Black Adam was also terrible. He was one-dimensionally arrogant and violent. Tragically ruining any attempt at a redemption arc or reestablishing him as a different type of hero.

And finally. Why was this a crossover event!? Telling the story from different character/team perspectives did nothing but severely hinder the plot. The plot which made no sense! From the Kryptonian crystals found in the ice crater of the destroyed Fortress of Solitude; to the ham fisted theme about the importance of family!

[Guilherme Smee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nos anos 1990 a DC Comics publicou uma saga chamada A Noite Final, em que um vilão chamado Devorador de Sóis acabava com a luz e o calor na Terra. Pensei que essa saga, Inverno Sem Fim, fosse um evento do tipo. É e não é ao mesmo tempo. Ela lida com um retcon em que o Príncipe Viking, o Monstro do Pântano, Adão Negro e a Rainha Hipólita conhecem o poder do Rei do Gelo. Anos depois, a Liga da Justiça se vê frente a frente com o mesmo inimigo, que congela a Terra inteira e precisarão da ajuda daqueles antigos heróis para retomar a temperatura regular do planeta. A trama se estende por diversas revistas mensais e especiais da DC Comics, trazendo a contribuição de cada herói para libertar o mundo do jugo do Rei do Gelo. No Brasil, toda a saga saiu em duas edições de LIga da Justiça e de Superman. Ela também lança sementes para a nova fase da Liga da Justiça, escrita por Brian Michael Bendis, em que a Rainha Hipólita e o Adão Negro possuem grande destaque. Inverno Sem Fim é uma saga divertida, que lembram as sagas interessantes dos anos 1990 e se distancia de alguma sagas sem pé nem cabeça que temos que engolir atualmente.

[Blindzider · Rating 2 out of 5]

This felt like one of those "forced events", where the editorial team "needs" some type of crossover written but there just weren't any original ideas available.

The story is fairly run of the mill: a man develops ice powers and his family is hurt because of people's fear of his powers. He gets angry and decides to take it out on the world, literally by subjecting the planet to subzero temperatures.

One of the problems was it spends over half the issues just showing how the members of the JLA are trying to keep people safe during the freeze. They are unable to actually find the villain and take the fight to him. In order to fill time, the stories have mindless battles or a flashback to the origin of the Frost King and why he's so angry.

The art is actually pretty decent and is probably the best thing going for it. Otherwise it is just incredibly bland.

[Danielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

As always, I like the themes about the villain being a flawed human and not a monster, but I wasn't a fan of the execution. I also felt like I didn't have a good handle on who Black Adam is, and I wish his character was developed more.

[Nicolas · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a big 90s mess this was. I had a great time. ❄️

[Tyler Zamora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lately I’ve been a little hesitant when I pick up one of DC’s “event” graphic novels. I feel like it either hits or misses. I am pleased to report that is not the case for Endless Winter. I thought the story was really engaging and the narrative did not rely to heavily on anyone Justice League member. They were rather a supporting cast in the real story at hand, which included the Frost King and what I would consider the “Ancient Justice League” which consists of Hippolyta, Black Adam, Swamp Thing, and the Viking King.

The writers and artists did a phenomenal job jumping back and forth between time without it becoming too cumbersome or confusing. I loved the set up of the new Justice League having to pay for the sins of the old one in what was done to the Frost King. That was another element I loved about this story. The villain was good and multifaceted. He wasn’t just a bad guy for the sake of being a bad guy (which happens too often in comics), but instead he was a man who lost things near and dear to him, but instead of grieving peacefully, he grieved destructively. I thought his storyline was very good. I also liked how Black Adam going rogue is continuously a problem in the past and present. It sets us up to know he’s probably going to be a problem in the future too.

At times I really love the art in this graphic novel and then other instances I’m not crazy about it. I think Brandon Peterson and Amanda’s Nahuelpan’s art is fantastic and very dynamic. The one that I question is from Howard Porter. I think his line work throws me off, as it’s not as clean as the rest of the artists in the book. And this is clearly his style, it just looks slightly jarring compared to the traditional nature of the other two illustrators. I don’t hate it and Porter is talented as well, it just adds for a different overall vibe.

It was also smart to include some other side characters and teams within this Justice League mission. Swamp Thing helped tie in the Justice League Dark, while we also got appearances from the Titans. I also loved that we got a little bit of Krypto, Mera, and Aquababy as well. The writers did a great job at naturally including all of these characters without completely overrunning the narrative (which also frequently happens in comics). Overall this is a solid Justice League outing and I would highly recommend to anyone who loves the team or someone just starting out in comics.

[Cass Lee · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not technically the worst comic ever but definitely disposable and dull. Everyone is characterized flatly, to the point of flanderization. The basic premise is good, but the plot is split between all these issues and paced so horribly that nothing comes off it. The villain’s origin is just a suped up Mr. Freeze. I think an adaptation of this similar to how Young Justice or JLU adapted DC storylines. Remove a lot of the context of the comics and replace it with the context and seasonal plot of the show. That would allow this to, oh idk, build on characterizations that actually exist. It’s so jarring to go from reading JL Dark where Wonder Woman has some semblance of personhood, to this where she’s a cheap stencil copy of the character.

Near the climax a character said “In order to solve the problem we need to do this vague action” and then the comic cut away to another scene, only to return to the character standing around once again saying “we must do this action”. And then it did it a third time. And then it just happened. No big deal. No proper build up because this comic can’t control this pacing.

This isn’t even fun trash. I’m not having fun shitting on this. It’s dull. I feel like I have to be able to voice things I don’t like so I’ll have learned something about my tastes so reading this wasn’t a complete waste.


God this was bad.

[Nerdmaling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jag ska erkänna något. Jag är inte superförtjust i superhjältefilmer. Kanske delvis för att jag trots allt är vuxen (någorlunda) och väldigt intresserad av serier. Har man läst The Dark Knight returns 30 gånger så kanske man inte tycker att Noltons filmer är sådär jättemärkvärdiga.

Varför svamlar jag om detta? Jo för att Justice League är en ganska typisk superhjältefilm fast i serieform. För länge sedan väckte ett hot och forntida hjältar (inklusive nu filmaktuelle Black Adam) stoppade det. Nu är hotet här igen och måste stoppas igen.

Det finns en hyfsad bakgrundshistoria till hotet som också kommer ur en tradegi. Det är snygga (fast lite formulär 1a) teckningar och en massa coola scener följt av en gigantisk fight på slutet.

Nät serien är slut har den ingen påverkan på världen och den lämnar kanske inget djupare intryck.

Men med det sagt. Serien ska bedömas efter vad den är. Den här mer än actionfylld ungdomserie med rätt så coola illustrationer och en skithäftig swapthing-viking. Den är uppenbarligen konstruerad för att underhålla och hålla ett visst tempo. Jag tvekade lite mellan en 3:a eller en 4:a men kom på mig själv med att bli lite snobbig och tänkte fria före fälla på den här.

Eftersom jag skriver för biblioteken så vet jag att den här serien garanterat hittar sin målgrupp och den lyckad väldigt bra med vad den försöker uppnå.

[Scott Rhee · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Endless Winter” was a 2020 DC graphic novel series in which the Justice League battled the Snow Queen, Elsa, in the Kingdom of Arendelle. Olaf and Detective Chimp strike up a weird friendship. John Constantine turns Kristoff into a reindeer and tries to seduce Anna.

Just kidding, by the way, although that would be an awesome series.

In reality, “Endless Winter”, written by Andy Lanning and Ron Marz, was a pretty decent “crisis” story in which an ancient evil, buried in the Arctic in the 10th century, is brought back to life in the 21st century.

The Frost King was a superhuman with the powers of cryokinesis, the ability to freeze everything around him. (I’m pretty sure it’s a made-up word, but I still think it’s cool knowing that there is a word to describe the superpowers of Elsa and Frozone.)

Black Adam, Hippolyta, Swamp Thing, and a dude named Viking Prince were the 10th-century Justice League, and they put a stop to him then.

Now, the Frost King is loose again, and he has created a new global ice age. Despite how it sounds, it is not a solution to global warming.

This was a pretty decent series, with a good dose of humor and an ability to not take itself too seriously, something which I think is lacking in most DC comics that I have read.

[Alex E · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a cool (no pun intended) story that was stretched far too thin.

Andy Lanning gives us the story of the "Frost King" who was defeated in the 10th century by a rag tag team of heroes such as Hippolyta and Black Adam. After losing his family, he nearly freezes the entire world, until is stopped and put on ... ice... sigh.

Years later, the Frost King returns and is empowered by Kryptonian crystals (because the Fortress of Solitude just happened to be built on top of it), and this time he succeeds in freezing the world. He looks for his family or at least, vengeance for their death.

This mini crisis like event was ok, but like I said earlier, felt like a shorter story that got stretched out far too much. It was 8 or 9 issues when really, it would probably be better at 4 or 5. Ultimately the Justice League, with the help of Hippolyta, Black Adam, and Swamp Thing (kinda) are able to stop him, but by using compassion this time instead of force. Like I said, not a bad story at all, but just not something that I think warranted so many issues.

Looks like Future State is next for DC after this and Death Metal - there's certainly alot going on in the DCU at this time!

[Adam Fisher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Buried below Superman's previous Fortress of Solitude (in the arctic) is a powerful being known as Frost King (Edwald Olafsson), who was trapped there by a team in the past (Queen Hippolyta, Swamp Thing, Viking Prince, and Black Adam) after manifesting powers of cyrokinesis. Separated from his family (conveniently also frozen in ice), he is able to use the power of the remaining Kryptonian crystal shards to put all of Earth into an 'endless winter'. Freed from captivity by a greedy scientist intent on using the shards for science, Frost King begins his reign, and the Justice League (all teams, even JLD and the Teen Titans) is called in to handle the problem.
That's this story in a nutshell.... and it seems like something we've read before. It's not bad, but its also not original and kind of a odd choice for right after Death Metal, which was fantastic. Hopefully Infinite Frontier will help guide DC back to great stories (because Future State wasn't it).
Recommend, with reservations.

[Britt Halliburton · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise of a world-spanning winter is so good, it feels wasted in this otherwise run-of-the-mill romp. The biggest problem is the villain. Generic big bad, generic backstory with some attempt at making him sympathetic... but failing to really do so because even his loss is really his own fault. The real highlight for me is the muddled allegiances of Black Adam and his cronies, and Wonder Woman briefly gets a great shieldmaiden outfit.

The ending of the story is also so generic it made me roll my eyes. The artwork is mostly good, but can be a bit weak here and there. The only real significance for me in this book is it covers the fate of Swamp Thing, following the last Justice League Dark story previous.

It's really not all bad, but if you're only looking to buy the best books, this isn't one of them.

[Sesana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, for a sprawling event. There are nine issues here, but it didn't feel that long or even decompressed. Most of the issues are functionally side stories, showing how the casts of various books deal with the endless winter of the title. They're all connected by a few pages of ongoing backstory that explains the origins of the threat, which makes their inclusion in this collection necessary. Also a good way to catch up on what some of these books have been up to, and you don't need to be totally caught up to understand what's going on. The actual story moves at a decent pace, the dual timelines are interesting, and the whole thing works to set up Black Adam as an antagonist.

[Joseph Morin · Rating 2 out of 5]

The concept is cool, except that the story dragged out, with hardly a shift in status-quo, issue by issue. And the world-wide storm, despite sounding awful, was rarely shown to be worse than an inconvenience for average people-- outside of the ice monster threats. This plot also never even bothers to show how debilitating these events would be for those parts of the world not used to snow. Plus a lot of the colouring work misfired: colours bled too much into each other.

I did, however, appreciate the overall story about redeeming sins from the past. Glimpsing into DC universe history was also cool, with flashbacks to 10th century B.C featuring Queen Hippolyte and Black Adam, when they were the world's heroes. I also liked seeing the Justice League's endurance wear down, after they've been on-clock 24/7 with no measurable progress.

Endless Winter is kinda cool If You Read Passively.

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic follow-up to the multiversal battle of Dark Nights: Death Metal, the series really does an incredible job of highlighting the secret history some of the DC Universe’s oldest figures and powerful foes have with one another, united against a tragic figure in the Frost King. Exploring ancient mythology and cultures, the narrative and contrasting timelines will unite the heroes and highlight how people’s judgments and misperceptions can create the monsters we so desperately fear. A memorable and fantastic series to read, especially with Winter 2021 approaching!

[Michael Torres · Rating 2 out of 5]

This felt pretty thrown together by editorial, and many of the one shot issues barely move the plot forward. The Frost King had a cool origin and I liked how it tied into a past "mini Justice League" consisting of Swamp Thing, Black Adam, Hippolyta, and Viking Prince 1000 years in the past (when are vikings not cool), but the plot overall felt undeveloped and took 9 issues to tell a story that could've been told in 4-6. The art is serviceable, but overall this is a very skippable Justice League story.

[Quentin Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a bad crossover. I think some fans just hate crossovers in general since over the years so many have seemed to be more a cash grab than anything else, but this was okay. Not a classic, but still solid. An ancient "ice viking" emerges in modern times with intentions of freezing the Earth. That's a simplification, but that's the story in a nutshell. I felt like the first 40 issues of the Justice League series was a chore to read, so maybe I was just ready for an epic story that was easier to follow. Enjoyable read.

[Nyssa Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was just fun. I can see why this Justice League book might not be for everyone, as the plot is pretty simple and at times it would get repetitive, but it was excatly what I wanted this holiday season. The parts set in the past were a bit stronger then in the present but otherwise each issue was pretty solid and I enjoyed myself. It's one of those stories where I can't quite explained why it worked for me, but it did and I flew through it in one setting. I can easily see myself re-reading this one as the colder seasons start to roll in the future. So 4.5 Stars.

[Scott Waldie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The concept could have been written into something compelling, but it's pretty silly, and made worse by some inconsistent artwork. A lot of the facial renderings look pretty bad, to the point where they almost look like different characters from panel to panel. It was distracting, even though the colors were great and some of the panels are actually well done. Whole story felt too rushed and the logistics of this ice-vasion were questionable.

[The_J · Rating 2 out of 5]

Multiple layers, using this 1000 years ago wonder woman's mom, Viking Prince and early swamp thing and of course Black Adam. Just sort of seemed shoed horned in with Kryptonian crystals powering a mystical creature - and the still small voice in the back of your head says this makes no sense and why is flash de-powering - just for some pathetic "recharge" by Black Adam. So nothing much of worth.

[Will Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

This might be weird to say, but this reminded me of my favorite JLA stories back in the Grant Morrison/Mark Waid/etc years. A big something threatens the world, the JLA have to come together to fight it, uh oh they can't beat it, now they regroup and change tactics, we get some backstory on WHY the villain is doing what they do, the JLA come together to solve the problem! And the art is delightful. Yeah, I'll take this over Scott Snyder silliness any day. :D

[Michael Rivas · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are some themes of family and decision making tied into a soft plot. There were some cheesy character entrance's. I do give credit for the range of characters used to move the story along in a global setting but over all the best it showed me was a current version of Black Adam. This was close to a complete waste of time.

[Hugo Emanuel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very exciting story, with great artwork all around, lots of fun action, that nevertheless finds some room for proper characterization.

Nice to read a big story that doesnt take 5 other books to properly enjoy.

If your in the mood for a fun, self contained, to the point JL story this is not a bad book to pick up.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not even sure this deserves two stars, such a pointless heap of garbage. This entire boring story needed three issues max but it dragged on for, I don't know, 9? Hippolyta was annoyingly dramatic, Black Adam said the same thing every issue, and Jack Frost the Viking could literally have been put down like two issues in? Ugh.

[Loki · Rating 3 out of 5]

A disposable Justice League story, a retread of Final Night that mostly serves to give Black Adam a little more prominence before his movie comes out, but doesn't really find anything new to say about any of its characters.