Justice League of America #10 (2017) – A Time-Spanning Crisis of Heroic Proportions
📚 Genre
Superhero • Science Fiction • Time Travel • Action • Drama
🦸♂️ Main Characters
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Superman – The Man of Steel, torn between godly justice and human morality
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Batman – The strategist, navigating impossible odds across timelines
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Wonder Woman – The Amazon warrior, standing as a pillar of truth
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Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) – Galactic enforcer, wielding the might of willpower
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The Flash (Barry Allen) – Speedster scientist, central to the time-travel narrative
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Cyborg – The technological powerhouse bridging past and present
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Aquaman – King of Atlantis, grappling with the tides of destiny
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Rao – The ancient Kryptonian god turned antagonist, bent on reshaping humanity
✍️ Writer
Bryan Hitch – Known for expansive storytelling, Hitch crafts a tale of high stakes and emotional weight that bridges myth, sci-fi, and moral conflict.
🎨 Artist
Bryan Hitch – Doubling as artist, Hitch delivers cinematic layouts and intense action sequences, capturing both grandeur and emotion on every page.
🧑💼 Editor Details
Brian Cunningham – Ensures the issue remains cohesive with the overarching DC Universe narrative, maintaining character consistency and pacing.
🏢 Publisher and Brand
DC Comics
Brand: DC Rebirth – A reboot initiative launched in 2016, focusing on restoring legacy elements and emotional depth to DC’s iconic characters.
📅 Release Year
2017
🧩 Brief Plot Summary
In Justice League of America #10, the story picks up as League members stranded in Earth’s ancient past reunite with their modern-day counterparts. Their goal? To stop Rao, an omnipotent being once worshipped on Krypton, who now envisions a utopian Earth molded by his divine will. However, his vision comes at a terrifying cost — one that may erase free will and individual identity.
The team must battle not just Rao's celestial might, but the collapse of time itself. As past and present collide, sacrifices are inevitable. Can the League preserve the soul of humanity against a god who believes he's saving it?
📖 Notable Arcs or Storylines
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"The Extinction Machines" (earlier arc) set the stage for Rao’s introduction and the threat of cosmic-scale manipulation.
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"The Infinity Complex" – A story arc weaving time travel, lost civilizations, and philosophical questions of divinity and leadership.
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This issue is a key turning point where the conflict with Rao peaks, and the temporal narrative threads begin to converge.
💭 Fan Theories or Interpretations
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Some readers speculate that Rao’s ideology mirrors a dark reflection of Superman’s potential if he abandoned human morality for Kryptonian supremacy.
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Rao's presence in the past and his manipulation of humanity may tie into broader DC lore about ancient gods, possibly linking to the Old Gods/New Gods mythos.
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A few fans theorize that Rao’s timeline may have influenced other Kryptonian mythologies, hinting at multiverse reverberations in future stories.
📝 Review Summary
Justice League of America #10 is a visually dynamic and intellectually provocative entry in the Rebirth lineup. The art by Bryan Hitch is grand and expressive, capturing both the scale of celestial battles and the intimate moments of doubt among heroes. The writing pushes the characters to their limits, especially in the moral and philosophical debates sparked by Rao’s presence. While some pacing issues arise due to the heavy exposition, the emotional payoff and intricate plot threads make this issue a standout. It’s a powerful meditation on free will, destiny, and the dangers of enforced utopia.
Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
Epic stakes, compelling themes, and gorgeous visuals – a must-read for fans of time-bending superhero drama! ⏰🛡️🌌
Comic Resource / Read Online (External Source)
