Ever since the Absolute Universe was first announced, comic readers have wondered when the setting would see a Justice League. Thus far, the individual heroes who founded the team have remained apart. The Absolute Evil special introduces the Absolute Justice League of this brave new world. However, the organization, and its membership, are not what anyone expected.
Written by Al Ewing, with art by Giuseppe Camuncoli, Absolute Evil #1 centers around a meeting of the minds. The chief villains of the Absolute comics meet to discuss a common problem. Specifically, how the recent emergence of superhumans threatens their financial interests. However, most of these magnates see no benefit to working together.
Ironically, it is the mysterious billionaire known only as Joker who restores order to the proceedings. He does this by sharing his discovery of a force he describes as “moral gravity” which is the foundation of their universe. He dubs this the Omega Particle, totally ignorant that what he discovered was the will of Darkseid bending their reality toward evil.
Joker speaks as to how this discovery proves a natural order devoted to promoting the strong to rule the weak. To stand against that order, he claims, is unjust. To that end, Joker proposes that they can “be in league” and “ensure the moral arc of the universe bends toward justice.” This leads to the formation of the Absolute Justice League as an evil organization, all within a building that resembles the classic Hall of Justice, but in black marble.
Who are the Absolute Justice League members?
The Absolute Justice League is made up of Veronica Cale, Joker, Ra’s Al Ghul, Dr. Elenore Thawne, and Hector Hammond. Each of them is independently wealthy and inclined to stay in the shadows. They are a team of manipulators and malcontents, who already have troubles working together.
Ironically, this team of schemers is already facing a threat from within. The alien cyborg Brainiac, who was forced into the service of Ra’s Al Ghul, is shown watching the meeting in secret. The coda of Absolute Evil #1 reveals that he has partnered with Mirror Master to blunt the objectives of the Absolute Justice League. This marks the first direct appearance of Mirror Master, but he was referenced in Absolute Flash as one of the metahumans created by Dr. Thawne and Project Olympus.
The coda also reveals one final member of the Absolute Justice League, the Absolute Universe version of Lex Luthor. We learn little of this Luthor in his brief scene. He is apparently happily married, with children, and lives on a farm. He also has a full head of hair and a beard. What he’s done to move past being “envious of others” has yet to be revealed. However, Brainiac thinks he is the prefect recruit to counter Joker.
Absolute Evil #1 is now available at comic shops everywhere.
