Justice League (Volume 3) #25 is an issue of the series Justice League (Volume 3) with a cover date of September, 2017. It was published on July 19, 2017.
Synopsis for "Reborn"
Appearing in "Reborn"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- A.R.G.U.S.
- Green Lantern Corps (Flashback only)
- Unnamed ancient Korugaran Lantern (Single appearance) (Cameo)
- Unnamed ancient Xudarian Lantern (Single appearance) (Cameo)
- Guardians of the Universe (Flashback only) (Cameo)
- Molly the Keeper
Antagonists:
- The Darkness (Behind the scenes)
- "The Mind" (Unnamed) (Behind the scenes)
- Shirak (Single appearance) (Flashback and main story)
- Wraith Army (Single appearance) (Flashback and main story) (Destroyed)
Other Characters:
- Michigan Science Center visitors
- Betty (Single appearance)
- Philip "Phil" Cox (Single appearance) (Infected) (Dies) (Resurrected)
- The Devil (Mentioned only)
- Fear Thing (Mentioned only)
- God (Mentioned only)
- The Great Darkness (Mentioned only)
- New Gods (Mentioned only)
- Old Gods (Mentioned only)
- The Purge (Mentioned only)
- The Timeless (Mentioned only)
- Zombies (Mentioned only)
Locations:
- Post-Flashpoint Multiverse (Unnamed)
- Earth 0
- Prehistoric Era
- Unnamed Galaxy (Single appearance) (Flashback only)
- Milky Way Galaxy
- Earth (Flashback only) (Cameo)
- 2017
- Milky Way Galaxy
- Earth
- Ceres (Mentioned only)
- Milky Way Galaxy
- Prehistoric Era
- Speed Force (Behind the scenes)
- Sphere of the Gods
- Earth 0
- Perpetua's Multiverse/"The Earliest Return" (Unnamed) (Destroyed) (Mentioned only)
- Hypertime (Mentioned only)
- Legacy Future (Unnamed) (Mentioned only)
- Timestream (Mentioned only)
Items:
- Batsuit
- Bracelets of Submission
- Green Lantern Rings
- Lasso of Truth
- Resurrection Stone (Single appearance)
- Trident of Neptune
- Wonder Woman's Tiara
- World Breakers (Mentioned only)
Events:
- The Crises (Mentioned only)
- The First Crisis (Mentioned only)
- The Flashpoint (Mentioned only)
- The Rebirth (Mentioned only)
Concepts:
- Boom Tube
- Emotional Electromagnetic Spectrum
- The Eternal Return (First full appearance)
- Magic (Mentioned only)
- Metahumans
Notes
- This story explores the concept of the Eternal Return– originally introduced in issue #4.
- A similar explanation of the Eternal Return will be given in Outsiders (Volume 5) #9.
- Hypertime is mentioned as being below the Eternal Return.
- Through Molly the Keeper's words, this issue foreshadows concepts that will be explored in future DC storylines, including Earth 0 being the "nexus" of all the Crises, the existence of a mastermind behind these Crises, and an "evil force" that balances God.
"The Eternal Return isn't a random cosmic phenomenon. It can't be. There's a mind behind it, a will, a curiosity. It has created reality, molded it, bent it and shaped it. And everything within it has a consequence"
- For the first time in the DC Comics history, it is suggested that there is a "mastermind" behind the constant cycle of Crises, deaths and the rebirths of the Multiverse– from Crisis on Infinite Earths to Flashpoint. This foreshadows the existence of Perpetua, the Mother of the Multiverse, who will be later revealed as the responsible for all the Crises.
- The Keeper refers to this mind as a being from the "earliest return" of the Multiverse, which is a nod to Perpetua's original iteration of the Multiverse.
- She also claims that it is "empowered from the chaos of the Crisis", which is a reference to Perpetua's desire for Crisis Energy in order to break out of her cage.
"I've questioned why there are so many humans in the universe, why so many powers and events happen here. I've questioned why the universe revolves around the Earth."
- Molly the Keeper is the first character to become aware that Earth is always "the eye of the storm of Crises" and "everything seem to be shaped around Earth 0". This foreshadows the events of Doomsday Clock #12, in which Doctor Manhattan reveals that Earth 0 is actually a sentient reality– known as Metaverse– whose changes reshape each iteration of the Multiverse.
"If there is a God, a Creator, then there has to be an opposite, a balance. A Devil. Something destructive enough to tear down whatever God has created."
- The Keeper mentions "a dark force" that "wants to destroy" God's Creation. This is a reference to the existence of the Great Darkness, the embodiment of the evil and the opposite of The Light/God– two aspects of the The Source of all Existence.
- The Darkness has has been dormant since the First Crisis, which explains why Batman seems to know nothing about it.
- Years later, it will be revealed that the Great Darkness, like Perpetua, has influenced every major super-villain into causing their Crisis.
- Molly's words foreshadow the return of the Great Darkness and the events of Dark Crisis.
- Before being taken away by the A.R.G.U.S., Molly mentions that "the darkness has come", which foreshadows both the arrival of the Darkness entity from a possible future of Earth 0 and the incoming Barbatos' invasion.
- Mera is miscolored as blond on the cover.
Trivia
- While speaking with Batman, Molly the Keeper states that "we're all puppets but some of us can see the strings". These words are reminiscent of Doctor Manhattan's iconic quote, "We're all puppets, Laurie. I'm just a puppet who can see the strings." from Watchmen #9.
- Batman states that he does not believe in God and does not believe in the ones he has met.
- However, time will prove him wrong, as he will "met" God in Justice League (Volume 4) #45.
- Many years after this story, Batman himself will also claim to firmly believe in God.[1]
See Also
Links and References
Look at how sad this is making Batman. You did this.
