When the "Amazo" arc is said and done, Justice League #38 will be remembered for one thing and one thing only -- as that time Batman got superpowers. And they are bat powers, no less!
Yes, Batman has gone blind as the result of his exposure to the deadly Amazo virus, but now has the powers of a superbat, including echo-location and super-sonic sound waves. Humans infected with the Amazo virus go through three different stages of illness. The first is flu-like sickness. The second, and most important one, is they get seemingly random superpowers. Batman hypothesizes these powers may not be random at all but affected by the subconscious of the infected. Regardless, his new powers come in handy for taking out the mutated "Patient Zero", whose blood may be the key in finding a cure for the virus.
Oh, and the third stage of the illness is total organ failure (or death, in other words.) Superman and Wonder Woman wisk Batman off to Lex Luthor along with the blood of Patient Zero, hoping Lex will be able to save their friend.
We've known Lex has been keeping secrets about the true purpose and origins of the virus, and he at least partially reveals some new information here. After telling Superman that Patient Zero's blood won't help Batman or rest of the infected Justice League, Lex reveals that he originally exposed Superman to the virus four years ago, developing it as a means to strip the Man of Steel of his powers. It didn't work. That leads Lex to believe Superman's antibodies may be the key to the cure. Lex agrees to help find the cure, so long as Superman promises that the Justice League won't press any kind of criminal charges against him for creating the virus after all is said and done.
Understandably, Superman is pretty upset that Lex could have been using his blood all this time to save the billions of people infected by the virus. But before they can work on a cure Batman, Patient Zero and the rest of the infected Justice League throw Lex, Superman and Wonder Woman through a wall, and they don't look too friendly. It seems the virus has some sort of "hive mind," with all the infected victims describing themselves as "us" and as a different species.
Last but not least, Captain Cold gets a moment in the spotlight this issue when he saves Luthor from yet another assassination attempt. Turns out Cold's paycheck as Lex's chief of security is at least somewhat justified.
Writer Geoff Johns does solid work in this issue, particularly in giving readers yet another small glimpse into Luthor's mindset. The Justice League knows Luthor isn't everything he appears, but until now it has been difficult to say exactly what. Every conversation between Lex and his sister Lena gives us a little more insight into Lex's mind. Slowly but surely the cracks in Lex's armor are starting to appear.
Next issue is shaping up to be a battle royale between Lex, Superman and Wonder Woman against the zombified Justice League, captured in all their grave-walking glory by artist Jason Fabok. If this issue is any indication, it's going to be a fight you won't want to miss.
Story
★★★★☆
Art
★★★★☆
Overall
★★★★☆
