Review by Ian Keogh

While the Justice League has been headquartered in both an orbiting satellite and a moonbase, their activities have since the 1960s largely taken place on Earth, with, perhaps the occasional trip to Apokalips to deal with Darkseid. Before then, though, they were regularly troubled by alien menaces and visited their homeworlds, and while Galaxy of Terrors isn’t a return to 1960s simplicity it’s refreshing for returning the Justice League to the wider galaxy over two stories.

Si Spurrier and Aaron Lopresti kick off with an investigation of a society where on puberty every inhabitant is drawn to one of two contrasting ways of life. In some ways it’s a throwback to the confused Justice League of the early 1970s, wanting to do the right thing, but in over their heads in having to make existential decisions about a divided culture they barely understand. Spurrier exploits that confusion well using what most would consider the five core Justice Leaguers, themselves with different attitudes concerning what’s advisable and all fallible. It’s against the background of a forthcoming threat, and Spurrier throws in some great ideas in passing, such as contrasting what the League are doing with an Amazonian parable.

Lopresti’s clean art has graced DC superhero titles for decades, so there’s nothing he can be told about storytelling and characterisation. Taking that for granted, then, what impresses are his designs for assorted aliens from the bipedal humanoids to the really alien.

Some elements are predictable, but Spurrier packs so many ideas into three chapters that there’s always something to usurp convention. It’s a joy.

Jeff Loveness and Robson Rocha’s following two chapters aren’t as appealing. Loveness has the same Justice League team encounter a horror that previously incapacitated Superman, but in a different form. Instead of beguiling victims with an idealised version of their life it instead creates nightmares. It lacks the complexity of Spurrier’s work and the creativity, taking the obvious route by concentrating on Batman and some unconvincing psychology, and it’s overwritten.

Given a morphing plant as the primary opponent doesn’t give Rocha a great opportunity to shine, but during other scenes he concentrates on figures and lets the colour fill the backgrounds, which isn’t greatly atmospheric.

If you come across Galaxy of Terrors discounted then it’s worth having for Spurrier and Lopresti’s work, but don’t expect much from the remainder.