“Justice League Dream Girls #4” Review – Full of Love and Pride

Just in case you missed it, last week’s issue ended with a stellar punch to the gut. Just as Galaxy learned the lesson from Coagula that she doesn’t need to be the perfect trans person, she was confronted with the fact that Dreamer had been led astray by The Key. Will the duo be able to break free from his grasp in the Dream Dimension? Furthermore, will the Justice League learn to see them as heroes despite the flaws and mistakes? Well, go pick up the issue and join me as we venture through “Justice League Dream Girls #4!”

Writers: Jadzia Axelrod, Nicole Maines
Artists: Brandt & Stein, Rosi Kämpe
Colorists: Tríona Farrell, Dearbhla Kelly
“Heroes: Just For One Day” Writer/Artist: Klaus Janson

The Writing

As far as finales go, this one is an all-time favorite for me personally. Throughout the entire run, I felt myself go through just about every emotion one can think of. I’d find myself laughing one moment and crying the next as I’m taught or reminded a lesson. That most certainly didn’t change here! The whole way through, Axelrod and Maines send readers on a rollercoaster, making you question if our heroes will make it out.

One of the things I loved about this issue specifically was how the two icons took everything from the previous issues and wrapped it up in a neat bow. Everything feels like it has purpose and that’s not exemplified any better than how Galaxy uses the lesson taught to her and the conclusion Dreamer ultimately comes to for herself. While I won’t say what that entails or how, it does have me very excited for DC’s mainline books going forward!

Second, as with previous issues, there’s a strong message that Axelrod and Maines wanted us to walk away with. The message here is… really sort of a combination of all of it. Whether we like it or not, life is chock full of grey areas and giving up during it is never the answer. Even when we feel like we’re letting people down, those people still need us. In other words, just because we feel that way, it isn’t an excuse to give up, especially because everybody makes mistakes. As trans people, we aren’t beholden to being perfect because that weight is impossible for anyone to have on their shoulders.

With all of that being said, I feel like now is the perfect time to talk about the villain. In this run, it turns out that the villain the whole time was The Key. In this instance, The Key served as a perfect stand-in for two parties: those who oppress us and those who use us, otherwise known as chasers. The way his character was written filled me with so much rage, not because of how he was written, but because of how much I relate. The fact a villain can make me feel that visceral is a testament to how amazing this writing is.

The Art

As with the previous issues, the artists and colorists absolutely knocked it out of the park! Brandt, Stein and Kämpe truly put their full skills to the test, creating this amazing landscape for the Dream Dimension. As a reader, I felt like I had been completely transported to another space. The depth of space was excellent as was the attention to small details, like books and cracks in the floor. I also love how they represented the powers of both Dreamer and Galaxy, such as panels falling apart or the floor being turned into something like water.

Rounding out the stellar outing are the colors from Farell and Kelly! As is always the case with these two, the color work is phenomenal! Everything either contrasts or compliments each other brilliantly. The best example is in one of my favorite shots, where Galaxy’s using her power to lift rocks and concrete. Surrounding her is this gorgeous blend of the trans pride colors, being blue, pink and white. They’re brought together to create this badass aura effect that almost seems to be emanating from Galaxy.

“Heroes: Just For One Day”

Unlike the previous issues where we got mini stories focusing on some of DC’s other queer characters, this time we got an autobiography from the legend Klaus Janson. If you don’t know him by name, you most certainly know his work with Frank Miller on “Daredevil” and “The Dark Knight Returns!” Whether you’re queer or you’re not, I believe you’ll appreciate what he did here. For those who are straight and cisgendered, I hope this story is able to give you a good look at the hate we experience on a daily basis.

When it comes to this story, I particularly love that Janson didn’t shy away from anything. The strong language and slurs used against us are on full display here. So much so that DC gave a warning right at the beginning in order to deter anyone who may be negatively affected. That being said, his story didn’t solely focus on the hate.

As we grow used to it, the hate slowly fades into the background as we learn that our joy is more important. This was represented beautifully in multiple ways. One way is through the use of color, or lack thereof. Where the rest of the world surrounding him is black & white. He chose to use color on the one thing that brings him happiness and belonging: superhero comics. This is also shown in the writing, as the hate and slurs start to become nothing more than passing lines. The focus becomes his strive for finding the thing that keeps him going. Janson’s a masterful writer and I would happily read even more of his life story.

Final Thoughts

From the first issue to the last, Jadzia Axelrod and Nicole Maines crafted something truly profound with lasting impact. It taught history to the masses while delivering messages that all queer people need to remember. This is a run that comes around once in a lifetime and, as a trans woman that can relate, I’m so happy I got to experience history in the making.

Overall Grade: 10/10

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Comments

Have you been reading “Justice League Dream Girls?” What are your thoughts? Let me know in the comments below!