Fans knew it was possible, but they never thought the day would truly come when DC’s greatest heroes united across time, faced down the greatest evil the DC Universe has ever know… and lost. But that’s exactly what has transpired in the pages of DC’s Justice League, leaving all to wonder: what comes next?

The shocking defeat came in Justice League #34, after the previous issues saw the team slit up to recruit help from across time and space. That meant calling upon three different incarnations of Starman, the Justice Society of the past, the Justice League Unlimited of the future, and even the Kingdom Come Superman himself. But it wasn’t truly Perpetua, malicious architect of the DC Multiverse who defeated the heroes. It wasn’t Lex Luthor, her faithful servant, either. No, to fulfill this plan Lex Luthor posed the question to humanity as a whole: would they side with the heroes out of hope, or side with his Legion of Doom, knowing the pain he would inflict if he turned out to be victorious? And people made their voices heard.

Even though this approaching Doom War leads into DC’s next grand story, and Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen before it, the impact of this defeat is sure to linger. After all, the hearts of humanity tipping in the favor of doom isn’t the kind of thing heroes can exactly forget, or bounce back from. Which is exactly why DC’s official preview of Justice League #35 finds them absolutely defeated. Both physically, and emotionally. The publisher is referring to this defeat, and this issue immediately following, as “an important turning point for the Year of the Villain,” and it’s easy to see why. So, will this defeat be the one that sparks a desperate hope, or the one that breaks the heroes forever? Read on for the preview pages below, and find out when Justice League #35 arrives.

  • Justice League #35 Written by: Scott Snyder & James Tynion IV Art by: Francis Manapul Color by: Manapul & Hi-Fi Cover by: Rafael Albuquerque Variant Cover by: Tyler Kirkham & Sabine Rich It’s called the “Year of the Villain” for a reason— in this issue, Lex Luthor wins! Everything Lex has been working for over the past year and a half comes to fruition as he finally possesses the fully powered Totality and plans to bend Hypertime to his will. The Legion of Doom’s leader will defeat the Justice League once and for all and make his final pitch to serve at Perpetua’s side-and the Multiverse will never be the same! Francis Manapul returns to Justice League for a key issue on the path to Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen—and beyond!

Justice League #35 will be available at your local comic book shop on November 6th, 2019.

MORE: Scott Snyder’s Justice League Run Ends in January 2020