The Justice League is rapidly headed for a rematch against the supervillain Leviathan and the criminal mastermind is quickly recruiting a team of familiar foes to help him even the odds against the DC Universe's mightiest heroes.

After the former Manhunter Mark Shaw first broke bad during writer Brian Michael Bendis' Superman run and created the Leviathan supervillain persona, he is back to menace the entire Justice League in Bendis' final Justice League story arc. Leviathan has helped the Royal Flush Gang become a much more ambitious group of supervillains, with the team stealing the entire Fortress of Solitude rather than sticking with their usual set of smash-and-grab heists.

In a preview for Justice League #70, the origins of Leviathan's partnership with the Royal Flush Gang is revealed, with the issue's main story being written by Bendis, penciled by Phil Hester, inked by Eric Gapstur, colored by Romulo Fajardo Jr. and lettered by Josh Reed. The standard cover is illustrated by Yanick Paquette and the variant cover is illustrated by Alexander Lozano.

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JUSTICE LEAGUE #70

  • Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS and RAM V
  • Art by PHIL HESTER and SUMIT KUMAR
  • Cover by YANICK PAQUETTE
  • Variant cover by ALEXANDER LOZANO
  • $4.99 US | 40 PGS | $5.99 US Variant (Card stock)
  • ON SALE 12/28/2021
  • Place your bets, folks! The Royal Flush Gang is BACK and ready to take down the Justice League! Find out their connection to Deathstroke and their growing plot to destroy Green Arrow and Batman. Meanwhile, a villain from the Dark Multiverse has returned and he’s about to turn the Justice League Dark’s world upside down! Could this be the end of their team AND Atlantis?

Shaw decided to become Leviathan after he grew increasingly frustrated with his perception that the DCU's various intelligence agencies had grown ineffective in keeping the world safe. Determined to take matters into his own hands, Shaw created the Leviathan persona and systemically dismantled the covert organizations around the DCU while rallying villains to join his cause in reshaping the world.

Leviathan confronted Superman and the rest of the DCU's greatest heroes in the streets of Metropolis after he grew annoyed that the Man of Steel constantly thwarted his best-laid plans, resulting in an epic showdown. Since this explosive battle, Leviathan has returned to his base of operations on Leviathan Island where he continues to plot against both the Justice League and reborn Checkmate, with the two shadow organizations fighting for the fate of the DCU while Leviathan continues to view Superman as an especially personal opponent.

Written by Brian Michael Bendis and Ram V and illustrated by Phil Hester and Sumit Kumar, Justice League #70 goes on sale Dec. 28 from DC Comics.

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