The end is nigh, and I’m not just talking about the approaching final issue of “Justice League: Generation Lost.” With eight issues left, Judd Winick’s starting to push the comic into high gear. The team’s reunited (save for one kidnapped member), we finally figure out where Maxwell Lord is hiding, and another member of the old Justice League International makes an appearance.

Normally this would be the cue for a reviewer to say, “Why wasn’t it always like this?” but that’s actually not the case. Sure, things are a little speedier this issue, but I’ve appreciated that Winick’s always kept the plot moving forward, and with some nice twists and turns throughout the series. It’s just that now, things are getting a bit crazier.

It’s nice to see that some of the early questions about certain groups and organizations are getting answered here, even as we’re starting to see them get dismantled. Still, the idea of everyone connected to Maxwell Lord’s plans getting away scott free seemed a bit too good to be true, so it’s not that surprising that people are starting to fall. And when the surprise character shows up at the end of the issue, well, it’s one of the best sequences of the book. I like that Winick’s got a clear idea of just how powerful said character is, and uses those abilities to great dramatic effect for the reader.

Joe Bennett’s pencils look nice this issue, definitely one of his better contributions to the series. From Captain Atom’s “I’ve been hit by a truck and now things are getting worse” expression at the end of the issue, to the flashback for Jaime Reyes as a child, Bennett brings the energy and emotion of each scene to life. I especially love the Kirby-tech holding Blue Beetle down on the second page of the issue; Bennett meshes it well with the Blue Beetle outfit, and it looks complicated and crazy and cool all in one.

“Justice League: Generation Lost” is dependably fun, and this issue is no exception. From what initially looked a bit skippable to a must read every other week is no mean feat. If Winick and company end up working on a new JLI-type series once this is over, I’m on board. This is some good stuff.