DC Universe: Last Will and Testament #1

August 30, 2008

Quick Rating: Very Good
Title: Conversions

What would you do the night before the end of the world?

Writer: Brad Meltzer
Pencils: Adam Kubert
Inks: John Dell & Joe Kubert
Colors: Alex Sinclair
Letters: Rob Leigh
Editors: Eddie Berganza & Dan Didio
Cover Art: Adam Kubert, Joe Kubert & Nei Rufino (Cover A); Adam Kubert, John Dell & Laura Martin (Cover B)
Publisher: DC Comics

Since Brad Meltzer is the one who started the DC Universe in its current direction way back in Identity Crisis, it’s only fitting that he come back to make his case as line reaches the end of that road with Final Crisis. It’s the night before the last battle, the night before the heroes of the DC Universe expect the world to end, and everyone is preparing in their own way. What they do, who they choose to be with, how they spend their final night… these are the choices who make the characters who they are.

Much of the book is made up of short vignettes. Powerful father-son moments with Clark and Jonathan Kent and Batman and his two true sons, sister moments with Wonder Woman and Wonder Girl, and tender moments between husbands and wives are plentiful, and are to be expected. There are unexpected moments, too. A villain almost chooses to be a hero, a hero almost chooses to be a villain. Those heroes who seek spiritual guidance find it in a surprising but highly satisfying place. One hero spends the night pining for a lost love, while others spend it with their soul mates.

The core of the book, however, is Geo-Force. In his Justice League of America run, Meltzer established Geo-Force’s drive to get revenge against Deathstroke for the death of his sister. On his last night on Earth, he chooses to make good on that vow. Even at the height of the Outsiders’ popularity, Geo-Force has never been more than a B-list hero, but this issue he’s a B-lister who steps up and delivers a powerful, emotional punch that even the top heroes in the DC Universe would have trouble matching.

Adam Kubert’s pencils are good as well, and John Dell’s inks compliment them very well. The real shocker on this book, however, comes in when several of the pages (as well as the variant over) are inked by the legendary Joe Kubert. His pages have a wonderfully classic look to them, as though they fell right out of the war comics of the silver age… and for a book like this one, a war story look feels wonderfully appropriate.

It’s not entirely clear why this isn’t specifically labeled as a Final Crisis crossover. Although they don’t specifically refer to the events of that book, the thumbprint of the series is obvious. I can only think of two real reasons the book is marketed the way it was. First off, there’s a clear effort in the company to make DC Universe a brand in and of itself (as evidenced by the zero issue from a few months ago, the several reprint specials we’ve seen, and the upcoming Decisions miniseries). Second, although the book clearly deals with the Crisis, you don’t really need any knowledge of that larger crossover to understand, appreciate, and get absorbed by this wonderfully emotional story. It’s part of something larger – something that goes back to Identity Crisis itself – but it stands on its own. And it’s well worth the read.

Rating: 8/10

Identity Crisis #4

September 17, 2004

Quick Rating: Very Good
Title: Very Good

Sue Dibney… Jean Loring… who’s next?

Writer: Brad Meltzer
Pencils: Rags Morales
Inks: Michael Bair
Colors: Alex Sinclair
Letters: Kenny Lopez
Editor: Mike Carlin
Cover Art: Michael Turner
Publisher: DC Comics

This issue of Identity Crisis gives us a little bit of downtime. It’s mostly a building issue, centered on the least exciting but most important part of any mystery – gathering the clues and examining the suspects. Atom stumbles onto the scene of the latest attack, on his ex-wife Jean Loring. With the realization that the murder of Sue Dibney wasn’t an isolated incident, the heroes go into overdrive to trace down the clues and find the killer before he… or she… or they… strike again.

Although Green Arrow remains our viewpoint character for much of this issue, as he usually has in this series, we get to spend more time with the rest of our cast. Superman and Batman each get more “screentime,” Green Arrow pays a visit to an old friend, and we get more about the strange home life of Captain Boomerang. That’s probably the most telling scene in the issue – you’d have to be a dunce not to expect Boomerang to become vitally important by the time this series ends, because there’s simply no other explanation for spending so much time on him.

Perhaps the most effective scene is a simple interrogation where Ollie and Wonder Woman pay a visit to a b-list villain who may have answers. What makes it so effective, though, is that Diana is never fully seen in the issue – just bits and pieces of her. It makes her more imposing, more threatening, and that’s what she needs to be here.

Whether that’s a writer’s decision or an artistic choice I don’t know, but either way it works big time, as does the rest of Rags Morales’s art. My only real complaint earlier is Morales’s portrayal of Superman. It’s still uneven, but some scenes are quite good.

I suspect, as relatively quiet as this issue is, it will probe to be the most important to unraveling the secret of this mystery. The story goes everywhere and a real ton of information is imparted – plus it sheds light on many, many members of our cast. And the kicker is the last page, another shocker which may not be as immediate as the last few issues, but nevertheless sends the stakes much, much higher.

At seven issues, this issue marks the halfway point of this crossover. And I’m already prepared to call it the best crossover DC has done since the original Crisis on Infinite Earths.

Rating: 8/10

Final Crisis #1

May 30, 2008

Quick Rating: Very Good
Title: DOA: The God of War!

As the New Gods begin their evolution, a hero falls.

Writer: Grant Morrison
Art: J.G. Jones
Colors: Alex Sinclair
Letters: Rob Leigh
Editor: Eddie Berganza
Cover Art: J.G. Jones
Publisher: DC Comics

The culmination of four years of storylines begins here. With the “last” New God, Orion, falling to Earth, the Justice League assembles quickly, and the Green Lantern Corps even quicker. The Monitors, meanwhile, prosecute one of their own, and Libra’s attempts to restore the Society of Super-Villains exacts a terrible price on the heroes of the world.

Although this first issue is pretty slowly paced, there’s still an enormous amount of story in here. We’ve already seen the deaths of the New Gods, and here, we begin to see their inevitable rebirth. The forms these characters are taking are intriguing, as is the newfound reverence they seem to be commanding. The involvement of the Alpha Lanterns is interesting as well, and helps to demonstrate the true scale of what’s happening. As for the much-ballyhooed murder that takes place in this issue, Morrison’s handling of the situation was very unique, and actually makes for a very different take. Some people were upset that there was no monster “death” scene, but really, how many ways are there to do it that we haven’t already seen? Libra, meanwhile, is still something of a cipher. There’s not quite enough here yet to be invested in the character as more than a stock mastermind villain, but there’s definitely the promise of a secret that will elevate him past that simple point.

This title is being touted as the last chapter of two different trilogies: a cosmic one (begun in Crisis on Infinite Earths and followed through to Infinite Crisis) and a thematic one (begun in Identity Crisis and also flowing through Infinite Crisis). Reading this book, it’s easy to see how it fits in with either tapestry. There are clear implications for the Multiverse here, for a story that will impact all 52 Earths. I’m confident that this story won’t be yet another restructuring of the Multiverse, but it does feel like it will be a redefinition of the concept. Furthermore, by launching the book with a murder mystery, a “crime against one of our own,” the tale has the flavor of Identity Crisis, but applied to a cosmic scale. It’s easy to see the flow-through that began in that book four years ago (that long already?) that took the DCU to this point.

J.G. Jones and colorist Alex Sinclair do fine work here, and I expected nothing less. The Alpha Lanterns two-page spread (actually, all of the Green Lantern stuff) is really good, with colors and energy that just pops off the page. The redesigns for the New Gods work well, and I just love his interpretation of Dan Turpin (one of my favorite old-school Superman supporting characters who hasn’t seen action in far too long).

Although this book didn’t start with a bang, the slow burn we feel here is simmering, into something cool.

Rating: 8/10

JLA Classified #4

February 15, 2005

Quick Rating: Great – But Bittersweet
Title: Withheld for spoiler reasons (I Can’t Believe It’s Not the Justice League Part One)

The Superbuddies are back!

Writers: Keith Giffen & J.M. DeMatteis
Pencils: Kevin Maguire
Inks: Joe Rubinstein
Colors: David Baron
Letters: Bob Lappan
Editor: Steve Wacker & Mike Carlin
Cover Art: Kevin Maguire
Publisher: DC Comics

For all you people who decided to drop this title after Grant Morrison’s three issues were up, you’ve made a terrible mistake. The old Justice League team is back together again, and this issue kicks off another six issues of hilarity. This book begins the sequel to last year’s wildly popular Formerly Known as the Justice League miniseries, and it’s happening not a moment too soon.

This issue mainly catches us up on what our “heroes” have been up to since the miniseries ended: Fire and Mary Marvel have decided to become roommates. Blue Beetle and Booster Gold are both trying out some costume modifications. L-Ron is still insufferable, and Sue Dibney is investigating the Superbuddies’ new neighbor… who looks awfully familiar.

It is the inclusion of Sue that gives this book sort of a bittersweet tang. There’s a brief allusion in the first page to this story taking place in the past, and clearly, the thing is set before the devastating events of Identity Crisis. Reading a story with Sue and Ralph, particularly one with a comedy/plot point such as the one picked by Giffen and Maguire for the two of them, dredges up some of the pain that still lingers from that series. Reading this comic, as a result, is like getting a letter from a loved one who has died. You sit there, reading their words, chuckling at the intent but at the same time slightly anguished because the person who wrote the letter has no idea what’s about to happen to them. You’d think it would be easier to get over that, but perhaps because Identity Crisis is such a recent story, it’s surprisingly difficult.

That’s not to say it ruins the book, though, far from it. The writers are still on the top of their game, the book is hysterical, the artwork is spot-on perfect, and the last page includes a cameo that I know a lot of readers have been waiting for. If you loved the 80s comedic Justice League, if you loved Formerly Known as the Justice League, you will love this book.

Rating: 9/10

The OMAC Project #2

May 22, 2005

Quick Rating: Very Good
Title: There is No I in Team

The truth about Brother comes out – and Max makes his next move.

Writer: Greg Rucka
Art: Jesus Saiz
Colors: Hi-Fi Design
Letters: Phil Balsman
Editor: Joan Hilty
Cover Art: Ladronn
Publisher: DC Comics

This is going to be one of those issues that’s particularly difficult to review, because virtually everything falls under spoiler territory. Here’s what I suppose I can tell you – still reeling from the events of Identity Crisis, we learn in this issue that Batman knew what the Justice League did to his memory much earlier than we suspected. He confronts Superman, Wonder Woman and Booster Gold, but besides this knowledge he knows something else they don’t – that Blue Beetle is dead.

And the reason he knows is because Sasha Bordeaux defied Max Lord and sent him a pair of shattered goggles. This issue, Max grows to suspect a leak in the organization, and takes some drastic measures to deal with it. Meanwhile, the OMAC robots continue their mission of destruction.

Out of the four Infinite Crisis series, this seems to be the one most directly connected to what’s done before, drawing on both Identity Crisis and DC Countdown to create drama, as well as creating cracks between the “big three” heroes of the DCU. People who were unhappy with the focus on Sasha last issue will be more satisfied with this book – the focus shifts more towards the heroes, and when Sasha does show up, we get to learn a bit more about her, including a rather surprising last sequence.

The writing on this issue is top-notch. The artwork, not so much. I’m not really a fan of Jesus Saiz – while the layout and designs are fine, the pages are inked a bit too heavily, and as a result, the book has a very flat look. The artwork is helped considerably by the colors – Hi-Fi manages to generate a lot of depth and clarity that the linework doesn’t lend itself to.

All of the Crisis spinoffs have been enjoyable so far, but this one definitely feels like the most relevant. This issue only intensifies that gut feeling.

Rating: 8/10

Identity Crisis #3

August 13, 2004

Quick Rating: Great
Title: Serial Killer

The Justice League fights Deathstroke – and more answers are found.

Writer: Brad Meltzer
Pencils: Rags Morales
Inks: Michael Bair
Colors: Alex Sinclair
Letters: Kenny Lopez
Editor: Mike Carlin
Cover Art: Michael Turner
Publisher: DC Comics

One of the greatest mysteries ever to hit the DC Universe continues as the members of the satellite-era Justice League try to bring in the man they believe murdered Sue Dibney. But Dr. Light has hired some muscle of his own… Deathstroke.

The fight with Deathstroke is pretty intense, and will most certainly serve as fodder for arena debates for years to come, but that isn’t nearly as great as what comes afterwards. Green Arrow, apparently our viewpoint character for much of this series, explains to the younger heroes the lengths the old guard went to in order to protect their identities and, by proxy, their loved ones… and what made Dr. Light’s case so unique. We also spend a little time with a washed up supervillain and the family and friends of some of our heroes, capping off the book with and ending that left my jaw on the floor.

This issue, while still a fantastic mystery, wasn’t quite flawless – we get another focus on Tim Drake and his father which, like the segment in issue #1, does not fit anywhere in continuity with the current state of the Batman titles. (And before anyone starts espousing that this may be a clue of some sort, Robin writer Bill Willingham has already stated on his website that this is an editorial blunder). The scene is just two pages long, but it’s so starkly different from the “real” timeline it gets distracting to those of us who are following the regular Robin series.

Rags Morales steps up to the plate again with this issue – he does a fantastic fight scene between Deathstroke and the JLA, including some pretty brutal, violent images. This is definitely a grown-up superhero book, not something you’re going to want to show the kiddies… of course, it appeals mostly to long-time fans anyway.

If there’s any flaw in Morales’s artwork, it’s that he honestly doesn’t do a very good Superman. It isn’t terrible, but there’s something off about his face, something very distracting. Fortunately, big blue is just a peripheral character in this series (so far, at least), and it doesn’t distract you for very long.

Minor flaws aside, the impact of each issue of this title builds exponentially. It just gets better and better as the full impact of what we’re reading starts to hit us. As intense as the first issue was, there was much more to the story than met the eye. And it’s not even half over yet.

Rating: 9/10

DC Countdown #1

March 28, 2005

Quick Rating: Incredible
Title: Countdown to Infinite Crisis

Someone has collected information on the greatest heroes in the world – and it’s up to one of the least grandiose to unravel the mystery.

Writers: Geoff Johns, Greg Rucka & Judd Winick
Pencils: Rags Morales, Ed Benes, Jesus Saiz, Ivan Reis & Phil Jimenez
Inks: Michael Bair, Ed Benes, Jimmy Palmiotti, Marc Campos & Andy Lanning
Colors: Moose Baumann, Hi-Fi, Paul Mounts, Guy Major & Steve Firchow
Letters: Nick J. Napolitano
Editor: Dan Didio
Cover Art: Jim Lee & Alex Ross
Publisher: DC Comics

When I reviewed Identity Crisis, particularly the first and last issues of that miniseries, I felt like I’d been kicked in the gut by a mule. The story told in that miniseries was heartbreaking, stomach-wrenching and emotionally exhausting, while still being one of the best stories I’ve read in years.

Reading this special makes the gut feeling from that comic feel like a minor stomach flu.

This issue is all spoiler, and there’s almost nothing I can say without tipping the hand of the writers. Someone has gathered information on DC’s greatest heroes. Who, how and for what purpose is something that I honestly, until I turned that page, never saw coming, but unlike the identity of the Identity Crisis murderer, this one wasn’t really that big a stretch to accept. It almost felt poetic, like this was something that’s been in the works for decades instead of just the last few years.

And after reading this, there can be absolutely no doubt that this title has been meticulously planned out over the last few years. There are threads picked up on this book from titles as disparate as Batman, Superman/Batman, Adam Strange and Birds of Prey, and of course, the entire issue hangs heavily under the spectre of Identity Crisis, but one who hasn’t read those respective series will be able to understand this book without problem. Furthermore, the groundwork is laid very neatly for the four miniseries that will lead into Infinite Crisis – those being The Omac Project, Villains United, Day of Vengeance and The Rann/Thanagar War.

This book has an all-star team of artists doing the work. Each of the pencilers, from Identity Crisis’s Rags Morales on down, is doing top-notch work, and considering that each artist/inker team uses a different colorist, it’s even more incredible how neat and uniform this issue looks.

I’m still in shock. My stomach is in knots as a write this, because while I felt the last page of this issue coming from the very beginning, it still hit me like a Mack truck.

Make no mistake, friends. Identity Crisis was a warm-up.

And this is just the first round.

There’s a hell of a long way to go. And I’m starting to feel that getting there may produce some of the greatest comic book stories I’ve ever read.

Rating: 10/10

Identity Crisis #2

July 16, 2004

Quick Rating: Excellent
Title: House of Lies

The truth about Dr. Light!

Writer: Brad Meltzer
Pencils: Rags Morales
Inks: Michael Bair
Colors: Alex Sinclair
Letters: Kenny Lopez
Editor: Mike Carlin
Cover Art: Michael Turner
Publisher: DC Comics

Review: Let’s review. Last month, Sue Dibney war murdered. Earth’s superhero population was shattered. And as most of the heroes were sent off to chase red herrings while a small core of old Justice League members set off after the real suspect… the two-bit criminal called Dr. Light.

Not all of the current League falls for the ruse, though, and they confront their elder colleagues to get the truth. We find out why Elongated Man is so sure Light is the killer… and the explanation is almost as horrifying as the murder itself.

Meltzer puts this story together perfectly. We not only understand why the JLA is gunning for Light, we applaud it. When we question whether certain members of the team would have gone along with it, he solves the dilemma with something as simple as placing it at just the right period in history. Then he finds a way to again turn everything on its ear, reminding us that it’s just not kosher to completely solve the mystery with five issues to go.

In addition to spot-on use of the heroes in this story, Meltzer delves deeper into the villains this time around. We understand not only why some of them seem so ineffectual, but why some others are much more dangerous than they seem. Identity Crisis will be earth-shattering for the DC Universe, if for no other reason, than because a lot of villains that used to be seen as jokes are now to be taken deadly seriously.

I’m becoming a bigger fan of Rags Morales with each issue. You look at his heroes and they are, simply put, really P.O.ed. Light is crazed… maniacal. He has real acting in the faces he draws. These are heroes, even now, but these are heroes with broken hearts, and Morales gets this message across perfectly.

This is a mystery, but more than that, it’s a story about nightmares. Not just Ralph Dibney’s worst nightmare, but what must be the worst nightmare of anyone who puts on a mask and stand up and fight. I was torn up by the first issue. This one ripped those wounds open again.

It’s fantastic.

Rating: 9/10

Identity Crisis #1

June 9, 2004

Quick Rating: Great
Title: Coffin

A hero dies… and the quest to find a killer begins.

Writer: Brad Meltzer
Pencils: Rags Morales
Inks: Michael Bair
Colors: Alex Sinclair
Letters: Kenny Lopez
Editor: Mike Carlin
Cover Art: Michael Turner & Aspen Studios
Publisher: DC Comics

It’s been a few years now since DC comics has tried a real “event” crossover storyline like this, and considering what a disaster some of the last few were, that’s not a bad thing. But with the first chapter of his second-ever comic book story arc, Brad Meltzer has already outdone nearly every crossover in DC history.

A hero dies in this issue. I’m not about to spoil it, not going to give the first hint as to who it is, but it’s someone whose death understandably shatters the rest of the champions of the DC universe. Following the death is the investigation, and one hero makes a very apt comparison – it’s like if a police officer dies. One of their own. The rest go out of their way to track down the killer.

The death, admittedly, is choreographed fairly early. By the third page it should be quite clear who’s going to die, but Melzter throws in just a minor twist that magnifies the death a hundredfold. The murder itself and the ensuing scenes of the funeral cut through me like a knife and brought me to the verge of tears. This was someone I cared about, and someone whose presence in the DCU will be horribly missed.

Meltzer also uses this miniseries to update some old villains,, putting a particularly ingenious twist on the Calculator that promises to make him a major player in the DC underworld in the future – assuming he survives this miniseries. I get a feeling there is still some blood to be shed.

The editing needs to be a little tighter – there is a scene with Tim Drake that simply doesn’t fit in current continuity – his father knows he is Robin but Tim hasn’t quit. It doesn’t mesh, and that one blip is the only downside to the writing in this issue..

Rags Morales and Michael Bair contribute the artwork for this issue. Following up a great run on Hawkman, it’s said that this is the series that will make Morales a comic book superstar. I can believe it. He gets to draw a vast array of heroes in this issue, including all of the big guns and a lot of the B-listers as well, and he handles them all very well.

This is a powerful comic book and a heck of a mystery. (A suspect is named at the very end, but if there’s anything I’ve learned from years of reading and watching mysteries, it’s that the first suspect is never the real culprit unless he is exonerated very quickly.) The frustrating part about this book is that I’ll be stuck reading it over and over again until issue two comes out looking for clues and trying to find out who really did it.

That is, once the mourning is done.

Rating: 9/10