Another issue, another book that leaves me feeling that something is missing. Maybe that’s a bad explanation. I’m still not sure if Daniel H. Wilson’s story is at fault here, or if it is being parsed and broken apart by editorial influence. Whether it is an issue count that this story needs to reach, or there is someone out there who thinks this insanely fractured plot is somehow understandable.
The artwork is still being produced by the Barrows et al. team, with different artists taking separate storylines. With a weekly book I’m coming to learn that there is more of the same-old-same-old. The problems that have existed since issue #2 will probably continue throughout the entire run. It’s a bit unfair to both the creative team and the consumers. The artists and writers do not have the time to build a complete storyline that feels fleshed out and developed. In return, the consumers are short-changed by anticipating a certain standard of quality that is not paid back in dividends when the book is published.
London:
Flash, Hawkgirl, and Doctor Fate are battling Famine, when both sides suffer major injury. I’m not quite sure how Famine’s powers work, but this fight is pretty much a stalemate.
Atlantis:
Aquawoman is summoning some sort of doomsday creature (pun maybe intended? I’m not sure) from the depths of the ocean. She says something along the lines of allowing the beast to roam once the world is destroyed, which is never a pleasant thing to hear.
Geneva Fire Pit:
By far the weakest part of this issue, and really the series as a whole. Our Wonder squad of Batman, Zod, Red Tornado Lois, and Powergirl are searching for Desaad and Huntress when they come across the Superman clones that were featured at the end of last issue. Somehow, Apokolips has their hands on Clark DNA and are working to recreate him. Then there’s a very poorly-written and uncharacteristic scene between Batman, Kara, and Val that felt thrown in there to add more tension. First off, there was very little tension to start with, considering that these four have been wandering around some underground facility the last two issues. Next, tension for the sake of tension is entirely useless. It feels like an editorial error where a bunch of nonsense was just thrown together.
China:
Green Lantern and Grundy, my favorite pairing of anyone in this series so far, are traveling over China to meet up with the other members of the Parliament. There’s a reveal that I believe will shape Alan’s war against those who endanger the Earth. It was both surprising and completely expected, but this is still my top section.
Chicago:
The Graysons are trying to keep order in the refugee camp in Chicago when a new player joins the fray.
Amazonia:
The World’s Army starts suffering some adverse effects from the Furies, and Mr. Miracle decides to start the fight against Apokolips earlier than expected. Although it takes up more space than most other issues, nothing concrete really happens that I can understand, and that might be my fault.
- So Famine can like, infect people?
- Jimmy Olsen “dying” might be him becoming Doctor Fate?
- I deeply dislike Sam being the avatar of The White. Alan’s entire motivation is Sam’s death. Why can’t anyone just stay dead nowadays?
- Thomas pulls out kryptonite that he was just keeping, where? Then he shoves Kara and Val melts his Miraclo with heat vision. It’s just a broken scene that feels forced.
- Ted Grant! Fans of Wildcat get to see the Earth 2 version in Chicago helping the Graysons.
Recommended If…
- You’ve been following the story so far.
- You like the Green Lantern/Grundy team-up. (It’s the best part of the book so far)
- You don’t mind if things get weird.
Overall:
At its best, this issue is jumbled mix of team-ups. At its worst, it’s a near-incomprehensible book that reads like someone grabs chunks of different issues and threw them together. While I’d like to place the majority of the blame on editors, inconsistent and unreliable writing has continued to bring this series down.
SCORE: 4/10
