Forever Evil #2 Review

As the Crime Syndicate starts to take over the Earth, rebellion brews in various corners.


This was a good installment in as much as it furthered the plot and gave some great character development to the members of the Syndicate.

What it didn't do was handle the Teen Titans very well. Given that Johns have a great run on the Titans, he should have done more than just set up another arc, which is at the mercy of Lobdell ('shudder').

But I digress. As usual, Johns proves how capable he is of giving different shades to different characters. The artwork is adequate for this event, managing to maintain the gritty atmosphere. Through I do wish Finch drew the faces a little better.

And the revelations, oh the revelations! I can safely say now that Forever Evil may become one of the best DC events ever if they can keep up this level.

This is a must buy for anyone following DC and fans of the Syndicate and Lex Luthor. Titans fans should really not be misled by the cover, as the battle takes place for only 2-3 pages and is absolutely mind-numbing at best.

SPOILERS follow....................................

Where to start? Where to start?

Okay, maybe with Lex, our champion of this event. He has reached the lab where subject B-Zero is being kept (for more insight, read Bizarro #1 and Lex Luthor #1 of Villains Month) in the company of the bumbling security guard Otis (yes, the namesake of the bumbling henchman form the earlier Superman movies). While I'm not totally taken by this incarnation of Bizarro, I do like the Frankenstein's Monster vibe he's giving of.

Oh yeah, he kills Otis as Lex's first command (or maybe he didn't like being shot at). We see Lex leaving in his armor along with Bizarro, who's wearing the Superman shirt inside out.

Also, we meet up with the Crime Syndicate. Already trouble is brewing as Johny Quick is at loggerheads with Owlman's and Ultraman's plan of action. His psychotic impulses really make him the wild card of this group. We also get a glimpse at the Deathstorm - Power Ring bromance.The hooded stranger is again shown and we get more mysterious mumblings about what destroyed Earth 3.

As Johny leaves with Atomica to face the rebellion, we get a shocking news - Superwoman is pregnant with Owlman's child. Johns really hits us with a normally beautiful moment but with two 'villains'.

Now come my gripes. Johny and Atomica face off against the Titans and uses Kid Flash's natural vibrational frequency, sending them to the speedster's time (the future). I had a lot of problems with this. Lobdell has really destroyed Tim's reputation as a thinker and Johns does the same here. Only the Titans? And even then, such pushovers? What was Raven doing? Where were the other heroes? Is Tim stupid enough to not consult and mount an attack with the remaining heroes against the people who 'killed' the League?

And this is magnified by the exact same conversation happening between Tim and Conner.

Oh yeah, the final page. T.O. Morrow (who is still the good guy here. Makes me wonder why Red Tornado is on Earth 2) and Silas Stone, Cyborg's dad scientist, are trying to barricade the Red Room.

Just then, the doors blow open and in steps two battered heroes with a dying one.

Yes, it's Batman. I love the guy, but really?

Anyway, he comes back with Selina and Victor's limp body, saying that rest of them didn't make it.

  

This was an entertaining book, I have to give Johns credit for that. The art was suited for this event and the story, excepting the Teen Titans part, was very good.

If you love DC, this event book is for you.

So, I give it 8.5 out of 10.

+The character development for the Syndicate
+The gritty artwork is suitable for this event
+The reveals are brilliantly done.

-Teen Titans, especially Tim, mishandled once again.