All Cards on the table.
We come to the penultimate chapter of what has been one of the most interesting cross country trips of all time as the Rogues return to Central City.
Out-numbered, out-smarted and divided, the Rogues have been through a lot during the hell that has been Forever Evil.
But what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
Buccellato is a true successor of Johns as he channels the Rogues spirit of 'All for one, and one for all' very well. He breaks it down and then builds it up again.
Hepburn's art is still a little cartoony but it fits what is a very violent book.
SPOILERS FOLLOW........
Ever since Cold left and Mirror Master was appointed 'team leader', Sam Scudder aka MM has been running through hoops. They lost Heatwave in Gotham and now, the Royal Flush Gang have a comatose Lisa Snart aka Glider in their grasp.
As Sam gives up and decides to surrender, resistance comes from the Weather Wizard and Trickster. They escape but Mirror Master berates Wizard, leading to his leaving the group.
Trickster stays back and we get a nice interaction between him and Sam. He's the child of the group and always looks to someone else for guidance. But that also creates a loyalty that sticks.
After some thought, Mirror Master comes up with a plan. All 4 of them (excepting Cold) appear to surrender to Ace, leader of the Royal Flush Gang. But it's a diversion, as Sam and Trickster arrive with a truck which has a reflector on it's front.
Sam manages to take out many of the Gang while Trickster brings Lisa out, handing her over to the Central City PD and Piper.
A full on confrontation ensures but the stakes are upped when Johny Quick and Atomica enter the fray. The two take down the remaining Rogues and reminiscence about their Earth 3 counterparts.
There is a brutal head bursting of a cop here,courtesy Atomica and some severed fingers (implied) when Johny disarms the cops. But before they can move against the Rogues, they are struck by lightning.
Weather Wizard has returned! Creating a blizzard and hurricane combo, he manages to send Atomica in retreat and bring the speedster to a stop. Ace decides to intervene and shoots Wizard in the head.
This stops the blizzard but Ace earns Johny Quick's wrath. In a frightful visual, Quick eviscerates Ace, until he is just a blur of blood.
Grid forcibly teleports the two to the Snydicate base (see why in Forever Evil #5) and instead, brings in some big guns........
Yes, Grodd and Amazo are there as well.
How worse can it get?
SPOILERS END................
Some nice characterization with a humorous undertone, Buccellato manages to create a perfect Rogues book.
Hepburn's art balances the violent content very well and while his face work could improve, he generates some nice visuals, not least from the Weather Wizard, who has been the action star of this tie-in.
The next issue is the final one, so we can expect a bittersweet but awesome ending to this trip.
So, I give it 8.5 out of 10
+Some nice character touches
+Scott's art balances the gritty atmosphere very well
+Weather Wizard gets some strong visuals
-Pacing is a little hurried
No comments:
Post a Comment