It’s not over.
Brian Buccellato has hit his stride with this Year, as the
main arc is proving solid and engaging in all respects, but the secondary plots
have become a thorn in his side.
The artwork, this time handled by Bruno Redondo, is solid
with a few exceptions but he gets the facial expressions perfectly, lending
some good visual momentum to the book.
SPOILERS FOLLOW…………….
Like most people in the Resistance, Kate Kane and Barbara
Gordon have had their fair share of loses.
While Kate lost Helena (Huntress) and Renee Montoya in very
quick succession, Bab’s has had a steady spiral losing her love (Dick Grayson),
followed by her father (Jim Gordon) and finally most of the allies she’s worked
with for so many years as Batgirl and Oracle.
Being a stationary yet valuable asset in this battle has
lost its sheen, and Barbara decides to take back one of her losses – her legs.
Through Lex’s technical expertise and the super pills, she
is able to walk again but with the rider of instability. And that’s a costly
rider in this world of death.
Severely depleted, Batman organizes his small task force
comprising of Batwoman, Catwoman and Harley Quinn (who has tied up a gagged and
unconscious Billy Batson in the late Oliver Quinn’s Arrowcave, henceforth named
Quiver) with Katanna and Black Lightning MIA for some reason, and Arthur aka
Aquaman unwilling to fight Superman.
Bruce reluctantly allows a now walking Batgirl to join the
group.
Back at the Hall of Justice, the Amazons led by Artemis and Hermes
arrive to confront Superman – asking him to leave the planet.
Inside, Damian Wayne works off some rage issues by
destroying a dummy and then berates both Barry Allen and Victor Stone for
trying to ‘mentor’ him despite having family issues of their own. Barry though
has the last laugh in that battle.
Going outside, they are greeted by an army – whom Wonder
Woman confronts Artemis for launching a battle against the League.
In a flashback at Themyscira, home of the Amazons, we see
Hera force Hippolypta to grant her access to the Amazonian armada in exchange
for ‘curing’ Diana last year – and then kills the Queen when she says that she
individually would not lead her sisters to battle.
We also learn from their conversation that Zeus fathered
Diana – and Hera has borne a grudge towards mother and daughter ever since.
Most likely, Hippolypta is now Olympus bound,
so expect her to continue playing a part in this War.
Superman tries to settle the matter verbally, but is denied.
With things getting heated up, Batman and his group enter the playing field –
with Bruce saying it’s not over no matter what Superman thinks.
Barbara Gordon’s injury is an anomaly in a world where death
is just a revolving door and major injuries get healed within pages of an
issue. But it has brought some great moments for the character, as we’ve seen
her be as, if not more, mentally competent than she was just physically.
But this is a time of emergencies – which means drastic
measures.
The B-plots though are something I’m still not warming up
to. Harley’s infatuation with Shazam just feels tacked on while Damian has had
none of the complex characterization he got under Grant Morrison – instead he
feels like a walking stereotype of a bad son.
Diana thankfully has grown in strength this Year. We see her
acting as the reason of Superman’s army and can see it in Superman as well in
his far more measured handling of situations like Renee’s attack or the
Amazons’ call for war. Hopefully, that continues to be the trend this Year.
SPOILERS END……………..
A solid issue though weighed down by B-plots that don’t work
all that well. And the conspicuous absence of some vital characters without
explanation feels a little tacky.
The League vs Gods theme though is proving interesting in
that it gives Diana some proper material to work with. Of the trinity, she has
been given the least coverage and hopefully this Year will do just that for
her.
So, I’ll give it 7.5 out of 10.
+Wonder Woman gets some nice material
+Solid artwork
-B-plots not engaging enough
-Pacing is all over the place
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