DCU Comic Book Reviews

The Brave And The Bold #7

Scalpels and Chainsaws

December 2007

Written by Mark Waid

Pencils by George Pérez

Inks by Bob Wiacek

Cover by George Pérez

Synopsis

After Wonder Woman and Power Girl destroy a group of Zombies, Power Girl reveals (while holding the Golden Lasso) that she plans to kill Superman.  Using the lasso, Wonder Woman forces Power Girl to retrace her recent activities, which reveals an encounter with Megistus.  Wonder Woman takes them to the Royal Library in Alexandria, where they find Megistus.  He has the Philosopher’s Stone which he then gives to Power Girl, providing him the ability to take over her body. As Power Girl, Megistus then tracks down Superman with plans to kill him.  Wonder Woman follows and is able to save Superman and free Power Girl.  Wonder Woman then tosses the Philosopher’s Stone into the sun.  Meanwhile, the Challengers of the Unknown read what happened in the Book of Destiny.  They need to investigate further, but first they have a mission in Phoenix...

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

If there is one thing that I felt Waid accomplished well in the first several issues of this series was his ability to write effective, well-rounded characters.  This issue, I can’t say that.  I like Wonder Woman, but Power Girl does not come across that well and in fact does not quite mesh with Johns’ vision of her in the new Justice Society of America.  I suppose one could say Megistus control of her altered the way she acts, but I don’ think so.  Power Girl comes across as too one-dimensional; her constant need to hit something actually was both amusing for its consistency and irritating because she has been shown (at least, I think so) to mature beyond her need to just needlessly hit something.  As the leader of the JSA, she would not blindly attack Megistus, but would follow Wonder Woman’s advice. 

Beyond that little nitpick, I liked the issue and I liked the fact that the story was complete in just one issue.  There is a silver age feel to this story, helped by Perez’ art as well as by the story, which has an otherworldly feel to it that I connect with the Silver Age. 

The ending threw me off a little bit.  I was not expecting the return of the Book of Destiny.  Frankly, I am not sure if this is a good idea or not.  On the one hand, I like the idea that the book has not been forgotten and certainly gives Waid the opportunity to return to it sometime later.  It might even become a bigger deal in the DC universe at some time in the future, as well.  Yet, its presence here undermines the main story of the issue to nothing more than, “oh, look what just happened.” 

I don’t think it was a good idea to use the term “Philosopher’s Stone” as it immediately gave me visions of Harry Potter.

 

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