DCU Comic Book Reviews

CHECKMATE #29

Chimera:  Will of Iron

September 2008

Written by Bruce Jones

Pencils by Manuel Garcia

Inks by Travis Lanham

Cover by Manuel Garcia

Synopsis

In Venezuela, the Global Guardians encounter a large scorpion-like creature called Canaima.  In Texas, Chloe researches the recent appearance of these beasts around and thinks the world is in danger.  In Venezuela, Chimera arrives to fight Canaima.  Although the Global Guardians are there to help, Chimera fights the creature on his own.  Meanwhile, Chloe gets inside the United Nations to tell everyone Chimera is Adam Sharp, but she is taken away.  In a small room, Chloe is told that Chimera is not the man she once knew.  However, she will be taken to China.  In China, August General in Iron challenges Qi-Yu. 

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

Although I personally have not bothered to look for it, there is apparently a large community of fan fiction floating through the interweb thingy.  Some of it is good and some of it is bad.  One of the criticisms that I have heard about fan fiction is that writers will often create new characters, insert them into established worlds (such as the DC Universe) and then have these new characters save the day with established characters standing around marveling at how great the new character is.  And that is exactly what this issue felt like.  Look, let’s all marvel at Chimera.  Not only does Chimera scowl that he works alone, but then he does defeat the monster alone, showing how inept and weak the Global Guardians are since the six of them couldn’t handle it.  As I have said in previous reviews, this does not feel like the first 25 issues of this book.  What it feels like is Bruce Jones taking an idea and a character and shoving it into an existing setting and world.  Much like a piece of fan fiction. 

What was the deal with the scene in Texas?  What was supposed to have come through the window and smash into the room?  Is there still a weather problem in the States from previous issues?  It is never mentioned again.  And what purpose does her research serve since she is more interested in finding Adam than actually saving the world from the beasts.  I suppose the scene sets up the moment when she gets into the United Nations (when she reveals the name of the beast) but it seems like a waste of a page to set up one panel.

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