DCU Comic Book Reviews

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October 2008

Written by Brad Meltzer

Pencils by Adam Kubert

Inks by John Dell and Joe Kubert

Covers by Adam Kubert

Synopsis

The world has gone dark.  The sun has not come up for two full days.  With the impending end of the world, Brion Markov (aka Geo-Force) decides to exact revenge against Deathstroke for the death of his sister, Terra.  He asks Jefferson Pierce (aka Black Lightning) for help.  Black Lightning refuses to help a murder.  In Valhalla, Wonder Woman and Donna Troy perform a Greek tradition before the final battle.  In Gotham City, Starfire waits for Nightwing at the Grayson grave.  Dick, however, is with his family that is alive:  Batman and Robin.  In Smallville, Clark Kent (aka Superman) talks to his father.  On Challengers Mountain, Grace Choi visits confession.  Geo-Force also visits confession.  In New York City, Geo-Force sets the trap for Deathstroke but despite careful planning, still gets roundly beaten.  Geo-Force tries to fight back.  Deathstroke plants his swords into Geo-Force’s legs, pinning him against a dumpster.  Deathstroke then gloats, pleased to see Geo-Force becoming darker and darker, as part of his plan.  Geo-Force refuses to let Deathstroke control his destiny, so he slashes his own throat.  When Deathstroke grabs Geo-Force, angry to have lost, Geo-Force then plunges the sword into Deathstroke’s chest.  Later, in the hospital, Black Lightning is amazed Geo-Force defeated Deathstroke.  Around the world, loved ones prepare for the final battle. 

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

Problems. Problems. Problems.  And despite the problems, I enjoyed the issue and think Meltzer and the Kuberts do some excellent work.  I think what this issue boils down to is not the content, but the packaging and the way it is being sold.  It has very little to do with Final Crisis and anyone thinking that it does, will be annoyed.  The story should’ve been sold and packaged as a JLA one shot or Titans one shot or even an Outsiders one shot.  Something that ties the two main characters (Geo-Force and Deathstroke and to a small degree Terra) together rather than connecting it to a mini-series it doesn’t really tie into that well. 

My first reaction after reading this issue is that Meltzer had a specific idea on what to do with Geo-Force during his run with the Justice League of America book, but for whatever reason never got the chance to follow through on it.  Meltzer was the one that introduced Geo-Force’s power shift, but since Meltzer left, this has not been referenced (either in the Justice League book or in Batman and the Outsiders).  In that regard, one must think this is Meltzer’s story, not something that editorial has been nurturing along.  So, either Meltzer had the story written and decided to make the rest of the material fit into it or when DC asked him to write this issue, he took the opportunity to finish the Geo-Force story.  Either way, Geo-Force’s story doesn’t really have much meaning in the context of Final Crisis or the upcoming final battle.  Granted, Meltzer tries, but I don’t think it works.  This story could easily be told without the Final Crisis background. 

Yet, the story does have that background, but man it just does not work, at all.  How many ways does this issue NOT flow into the main Final Crisis story?  Let’s see:  Green Lantern has been captured and sent back to Oa.  Batman has been captured, as well.  Wonder Woman was just roundly defeated by Mary Marvel in Blüdhaven.  Superman was at Lois’ bedside before being taken away to another dimension through the Bleed (as seen in Superman Beyond).  And I don’t think Superman has given the speech that is alluded to in this issue. 

I won’t even get into the tangled mess that is Terra.  I actually like the continuity that Meltzer uses in this issue, even doesn’t work when you consider there were attempts to make Terra somewhat insane even before she met Deathstroke, and that it wasn’t even the real Terra, who appeared in World War III and was killed by Black Adam.

The ending annoyed me.  I think the book would’ve been much better if Geo-Force and Deathstroke had actually killed each other.  I suppose part of that is because I was not expecting it.  The ending really seemed to head right into their deaths and it worked.  Somehow, the final pages with Brion alive and Black Lightning tell him that Deathstroke still lived annoyed me.  I understand DC doesn’t want to lose the Titans biggest adversary, but man the perfect ending would’ve been the dual deaths. 

I loved (insert sarcastic tone here) the moment between Green Arrow and Red Arrow.  It comes out of nowhere.  It is only one panel. Yet Meltzer, who wrote Red Arrow prominently in his Justice League of America run and wrote a previous storyline in Green Arrow, felt the need to include them.

 

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