DCU Comic Book Reviews

JUSTICE LEAGUE: RISE OF ARSENAL #4

Point Of No Return

August 2010

Written by J. T. Krul

Pencils by Geraldo Burges, Kevin Sharpe, Fabio Jansen

Inks by Marlo Alquiza and Scott Hanna

Cover by Greg Horn

Synopsis

At the Virigil House, Roy Harper is undergoing detox for drug abuse.  He has visions of his daughter urging Roy to avenge her death by killing the Electrocutioner.  When the staff checks on him and his restraints, Roy manages to escape.  At Star City Penitentiary, Roy breaks into the prison and seeks out the Electrocutioner.  Instead, he encounters Oliver Queen (aka Green Arrow), who attempts to stop Roy from killing the Electrocutioner.  Roy refuses to listen.  The two fight.  Ollie is wining the fight, but Roy is able to slip away, grabbing the Electrocutioner and then locking them both behind bars.  Ollie is unable to get to Roy, who stabs the Electrocutioner through the heart.  Later, Roy burns down the house where he lived Lian.  He then takes to the streets, to teach the wicked who prey on the weak that that road is a dead end.   

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

This was better than the previous issue, but I suppose that is damning it with faint praise because this is still not good.  I give Krul credit for trying by structuring this issue better than the last, by giving it a through line of Lian’s ghost goading Roy into killing the Electrocutioner.  At the very least it doesn’t read like a bunch of random scenes, but rather like a linear story.  But like all of the other issues, this was written with the idea of shock and awe rather than building it through characterization.  Krul seems to have this idea that his ideas will prop up the mini-series.  That never works.  You start with ideas, and then fill it out with characterization, plotting, and conflict and then you layer it with emotional beats.  Really, the focus of the story should be on Roy’s grief.  The conflict should come from Roy’s family and friends trying to get him to overcome his grief.  Further conflict should come from Roy’s desire for revenge and others telling him not to do it.  By doing that, you can still reach the end that you are going for, which is Roy embracing the anger and dark feelings caused by the death of his daughter.  While I think Krul has tried, he seems more inclined to equate grief with violence, impotence, drugs, and revenge than the emotion of missing someone and unable to deal with the void in your life.  As such, it doesn’t read like a story, but more of a series of ideas that don’t come together at all.  

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