DCU Comic Book Reviews

SALVATION RUN #7

We Gotta Get Out Of This Planet

July 2008

Written by Matthew Sturges

Pencils by Sean Chen

Inks by Walden Wong

Cover by Sean Chen and Walden Wong

Synopsis

On the place they call “Hell Planet,” the villains are being attacked by parademons.  Suddenly, the planet itself unleashes its monsters to attack the parademons.  However, Luthor realizes that the teleportation device they are building to get them home is in danger amidst the fighting.  So, with the help of Warp, they move the device in the middle of Vandal Savage’s “safe zone.”  There, they are able to finish the device, but require one more thing from Luthor.  He is able to provide it and the villains return home.  Luthor is the last one and before he leaves, he checks on his final move:  the use of several people to help power the machine.  Luthor then steps through the device to return home.  The device then explodes.  The Hell Planet is in ruins and once more empty.  Only the Martian Manhunter is left. 

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

Long before this series was solicited (or at the very least published) DC released a teaser image forecasting various events going on in the DC universe.  One of those images was Luthor kneeling on the ground with his hands bloody.  That image refers to this series and specifically to this issue (and copied somewhat by the cover).  Thinking about it, I actually think it is an interesting concept:  Luthor must sacrifice others to bring home all of the villains.  However, going from concept to execution, something was lost.  I think a big part of the problem is that the focus of the story was never on Luthor, yet he is supposed to be the “hero” of the piece.  Each issue focused on a different character, who essentially was the narrator of the piece.  In this issue it was Captain Cold (and now that I think about it, each issue featured a different member of Flashes rogues).  But ultimately, nothing important is done with these characters (and indeed more often than not forgotten about before the end of the issue).  I am not saying that Luthor should have been the narrator, but whomever narrates the series should’ve been close to Luthor so that we get to know him and understand him when it comes time to make the sacrifice.  In fact, thinking about it know, perhaps one of those sacrificed would’ve been perfect as the narrator, but I digress.  Ultimately, the series fails because of the lack of focus, which severely undermines what should’ve been a good finale. 

I would have been happier if my prediction last issue about Vandal Savage turned out to be true, instead of what we got here.  If you look at it in a certain way, Savage’s role in this mini-series amounted to nothing.  He did nothing, the sub-plot went nowhere, and Savage had nothing to do with the ending.  Yeah, Luthor and gang moved to his location, but they brought the device they were building with them and Savage played no role at the end.  It would have been wiser to forget about Savage and concentrated those pages on Luthor, instead.  It might’ve made for a better whole than what we actually got. 

When The Joker first kicked Gorilla Grodd off the mountain, I saw some speculation that the Joker would not be physically able to do it.  Then someone with some knowledge of physics demonstrated that indeed it was possible.  Perhaps not probable, but it is possible.  So, I liked the little moment where the Joker admits he didn’t think it was physically possible.  I am not sure if anyone else got the little in-joke (if that is how Struges meant it), but I enjoyed it. 

I agree with Weather Wizard, I also like the “Hail, Fellows” move.  Nice little moment.

 

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