STRANGE ADVENTURES #8

Hard Bargaining

December 2009

Written by Jim Starlin

Pencils by Scott McDaniel and Jim Starlin

Inks by Andy Owens and Al Milgrom

Cover by Jim Starlin

Synopsis

Coriolis has arrived with Bizarro, whom he tries to pass off as Hawkman.  Deacon Dark is not amused. However, Synnar appears to tell them that Coriolis has done exactly what he needs to do.  Then, Synnar takes Bizarro to meet the rest of the Aberrant Six:  Prince Gavyn, Eye, Adam Strange, Comet, and the Weird.  Synnar then negotiates with each of the Aberrant Six, offering them something in return for the agreement to join the group.  If they all do, Synnar will then be able to replace the supreme being, God.  Synnar is able to convince Prince Gavyn, Comet, and the Weird.  However, Eye declines the offer, and then kills herself to thwart Synnar’s plan.  However, Synnar states that Eye will return and until then he will wait. 

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

Well, that was pretty much the definition of an ending that was not an ending.  All this talk about the Aberrant Six and Synnar’s master plan and leads all the way up to…nothing.  I am willing to bet that there was more to this story and that the original ending was a little different and perhaps led to another mini-series.  I get the feeling Starlin had to change the story from his original plans.  From what I understand, Strange and perhaps Comet are going to appear in the REBELS series, which is now the de facto book for all of the space-related characters.  So, it is possible Starlin was told he couldn’t use some of the characters because they needed to be elsewhere, resulting in the non-ending that we got.  So, essentially, the story continues.  I suppose it gives Starlin a chance to return to these characters at a later date, but the conclusion to this mini-series (and really, several mini-series that preceding this one) was less than satisfying.  We didn’t get to see what might happen to all of the build-up for this series, which is Synnar as God.  To make it worse, we didn’t see it not happen.  It is not like Eye’s suicide helped the good guys win the day, because there was nothing to win.  It may be a fine point, but Eye’s sacrifice basically was, “you can’t win,” not “you will lose.”  I hope that makes sense.  Synnar didn’t lose, he just didn’t win.  Actually, it feels like a tie in a sports game, which is a result no one wants.  

 

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