Week Twenty-Seven
After what’s been a surprisingly long time (a couple years now since Identity Crisis), Ralph Dibny comes face to face with Jean Loring, his wife’s killer. The issue focuses almost entirely on this meeting and it’s a damn good thing they gave it such focus. Sue Dibny’s death is one of the major tragedies in DC history, a dark moment of heroic failure that set the stage for the company’s massive Infinite Crisis, which set the stage for 52.
In his continued quest with the helmet of Fate to find a way to bring Jean back to life, Ralph seeks out the Spectre, who for some reason seems to not be in anyone’s body. This doesn’t make much sense, because he should be connected to Det. Crispus Allen (right?). Spectre takes Ralph to Jean, who’s still orbiting the sun, eliminating Eclipso’s power.
Given the Spectre’s power and the chance to kill Jean, Ralph takes her back in time to witness Sue’s death. He clears her mind of Eclipso so that she can fully see her crime. It’s a well done scene, by which I mean it’s unpleasant and difficult to read, which something like that should be. Ralph fails to kill Jean and the Spectre taunts him. But the crafty Ralph reveals something: the Spectre gave away that it is possible to bring Sue back. So, off he and the helmet head for Nanda Parbat…
…where Montoya and the Question are hanging out. She’s still doing her Kill Bill bit. He’s dying of cancer. This sucks. I like the Question, a lot. My guess: Montoya will be the new Question. This has potential, sure, but give me Charlie as written by Rick Veitch. Oh, and I find it pretty damn comical that the Question’s secret trainer, Richard Dragon, is a total Chuck Norris look-alike.
The only other scene shows Waverider in a crappy apartment full of clocks, which is one of those ridiculously overt devices this series has consistently smacked readers over the head with. I don’t know anything about Waverider, but I guess he is the “seer of hypertime.” Time Commander shows up at 5:25:50 (SEE! LOOK AT ME!) and time freezes. Time Commander, on the other hand, melts after giving vague warnings. He seems to call Rip Hunter out as a villain. Hmm. Then Skeets shows up and continues his path of destruction. I don’t want to ruin anything, but I really like Skeets as a villain. Reminds me of that crazy metal ball in Phantasm.
Overall, a good issue. Focused, intriguing, fun and sad. Can’t ask for much more for $2.50.
I just now got around to reading this week’s issue. Working 100 hours a week doesn’t leave much room for comic books. Good review!
Thanks, though I realized I referred to Sue as Jean in one spot. Whoops. Damn similar names.
also, the time should be 5:25:20… crap, I suck.
The “Spectre not having a host” thing seemed fishy to mew for a second, but then I remembered it was revealed in Crisis Aftermath: The Spectre that it took a year for the Spectre to convince Crispus Allen to offically team-up with him. He sort of high-jacked Allen’s body in IC, but I think he had to get consent to make it permanent. Weird magic rules. I’m stilling trying to figure out how Shadowpact was in the series when they spent a year in that red bubble in Wyoming.
By the way, is it just me, or is it looking like they’re setting up Montoya to become the new Question?
well, I did pretty much say exactly that in the review. So, no, it’s not just you.
I was drunk when I read this, and drunker when I posted that comment.