Convergence: Detective Comics brought us a clash between Earth-Two Robin, Huntress and Red Son Superman. The first issue had some questionable story choices but it did set things up well enough that could bring on a satisfying ending for both universes. Is this something that happened? Find out with our Convergence: Detective Comics #2 review.
Creative Team
Writer: Len Wein
Artists: Denys Cowan and Bill Sienkiewicz
Colorist: Chris Stomayor
Story Rating: 4 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 4 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 4 Night Girls out of 10
Review
It’s clear from the beginning of the first issue of Convergence: Detective Comics that Len Wein had the best intentions in exploring the worlds of Earth-Two and Red Son. He opened the first issue with a clear definition of what kind of story he wanted for the three main characters. Unfortunately as the story progressed Wein’s use of the Convergence event quickly became an excuse as to why Earth-Two Helena Wayne and Red Son Superman acted out-of-character during these two issues.
The only real saving grace by the end of Convergence: Detective Comics #2 was the story arc for Earth-Two Dick Grayson. Wein’s development of Batman’s former protégé felt the most natural for the character. The story brought a very good question to the forefront: why didn’t Earth-Two Dick Grayson ever pick up the Batman mantle? It’s through that base question that we are able to have at least one character given a constant arc that does not go against who he is.
The fact that this version of Dick Grayson never “graduated” from his role as Robin spoke to his loyalty towards what Bruce taught him as well as some lingering doubts that he may have about taking on the Batman mantle directly. Wein did a good job juggling the teachings of Bruce Wayne with who Dick Grayson is to make the characters actions be his own decisions. It’s through those actions that allow us to accept that by the end of the story Dick is ready to fully embrace what being Batman is all about.
I wish I could say the same for Helena Wayne’s character. From the moment that the barrier separating the cities was brought down no character suffered more than Helena. There was nothing about her character arc that made her more likable. Instead Helena was a character I ended up caring less about just because of how badly she was portrayed throughout Convergence: Detective Comics. And the fact that Wein teased Helena as having a greater arc than she did through Red Son Batman’s involvement hurt even more.
While Red Son Superman did not suffer from the bad characterization Earth-Two Helena Wayne got I was disappointed by the lack of resolution. Wein did a solid job painting Superman in a more sympathetic light but the end of this story his arc just sort of ends. There is no definitive resolution to his character like Earth-Two Dick Grayson got. Instead Wein just uses the Convergence earthquake to quickly have Superman disappear into thin air.
Not helping matters was Denys Cowan and Bill Sienkiewicz artwork. Convergence: Detective Comics was not the right title to spotlight their particular talents as artist. With the Earth-Two taking a greater spotlight in this series the story needed artwork that fit with the aesthetic created by that particular time period of DC’s life. The rough, moody look this comic book had would be a much better fit for something involving Swamp Thing of Vampire Batman.
Overall: With such great love for Earth-Two and Red Son universes I wanted to like Convergence: Detective Comics #2 more than I did. While Earth-Two Dick Grayson story arc provided this series a constant to hang onto it was not enough to get over its shortcoming. Too much time was spent making excuses as to why characters where making choices that did not line up with past portrayals. These out-of-character actions made it hard to recommend this as a series fans should read.