The Revolution loves to start our reviews with the newest issue of 52. I have enjoyed this title and expect 52 #11 to be another entertaining read. It is about 99 degrees here at the Bunker, so I’ve got an ice cold cerveza and am ready for this review.
Creative Team
Writers: Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka & Mark Waid
Artists: Joe Bennett, Todd Nauk, Jack Jadsen & Marlo Alquiza
Art Rating: 7 Night Girls out of 10
Story Rating: 6 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 6 Night Girls out of 10
Synopsis: Week 11, Night 5: The issue starts with Elongated Man attacking a teenager who is a part of the Cult of Superboy. Ralph demands to know where the leader of the Cult is. Ralph then gets interrupted by a phone call that his storage unit with all of Sue’s possessions was broken into and vandalized.
Week 11, Day 6: We see Montoya and the Question meeting with Kate Kane. Kane tells them that the warehouse on Kane Street is now empty but six weeks ago it was rented to a company called Ridge-Fredrick Holding.
Montoya and the Question then go to the Question’s van to plan their next move. The Question confronts Montoya’s guilt for not avenging the death of her partner Crispus Allen. That Montoya didn’t kill Jim Corrigan and that is why she hates herself. Because she did the right thing. After some research, the Question discovers that Ridge-Fredrick Holding is owned by HSC International Banking which Intergang’s legitimate front. The company’s President is a woman named Whisper and her bodyguard is a man named Abbot.
We then shift to Montoya and the Question breaking into Ridge-Fredrick Holding’s offices. They are suddenly attacked by a giant werewolf. He transforms into Abbot and captures our heroes. Whisper (who is a snake-like woman) tells Abbot to kill them. Abbot and his men all transform into hybrid man/animal creatures and attack Montoya and the Question. Suddenly, Batwoman crashes through the window. Batwoman quickly takes out the bad guys and then tells Montoya and the Question that the police are on their way. With that, Batwoman makes a quick exit.
Week 11, Night 7: We see Ralph at his storage unit. There is an upside down Superman symbol on the door. The only thing stolen was one of Sue’s outfits. We then see that the Cult of Superboy followers have created a straw dummy and clothed it with Sue’s outfit and placed Ralph’s ring on her finger. They place the body on an altar with the Big Red S on it. End of issue.
Of course, we are also “treated” to a back up store on the History of the DCU. It re-tells the events of Infinite Crisis. The computer then tells Donna that there is a divergence of recent events and that the future is in flux. That on a divergent path, Donna Troy died in space instead of Jade. We then see a Monitor step forward and tell Donna that this strange deviation in realities that they have not chosen to reveal themselves….yet. End of issue.
Comments:
The Good: This was a solid issue. Nothing great, but a well done storyline. The big bomb in 52 #11 is that we finally get to see Batwoman in action. It was a cool way to introduce her. The writers put her over by having her defeat three villains that Montoya and the Question were unable to defeat on their own.
I liked the very short scenes with Ralph. The writers have done a great job showing us that Ralph is a man who is on the edge. That he has just about totally snapped. The opening scene did a great job showing us the madness and frustration that is slowly consuming Ralph.
I’m glad that the History of the DC Universe storyline finally got a little interesting. We now know that there has been a divergence in the time line. That Donna died in one reality and that Jade died in our reality. And it is official that the Monitors are on the case. I am very curious to see where the writers are headed with this interesting twist. This would seem to open the door to more than one Earth.
The art was solid. Nothing spectacular. Having said that, the artists sure drew one hell of a Batwoman. She looked great. As always, I purchase 52 for the story and not the art. As long as the art is solid and dependable then I have no complaints.
The Bad: 52 #11 was my least favorite issue so far in this series. The main reason for that is because it focused almost completely on the storyline that I find the least compelling, the Intergang storyline. And that this issue focused on the only two characters that I have no interest in at all in this title: Montoya and Batwoman. I will say that I dig any hot chick in a leather outfit and high heel boots. Throw in that she is a lesbian and you increase the hotness factor. But, other than being cheesecake, that is where my interest ends in Batwoman. I don’t like derivative characters at all. I find them boring and unoriginal. Plus, by their very nature, they can never be as good as or better than the hero that they derive from. Batwoman’s character brings nothing to the table for me.
I’m also not thrilled with the obvious direction that the writers are headed with Ralph and the Cult of Conner. It seems like DC may be bringing Sue back to life. This could be a total red herring, and I hope that it is. The last thing I want to see is Sue coming back to life. I absolutely loved Identity Crisis. I thought it was the best story that DC has done in a long time and that includes Infinite Crisis and 52. Bringing Sue back to life would ruin what was a heart wrenching and wonderfully tragic story. I hope that the writers are simply trying to trick us and that Sue stays where she belongs. Six feet under.
Overall: 52 #11 is a well written story. If you are interested in the Intergang storyline and you like Montoya and Batwoman then you will love this issue. Since I don’t this was definitely the weakest issue so far for this title. Having said that, 52 is still well worth your money.