The success of DCeased has been incredible to watch. Every piece of content around the DCeased Universe has hit a high bar of quality thanks to the hard work Tom Taylor and company have put into developing this universe. That has been well shown with the DCeased: Hope At World’s End mini-series that is acting as a compliment to both the original DCeased and its sequel series, Dead Planet. Taking place in the time period between when the remaining heroes united and when they left Earth for a new home, we’ve seen a lot more characters not spotlighted in the original DCeased. Hope At World’s End has specifically spotlighted some minor heroes and villains like Wink and Aerie in Jotunheim. Now with Anti-Living Black Adam leading a horde of Anti-Living against the fortress will all those in Jotunheim survive? Let’s find out with DCeased: Hope At World’s End Chapter 7.
Writer: Tom Taylor
Artist: Renato Guedes
Colorist: Rex Lokus
Story Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 7 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
Synopsis: Just as Anti-Living Black Adam is about to attack Wonder Woman, who is holding Jotunheim so it doesn’t fall, the Justice League appear to stop his attack. Green Lantern Canary (Dinah Lance) uses her power ring to carry Jotunheim to a safe location.
As Green Lantern Canary handles carrying Jotunheim Superman, Martian Manhunter, and Cyborg team-up to fight Anti-Living Black Adam.
Inside Jotunheim, Wink uses there power to get Raza Kattuah and the remaining soldiers into a secure location so that they can be ready to fight the Anti-Living horde that Anti-Living Nightshade let into the fortress.
Just as the Anti-Living horde breaks through the steel door Wonder Woman, Hawkman, and Hawkgirl appear to provide Wink and the others back-up Wink creates a portal so that Wonder Woman, Hawkman, and Hawkgirl can drive all the Anti-Living outside the fortress.
Just as Wink’s portal closes Anti-Living Manticore drags Hawkman with him. With the portal closed Anti-Living Nightshade infects Hawkman, turning him into an Anti-Living.
Outside the fortress Superman, Martian Manhunter, and Cyborg are successful in stopping Anti-Living Black Adam.
Aerie joins everyone to check up on Wink. Superman says Wink is safe inside the fortress and thanks Aerie for warning them about what was going on at Jotunheim.
Inside Jotunheim, Aerie reunites with Wink only to hear the news that Hawkman was taken by the Anti-Living.
Elsewhere, Anti-Living Hawkman and Nightshade join Anti-Living Black Adam to lead the horde of Anti-Living in another attack. End of issue.
The Good: As has been the case with all the other chapters in this series DCeased: Hope At World’s End #7 succeeds in blending character driven story telling with fast-paced action. Everything that took place in this chapter felt like it had a purpose. Whether it was to understand the full scope of the DCeased conflict or to hit you in the gut with an emotional punch, this issue had it all.
Right away Tom Taylor and Renato Guedes draw your attention into what is going on as we saw Wonder Woman holding up Jotunheim as an Anti-Living Black Adam flew towards her. The level of concern for what was going to happen as Anti-Living Black Adam got closer created a sense of unknown with what would happen to Wonder Woman. Even though we know Wonder Woman would survive thanks to the role she has in the original DCeased series we didn’t know how exactly she would get out of this situation.
This is where the Jimmy Olsen narration worked the best out of all of his narration throughout this series. Jimmy Olsen’s narration heighted the tension that was felt during this opening. At the same time, Jimmy Olsen was able to shine a light on how Wonder Woman did not come unprepared. She was well aware of the Anti-Living threat and made sure she had back-up right behind her in the form of the Justice League. Jimmy Olsen spotlighting this fact elevated the moment Superman, Green Lantern Canary, Martian Manhunter, and Cyborg appeared on screen.
From that moment Taylor and Guedes continued to deliver on the sense of urgency that there was in and around the Jotunheim fortress. There was not a moment wasted by our heroes as they all understood how real the threat of the Anti-Living was. That is shown with how quickly the Justice League split up between Superman, Martian Manhunter, and Cyborg taking on Anti-Living Black Adam while Wonder Woman, Hawkman, and Hawkgirl head inside Jotunheim to help the survivors. That along with Green Lantern Canary holding up the fortress showed how a well-oiled machine the Justice League are in a crisis.
At the same time, while we saw the Justice League at their best Taylor made sure the reader remembered that the Anti-Life Equation Virus infection is a crisis that you should never drop your guard with. Because whenever someone has dropped their guard that is when something truly bad happens. Which is exactly what we see take place as Hawkman was unfortunately turned into an Anti-Living. The shock in Hawkgirl’s face when she saw Hawkman disappear in the horde of Anti-Living drove home how emotionally impactful the DCeased Crisis has been on everyone.
While that was certainly a dark moment it was nice to see it was balanced out with the role Aerie served in DCeased: Hope At World’s End #7. After working hard to getting Jotunheim the help it needed Aerie was able to have a moment with Superman where he was thanked for contacting the Justice League. Even though Aerie felt like a messenger, the role Aerie served was incredibly important as it saved people that otherwise would’ve eventually fallen to the Anti-Living. So while the moment was short it helped elevate Aerie as a character that is still new in the DC Universe.
The Bad: Nothing.
Overall: Tom Taylor and Renato Guedes delivered another impactful chapter with DCeased: Hope At World’s End Chapter 7. There was absolutely no time to rest as the tension was always high throughout this chapter. From the Justice League appearing to save Jotunheim to the final page with a major hero being turned into an Anti-Living, you are always kept guessing what will happen next. Exactly what fans of the DCeased Universe have come to expect.
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