Event Review: Convergence

Week 7

DC Comics are notorious for their crises, but Convergence is their way of tying up loose ends and giving fan-favourites their chance to shine once more. However, the series has had its drawbacks and many have criticised it for being a filler event whilst DC move office from NYC to Burbank.



This week I’ll review the main Convergence book and some of the tie-ins from the event’s seventh week.

Convergence #07 (of 8)



● Writer: Jeff King ● Artist: Aaron Lopresti

Art duties this week fell on Aaron Lopresti and he delivered; a definite improvement from last week’s book by Ed Benes. Most of the book consists of two-page spreads, but they are absolutely necessary as this is an action packed issue. Lopresti does a fantastic job keeping characters and environments both clean yet detailed, and I can honestly say that my only gripe is with his over use of snarl-faces… almost every character gets a good snarl in at least once this issue.

The story itself is also an improvement over the last six issues, and I would go so far as to say that this issue should have come a lot earlier in the series. I’m not sure if it’s the reduced exposition or the reduced need to establish both Telos and Deimos as the event’s villains, but there is definitely more flow to this book.

King’s use of a particular fan-favourite villain was superb, and I can’t wait to see what (if any) repercussions this has on the current DC universe; and this is the first issue to show that there is a chance this event will have a lasting impact.

Once more, there was a continuity bug fairly early on involving Apollo and The Engineer, but only the most avid followers of the New 52 are likely to pick it up.

This issue is definitely worth a read, but I can’t help but wonder how much better the event might have been as a whole if this were the sort of book we got to pick up a little sooner.

Adventures of Superman #02 (of 2)



● Writer: Marv Wolfman ● Artist: Roberto Viacava

This was a good issue. I am so pleased that Superman and Supergirl are out of the phantom zone, but their escapades last issue did serve a purpose and they play on Kara’s mind beautifully. I really appreciate how they have established a back-story to the events of Crisis of Infinite Earths, but as Convergence is a slight retcon its relevance to how events actually played out is up for debate.

The art this issue was beautiful, but for me that had a lot to do with the colouring. It added great depth and vitality to Roberto Viacava and Andy Owens’ work (inker). These past two issues have really captured the heroes’ pre-crisis likenesses.

I feel like this issue did a fantastic job playing into Telos’ convergence gambit and the characters from the other world were also given a chance to shine. Wolfman’s use of Kamandi was wonderful and It really felt like he had all the knowledge that the ‘Last Boy on Earth’ might have of the world’s finest heroes.

Obviously whether you pick this book up is dependant on whether you bought the first issue last month, but I think that together they are well worth a read and the story is one of the best Convergence tie-ins. It adds a totally new layer to Supergirl and her now famous sacrifice.

Batman and the Outsiders #02 (of 2)



● Writer: Marc Andreyko ● Artist: Carlod D’anda

Another issue with beautiful art. What a lucky week for Convergence fans! Carlos D’anda supplied both pencils and ink this issue and his work is uplifted by the wonderful colours of Gabe Eltaeb. This is the kind of art that should have driven DC’s New 52 and it lends itself well to the Crisis of Infinite Earth characters of Batman and the Outsiders.

Best visual moment? Batman and his Bat-copter… very old school DC.

The writing for this issue was also very well done; although the script is more action orientated Marc Andreyko does a great job drawing on the status quo established in last month’s issue. You really get the sense of loss between Rex and Sapphire, but you also get to see Batman’s allies working as a team. They really should get a new ongoing.

I’m not sure whether I can suggest picking up both of the issues that complete this Convergence tie-in because they have very little impact on the event as a whole, but for those seeking a beautifully composed self contained story where all the players are given a chance to shine I would definitely recommend this tie-in.

The Flash #02 (of 2)



● Writer: Dan Abnett ● Artist: Federico Dallocchio

Get Superman of Earth-9 to Earth Prime this instant! Do you hear me DC? make it so!

…of course If you read the issue you’ll find that Star Trek reference hilarious. Well, maybe.

This issue is all about character building and the action is more of an intense outburst than anything else, but Dan Abnett does a fantastc job playing on the status quo of Barry Allen pre-Crisis of Infinite Earths a la Supergirl and this week’s Adventures of Superman. But, the real star of the show is Earth-9′s Superman; the way his hyper-intelligence is portrayed is far better than with most characters and you feel as though his words have weight to them. Something I wish Marvel (specifically Brian Michael Bendis) could get right with the X-Men’s Beast.

The art was good, but it had an almost photo-realistic quality to it that I don’t like. Almost as if Dallocchio has either stayed a little too faithful to his reference photos, or traced some in. Now, far be it from me to suggest that the art has been traced (Dallocchio may just be incredibly talented) but that is how I interpret this style of art and, although visually superb, I am not a fan.

Would I recommend this issue? Absolutely. I would even go so far as to say that the character building quality of this issue is so good you needn’t seek out a copy of last month’s issue. You can start here from scratch and you would still appreciate Abnett’s work.

Green Lantern Corps #02 (of 2)



● Writer: David Gallaher ● Artist: Steve Ellis

Guy Gardner is hands-down my favourite Green Lantern. But, I started reading all things spectrum related with Geoff John’s Rebirth and from what I’ve heard of pre-Crisis of Inifinite Earth’s Guy Gardnder this is not him.

That being said as an established fan I really enjoyed this book, but found it a little confusing for the first two pages; it isn’t immediately obvious who’s monologuing and it isn’t who’s in panel. However, once I figured it out I was engaged and I didn’t have an issue with the rest of the writing aside from the issue I have feel some will have with the characterisation.

Steve Ellis’ art is superb, but I am sure some won’t like its stylised/cartoon quality. His layout’s are also very nice and they help fit as much story into this standard size issue as possible.

However, I am not sure I could recommend this book to anyone that isn’t already a Guy Gardner fan because this is almost a solo issue and perhaps it should have been renamed as such.

Hawkman #02 (of 2)



● Writer: Jeff Parker ● Artist: Timothy Truman

I didn’t like this issue’s writing all that much. It felt a little too simple and at times included exposition for exposition’s sake. There was no real character building and aside from the final scene there was very little relevance to Convergence or any of DC’s crises. The book served its purpose, but whether it needed too or not is questionable.

The art was something to be admired though. I am not usually one for line/ink-heavy art styles, but they weren’t at all distracting in this book and gave the issue an almost creator owned feel that I can’t describe. Perhaps that comparison is a little vague, but it’s what I felt reading the book and I couldn’t help but want to see more of what Truman and Enrique Alcatena (inker) could bring to the world of Kamandi.

Sadly, I wouldn’t recommend picking up this issue as the story did very little for me, and I don’t think even the most loyal Hawkman and Hawkgirl fans would be particular interested in it either.

Justice League of America #02 (of 2)



● Writer: Fabian Nicieza ● Artist: Chris Cross

The art was so messy in this issue that I couldn’t focus on the story. I tried, but I kept getting distracted by computer imports and the over use of lens flare.

From last Issue I was really hoping to see more of the Tangent universe’s Secret Six, but this book was very JLA orientated; there was very little that stood out and I don’t feel like this issue added much in terms of characterisation or the Convergence event.

It’s hard to see what this issue wanted to achieve other than give the underdogs a chance to shine, and although I am all for the neglected JLA members being given their dues I don’t feel like it handled particularly well this issue.

I wouldn’t recommend this book. Although it certainly tells a story, I didn’t particularly like either it or the art enough to say that it is worth spending money on.

New Teen Titans #02 (of 2)



● Writer: Marv Wolfman ● Artist: Nicola Scott

This issue was a little on the nose regarding team conflict and relationship resolution, but I enjoyed it.

However, It is definitely a Teen Titan showcase book and aside from the last few panels you could be fooled into thinking that this is just one arc in a new ongoing and not a Convergence tie-in. Some may appreciate that disconnect, but when reading an event book I would like for the event to have a greater impact on the story and the only relevance it has in this one is the scheme of the Tangent universes’ Doom Patrol.

I am a little torn with the art in this book because It is fairly nice and the computer imports are kept to a minimum, but there were a few times that the characters looked like they were in an episode of Archer and I couldn’t shake that comparison.

Sadly, I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone other than those who wish to see some of the loose ends tied regarding the Teen Titans pre-Crisis of Infinited Earths.

Superboy and the Legion of Super Heroes #02 (of 2)



● Writer: Stuart Moore ● Artist: Peter Gross

This book was quiet a fun read. Stuart Moore gives both of its Convergence cities a chance to shine and you get a decent amount of character building. I particularly like the tete-a-tete between Brainiac 5 and Durvale’s scientist, and the little nods to Clark being out of place and time are very nice.

In my opinion it does what a Convergence book should do and actually draws on the shift in status quo, rather than just use it to tell a story that could be told in an unrelated ongoing.

The art was nice, but the environments are a little simplistic and the character’s faces are a little off sometimes. I usually love Peter Gross’ art, but I think he was let down by the finishes and colours.

I think this issue and last month’s Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes book are definitely worth a read if you are interested in the Convergence event, but it isn’t essential and it may not be to everyone’s taste.

Swamp Thing #02 (of 2)



● Writer: Len Wein ● Artist: Kelley Jones

As the creator of Swamp Thing it would be a hard task for Len Wein to get his characterisation wrong. This issue really feels like a silver age comic coming into conflict with a modern Convergence event. It even comes with old school omniscient narration!

I absolutely loved it and it certainly had an emotional ending for a world’s greatest detective.

Kelley jones and Michelle Madsen (colourist) also did a fantastic job making the book look as if it had been drawn in the 80′s and It is a real treat to look at.

Definitely well worth a read alongside last month’s issue and the Convergence event as a whole.

Wonder Woman #02 (of 2)



● Writer: Larry Hama ● Artist: Aaron Lopresti

This was a brilliant issue. The art and the story worked perfectly together and nothing is more menacing or jovial than a vampire Joker.

It really is a thing of beauty to see a hero fight another’s rogues and mixing Wonder Woman up with the supernatural counterparts of Batman’s villains was a fantastic choice.

But even heroes fail sometimes and the consequences of the Amazon’s mistake are actually followed through with by Larry Hama.

The art was detailed but clear and vampire Joker is a particular treat, but Poison Ivy suffers injury this issue and the results are almost laugh inducing.

I would definitely recommend both books in the series as they definitely make the most of alternate realities coming into conflict, and they do so in an unexpected manner.

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