Waid's fun story was about the Phantom Zone, was about Mon-El, with a time travel trip to Krypton to boot. It went at a brisk pace and really was fun. It would be hard to follow that.
Writer John Ridley and artist Inaki Miranda come on board for 'Force Majeure' a title I will come back to at the end of this review.
The short version is that Major Disaster, a villain turned hero, reverts to his villainous ways. And Superman, who helped reform Disaster, gets both upset and depressed about the whole thing. So vexed, that he begins asking around about why it happened.
I haven't read much by Ridley but I did like his The Other Side of the DC Universe. It is hard to know in this first issue why he thinks Disaster regressed. Almost everyone Superman talks to feels it was inevitable. But the result is a sort of morose or highly agitated Superman. It doesn't feel quite right.
Inaki Miranda's art is solid if standard. The opening disaster movie has a nice energy to it. But much of the remainder of the issue is Clark Kent interviewing people or sulking with Lois. Hard to make a meal out of that.
Inaki Miranda's art is solid if standard. The opening disaster movie has a nice energy to it. But much of the remainder of the issue is Clark Kent interviewing people or sulking with Lois. Hard to make a meal out of that.
On to the story.
It has to be this.
Kent keeps digging.
The issue starts with an earthquake shaking apart several blocks of Metropolis. It completely angers Superman, especially when he sees someone has died in the wreckage. We see a lot ... and I mean A LOT ... of the red eyes of anger.
At the epicenter of the destruction is Major Disaster who immediately gives up. Lucky for him. Superman looks like he is about to immolate the guy.
A lot of angry red eyes. A rough opening to a new story.
As Clark, he decides to investigate why Disaster did it. He goes in for an interview.
It is interesting that even the cops saw how out of control Superman was, about to blast Disaster. This cop knows Superman has seen crazier things than this. It shouldn't trigger the Man of Steel that much.
Hmmm ...
Love the little 'push the glasses up' Miranda has Clark do here.
In prison, Disaster seems distraught. He was robbing a bank.
He just wants to be put away, thrown in jail. He seems upset that he has let Superman down.
But you can just 'feel' how disappointed Clark is. And we know that he is Superman.
Later in the evening, Clark bemoans the whole thing. First off he admits this was the second highest time he wanted to burn someone.
I know Ridley's love of the DCU. And I think we are of the same vintage.
So we hear about his anger.
Then we hear about his weariness.
He doesn't think hope is worth the effort sometimes.
This really doesn't sound like Superman, either the ire or the hopelessness.
I do like this little moment.
Lois can tell how much this is bothering Clark. She can feel his hurt. And so she hurts.
It's a simple effect but putting that silhouette panel at the end shows just how down Clark is feeling. Nicely done. When words and art complement each other, comics sing.
Kent keeps digging.
Here the police chief again brings up the inevitable nature of Disaster going backwards.
He doesn't care why Disaster did it (turns out he had gambling debts). He has seen it too many times. He is glad that the Disaster is behind bars. He can't worry about anything else.
There is so much defeatism in this story.
There is so much defeatism in this story.
As I said, coming off Waid's story this is dreary.
Clark keeps digging, even talking to some of the other villains who turned a new leaf and knew Disaster.
It was great to see Scorch again, a character I liked a lot in the past, around the Emperor Joker days.
But even she says she struggles every day. There is a devil on each shoulder telling her to do something wicked. She could easily just grab some cash with her powers. It's hard.
Like this deep cut by Ridley.
But ... hmmm ...
The story ends with Clark being beaten up by some thugs armed with purple-energized batons.
Interesting. And sort of out of the blue, introducing a new thread to the story.
So there is a lot of sort of fatalism in this story. Criminals unable to reform. Superman angry then forlorn.
Which brings me back to the title - Force Majeure.
The definition of force majeure as a law term means 'unforeseeable circumstances that prevent someone from fulfilling a contract'. You can't sue a delivery company for breach if an avalanche keeps them away from the site. So maybe it is a play on Major Force, both 'majeure' and the unforeseeable circumstances.
But a second definition is 'an irresistible compulsion or greater force'. So is it an irresistible compulsion to recidivism?
Or is there some force making Superman angry and sad? Making Disaster give up hope and re-offend? Could it be some villain making everyone feel things they normally don't? Someone like The Psycho Pirate?
Anyways, I hope there is some higher power tweaking everyone's emotions. This sad and mad Superman just feels a little bit off.
Overall grade: B-
1 comment:
I’d certainly like to see that there’s a psychic fug over the planet, or something. This didn’t feel like Superman to me either - he’s a mature hero who has seen it all..this story might make sense if it happened when he was a teen or young man, but today? Excellent review, and great catch on the Mongul reference.
Come back, Mark Waid!
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