DC’s über-ambitious year-long experiment comes to a close with 52: VOLUME FOUR. Everyone’s story gets wrapped up, but not always in a pretty little bow. Some surprises still remain, and several characters aren’t left to see the finish.
We learn the real meaning of the title, Steel makes peace with with his niece, Elongated Man finds the truth behind his wife’s murder, Renee Montoya takes over for The Question, and members of the Justice Society of America get into the thick of it as Black Adam goes absolutely bug-nuts insane.
Although this is supposed to be the year without Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman, watch those mighty heroes make return appearances here – some triumphant, some subtle, and not in the ways you’d expect. 52 has always been about keeping the reader on his toes, and once again, the tired team of writers does a skillful job on making you wonder just what’s coming in the next chapter.
There’s only a single chapter here that didn’t click with me, and that was the final one. Yes, it offers closure, but it feels rushed and strained, and is full of confusing exposition. While perhaps it would be difficult to craft a satisfying conclusion after so much build-up, it would have been nice had the adage of “show, don’t tell” been put into greater action. Still, it’s overly complex.
My only other problem: the art by Darick Robertson on Week 48. Boy, does this kid have some thick black writing utensils! The lines are so bold, one wonders if he was using Sharpies.
I shy away from comic-book continuity “events” such as this, because more often than not, they’re an excuse to jam in as many characters as they can, which doesn’t serve the story (if it even had one), making it ever the less accessible to the casual reader.
52 is different. It takes many risks – heck, just doing the thing at an issue a week was a risk in itself – but is so skillfully played out that it succeeds and transcends its not-much-to-it premise. I will miss it. –Rod Lott
OTHER BOOKGASM REVIEWS OF THIS SERIES:
• 52: THE NOVEL by Greg Cox
• 52: VOLUME ONE
• 52: VOLUME TWO
• 52: VOLUME THREE
OTHER BOOKGASM REVIEWS OF THESE AUTHORS:
• PATRIOT ACTS by Greg Rucka
• PRIVATE WARS by Greg Rucka
• SEVEN SOLDIERS OF VICTORY: VOLUME ONE by Grant Morrison
• SEVEN SOLDIERS OF VICTORY: VOLUME TWO by Grant Morrison
Related posts:
- 52: Volume One
- 52: Volume Three
- 52: Volume Two
- Showcase Presents The Elongated Man: Volume 1
- Showcase Presents Legion of Super-Heroes: Volume 1
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