[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]
Storytellers: Kenneth Rocafort and Dan DiDio
Colors: Daniel Brown
Letters: Dave Sharpe
Summary
Bolt, a hired villain with a similar power set to Sideways, has taken Ernie hostage. Will Derek be able to thing of a way to save her? Also, Detective Hopkins is hot on the trail of one of the strangest cases he’s worked in his career. Will it lead him to Derek in time? One thing is for sure, it won’t be long before things really turn Sideways!
Positives
Rocafort’s visuals remain one of the main positives of this series. Everything is portrayed with a lot of intention and detail, and you don’t always see that. I especially enjoy the attention paid to Detective Hopkins’s desk in the first scene. There is a lot there, and even the computer screen is detailed. I can only imagine how long that page alone took. The Detective is an amusing character, as he was introduced very late in the series, and there is not much to him, but it is nice to see that someone else cares. All too often we see heroes have to face their challenges alone, and Derek was very much alone in his fight against evil and against his mother’s murderer. I love that an ordinary person wants to help because its the right thing to do. In my opinion, he is the highlight on the issue.
The battle between Bolt and Sideways is a fun one and helps us see how much Derek has grown since he first faces Killspeed early on after getting his powers. It also helps convey Derek’s values and what he is willing to sacrifice for those he cares about. His heroism is on full display in this scene and it’s great. Ernie’s heroism is great as well, as it takes some major confidence to call the Hall of Justice. Will we see another Superman crossover? Anything is possible.
Negatives
This issue is a build up issue, plain is simple. Rocafort’s art is truly amazing, and the story comes across well, but this issue is primarily serving the purpose of getting the readers from point A to point B, with point B being the end of the series. I am very excited to see how the story ends, but there isn’t much world-building or characterization, just some good ol’fashioned exposition.
I’m also still not on board with the villain. Leto Dominus is really just a Simon Stagg rip-off with poor characterization and a hunger for dark matter. I hope a little more is revealed in the next two issues to make me come around on that front.
Verdict
A perfectly satisfying issues that is building up to the beginning of the end. There isn’t really anything special, but I am excited for what is coming.
