[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]
Writer: Jeff Lemire
Artists: Joe Bennet, Sandra Hope, Jaime Mendoza, Art Thibert
Reviewed By: Derek McNeil
Summary
“MEET THE TERRIFICS” part three! When will this superhero team bound by dark multiversal magic ever get any privacy? It certainly won’t be today, because while Mr. Terrific feverishly works to free himself from Metamorpho, Plastic Man and Phantom Girl—but mostly Plastic Man—the team must also contend with the towering, rolling death-inferno that is the War Wheel.
Positives
In this issue, we find out what it is that will be keeping this unlikely team together. Their exposure to Dark Energy in the Dark Multiverse has bound them together, so than none of them can travel more than a mile from the others without “exploding in a flash of Dark Energy.”
Until this can be resolved, Simon Stagg allows the group to set up residence in Stagg Mansion. Since Stagg now owns Mister Terrific’s scientific equipment, he is force to agree to this.
Although they are stuck with each other, they seem far from being a team yet. None of them seem to like the others very much. However, they are forced to act together in this issue to take on an out-of-control War Wheel.
After their success, Plastic Man is sold on the idea of them forming a team and he even comes up with a name for them: “The Plastics.” For some strange reason, the others don’t seem to like this idea.
I like the inclusion of the War Wheel, which has been a staple of DC’s history since the Blackhawks fought it in World War II. This is especially fitting, considering that both the War Wheel and Plastic Man are properties that DC acquired from Quality comics.
There are also some enjoyable moments of comedy, like Stagg repeatedly giving the same order to his Neanderthal manservant, “Java… clean that up.” – much to Java’s chagrin.
And once again, there is another little poke at Marvel this issue. Plastic Man transforms into a slingshot and propels Metamorpho at the War Wheel – a move that Plas dubs “The Hardball Special”, which mocks the signature move of Colossus and Wolverine’s signature “Fastball Special.”
Negatives
The only thing that bothers me is Mister Terrific’s coldness towards the other characters. Michael Holt, though brilliant, has never been shown to be like this in his dealings with others. Plus, in the Dark Days: The Forge, he even betrayed some fondness for Plastic Man.
On the other hand, could there be some sinister reason for his recent change in demeanour? Maybe his exposure to Dark Multiverse Energy has had some kind of effect on him.
Verdict
The Terrifics is proving to be an intriguing title, and Lemire is adept at mining DC’s wide body of lore and using it to create an engaging narrative. I hope that this title lasts, because I can’t wait to see where the story will take us.
