Review: Crime Syndicate #3
[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]
Writer: Andy Schmidt
Artists: Kieran McKeown, Bryan Hitch, and Dexter Vines
Colors: Steve Oliff and Alex Sinclair
Letters: Rob Leigh
Reviewer: Tony Farina
Summary
With the Crime Syndicate’s forces combined for the first time, seeds are sown to change the world forever. But before that can happen, Ultraman, Superia, Johnny Quick, Atomica, and Emerald Knight must survive a final battle with the biggest Starro of them all – and each other!
Plus: Earth-3’s Alexander Luthor makes his debut! Question of the month: On Earth-3, are Starros friends or foes? And in the backup story, witness the origin of Superwoman.
Positives
Crime Syndicate #3 has some of the most amazing art I have seen in a while. I like the way the team here of McKeowan and Vines create these Earth 3 baddies in a way that reminds us of their Earth 1 counterparts. The detail on Starro is pretty great as well. Colorist Steve Oliff steals a lot of the show this month and Rob Leigh’s letters, especially at the end when Donna and Starro have a face off, is pretty amazing.
Negatives
There are way too many characters. I mean, like WAY too many. Imagine you wanted to create a super team for say, a movie and you didn’t bother to give the back stories to the main characters except as flashbacks and only after you’ve already introduced the characters in the main story. Oh wait…We’ve seen that movie haven’t we? I know this is just a limited series and thus, it has limitations, but I see a limited series as a way to prove it should be a regular series. This started out with such a bang, but it is slowly just becoming a whimper.
Verdict
I know that Starro needs to be part of the DC Universe again somehow because of the new Suicide Squad movie and why not stick it here, in a world where the bad guys, becomes good guys, and form a new Justice League (sort of). Starro was, as we all know, the first Justice League villain and it makes perfect sense to use it here. Shoehorned in for sure, but still a fun look at the character and a pretty heartfelt concept as well. Schmidt sure makes me feel for the Starros. It is thoughtful commentary on immigration and the crisis on the US border. I know, I know, it sounds silly, but seriously, read this with that in mind and you will see.