Review: Crossover #12

Crossover is a fun, funny, jumble of a book the comics industry and it’s complicit readership deserves. This issue posits that writers are all a part of a cycle of violent, repetitive destruction where characters are maimed, tortured and killed only to go through it all again after another reboot. Robert Kirkman perfected these cycles of destruction in The Walking Dead. So it is only fitting that his creation Negan is the one killing comic book writers in this arc.

This issue opens with an extended flashback at his revenge against Robert Kirkman. Kirkman himself writes his death scene, where he allows himself a lengthy explanation of his own motivations before Negan finally uses Lucille crush him. It’s over the top and something we never thought we’d get in a comic. The underlying message here is that writers are sadists and at least here are the true villains.

This is upended by Cates who writes the second half of the issue with a self deprecating but heroic meta glee. He breaks himself out of prison using the comic form like he was a looney tune. He gives himself a haircut along the way, commenting that readers were confusing him with Alan Moore (something this reviewer absolutely was guilty of).

Cates rightfully announces that the side plots need to end because they are confusing readers and brings the focus back to Ellie and Ryan. The action reverts to the baseball field as Negan takes on the Powers crew. He reveals that there is a master writer behind all of this who has promised him a better story. Just as he gains the upper hand, Cates arrives with Ellie and Ryan with the latter armed with a Lightsaber.

What this book lacks in clarity it makes up for in fun. While switching to artist Phil Hester for the first half of the book is a bit jarring, it works well with Kirkman’s writing and makes for a solid interlude. Cates and Shaw use their shortened space this issue to clean up loose ends and drive the action firmly towards the final battle with Negan and likely the master story-teller.

Thankfully Cates has revealed that the series will not end with the arc-ending issue 13. This is a book about the process of story-telling itself and it’s fascinating getting a look into Donny Cates’ mind through the prism of Geoff Shaw’s glorious artwork. Comic readers clamored for a major crossover event to save comics from the pandemic, this is the only team that stepped up to the challenge.

Writing: 4.5 of 5 stars
Art: 4.2 of 5 stars
Colors: 4.8 of 5 stars

Overall: 4.5 of 5 stars

Writers: Donny Cates and Robert Kirkman
Art: Geoff Shaw, Phil Hester, Klaus Janson
Colors: Dee Cunniffe
Publisher: Image Comics

Author Profile

M.R. Jafri

M.R. Jafri was born and raised in Niagara Falls New York and now lives with his family in Detroit Michigan. He's a talkative introvert and argumentative geek. His loves include Star Wars, Star Trek, Superheroes, Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers, Transformers, GI Joe, Films, Comics, TV Shows, Action Figures and Twizzlers.