Review: Heroes in Crisis #4 (of 9)

After last issue’s, almost a fill-in / not quite a fill-in, we are back with the main flow of the story, though with the pacing of this book, it is kind hard to tell the difference.

As you would expect, there are more interviews and revelations, this time from some of the most popular female heroes including Donna Troy, Black Canary and Batgirl.  Remembering there is an actual mystery to solve, we get to have another crazy tete-a-tete with Booster, though fans of a somewhat unique Dynamic Duo will be pleased with certain aspects as they unfurl.  We also get more on Harley as yet another hero tries to take her down.  Will Batgirl succeed where the mighty Trinity failed?

To some, it would appear that Tom King has his focus on the long game.  Whilst, with the over arching plot, I am sure that is definitely an aim, King also takes time to flesh out this issue with some rather fun and serious moments.  Taking the various aspects, Booster and the lasso add further confusion to things rather than clarity with the ramifications of Arsenal’s death starting to bear fruit.  This is of course all great but the key part of the issue is actually the relationship between Batgirl and Harley; probably the two women who have suffered the most at the hands of the Joker, a key fact that Batgirl shows us both mentally and physically.  Throw in a very Watchman styled moment of Ozymandias like planning, an increase in tension between Batman and Superman and you have a murder mystery heading into its second act with an even higher level of threat and possible disaster for all involved as questions around the Puddler remain.

Clay Mann returns after contributing a couple of pages to last issue and what a hugely welcome return it is.  Sure, there are the now DC house style of nine panels, that here, carry the essence of the interviews, and also extrapolated even further to excellent use in the Batgirl and Harley fight as they move to a level of understanding.  Mann is trying to pull out all the stops; the heroes look great, Lois is framed in a Superman t-shirt in an obvious manner that displays the level of love, comfort and safety she feels in the arms of her Man of Steel and I don’t think I have seen such a mature and, I have to say, gorgeous version of Batgirl in quite some time.  If DC are thinking of bringing back the Birds Of Prey, surely Mann has to be a consideration; after all in this issue we do get to see two of the three heroines in his own inimitable style. Tomeu Morey continues to provide the book with a fantastic, painted style of colors that, as I may have said previously, adds a level of maturity to the whole affair.  Clayton Cowles is making a name for himself with yet another great job on letters.

Now that we are nearly half way through this crisis, we are actually no further forward.  In the process, King and Mann having delivered some clever accents to keep the reader interested as the overall plot continues to meander its way to the conclusion.  Are these nuggets enough to keep your interest? For me, I am thoroughly enjoying this run with each issue bringing surprises and tweaks that,  hopefully, are not going to end up just being smokescreens.  King’s work over the last year has been of such a high standard, for the most part, that I am willing to continue to invest in this series.

Writing – 5 Stars
Art – 5 Stars
Colors – 5 Stars

[yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]

Written by; Tom King
Art by; Clay Mann
Colors by;  Tomeu Morey
Letters by; Clayton Cowles
Published by; DC Comics

Author Profile

Johnny "The Machine" Hughes

I am a long time comic book fan, being first introduced to Batman in the mid to late 70's. This led to a appreciation of classic artists like Neal Adams and Jim Aparo. Moving through the decades that followed, I have a working knowledge of a huge raft of characters with a fondness for old school characters like JSA and The Shadow

Currently reading a slew of Bat Books, enjoying a mini Marvel revival, and the host of The Definative Crusade and Outside the Panels whilst also appearing on No-Prize Podcast on the Undercover Capes Podcast Network

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