Touch #4 Review

Archive

Reviewer: Mathan “I (heart) Focus” Erhardt
Story Title: The Girl Can’t Help It

Written by: John Francis Moore
Penciled by: Wes Craig
Inked by: Prentis Rollins
Lettered by: Jared K Fletcher
Colored by: Brian Haberlin & Avalon Studios
Editor: Matt Idelson
Publisher: DC Comics / DC Focus

So Cooper Santiago has the power to give folks super powers. It makes him violently sick, but he uses it to make him rich. He has a successful business hiring out super hero help. But the catch is that Cooper’s power to give power must be a secret. And since Cooper is such a high profile person he quickly becomes a target.

Last issue Cooper was kidnapped. This issue begins with Cooper being escorted to a house on private property. He’s told to stay in his quarters, but of course he doesn’t. While trying to escape he encounters an energy being who knocks him down.

After being escorted back to his quarters he decides to call it a night. The next morning he meets his captor; Moses Sinclair. Sinclair is a rich man with a big problem; is daughter hates him because of how he treated her mother (they’re divorced), and she has the power to project an energy being that causes lots of destruction. Sinclair wants Santiago to make, Larissa, his daughter, a hero.

Cooper goes to consult with is partner and lawyer Allison. She convinces him that he’s got to take the offer. Thus Cooper begins to try to earn Larissa’s trust, and it involves streaking. Eventually he gets her to trust him a bit, and she get to control her powers a tad. But then tragedy strikes.

News hits that Larissa’s mother is on her deathbed. Larissa rushes to see her with Cooper and a stranger (who happened to have a car) in tow. She arrives in time to see her mother die, which sends her off the deep end. She throws a tantrum with her power, and passes out. On the way home they hit a bad storm, drive off a cliff to avoid an accident, and end up trapped in their car. To be continued.

Moore has one of my favorite Focus concepts. Unfortunately it was one of the first to go. Cooper is kind of like Max Lord from the JLI books; he’s using his power and others to profit himself. He’s a great character, and I looked forward to seeing him grow. In this issue alone, he found out how get out of a situation without using someone. It’s a shame that he won’t develop too far beyond that.

Craig and Rollins make a very nice team. The manifestation of Larissa’s powers looks great, especially the destruction that she creates. And the reaction to Cooper’s streaking is hilarious. I really enjoy the little details in this book, like Cooper’s annoyance on page #13 or his smug look on page #15. I’m really going to miss this team.