Reviewer: Tim Sheridan
Story Title: Dark Tidings
Written by: JT Krul, Talent Caldwell, Michael Turner
Penciled by: Talent Caldwell
Inked by: Sal Regla
Colored by: Christina Strain
Editor: Frank Mastromauro
Publisher: Aspen Entertainment
I’m sorry for the lame teaser line. I honestly am. I don’t know what it is about the Fathom books, but I’ve always gotten them, even with a lot of people telling me not to and/or laughing at me. They are pretty much the equivalent to a bad summer movie. It’s really enjoyable, but you know it’s not very good.
That is…until this isse. This issue was not enjoyable at all. And that was disappointing, because I was really looking forward to it. Always liked following Aspen, but she’s not really in this issue. Which makes me…well, bored.
The appeal of the comic always was following her as she discovered the use of her powers and such. But she was kidnappeed sometime ago, and is nowhere to be found. Instead we see Kiani, and she’s about as interesting as a mousepad. She’s part of an underwater group who does….something. Not sure quite what, but I think she’s one of the good guys.
I really just can’t recommend this comic at all, folks. It’s not very good. Sure, Caldwell’s art is very pretty, no doubt about that, but it was so much better in the Superman books this spring when he had a bit of a story to work with. Here, nothin’.
I’m sure you’ve gotten bored reading my review thus far because I’ve gotten bored writing it. I suppose that is what happens when you have to write about a comic that bored you.
Another thing that bothers me about the Aspen books is that I just don’t know what is going on with them. I don’t know what is a mini, ongoing, or merely a one-shot. It’s very odd, and I’m hoping that gets fixed. I heard all this is leading into a new Fathom ongoing, but I have no idea when that is happening, or if this is it already. Very frustrating.
Anyways, no need to pick this up. If you enjoyed Fathom before, just go back and reread those first 9 issues. That was the best the title was, and it appears that it will stay that way.
Final Word: Perhaps my least favorite issue of the year.
