Reviewer: Mathan “R.I.P. O.D.B.” Erhardt
Story Title: The Aftermath: Part One
Written by: Joe Kelly
Penciled by: Doug Mahnke
Inked by: Tom Nguyen
Colored by: David Baron
Lettered by: Ken Lopez
Editor: Mike Carlin
Published by: DC Comics
Elite member Coldcast has a brother, Chris. Chris is trying to hook up a deal with The Aftermath a group of aliens trying to take over the drug trade, but he needs Coldcast’s credibility, and crew to make it happen. Thus members of the Elite, including Vera Black, Kasumi and The Flash go undercover to infiltrate the scene.
Al-Sheikh isn’t too keen on the idea, especially considering how the team botched the “no death” rule last time around, but Coldcast convinces him that it’s kosher.
Meanwhile Manitou is still trying to figure out who is responsible for the murder at the end of the first mission. He’s dealing with powerful, and creepy entities, in order to get the truth.
When the Aftermath sets up a meeting with Coldcast’s crew of “villains” they have Miss Morphine (Vera Black’s cover) test the merchandise. She tests it and passes the test. Of course she doesn’t really take the drug, but rather gets a nice sample of the “U.F.Opiate.
At a meeting the Elite meet to go over the plan. They come up with a clever way to make sure that no actual drugs get sold (hint; it involves the Flash.) And Al-Sheikh reiterates the “no casualties” rule. After the meeting Green Arrow confronts Vera about how she lied under the influence of Wonder Woman’s lasso. Still later Vera has a nightmare about her brother Manchester back from the dead, she awakens to find that it might not have been “just a dream.”
The issue ends with the undercover Elite coming face to face with the JSA. This cliffhanger promises a battle next issue.
Kelly writes a good story. He has developed characters into people that sound real. The two lingering plots of the real killer and a resurrected Manchester are moving along nicely. He’s also got a very plausible story here, which is refreshing. The last page does prove to be an interesting wrinkle.
Mahnke and Nguyen make a great team. The art is so detailed and crisp that it demands attention. The spirit that Manitou communicates with is a freakish monstrosity. Baron does a fine job on colors, with everything reflecting the dark tone and nature of the book. And the contrast to the brightly colored JSAers is a nice touch.
