Reviewer: Mathan “What a great book this is” Erhardt
Story Title: The Aftermath: Part Two
Written by Joe Kelly
Penciled by: Doug Mahnke
Inked by: Tom Nguyen
Colored by: David Baron
Lettered by: Pat Brosseau
Editor: Mike Carlin
Publisher: DC Comics
The Elite, undercover as a gang in order to bust an intergalactic drug ring come in contact with the JSA. That’s all you really need to know.
The issue opens with Al-Sheikh having fallen asleep while researching Wolfwood. He wakes up and finds a card that reads, “Who do you TRUST?”
Then we jump to Power Girl, Mr. Terrific, and Alan Scott rushing Hawkgirl, with two swords impaled in her, to the hospital, while we hear Kasumi being debriefed by someone who’s cloaked in darkness. Kasumi recounts what lead up to Hawkgirl’s stabbing.
Coldcast and his brother Nathan struck when the JSA confronted them last issue, but the JSA shrugged it off. Coldcast’s strike was just a distraction so that Ms. Morphine (an undercover Vera Black) and The Nothing (Kasumi undercover) could strike from behind.
As the battle builds, Al-Sheikh tells the Elite to engage the battle for a few minutes then escape. From the sidelines Major Disaster and Manitou Raven watch, and Disaster comments on how easy it is for the heroes to be “bad.” Eventually Green Arrow tries to bring the battle to a halt by shooting an arrow with a message at Black Canary (who joined the JSA on this mission for “old times’ sake.”)
As both teams try to let their teammates in on the new status quo, things escalate. Major Disaster causes Coldcasts powers to go out of control, resulting in Hawkgirl getting impaled by The Nothing (Kasumi.) We then return to the debriefing, and find out who Kasumi really is, as well as the identity of her benefactor, both are shockers.
Back at Elite HQ, an enraged Vera questions Disaster’s actions, and Coldcast shows some compassion to Kasumi, much to the dissatisfaction of Menagerie. But the heroes get the word that they are finally going to meet with the man in charge of the criminal conspiracy. They find themselves aboard a space ship that features technology from different cultures and also functions as a sort of mobile “shooting gallery” or crack house.
But before they can meet with the man in charge they have to face one final hurdle, Wolfwood has to approve them.
Kelly is really impressing me with this book. It’s dense, but not imposing, complex but not impossible. It’s very well written and every voice is distinct. And the concepts introduced are very well thought out. I’m really looking forward to the next issue.
Mahnke and Nguyen create beautiful images. Honestly, this may be the best looking book out. Whether it’s Kasumi’s scars, or Flash plucking bullets out of the air, or people in a drug haze, everything look perfect. Even the odd-looking spaceship looks good.
