Reviewer: Mathan “Sorry this is late” Erhardt
Story Title: Very Bad Things
Written by: Dan Jolley
Penciled by: Jamal Igle
Inked by: Rob Stull & Lary Stucker
Lettered by: Phil Balsman
Colored by: Chris Sotomayor
Editor: Stephen Wacker
Publisher: DC Comics
So last issue we say Killer Frost trick rookie Firestorm, Jason Rusch, into curing her of cancer. Firehawk came in at the last second to try to give Jason the assist.
This issue begins with a flashback at how Killer Frost came up with the plan to get herself cured. It involved a genius doctor, and his eventual “chilling” death scene.
Then we find ourselves back at the other end of last issue’s cliffhanger. A new and improved Killer Frost is testing her new powers against a bickering Firestorm and Firehawk. Oh and Firestorm is bickering within himself and with Firehawk.
With Killer Frost thoroughly besting the heroes, Firehawk manages to grab Firestorm and escape to regroup. Killer Frost follows, and attempt to suck the heat from the heroes. Jason tries an idea to deprive Frost of an essential element, and it works momentarily. Killer Frost tries to escape.
Firestorm wants to chase, but Firehawk decides to sit this round out. Jason makes chase and catches up with Killer Frost. Unfortunately she’s holding residents of an apartment complex hostage, which means Jason can’t utilize his trick again. With innocents in agony, Jason pleads with Frost to let them go, to which Frost responds by killing them, and turning them into weapons.
Firestorm is stunned, and Killer Frost presses the advantage. She tries to absorb Firestorm’s heat, and weakens him enough to see that he’s composed of two people. Firestorm manages to get away.
At a safe distance Jason disbands “Firestorm” and lets his homeless “partner” go. Lorraine “Firehawk” Reilly happens by and Jason decided to bond with her to form Firestorm. Except that when Firestorm appears, he looks a lot like the Ronnie Raymond variety of the character. To be continued.
Jolley has finally given the fans what they want, a familiar looking Firestorm. I can say it was worth the wait. It makes for a great cliffhanger, especially this deep into the series. The advancement of Killer Frost’s powers and Firehawk’s reaction to Firestorm’s new powers were nice elements.
Igle is doing a great job of replacing ChrisCross. He really manages to capture Jason’s ineptness by giving Firestorm some great facial expressions. Killer Frost’s ruthlessness shines throughout the issue. One of my favorite moments was when Killer Frost literally sucked the flame off of Firestorm’s head.
