Dangerous ideas in dangerous times.
Creative Staff:
Story: Marguerite Bennett
Art: Richard Ortiz, Pasquale Qualano
Colors: J. Nanjan, Wendy Broome
Letterer: Wes Abbott
What They Say:
Vixen uses her amulet as she and the Bombshells battle Cheetah. A Bombshell we haven’t seen since the Battle of Berlin shows up to help!
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
The Mechanical Gods three-part arc comes to a close with this issue, though I suspect we’re not actually done with them, and it’s an intriguing mix of character material and action here that pushes things forward. This installment has Bennett working with Richard Ortiz on the layouts and Pasquale Qualano on inks and assists, something that works well after Qualano’s installment the last time around to bring it just a little bit more of a tighter visual continuity. I definitely like how it all looks as they have some great quiet scenes, some fun with the passion, and then big action sequences that are sadly just a bit light on the backgrounds when it needed a little more grounding.
With most of the Bombshells here captured, the first half of the book is an interesting piece where we see Vixen trying to chisel her way out while Kate comforts Renee as they’re still reeling from recent events. It’s great to see some tender moments between the two after what’s gone down recently and it looks like they’re finally talking a bit more honestly and actually grappling and moving past the hurt and pain they’ve caused each other. The loss of Jason will always cause pain, however. Where it takes an odd twist, at least before Shiera crashes through to save the day, is that we get Selina making a play in private for Kate with a forced kiss and some really strong words toward Kate over the things she’s written back home to Maggie. Kate’s in a complicated place and it’s something that Selina is definitely taking advantage of in a really terrible way.
The book doesn’t focus just on this, though it could easily, as we get the group making their way out to deal with Paula, Cheetah, and the assembled Mechanical Gods. It’s a good action sequence overall, one that has Selina going further than one might expect of her to get involved in, but it’s the kind of all over the map kind of action that you’d expect from an end of arc sequence. It’s a lot of things happening and some good banter and character moments, but it’s just prelude for what’s about to shift the narrative as one other Bombshell literally crashes into the area. I’m more interested in the character material, and that the next installment is taking us back to the Battle of Berlin epilogue, but I like what we get overall.
In Summary:
While I’ve thoroughly enjoyed Vixen, Shiera, and the other character material from this arch with Zambesi – especially Cheetah, I’m very eager to get beyond the Mechanical Gods aspect of it as that whole thing just isn’t connecting for me as much as it should. This installment works through a lot at the beginning before shifting into the action and the surprise reveal at the end that has me doubly excited to see where we end up in the next issue with the new arc that’s going to get underway. Ortiz and Qualano are solid her with some great character material and some fun action layouts that just needed more background material to it so that it didn’t feel quite so rushed.
Grade: B+
Age Rating: 13+
Released By: DC Comics via ComiXology
Release Date: October 21st, 2016
MSRP: $0.99
