Khalid just can’t catch a break.
Creative Staff:
Story: Paul Levitz
Art: Sonny Liew
Colors:Lee Loughridge
What They Say:
New York City goes dark as the new Doctor Fate battles the ancient god Anubis to the death-but gods can’t die, can they?
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
Doctor Fate hits is sixth issue and it’s definitely an odd feeling as we’ve grown accustomed to arcs finishing up in five or six issues before moving on to the next thing. This one feels like it has at least one more installment to go, if not two, and that’s definitely challenging in its own way. It’s easy to cry out about it being too decompressed, and there is a drawn out feeling to certain elements of it, but as I continue to enjoy the engagement of the characters and their interactions I find myself not complaining much about it. The only real downside is that it feels like we’re in a small loop cycle where things are happening and repeating if only because there’s no sense of true progress. At least until Anubis begins to really throw the world into turmoil.
And that’s the background focus for a lot of this issue as we see how Anubis is taking advantage of the foolishness of Khalid and his too trusting nature and need to save his father. With the deal made and the twist revealed, Khalid’s blindness is now crippling him though not taking him out of the picture outright. But it’s enough for Anubis to begin his own move across the world with the floods and the general sense of impending doom as he wants to cleanse the world and bring it back into his vision of balance. It’s an interesting angle to play and one that, from a certain point of view, definitely works. But we get to see the flip side of it as well with the chaos and destruction that’s caused and some of the more personal aspects of Khalid’s friends who talk about Egypt in particular with how the reaction there is crippling.
Khalid is still a character that I really want to have more of but am frustrated by. When we’ve had time with his personal life it feels like a fantastic story to explore with friends and family combined with what he’s become. But some of what he does is just frustrating, such as trusting Anubis and now spending time doing his online course work even as the world is seemingly ending. His focus on saving his father is obvious and expected, but he’s so slow moving in doing the right thing – or even truly reacting outside of certain moments regarding his blindness – that it’s hard to really get a read on him. He’s doing his best to figure a path out and trying to find it though the helm yet at the same time he’s still coming across as though he rejects it and all it represents. There’s the potential for a really great Fate here but it goes back to the drawn out side of it where we’re waiting for him to step up – and to move past the Anubis storyline.
In Summary:
I’m ready to cheer from the rooftops for Doctor Fate as a book and just need that moment where it all ties together perfectly. In the meantime, I’m definitely enjoying having Paul Levitz writing again as I like his approach and his work here with Khalid makes him a character I really want to know more. Similarly, I love the discovery (for me) of Sonny Liew and am excited to see what else he has in store for this work and any other projects. There’s a great design sense that keeps the book engaging even when it slows down and I love the way he’s incorporating the social media side into the story, making it enjoyable to read instead of a chore or something that feels tacked on or a shortcut. There’s so much potential here but it just needs to grab hold and run with it.
Grade: B
Age Rating: 13+
Released By: DC Comics via ComiXology
Release Date: November 18th, 2015
MSRP: $2.99
