Broken Frontier

Survivors of the crisis come home with the scars of war while something sinister brews on the horizon.

The veterans of the universal crisis have finally come home, though not all in the same condition they left. A massive wave of energy refracted their teleportation beam, resulting in dire consequences for many in the group. Molecular fusion, altered size, and missing body parts afflict the survivors. As Mal Duncan slips into critical condition, a metahuman medical team witnesses the thunderous final words of the Red Tornado. Meanwhile, the world reacts to its missing champions. Ellen Baker clings to hope for her husband, Animal Man, while Lex Luthor postulates a world where we will all be supermen. And on a distant planet, a trio of lost heroes senses there is trouble in paradise.

As we move into the second month of 52, another tantalizing mystery is introduced to the already intriguing tapestry, one which apparently lends double meaning to the series’ very title. What this entails ultimately remains to be seen as the series maintains its pace of gradual plot progression.

Week Five appears to be one of the slower weeks in that regard, though it is no less engrossing than its siblings in terms of writing and characterization. Johns, Morrison, Rucka, and Waid deliver an excellent and compelling script. Rarely has the trauma of surviving a reality-warping conflict seemed more palpable or real than in Alan Scott’s weary vigil over the wounded. Also fascinating is Steel’s grudging acceptance of his role as a hero and symbol, rather than just the simple man and scientist he’s recently tried to be. It’s also refreshing to see that despite the weirdness masquerading as her life, Ellen Baker remains mind-numbingly optimistic and normal. There’s a certain irony to a wife who’s literally and figuratively down-to-earth when her husband is marooned on a distant planet.

For all the strengths of the script, there remains however the spectre of "One Year Later" hanging over the proceedings. We’ve already seen where many of these characters end up in their monthly titles and thus, an element of dramatic tension is undercut or sometimes nullified. We know, for instance, that Cyborg and Firestorm make it through their painful fusion just fine and Hawkgirl is not doomed to remain a 25 foot giantess the rest of her life. I found this awkward at the beginning of the series and continue to be concerned by it now. Nevertheless, there is more than enough that we don’t know about the "missing year" to keep me coming back.

The art responsibilities have been handed over this issue to Chris Batista. Like Joe Bennett before him, Batista is known for a solid and eye-pleasing superhero style. The images are crisp and clear, the visual storytelling on par with the writing. From the simple and mundane to the otherworldly and exotic, Batista (backed by inker extraordinaire, Jimmy Palmiotti, and colorist par excellence, Alex Sinclair) tackles the demands of the script admirably. At the back of the issue, Dan Jurgens’ "History of the DCU" continues its recap of the original Crisis, preparing to move forward with its cosmic chronicle. Jurgens’ portion of the book still feels a bit like it’s spinning its wheels but it will probably make more sense when taken as a whole.

Though it can occasionally be frustrating, 52’s grand experiment continues to be well-crafted and entertaining.