Broken Frontier

Blüdhaven has long been a city of secrets but now those secrets are more deadly than ever. Heroes and villains clash over mysteries that could change the world.

After a somewhat confusing and overly mysterious start, writers Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti have made a quick recovery and started to shape a story that is equal parts past, present, and future. The plot is as densely packed as ever, though, as four separate, yet intertwined, stories unfold.

The Atomic Knights have found the missing Captain Atom but what has happened to him and, more importantly, what is he being used to do now? The Knights are run off before they can find the answers but they are not about to give up. Unfortunately for the Knights, Freedom’s Ring has gotten some new members with some old names and now the group has become the Super Human Advanced Defense Executive (S.H.A.D.E.). Worse, S.H.A.D.E. has just made a new ally whose power could bring the Knights to their knees.

Meanwhile, the Teen Titans have come to Blüdhaven and the new Firebrand convinces them to join himself and Monolith in investigating the city’s secrets. What they find may shock these young heroes but it is still nothing compared to the actions of the Black Baron and his sick vision for a new city.

The Battle for Blüdhaven is, if nothing else, one of the most densely packed reads in comics today. Gray and Palmiotti manage to juggle the four major plot threads with an overall deft touch. There are a few jarring notes here and there though; most noticeably in the introduction of the Black Baron. At the halfway point for this bi-weekly series, however, they are beginning to bring all the various threads together. Readers can be sure that all of these diverse elements are going to meet at the end with an explosive clash.

With the introduction of Father Time and S.H.A.D.E. (first seen in Seven Soldiers: Frankenstein) readers begin to see some of Grant Morrison’s concepts bring brought into the mainstream DC Universe. This provides the title with an interesting socio-political edge as questions arise concerning government connections to super powered individuals.

The real breakout character for me, though, is the new Firebrand. Gray and Palmiotti have actually incorporated an old definition of the word (a person who incites others to rebellion or revolt) into the character. This new Firebrand is a political hothead who quotes Thomas Jefferson and makes oblique references to the philosophy of John Locke.

The writing aside, Dan Jurgens’ art is also solid. He handles the action scenes well and gives the science fiction elements an appropriately "other worldly" look. His work on the Atomic Knights’ armor is particularly effective.

The coloring by Javi Montes also improves in this issue. The first issue was a shade too dark and murky, taking some of the detail off of Jurgens’ pencils. In this issue the colors brighten up quite a bit making the action more clear.

In The Battle for Blüdhaven there are mysteries and questions. As the answers are revealed the picture that is taking shape may be a surprising one.