Broken Frontier

All of the heroes have gathered to stop Megistus and save the Earth but what will it cost them?

Over the course of a little over a year writer Mark Waid has spun a series of stand-alone stories linked by an overarching theme. Now readers will get the chance to see that theme come to a slam-bang conclusion and maybe, also, see how the story links to the future of the DC Universe.

Superman, Ultraman, the Challengers of the Unknown, and Hal Jordan make a run into the heart of the sun to face Megistus and retrieve the mystical artifacts he has taken – including Hal’s Green Lantern power battery. As these heroes battle the insane and insanely powerful Megistus, the transformative red cloud makes its way to Earth. Flash, Wonder Woman, and the Teen Titans all try to protect the inhabitants of Earth but their efforts will be for nothing if the heroes in the heart of the sun cannot find a way to destroy the cloud.

For this entire twelve issue run Waid has been on the top of his game – mixing old-school elements with modern characterization. As this issue wraps up the year-long arc involving the Book of Destiny, readers are treated to a brawl for all that involves nearly every hero who has been involved in the story to date and throws in a few others for good measure. With such a large and diverse cast to play with some characters may get short shrift but Waid wisely focuses on the ones who are and have been at the heart of this story.

While famed and fan favorite artist George Perez handled the art for most of this run, this issue (and the one previous) is handled by Jerry Ordway. If there is anyone who can step up to the plate after Perez it is Ordway. With an attention to detail that mirrors Perez’s own, Ordway brings all of these characters to life. His excellent facial expressions, figural work, and story flow mean you can practically follow the story without the dialogue.

With one year down and the first story arc completely wrapped, Waid has shown that there is life and hope to be had in revolving stories like these. Wild and wacky mash-ups of heroes that somehow work beautifully under the right pen and stories that can stand alone and be apart from the larger universe and yet still tie together into an arc and also be a part of that larger universe. This title has been and continues to be a sure-fire dose of superheroics, humor, action and adventure. Jump in if you are brave enough… and bold.