Written by Keith Giffen
Art by Lee Garbett; Trevor Scott; Randy Mayor; & Rob Leigh
Cover Art by Mike McKone; Andy Lanning; & Randy Mayor
SUMMARY:
Published for June 2008, the first issue of this six-part DC Comics/WildStorm cross-over series is entitled “Chimera Rising.” At Happy Harbor, Rhode Island, the Silver Age Justice League (Superman; Wonder Woman; Batman; Flash; Green Lantern; Atom; Martian Manhunter; & Green Arrow) witness an enormous tidal wave overwhelm the coast line. From its extradimensional headquarters, The Authority observes that an even more powerful ocean surge has occurred in the Aegean Sea. Somehow, Titans Tower is now in the same extradimensional space as the Rikers Island prison in New York. Investigating the matter, Majestic encounters the 1980’s Teen Titans.
Others from the WildStorm Universe watch the bizarre news on television. Three members of the Justice Society (Green Lantern – Alan Scott, the Flash – Jay Garrick, and Wildcat – Ted Grant) contact the residents of a retirement home in Tranquility, Oregon. In wintry Russia, Hellstrike, Winter, Fahrenheit, and Fuji are among the investigators of a mysteriously crashed Legionnaire starship. At a trailer park in rural Arkansas, Superman makes a darkly ambiguous cameo.
Note: Though the image isn’t available here, the art team of Lee Garbett, Trevor Scott, & Randy Mayor created the variant cover.
REVIEW:
Like dreams so often do, Dreamwar # 1 doesn’t make much sense, even when bits and pieces seem strangely familiar. It’s just a guess that writer Keith Giffen’s muddled storyline will address its incoherency, if read in its six-part entirety. One can only presume that the hazy “dream” portion of the series title must eventually come into play.
Still, this issue’s other problem is its lack of context. Case in point: unless readers are readily familiar with the WildStorm Universe, references identifying various characters are far too few. That’s why this comic is a confusing read at best, particularly as there isn’t much narrative providing transition between scenes. It’s a shame, too, considering the splendid job the art team does on this issue’s visuals.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
Editor Jim Lee’s single-page “Storm Front” column promotes the Casey Blue: Beyond Tomorrow mini-series. A six-page sneak preview is included promoting the opener of the Secret History of the Authority: Hawksmoor mini-series. The Authority is seen confronting a bizarre crisis in Kiev, Ukraine.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 4 Stars
