Written by Brad Meltzer
Art by Rags Morales; Michael Bair; Alex Sinclair; & Kenny Lopez
Cover Art by Michael Turner & Aspen Studios
SUMMARY:
Entitled “Husbands & Wives,” this penultimate was released by DC Comics for January 2005. Batman consoles a devastated Tim Drake re: his murdered father. The late Captain Boomerang’s adult son makes a fateful decision honoring his own dad’s legacy. Across the DC Universe, various characters appear in cameos coping with their introspective grief, both past and present.
Wally West’s Flash finally learns the shocking truth from Green Arrow Oliver Queen, as why the Justice League secretly mind-wiped the original Dr. Light. Covertly discovering the Calculator’s innocence, Batman must re-assemble this baffling conspiracy’s jigsaw pieces. Simultaneously, Dr. Mid-Nite & Mr. Terrific’s science directs them to the same startling conclusion as Batman’s deductive reasoning does. All three now believe they know who murdered Sue Dibny.
REVIEW:
As a super-hero murder mystery for grown-ups, Identity Crisis # 6 is near-flawless. Writer Brad Meltzer ingeniously deploys this second-to-last chapter to ignite this controversial mini-series’ most explosive revelations. Between Wally West and Oliver Queen’s face-off re: the other vote the Leaguers secretly made that fateful night and the final stretch leading to Sue Dibny’s murderer, Meltzer’s work is truly inspired.
The poignancy of introspective mourning seen among DC’s heroes is another well-played sequence. The same applies to the heartbreak fueling Tim Drake and Batman’s discovery of Jack Drake’s death. Even if the simultaneous deduction scene is implausible, Meltzer still makes it gripping for readers. Ending the issue with a creepy marital scene is a smart creative choice, as Meltzer inevitably has another bombshell waiting.
Supporting Meltzer’s script is an art team whose visual expertise sets a new peak for DC-related projects. Artist Michael Turner’s iconic Batman cover image is simply one for the ages. Yet, one is left to ponder this comic’s promise of super-hero entertainment, as compared to its sheer shock value re: the Sue Dibny murder-mystery.
In all fairness, this issue is far more a grisly whodunnit than an display of vintage super-heroics (hence, DC goofed by omitting a parental warning). More so, it’s a given that some of Identity Crisis’ creative choices are inexplicably tawdry (i.e. the post-mortem revelation re: Sue Dibny’s pregnancy). At least, Meltzer stays on target for this issue.
Though Meltzer’s Issue # 7 falls short of satisfactory resolutions, Identity Crisis # 6 earns its place as a landmark DC comic. It’s a masterpiece where the necessary artistic elements for a plausible murder-mystery gel for a gripping read.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
The single-page “DC in Demand” column offers a thumbnail cover reveal for the concluding Identity Crisis #7.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 9 Stars
