SUMMARY:
Released by DC Comics for June 2007, “The Valiant” is Issue # 2 of this four-part 52 spin-off. Returning from her Infinite Crisis disappearance, an exhausted Supergirl crash-lands on Earth. After his traumatic run-in with Black Adam in Issue # 1, Martian Manhunter seriously re-evaluates interceding on Earth’s behalf. Aquaman resorts to desperate measures to raise ‘Sub Diego’ from the depths of the Pacific Ocean.
Covering for Batman, Harvey Dent battles Killer Croc in a Gotham alleyway. Deathstroke tries recruiting Cassandra Cain’s Batgirl as his new protégé. As multiple waves of DC heroes can’t thwart Black Adam’s worldwide rampage, Firestorm and Donna Troy are separately helping contain the fallout.
REVIEW:
As with the cover image, the visuals are well-played. It’s disappointing, however, that Keith Champagne’s plotting doesn’t keep up with the hectic pace being set. Perhaps he’s juggling too many sub-plots, as DC’s heavy-hitters (short of The Marvel Family) aren’t the ones yet engaging Black Adam.
Most inexplicably, the cool cover presence of Donna Troy’s Wonder Woman (conveniently, her iconic big sister can’t be bothered amidst a year-long sabbatical) suiting up suggests that she is next up against Black Adam. It’s a potentially exciting notion, but Donna is inexplicably relegated to a few solo scenes on damage patrol. This same odd insignificance applies to a brief glimpse of Jason Rusch & Lorraine Reilly’s combined Firestorm/Firehawk after sufficient screen time in Issue # 1. All that really comes across is that, per a few updates, Black Adam is whupping most of the DC Universe’s second-tier heroes.
Inside a trade paperback, the material in Issue # 2 would be okay reading. As an individual issue, fans aren’t missing much, if they opt skipping the uninspired “Valiant.”
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
The front inner cover summarizes this storyline to date. In his “DC Nation” column, Dan DiDio explains the ‘why’ behind World War III spinning off from the last issues of 52. Thumbnail cover reveals appear for World War III # 3; 52 # 50; Birds of Prey # 105; and Bart Allen’s Flash: The Fastest Man Alive # 11.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 5½ Stars
