[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]
Storytellers: Aaron Lopresti and Robert Venditti
Inker: Matt Ryan
Colors: HiFi
Letters: Tom Napolitano
Summary
Will Damage earn his spot as the world’s strongest hero—or will he be branded a villain forever? It’s Damage versus the Justice League, and it’ll take more than brute strength to win the day. Even with an unstoppable alter ego, Ethan’s gotta use both brains and brawn to have a hope against the League, because they’ve got a knock-’em-dead trick up their sleeve as a nuclear option. The first year of Damage’s story comes to an end—and a new chapter begins! And how does Deadman fit into the picture?
Positives
The story is reminiscent of the original Doomsday saga, but with a twist. Damage has the constant one hour clock that is ticking away, so the reader knows how long the melees will last and subsequently what the world has to endure while Damage is not his human form of Ethan Avery. The whole plan is for Superman is to outlast the clock, but what a tall order. Love the introduction of Dead Man and his skill set into solving the Ethan/Damage struggle. Maybe this is a sign of what’s to come in having a great check and balance to Ethan’s struggle with his alter-ego. While Damage’s story is akin to a Super-Serum/Hulk combo, DC has done a great job in providing a new twist to the duality of a hero story. And kudos for Superman for giving credence to Damage that he “throws the strongest punch he’s ever felt, and I’ve been killed”. Damage versus Doomsday anyone????
Lopresti and Venditti provide Superman a real opportunity to counsel Ethan in that Superman states that “he really didn’t ask to be superman or for the world to treat him like an alien or a freak. However, we have to do the best we can with the cards we are dealt”. Cool mentoring moment from Superman displaying the influence he got from the Kents.
Exciting to see Damage under the custody of the Justice League. That opens his world and his situation to get some really good mentoring, and some really good team-ups in this book for the future!
The artwork is really reminiscent of the Superman/Doomsday series and the paneling of the story lent itself at times to the Death of Superman via Doomsday’s hands. Best idea ever for a new character!
Negatives
None here….Lopresti and Venditti provide a really good mentoring story and turn the chapter for Damage (whether he wants it to or not).
Verdict
I’m in for the long haul. The JLA now has a member that is more powerful than Doomsday and arguably an equal to Superman. How Ethan/Damage chooses to use his powers is an open slate that I think DC readers should enjoy for issues to come!
