Written by Liz Erickson, Max Bemis, Heath Corson,
Stephanie Nicole Phillips, Joshua Williamson,
Andrew Constant, Steve Orlando, Corinna Bechko,
Gabriel Hardman, Stuart Moore, Che Grayson.
Art by Paul Pelletier, Nicola Scott,
Gabriel Hardman, Scott Koblish, Leila del Duca,
Marguerite Sauvage, Greg Smallwood,
Cully Hamner, Nik Virella, Darko Lafuente.
Published by DC Comics
Eighty pages of robotic summertime shenanigans fill the pages of DC Comics’ latest one-shot seasonal offering. Ten stories for $9.99 comes to $1 per story with a litany of characters.
Some stories are heartfelt, while others teach valuable lessons.
Then, there are some ridiculous tales, for better, or for worse.
Despite DC’s heavy hitters playing pivotal roles throughout the book, their technology or cybernetic counterparts take center stage.
‘The Speedster Games’ penned by Joshua Williamson highlights Mercury Flash competing in a multiverse race to see who the fastest Flash is.
It all comes down to Mercury and Barry Allen. It’s hard to picture Barry Allen losing, so the narrative focuses on Mercury’s intense desire to win. Barry tries telling him it’s all about having fun, but that doesn’t register with Mercury. The play-by-play announcing of the race moves the story along, while David Lafuente’s artwork brings energy to every leg of the race. The theme of it’s not whether you win or lose but how you play the game didn’t feel too hokey, and Williamson provides a surprising finish.
‘Summer Lovin’ by Liz Erickson deals with a busy Superboy needing Clark Kent to keep up regular appearances in Smallville.
At the same time, he and the Legion of Superheroes battle an alien menace. Superboy uses one of his trusty robots to do the trick, and it forms the beginnings of a romantic relationship with a sweet brainy girl named Mae. Here’s the kicker; her interests are in advanced robotics. Man, if she only knew who she was really dating. That’s the part that drives the story as their romance blossoms. Nik Virella’s silver age depictions made the story feel like the Superboy books old, while Ferran Fajardo’s coloring gave it a modern sheen. Erickson made it all come together with a great synergy that made for a heartbreaking finale.
Stuart Moore’s ‘Catfish Crisis’ forces Cyborg, Superman, and Hank Henshaw (Cyborg Superman) to fight Super Cyborg Cyborg Superman.
Yes, you read that correctly. Moore ensures this super-powered beach brawl doesn’t take itself too seriously. Well-timed winks to the reader with fish out of water references of crisis and the multiverse bring levity to the situation. Serviceable artwork from Cully Hamner matches Moore’s tone in most instances. The ending is as ridiculous as the story itself, which is highly appropriate.
Whether it’s beach volleyball with Booster Gold and Blue Beetle, summer camp with Red Tornado, or a day at the amusement park with Harley Quinn, all the stories are fun.
Picking up this title all depends on your taste in comic books.
Those looking something playing into the continuity of an ongoing series should probably pass on this book.
Anyone looking for some fun, light reading can do much worse than seeing Batman scared by a coffee pot.
Rating: B
