Forever Evil #6

Forever Evil #6

Writer: Geoff Johns
Penciller: David Finch
Inker: Richard Friend
Colorist: Sonia Oback
Letterer: Rob Leigh
Cover Artists: David Finch, Richard Friend and Sonia Oback (regular cover), Ivan Reis, Joe Prado and Rod Reis (variant covers)

Now this is how you write a comic. Forever Evil #6 is a ticking time bomb of ratcheting suspense and action. Batman and Luthor take their strike team to the wreckage of the Justice League’s headquarters to save Richard Grayson (aka Nightwing). The Syndicate gets wind of the intrusion and a massive showdown occurs. But it’s not one big, massive, mindless brawl. Instead, the comic creators masterfully dole out the story panel-by-delicious-panel with ever increasing anticipation and reward.

As normal, it opens with a monologue by Lex Luthor that begins the anticipation. Lex is working with Batman, a very unlikely alliance. One made even more apparent by the artwork on the next page which shows their team of erstwhile bad guys. Further tension is introduced by a series of small, rapid panels showing the Syndicate’s concern about the rift in the sky and the impending arrival of the “Destructor”. They’re worried. But Owlman is also worried about Grayson. Alfred informs him that something odd has been done to him. There’s also worry about a mysterious prisoner.

The pace begins to pick up as Lex and company enter the headquarters. They find Grayson in an inescapable contraption. Black Manta and Captain Cold split off and engage in some brutal combat. The Syndicate returns. One-on-one battles break out. Batman struggles to free Grayson. The tension builds…and builds…and builds. Finally the crescendo breaks, and in that moment, the issue ends.

Through the layout and breakdown of the panels, the pacing of this issue is perfect. It slyly manipulates the reader’s emotions with bursts of exposition, conflict and surprise. The consequences are not trivial, either. People die in this issue. People are freed. With the unlocking of more secrets on the cusp of revelation, the story goes out on a high note with maximum anticipation. This series is hitting its pinnacle.

With excellent artwork and storytelling through both visuals and words, I give this issue a five out of five metal bikinis. Right now, this is my favorite superhero comic. Bad guys fighting bad guys, it doesn’t get much better than that.

Reviewed By: Skuldren for Roqoo Depot.