Comics / Comic Reviews / DC Comics

Review: DCeased #1

By Philip Schweier
May 1, 2019 - 01:34

I’ve been reading comic books for over 45 years. Make of that whatever you care to, but in that time I have witnessed a variety of events which comic publisher have served: “It all starts here!” “A bold, new direction!” “No more mutants.” “Civil War.”

They killed Superman, then brought him back. They crippled Batman, then cured him. Spider-Man got married, then divorced. The only thing I can think that would be more exhausting than listening to the hype, would be creating it.

DC Comics latest event, entitled DCeased features a cover blurb: “The end of everything starts here.” No, it doesn’t. It’s not the end, DC is not going to stop publishing comic books or kill off more heroes (not permanently, anyway).

In the story, Darkseid is driven off Earth (again) by the JLA, leaving with an ominous, “I got what I came for” statement. In the aftermath, Batman realizes Cyborg is nowhere to be found within two light years. He knows this because he has tracking software running in one of Victor’s sub routines. Batman’s paranoia will not allow Apocalyptic technology to roam the world so freely, and is preparing for his benign teammate to suddenly become malware. Kinda sounds familiar, doesn’t it?

In the end, Darkseid uses Vic as a carrier for an online virus that rapidly turns biological, turning people into rabid zombies. Yes, zombies. (Click here for a definition)

The story features the artwork of Trevor Hairsine, Stefano Gaudino, and James Harren. I’m uncertain why three artists were needed, though it does help that each handled a different sequence, so the sudden difference in artwork served the story.

I wish to keep an open mind, but the first issue seems to be cobbled from familiar tropes – Batman’s paranoia, torture at the hands of deSaad, zombies, Clark’s immediate concern for Lois and Jon, more zombies. None of the ingredients are anything we haven’t tasted before, but I’m hoping DC can present them in a fresh, new mix. “A bold, new direction,” if you will.

Rating: 5 /10

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12