Villains United: Infinite Crisis Special
Author: Gail Simone
Penciler: Dale Eaglesham
Inker: Art Thibert
Cover: Karl Kerschl
Gail Simone delivers another great story with the characters ripped from the Villains United mini series last year. This is probably my favorite Infinite Crises Special from the four series last year. Eaglesham delivers another fantastic artistic interpretation of Simone's story and we have the fantastic Art Thibert cleaning up those pictures. Thibert's inking is only bested by Terry Austin and Scott Williams in my book.
So let's play a bit of catch-up in case you missed out on last years limited series. The Society was founded by Alexander Luthor, Jr.(from Earth 3) posing as Lex Luthor. It was emerged because of the rumors of the JLA mind wiping of Dr. Light. Along with Black Adam, Talia al Ghul, Doctor Psycho, The Calculator, Deathstroke the Terminator, Alexander formed the council of six. Luthor's intent was to gather together a crew of super villains to retrieve several key superheroes such as Pariah and Lady Quark. These key superheroes were to power a device that the Society believed to be a machine to mind wipe all the heroes of Earth. However, its true purpose was to warp reality and recreate the multiple Earths wiped out during the Crisis on Infinite Earths. Practically the Society got played!
This issue takes place after Infinite Crises #6 (RIP Superboy or until we getcha back in TT). Alex took some time to make a hologram of Luthor to keep the Society active. They have orchestrated one of the biggest acts of terror the world has ever seen a simultaneous global prison break. At this time all of Earth's mightiest heroes are missing in action, who will be there to stop the tide of evil that threatens to engulf the entire planet? Well according to this issue not even Oracle and J'onn could come up with a counter attack! The shit seriously hits the fan in this tie-in. There was a great fight between Captain Nazi and Black Adam (whom I'm guessing got knocked into Earth S by Superboy Prime and returned to Earth 1 just in time for this issue). Not exactly what I thought it was going to be. Much like Omac Special leading into Checkmate 1; I really thought this issue was paving the way for the Secret Six comic. As a matter of fact there was no Secret Six in this book at all. So two more cats to add to the deceased members of the Society...RIP Professor Amos Fortune and Deuce Canyard (Jack)!
A fantastic read with some great artwork. Again Simone impresses me with her talent to deliver an action pack story with plenty of dialogue and plot! I am so glad Thibert decided to stick with inking instead of drawing. His inks clean up the already fantastic Eaglesham's pencils. A great tie-in and I can't wait to see how this all gets resolved in Infinite Crises 7 and 52! A-
I liked this special, and all the specials so far. The Rann Thanagar special was the weakest, but the others I felt were strong, especially this one.
I liked this special but, was a little diappointed there wasn't as many appearances of the Secret Six as I had expected I mean it's a Villians United Special for cryin out loud. All in all it was good though, especially with the whole Doomsday thing. Overall though, the Day of Vengeance: IC special I still liked the best.
I loved the Day of Vengeance and I can not wait for the Secret Six series to begin.