Clark Kent continues his investigation into why reformed criminal Major Disaster gave up on being a good guy, landing himself in prison and a bystander in the ground. Clark’s questioning of Major Disaster’s associates Scorch and the Mighty Bruce landed him in a recovery room in the Batcave after he’s beaten up by someone he didn’t see.
We find out what Bruce means at the end of this middle chapter of the three-part Force Majeure story.
Before that, Clark talks to Metropolis police Chief Kekoa about Major Disaster – real name Paul Booker – and begins to suspect that the supposed random death wasn’t so random after all.
The dogged newspaperman takes his lead to Scorch, a teleporter able to generate the heat of the sun.
That exchange about Superman floating is just great. Many a time I’ve bemoaned scenes showing Superman literally talking down to people, but this exchange heavily implies it’s not him feeling superior, it’s more a matter of our hero sometimes being distracted and forgetting to ground himself.
And the rest of the issue is a winner too. Last time I was worried guest writer John Ridley was being a bit too negative in showing it’s pretty much impossible for a crook to try to be good, and keep on trying. Here, after Scorch takes Superman to see one of Metropolis’s criminal old guard, we learn there’s a reason Major Disaster went back to the bad. It also explains a similar heel turn by Atomic Skull a few months ago.
The explanation is very comic booky yet manages not to feel silly; maybe it’s my wanting an explanation for super-villain recidivism other than ‘it’s their nature’ that makes me open to the idea. But the fact it motivates entertaining character interaction and an action scene involving a gang who seem to model themselves on Darkseid’s parademons doesn’t hurt.
And don’t they look good, as drawn by Inaki Miranda? Superman is bigger than life without approaching the Macy’s Parade proportions of Ed McGuinness, Scorch looks the perfect femme fatale while… oops, mustn’t give away the surprise mastermind behind it all. Body language is carefully observed (that panel with Superman blocking Batman’s chat with his hand is terrific). The storytelling is excellent throughout, with interesting compositions aplenty. And the baddies who turn up on the final page look fun…
… it’s just a shame Ridley doesn’t tell us who they are – are we meant to recognise them? It’s hard to worry about people coming for Supeman if you’ve no idea how formidable they are.
One other small problem I have with the writing comes in this panel.
‘I got…’ Nah, Superman is a writer, this isn’t a construction he uses.
Still, that’s a small thing, I was pleased with this chapter, it’s refreshing to see Clark using his investigative skill to crack a story. And while last issue Superman was weighed down by pessimism, here he’s over his gloomy mood and really believes in a person’s power to change.
The colours by Eva De La Cruz are attractive, with characters popping and the sun looking particularly good. There are a lot of words this time but, thanks to Dave Sharpe, the letters never drown the artwork.
Gleb Melnikov’s cover is fun, it’s not often Clark gets the spotlight, and I do like that wee man peeking around the corner.
Now, if the final instalment is as good as or – whisper it, better – than this one I promise not to turn back to villainy.
Maybe.
Too Dangerous For a Girl 2 
Glad you liked it but Ridley went on my No Read List after last issue. I’ve still to read Atom Project #2 so we’ll need to see if that applies to his giving plotting help too though if he’s responsible for the new characterization of Ray Palmer that will happen.
BTW, were you ever bothered by how much they changed Disaster’s look when he went hero? Suddenly he was more handsome, taller, and younger with no explanation. I’ve never been able to accept the revamp as being GL’s middle aged, homely villain. It’s almost as huge a change as the new look for the Demons 3 in JSA and the various redesigns we’re seeing all over that make DC’s current refusal to name check characters more glaring.
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I couldn’t remember what Major Disaster looked like under his mask, but I did like the original costume. The current look is just ugly and impractical.
Atom Project #2 was so boring I never bothered tp review it. And a week later I couldn’t tell you what happened.
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Not digging this storyline. Ridley has a wiki knowledge of Superman. For instance, why is Superman in the Batcave, as opposed to the Fortress of Solitude? We just have to find a way to get Batman in the story, right? Why does Superman need to fly to the sun for these, for him, minor injuries? He could just go to, again, the Fortress of Solitude. Lois tells Superman he’s carrying “despair”, in the form of her obligatory pep talk, because Superman is emotionally fragile? Get the flock out of here with all of that. Some writers just don’t understand Superman. Ridley is on the top 10 list.
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He’ll be gone soon! Hopefully the news of what’s coming up in Action Comics will intrigue!
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