DC UNIVERSE: LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT #1 REVIEW

[Blake Petit]

Review by: Blake M. Petit Blake@comixtreme.com
Quick Rating: Very Good
Title: Conversions

What would you do the night before the end of the world?

Writer: Brad Meltzer
Pencils: Adam Kubert
Inks: John Dell & Joe Kubert
Colors: Alex Sinclair
Letters: Rob Leigh
Editors: Eddie Berganza & Dan Didio
Cover Art: Adam Kubert, Joe Kubert & Mel Rufino (Cover A); Adam Kubert, John Dell & Laura Martin (Cover B)
Publisher: DC Comics

Since Brad Meltzer is the one who started the DC Universe in its current direction way back in Identity Crisis, it’s only fitting that he come back to make his case as line reaches the end of that road with Final Crisis. It’s the night before the last battle, the night before the heroes of the DC Universe expect the world to end, and everyone is preparing in their own way. What they do, who they choose to be with, how they spend their final night… these are the choices that make the characters who they are.

Much of the book is made up of short vignettes. Powerful father-son moments with Clark and Jonathan Kent and Batman and his two true sons, sister moments with Wonder Woman and Wonder Girl, and tender moments between husbands and wives are plentiful, and are to be expected. There are unexpected moments, too. A villain almost chooses to be a hero, a hero almost chooses to be a villain. Those heroes who seek spiritual guidance find it in a surprising but highly satisfying place. One hero spends the night pining for a lost love, while others spend it with their soul mates.

The core of the book, however, is Geo-Force. In his Justice League of America run, Meltzer established Geo-Force’s drive to get revenge against Deathstroke for the death of his sister. On his last night on Earth, he chooses to make good on that vow. Even at the height of the Outsiders’ popularity, Geo-Force has never been more than a B-list hero, but this issue he’s a B-lister who steps up and delivers a powerful, emotional punch that even the top heroes in the DC Universe would have trouble matching.

Adam Kubert’s pencils are good as well, and John Dell’s inks compliment them very well. The real shocker on this book, however, comes in when several of the pages (as well as the variant cover) are inked by the legendary Joe Kubert. His pages have a wonderfully classic look to them, as though they fell right out of the war comics of the silver age… and for a book like this one, a war story look feels wonderfully appropriate.

It’s not entirely clear why this isn’t specifically labeled as a Final Crisis crossover. Although they don’t specifically refer to the events of that book, the thumbprint of the series is obvious. I can only think of two real reasons the book is marketed the way it was. First off, there’s a clear effort in the company to make DC Universe a brand in and of itself (as evidenced by the zero issue from a few months ago, the several reprint specials we’ve seen, and the upcoming Decisions miniseries). Second, although the book clearly deals with the Crisis, you don’t really need any knowledge of that larger crossover to understand, appreciate, and get absorbed by this wonderfully emotional story. It’s part of something larger – something that goes back to Identity Crisis itself – but it stands on its own. And it’s well worth the read.

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[Infinitor]

It was really good but I haven`t got the faintest idea where the heck this fits continuity wise.

[Jason Kanno]

While this was very well written and straight up awesome during the fight, I was confused as heck throughout the issue.

What is this battle they're referring to? Why is it perpetually night? Where does this take place in Final Crisis? Nothing in Final Crisis so far seems to fit this time frame. Can someone enlighten me? Did I gloss over something in the issue?

[chrismozer]

Originally Posted by Jason Kanno

While this was very well written and straight up awesome during the fight, I was confused as heck throughout the issue.

What is this battle they're referring to? Why is it perpetually night? Where does this take place in Final Crisis? Nothing in Final Crisis so far seems to fit this time frame. Can someone enlighten me? Did I gloss over something in the issue?

Good points. I thought the same thing. Guessing that in an unreleased Final Crisis issue, all will be answered.

Minus that.....i thought it was very good.

[Mark Blicharz]

Originally Posted by Jason Kanno

While this was very well written and straight up awesome during the fight, I was confused as heck throughout the issue.

What is this battle they're referring to? Why is it perpetually night? Where does this take place in Final Crisis? Nothing in Final Crisis so far seems to fit this time frame. Can someone enlighten me? Did I gloss over something in the issue?

It happens just after issue 4 if I recall correctly, but due to the delays it came out before.

[Blake Petit]

Originally Posted by Mark Blicharz

It happens just after issue 4 if I recall correctly, but due to the delays it came out before.

I don't think it has anything to do with delays -- issue four was always scheduled to come out in September. This was intended to come out beforehand.

[Ben Lehnsherr]

While the main event continues to leave me cold, the Final Crisis one-shots and mini-series have rocked. In fact, this one and Reqiuem have been the best of the whole deal for me.

I think its a pretty well known fact that I'm a big Outsider (and esp. Geo-Force) fan, so this thing was absolute gold for me. I said before someone could write Geo-Force talking for a whole issue, and I would love it.....and I was right (okay, so he only talked for half the year.) Amazing issue from start to finish.

This makes me really, really wish Metzler was still writing the JLA. Hell, either him or Tomasi should be writing Final Crisis, not Morrison.

[Jason Kanno]

Originally Posted by Blake Petit

I don't think it has anything to do with delays -- issue four was always scheduled to come out in September. This was intended to come out beforehand.

Then how does this tie into Final Crisis?

[Blake Petit]

Originally Posted by Jason Kanno

Then how does this tie into Final Crisis?

Oh, chronologically I'm sure Mark is right. It seems like it should fit with the big battle which is supposed to begin in issue #4. I just think it was always intended to come out BEFORE that issue.

[Jason Kanno]

Oh. Well, argh!

[Mark Blicharz]

Originally Posted by Blake Petit

I don't think it has anything to do with delays -- issue four was always scheduled to come out in September. This was intended to come out beforehand.

Actually, issue four was originally supposed to be out this past Wednesday and got pushed back because of the delay to September. :P

[Blake Petit]

Originally Posted by Mark Blicharz

Actually, issue four was originally supposed to be out this past Wednesday and got pushed back because of the delay to September. :P

When they announced the series in the first place, they said August was going to be a "skip month" with no issue of FC and that the one-shots would fill the gap.

I mean, I'm sure your retailer-fu has some inside info, but I'm just going with how the format was described originally.

[jonsnow]

Despite possible continuity discrepancies, this was a fantastic issue. Loved it. Everything tied into Final Crisis has been fantastic (I can't speak for Superman Beyond, the price on that just seemed a bit too steep, but if it gets rave reviews I'll fork over the dinero)

[Mark Blicharz]

Originally Posted by Blake Petit

When they announced the series in the first place, they said August was going to be a "skip month" with no issue of FC and that the one-shots would fill the gap.

I mean, I'm sure your retailer-fu has some inside info, but I'm just going with how the format was described originally.

Yes, because of the changes that had to be done they had to "skip" a month.

[B. Schatz]

For the record? I'm really enjoying Final Crisis. But this was... hurm.

I hold certain genres accountable to different standards. When I'm reading a superhero book, it's supposed to be fun, not grim as hell. Things are getting pretty seriously grim over in Final Crisis proper, true, but there's a clear fiction to the events that comforts me. But, uhh...

Attempted suicide? And then, when confronted about how his life completely unraveled, Rockfaceman just pretends like everything is hunky dory?

This is not superhero. This is not fun. These are stories I've read in terrible prose books about teens with these problems - only with swords and fighting instead of cat fights.

But... that's just a personal thing. The craft involved with the story was good. Just not what I personally look for inside the genre.

[TheTANTALIZER]

I agree, I see nothing insync with the crisis. And The cover title is misleading. Continuity wise, this thing is really messy, and there probably isn't going to be a way to know when exactly this takes place.

[Symphony of Six]

After reading this I wouldn't be suprised if we saw a Meltzer/Johns co-written Outsiders somewhere down the line. Especially since Meltzer says this has a lot of hints on what's to come and Johns has said panel after panel that he wants to write the Outsiders. It would be great for both of their schedules to have them both write it.

[Mark Blicharz]

Originally Posted by B. Schatz

For the record? I'm really enjoying Final Crisis. But this was... hurm.

I hold certain genres accountable to different standards. When I'm reading a superhero book, it's supposed to be fun, not grim as hell. Things are getting pretty seriously grim over in Final Crisis proper, true, but there's a clear fiction to the events that comforts me. But, uhh...

Attempted suicide? And then, when confronted about how his life completely unraveled, Rockfaceman just pretends like everything is hunky dory?

This is not superhero. This is not fun. These are stories I've read in terrible prose books about teens with these problems - only with swords and fighting instead of cat fights.

But... that's just a personal thing. The craft involved with the story was good. Just not what I personally look for inside the genre.

It wasn't supposed to be a fun read. I wouldn't look for that in a book titled "Last Will and Testament." :P

[jonsnow]

Originally Posted by Mark Blicharz

It wasn't supposed to be a fun read. I wouldn't look for that in a book titled "Last Will and Testament." :P

Fun might not be the right adjective, but I certainly enjoyed this. It was a great issue. I may not be able to alleviate the issues with where it falls in continuity, but man was it good. It keeps with the tone of FC, with everything being dark and despairing.

[Ben Lehnsherr]

Originally Posted by Symphony of Six

After reading this I wouldn't be suprised if we saw a Meltzer/Johns co-written Outsiders somewhere down the line. Especially since Meltzer says this has a lot of hints on what's to come and Johns has said panel after panel that he wants to write the Outsiders. It would be great for both of their schedules to have them both write it.

To put it mildly, I would be absolutely beside myself with joy if this happened.