Demon Knights #5 – Review

By: Paul Cornell (writer), Diógenes Neves (artist), Oclair Albert (inker), Marcelo Maiolo (colorist)

The Story: I know this isn’t Deal or No Deal, but…y’all should take that deal!

The Review: One of the few life lessons I’ve learned is that getting a group together is easy; getting them to stick together is not.  Even when you all start off with a common purpose, you’re bound to have friction on how to accomplish it, and that’s before you get to the conflict of personalities that inevitably arises.  For the supremely diverse Demon Knights, their risk of falling into petty or vicious squabbling is bound to be greater than the normal group of people.

Even now, at this dire hour when they may all perish by an invading horde, they can’t seem to stop themselves from squabbling.  The infighting among the women has especially gotten out of hand, as both Horsewoman and Xanadu take issue with Exoristos’ impulsive confidence.  Even Al Jabr, quietest and most rational of the gang, can’t stop himself from throwing a punch at one of his “comrades,” as Ex naively puts it.  Jason Blood can’t even keep from fighting himself.

For all that, this issue shows there is some quality common to them all that gives sense to them as a team.  What that quality is, however, is harder to pin down.  Still, it can’t be a coincidence that each one of them rejects the overtures of the Questing Queen and Mordru, though the two antagonists tempt them with their deepest desires.  Each of these offers reveal crucial clues as to the cast’s backgrounds.  We learn that Ex’s departure from Paradise Island came under some sketchy circumstances; Horsewoman’s attachment to her ride is as magical as it is personal; and Al Jabr has a spiritual side equal to his devotion to science.

WCBR’s Top Picks

Dean’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Rachel Rising #4 – This was kinda a “blah” week for comics with Marvel shoveling up a big, fat pile of “okay” and that gives an opportunitiy for some interesting choices like Rachel Rising #4.  Nothing that remarkable happened inside the pages of RR; we didn’t begin a new plotline and there were no “startling revelations”.  But, Terry Moore did start to tie some separate pieces together in this issue and give us glimpses of what his story will be about.  And of course, this creepy story of a girl who rises from the dead is beautifully illustrated.  Not many artists could pull off the intricate and delicate linework that Moore gives us every month.  Trust me: Pick up Rachel Rising now because the next thing you know, it’ll be issue #15 and you’ll feel you’re too far behind.  Runner-up: Vescell #5

Most Anticipated: Scarlet Spider #1 –  You know who is really good at comics?  Ryan Stegman.  The guy is super-talented and improving all the time, yet for some reason Marvel has been putting him on miniseries and things that are doomed to be cancelled early.  This is really annoying considering some of the mediocre art that comes out of some parts of Marvel (ahem….X-office).  FINALLY, he gets a shot at an ongoing that should have some legs.  We got teases of what he could do on a Spidey-themed book in Amazing Spiderman early last summer and he nailed it.  And, it’s being written by Chris Yost who rarely does a bad story.  Personally, I’m not a big fan of all the clone crap in in my Spidey stories, but with these creators Marvel makes it impossible to say “no”.  Check it out.

Other Picks: Batwoman #5, Scalped #55, Unwritten #33, The Activity #2, Severed #6, Amazing Spider-Man #677, Secret Avengers #21, Wolverine and the X-Men #4

Alex’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Swamp Thing #5 – Yanick Paquette may have only left for one issue, but man did I miss him!  A gorgeous book with great storytelling from both creators, great monsters, and great character moments.  Oh, and Alec Holland finally kicks some ass.  A great book.  Not just that, but Swamp Thing and Animal Man are really showing the right way to build up to a crossover.

Most Anticipated: PunisherMAX #21 – The penultimate issue of Jason Aaron’s run is here and finally, Frank and Fisk are going to throw down for real and, if the solicitation is right, someone’s going to die.  Readers of PunisherMAX know that this fight has been a LONG time coming.  The build-up has been amazing and it’s gone beyond personal; it’s been brutally inevitable since issue 1 and now, it comes down to this.

Other Picks: Batwoman #5, Demon Knights #5, Frankenstein #5, Green Lantern #5, Wolverine & the X-Men #4, Wolverine #300, Incredible Hulk #4, Journey into Mystery #633, New Avengers #20, Captain America #7, Amazing Spider-Man #677