Dynamo 5 #18 – Review

By Jay Faerber (Writer), Mahmud A. Asrar (Art), Marcio Takara (Art), and Ron Riley (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: While I found the last issue of Dynamo 5 to be enjoyable, it really didn’t amount to a whole lot. As with the other hit or miss chapters of the third story arc, the character work was strong, but the overarching plot seemed to be moving at a snail’s pace. With that in mind, I came into Dynamo 5 #18, hoping that the series could regain some of the momentum that made me enjoy the first two trades so much.

The Story: A team of super-villains targets the “new” Dynamo 5 team in an effort to destroy Tower City’s last line of defense. During the ensuing battle, the mysterious Vigil’s identity is revealed. Meanwhile, a disappointed Maddie Warner looks to re-establish herself as the guiding force behind Captain Dynamo’s children so that Tower City can be protected.

What’s Good: I am usually against splitting up art duty for a standard-sized issue, but Mahmud A. Asrar and Marcio Takara (with Ron Riley’s help) do a pretty good job making the book look consistent and visually entertaining. Takara’s cartoony style isn’t quite as impressive as Asrar’s more detailed work, but it does a nice job of filling in the dynamic action sequences. As for the story, it sets up the arc’s conclusion well while bringing a slightly darker edge to the series.

What’s Not So Good: While it is good to see the series finally getting back on track, I can’t help but feel disappointed with how fast and predictably the issue reads. The whole thing just feels like a very standard “heroes being overwhelmed” story that offers few surprises and very little plot advancement. Also, while I suppose the Vigil reveal is something of note, I am fairly certain every Dynamo 5 fan saw it coming months ago.

Conclusion: Dynamo 5 #18 is a solid chapter in a good series, but not exactly the shot in the arm I was hoping for. Most of you will be better off just reading this arc as a trade because, quite simply, too little happens from issue to issue.

Grade: C

-Kyle Posluszny

Dynamo 5 #17 – Review

By Jay Faerber (Writer), Mahmud A. Asrar (Artist), and Ron Riley (Colors)

The Story: Scatterbrain enters Maddie Warner’s unconscious as she lies comatose as a result of the attack she suffered at the hands of Brains, a Tower City super-villain. By exploring and confronting the past, Maddie gains new insight into the decisions she made that lead to the relationship she had with Captain Dynamo.

What’s Good: Jay Faerber’s character work in this issue is fantastic as it features some surprisingly poignant dialogue. It is Faerber doing what he does best for an entire issue and that, my friends, is a good thing. The rich characterization is made even better thanks to some strong artwork highlighting Maddie’s past and Scatterbrain’s mental projection. Also, as a stand-alone story, the issue works well within the larger scheme of things by adding depth to the two characters that (I believe) have needed it the most.

What’s Not So Good: That this feels like every bit the filler story it is supposed to be. It seems like most of what is presented here could have been broken up between the last few issues instead of having an entire issue devoted to it. I love the character work here, but as far as the overall plot goes, it didn’t really advance it in any significant way. With the price of comic books these days it hurts to spend money on something that seems to go nowhere.

Conclusion: It is possible to skip this one without missing anything but some great character work. Far from essential to the plot and lacking action, pick this one up only if you have some spare cash after grabbing everything else from the week.

Grade: C-

-Kyle Posluszny