The Twelve #5 (of 12) – Review

By J. Michael Straczynski (Writer), Chris Weston (Pencils), Garry Leach (Inks), and Chris Chuckry (Colors)

This issue, while still well told and entertaining, is really just more of the same. We get the origin of The Witness and we see Captain Wonder punch Dynamic Man (finally!), but we really get no movement forward in the story except for the very end. So to anyone not already reading this series, this will likely do very little to convert you should you pick it up.

That said, we do get more delving into the individual characters, which it what this series seems to revolve around. J. Michael Straczynski continues to provide well written characterizations for every single person featured. The Blue Blade’s scene, for example, approaches cheesiness, but this is not due to the way it is written – it is simply the way that Blue Blade would act. So although slightly annoying, it is still acceptable. Similarly, we get several examples of how out-of-place these characters are in our time as we see them interact with some of the nastier aspects. Chris Weston’s art continues to fit like glove for this series. It works so well at maintaining the old comic art flavor that I had to remind myself several times that this story takes place in the modern day. Likewise, he makes these characters just as personal as Straczynski.

Perhaps the best part of the characterization is their interaction with each other, aside from the earlier mentioned fight, we get to see much more development between Dynamic Man and Captain Wonder. And much to my surprise, Dynamic Man actually has an almost plausible reason for being such a jerk. So while this series may not be filled with action and super villains, as always, it is the characters which continue to move the story forward. (Grade: B)

-M. Staples

A Second Opinion

I agree with the review above. This issue is more of the same, but I don’t see this issue as a rehash, but more as a continuance of the story. These characters, in many ways, are their own worst enemies – not because they’re bad people, but because they’re more real and fleshed out a hell of a lot more than the cheap costumes they wear. They’re men out of time that can’t accept the future they’ve been given. I’ve got a bad feeling that those who attempt to embrace it (Dynamic Man, Blue Blade) will eventually run into a horrible end.

There’s little to complain about where this series is concerned. Probably the only thing that’s constantly disappointing is how little we see of the characters in each issue. But there are 12 of them. How can I griped about that? Hopefully, we get more of Black Widow and RockMan next issue.

I’m running out of good things to say about this series. It’s got seven issues to go before it reaches its conclusion and if the creative team can keep the quality at this level, The Twelve will go down as one of the great pieces of comics literature – up there with Watchman and The Dark Knight. I really do not say this lightly, either. The Twelve is not as revolutionary as the aforementioned titles, but it is definitely a redefining of a genre – the reemergence of the Golden Age heroes as complicated, three-dimensional personalities.
(Grade: A)

– J. Montes