FOREVER EVIL #6 (REVIEW)

Forever Evil #6

Writer: Geoff Johns

Artist: Richard Friend
          David Finch

Cover: David Finch





The Rundown:
Lex Luthor, Batman, Catwoman, Bizarro, Deathstroke, Black Adam, Captain Cold, and Black Manta are tracking down their target. Lex can't help but push Batman's buttons based on how easy he finds it. Ultraman and the rest of the remaining members of the Crime Syndicate are both mourning and looking at the giant tear in the sky from "him", while the ring of the fallen member, Power Ring, has found a new bearer. As long as "he" doesn't attempt to attack again, Deathstorm says he should be able to mend it. The Outsider aka tells Owlman that he should return immedietly to see what Grid has done to the captive Nightwing. Batman and the others arrive at their destination and are able to sneak in undetected. Luthor sends the others after the two Syndicate members within the stronghold, while he, Catwoman and Bizarro follow Batman, who has gone off in his own direction. Upon arriving at his destination, Batman and the others come upon Nightwing aka Richard Grayson entrapped in a device known as The Murder Machine. As the alarm goes off, Grid informs Outsider they've been infiltrated and summons the other members to return. Owlman orders "his" Alfred to protect Grayson, to which he disobeys his master and heads for "the prisoner", looking to end him before he is able to escape, and kill Owlman. Whilst approaching "the prisoner" he is stabbed in the back by Black Manta as he arrives with Captain Cold. Manta stabs The Outsider a few more times, before leaving him in a bloody heap on the ground.

Lex and the others are now trapt in the room containing Nightwing, which was designed to hold Doomsday, and what is now revealed to also contain a bomb hooked up to Richards heart. A five minute countdown begins on the bomb. Sinestro, Deathstroke and Black Adam are first to great the arriving Crime Syndicate as they make their smashing entrance. Ultraman immediately goes after Sinestro who fires of a shot from his ring as Black Adam swoops the other world Man Of Steel outside looking to return the favor from their previous encounter. Owlman quickly separates himself from the action going off on his own. Captain Cold and Black Manta remove "the prisoner's" hood, revealing a bearded man with tape over his mouth. As they remove the tape, Atomica and Johnny Quick make their way into the room discovering Outsider's body. Nightwing tries to convince Batman to save himself and the others, to which Batman quickly refuses before getting shot in the back by Lex Luthor. Catwoman takes offense before Bizarro holds her off as Lex puts his hand over Grayson's mouth and nose saying "I'm sorry, Mr Grayson".

Atomica is micro-sized and searching for a way to enter Manta's suit to enter his bloodstream to no avail. Johnny Quick grabs hold of Captain Cold while telling him about killing the Captain Cold from his world, and is corrected when he refers to Colds gun as a "freeze gun" and not the "cold gun" that it is. Cold also shows him how it is voice activated, "Jingle Bells, Batman Smells", flash freezing Quick's leg before shattering and severing the limb with a kick. Lex is still smothering Grayson as Batman and Catwoman fight through Bizarro. Batman is able to him out with a ring loaded punch, but is too late to stop Lex as the heart monitor sounds off with 0:03 remaining on the clock. With a grin, "the prisoner" tells Atomica how Johnny will never run again, which causes her be fearful that he isn't gagged anymore, saying they need Ultraman. Whom is outside battling it out with Black Adam in a lightning storm, as "the prisoner" screams "MAZAHS!!!" unleashing a "dark lightning bolt" from the sky above down to his body. The prisoner is free, and snaps Quick's neck as he was crawling to Atomica, and absorbs his powers. In the last full page panel "the prisoner" is revealed to be Alexander Luthor who proclaims, that he is going to kill them all before becoming the greatest hero this world has ever seen.



The Review:
Wow. When I heard rumors as to what would appear within this issue of "Forever Evil", I was thinking that I would have to really try hard to find some positives to write about. I thought wrong. This issue was really well done on all ends in the creative department. Although it may have been a long story arc, which we should've known it would be the moment Geoff Johns name was mentioned in all this, it all seems to be ending nicely. Even the rumored "Death Of Nightwing" which was the rumor, was handled nicely. How so? Yes, he is technically dead right now, but even Lex lets us know that it isn't too late to save him. Heck, how many times have we seen Batman's heart stop? But even in that, it is still left open ended until next issue. Will they leave him dead as is? Will he be brought back only to be killed off? Or will he left unscathed in the "I died and came back" department. Hopefully. Now, I am not sure if this was intended, but they gave me villains that I "hate" more than the bad guys of this world, which helps me kind of enjoy this "Injustice League" team as well as watching members of the Crime Syndicate getting taken out. Namely Johnny Quick, who I just did not like when he appeared when this all started, and was I ever pleased with how they took him out. The added touch of Captain Cold referencing a "mutual respect" with The Flash made that scene extra good. I am liking the intro of Alexander Luthor, this is my comic book introduction to the character, but his build up and grand appearance has me intrigued.

The art was done very well and put Geoff's words into perfect "frozen" action, living up to its end in telling the story. That was also a slight pun, because I really enjoyed the work done on the dismembering of Johnny Quick, which the art also added to my not liking the character. He even looks like he would be smart mouthed idiot. I do wonder if Friend and Finch find these issues to be a curse or a blessing. A curse in the sense that there aren't any "faceless background people" to either speed through or to help make the main characters standout more. The blessing in that usually when you draw for a title, you are limited to the characters that fall within that titles usual range, with occasional guess appearances from those outside of it. In this situation it is an all-star line-up of the top heroes and villains within the new DC Universe. Safe to assume they put issues like this in the portfolio for future "title shots".

Overall "Forever Evil #6" was a top notch issue both alone and as part of the current story arc with the same name. The blood was bit much, but needed to remind us that the "good guys" are still villains after all. Geoff Johns seems to be able to work with anyone, or has been lucky to have such talented artists at his side, because although I agree with many that this has been a long cross-over, or at least seems to have been it is winter after all. Even greatness can get tiresome, however, issues like this help rekindle the fire as things come to an end. Which I am looking forward to for a whole different reason now.

Stay Nerdy!