Smallville: Continuity #7 Review

Written by: Bryan Q. Miller
Art by: Marcelo Di Chiara
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: October 10, 2014

Twister

I'm not a guy who likes change.  I don't know how many times I wake up in the morning, look at that underwear drawer and decide to stay with what got me to the show in the first place.  I realize that made no sense, but I'm going somewhere with this, trust me.  This issue starts the second half of the Continuity story and the times they are a changin'.  By "the times" I mean the storytelling and the art style.  After a bunch of really strong issues, this change is not only unwelcome, but ruined the momentum the story was gaining.



Superman, Supergirl and Martian Manhunter start the issue by trying to stop a kamikaze pod, but while it gives Kara a good feeling in her tummy, there is no stopping it.  It's ripping through buildings in Metropolis faster than a Man of Steel movie and it's heading for a very big target.  Big as in stomach and pregnant.  With all these heroes around, someone will save the day, right?

I'm now going to go against myself because there is one change this week that is awesome.  It happens at just the right time and is so great.  Of course I'm not going to tell you what it is, but it's worth the price of admission.  Just as the day appears to be saved, a bigger threat emerges and forces the group into yet another "end the issue with a team declaration and stance".  I wish I could say I loved this issue, but I didn't.  In fact, besides the one change, this may be my least favorite issue ever.

A big part of that is because of the art.  It's not that Marcelo Di Chiara does a bad job, it's just not a good fit for this book.  Maybe I'm just used to a certain look for this book, but this big a change in the middle of a story arc doesn't seem right.  I want to make a joke about the story being called "Continuity", but I won't.

This issue just seemed off.  Yes, the art threw me out, but it was also the dialogue.  That's something Bryan Q. Miller usually nails, but for some reason it's just not there this week.  I'm hoping it gets back on track next week because I was really starting to love this story.  The surprise change and the cliffhanger promise excitement and action on the horizon.

Bits and Pieces:

This issue was about change and I was not happy.  The art was such a departure from the usual style that it was distracting and for the first time ever, I didn't enjoy Bryan Q. Miller's story or characterizations.  It wasn't good, but it wasn't all bad, either.  We get to see an awesome change of character and the cliffhanger was pretty cool, as well.  This issue started the second half of the Continuity story and I just wish it was better.

4.0/10