Written by: Tom King
Pencils by: Barnaby Baganda
Colors by: Romulo Fajardo Jr.
Letters by: Pat Brosseau
Cover by: Trevor Hutchison
Price: 2.99
Release Date: March 2, 2016
Omega Men is currently one of DC's best titles. In fact, out of all of the series that launched with the DC YOU it's probably my favorite. But that also means, that my expectations of it's quality are abnormally high. And this week, when every other book was mediocre at best; all of my hope for a good read laid with The Omega Men.
Thus, when Omega Men #9 landed in my doorstep, I really wanted it to wipe the sour taste of bad reading from my mouth. Did this issue meet my expectations? Was it any good at all? Does margarine really taste like butter? I guess we'll find out...
Explain it!
The issue begins with Kyle and the Omega Men walking into a negotiation room. Rayner wants to speak with the head of the Citadel and somehow find a way to procure peace. Unfortunately, he's been duped. Rayner is not walking into a negotiation room, but into a debate. His opponent? The head of the Citadel Empire.
Kyle then steps up to the podium and starts talking about both the Omega Men and the Citadel. He explains that he wants to find a way out of this, a third way, the American way. Anyways, Kyle's appeals fall on deaf ears, as Kalista has put plans of her own in motion. It is here that I have to question Kyle's overall wisdom in trusting the Omega Men to keep their word. I mean, I'd buy it if he was Hal Jordan, but Rayner's supposed to have a brain behind those ears.
Either way, Kalista's plan involves Scrapps' robot assistant, who blows up the planet Voorl. Now, for those not in the know, Voorl was the only planet with the mineral resources required to keep the Citadel Empire afloat. Naturally, it's destruction causes an immediate cease in the talks and everyone opens fire.
Everyone also ends up hurt and as Scrapps is about to die, Kyle summons the greatest weapon in the universe: his white lantern ring. That's right, the head of the Citadel brought the most dangerous weapon in the universe to the one man who could utilize properly. We are left with a cliffy, but I think we can all see how this is going to play out.
Bit's and Pieces:
Something about this issue didn’t quite work for me the way rest of the issues have worked for me. I can immediately discount the art, because that of course has remained constant and the dialogues is as sharp as ever. The story is also finally done cooking and into it’s climax. So then what is it? Well I think it has to be two things… First Kyle Rayner is a complete moron this issue, the thing he does is just daft. Also, as a non-American, that whole American Way speech absolutely did not connect with me and just made me think the character was acting even dumber than he previously was. Anyways, with that in mind, I give this book a...
7/10
I agree that the whole "American Way" thing feels out of place and I personally would have chosen a different form of dialogue in that panel. The story though feels like it's really starting to pick up steam as we are heading to this series conclusion. It will be interesting to see where Kyle and the Omega Men will end up.
ReplyDeleteYeah it was good! That one line did throw me off a little as well, but I think I'd give it an 8.5/10. This issue was pretty great!
ReplyDeleteI think Kyle's folly is in character. Last issue, the Omega Men seemingly gave him everything they had in an attempt to convince him. And it come across as a genuine attempt, given that their well-laid plans had basically died in a fire. They seemed desperate. If it was believable to readers, then it's believable to Kyle.
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