See You in Hell
Art by: Barnaby Bagenda, Romulo Fajardo Jr. and Pat BrosseauCover Price: 2.99
Release Date: April 27, 2016
Good morning everyone. How are you today? Good? Good. Welcome to another Weird Science installment of Omega Men reviews. This time, we are here to discuss the penultimate issue; number 11. As we approach the end of this series, we've seen a book dominated by strong characterizations, an intriguing storyline and more than competent art. We've seen Kyle change from hero to soldier. We've seen the revolution against the Citadel grow from guerrilla tactics to all out war. And we've seen whole new environments and alien species depicted by Bagenda's pencils. In short, we've seen a lot of good comics, and one can only hope this coming issue continues that legacy.
Explain it!
Our issue begins with Kyle Rayner buying himself an army. Now I will say, straight up, that the logic here is quite bullshit, because apparently he just found a "Space Diamond" by random luck. But anyways, he buys an army and then has them join the Omega Men as the rest of the team converges together. Fortunately, however, each Omega Man brings an army of their own...
Scrapps goes back to Broot's planet to threaten their Pope. He is not a true believer, she states, and thus has an innate fear of death. If he does not help her she will kill him. Thus, she gains an army. On the other side of the galaxy, Tigorr faces a trial by combat to take his father's place as king. He is reminded that he is weak and grew up as a pet, that he is nothing at all like his father. Tigorr agrees, but as he nonetheless wins, he reminds everyone else that he killed his father. Thus, he gains an army. Meanwhile, Primus has been transmitting a message through the television, one of inspiration, one meant to convince people to go to war. He succeeds and several of the world's in the Citadel occupied galaxy become his army. What about Kalista, you ask? Well....
She kills her father and takes his place in the throne. We see a little bit of her plans for her people and thought I don't want to reveal them, I just want to say that it is becoming apparent that she is the true villain of the story. Anyways, as stated the armies all converge and the war keeps on going. Until at last, the Omega Men reach the heart of the Citadel Empire.
Bits and Pieces:
I've been reviewing this series for four issues now and I think that I've made it pretty clear that this is one of my favorites (probably the best in the entire DC YOU). This issue proves why. The motivations behind every character (large or small) are extremely clear, the progression of the plot is natural and everything ties back to the themes of ambiguity and governance. Sure, Kyle finding some random "Space Diamond" was stupid, but I can forgive it in the large scheme of things. This series truly defines the term space opera and for that it earns a....
9.0/10
WHAT????? The "Space Diamond" you question a couple times was Stellarium that they grabbed before they blew up Vrool. It's even spelled out in the Picture you have in your review!!! It is the most important resource in the galaxy (spelled out in a couple of issues) and blowing up the one planet that supplied it (Vrool) was the way the Omega Men were able to force this war to happen.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, if you have been reading this book at all, you would know what that was and also how crazy important it was for Kyle to have it. My god, I'm here laughing to myself even now that you call it a random Space Diamond.
Yeah, have to kind of agree. They blew up the planet making the already rare and desirable resource even more rare and desirable. It's what we learn is basically behind the entire book and conflict.
DeleteThat's true, but in no way did that resource ever have a personal connection to Kyle Rayner. The other army raising moments all had some connection to the Omega Men who was performing them. That's what I thought was so random about it.
DeleteI don't think he's supposed to have some connection to it, he's never had any connection to this war he's always just being used. His connection and him being brought into the war was the entire last issue where he goes through the grooling battle over and over again and then walks away. He comes back and gets a whole army because he has been rallied himself by the entire group of Omega Men, his rallying was just the previous issue instead of being a part of this issue.
DeleteI'm actually shocked that so little would cause that big of a bidding war
DeleteAlso I am getting the feeling Kalista is really being more villainy as we reach the finale
DeleteI actually think part of it was to remind you how insane these people are over the Stellarium...that little bit was worth so much so it does kind of show us just how crazy blowing up the planet was.
DeleteAs far as Kyle not having a connection...to me, that Stellarium was kind of like him at the beginning of the story. Everyone was willing to kill each other to get to him. He was a resource and bargaining chip when the book opened, but now he's an Omega Man.
Well the way I see it, all the Omega Men are still bargaining chips in Kalista's weird game so I'm not sure that Kyle has evolved out of that yet. That said, I hope that he's actually conning all of them, but we haven't seen any evidence of that yet.
DeleteI don't think he's conning them at all
DeleteI think Kalista is gonna betray them all, and in fury Kyle kills her, lets primus be in charge, then flies off, leaving vega to it's fate
DeleteI don't think so either at this point, but I want him to.
DeleteI also, don't think Kalista is going to die, she makes a good Amanda Waller type villain.
I mean, I see what you're saying, but connection is what makes a moment relevant. Otherwise it's just a transaction scene and when compared to the rest of the character scenes every other member got, a transaction scene just kinda feels a bit silly to me.
ReplyDeleteI wish I had all the damn issues! Since my LCS didn't order them all I only read bits and pieces. Let's just say I drive a bit further now to get my comics.
ReplyDeleteI was so pissed at DC lately since the books went to crap, I'm sure this was one that I would have enjoyed each month.
Maybe a bit hyperbolic but I really think it's a classic in the making. Both this and The Vision have been really amazing from King making me really excited to see what he does with Batman.
Delete