I'm Free
Written by: Francis Manapul
Art by: Emanuela Lupacchino, Ray McCarthy, Matt Santorelli, Hi-Fi and Steve Wands
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: February 15, 2017
It's time to get to the bottom of this Mercy story! Yep, it's the finale and I hope that Francis Manapul answers all my questions...what is the White Mercy, what is Mongul's endgame and why isn't this my favorite book in Rebirth. I loved the first issue so much, but have been waiting for Manapul to repeat the magic of that dinner party. Does this finale get me back on the Trinity Train? Let's find out...
The issue opens with some White Mercy narration that doesn't lead to the explanation that I wanted, but ends with Poison Ivy learning not to make deals with the likes of Mongul. While Jon goes all Superboy on his Father/Mongul, Batman tries to "reason" with White Mercy to help them get out the dream world of the Black Mercy.
After Wonder Woman calms Batman down a bit, we find out that White Mercy might have been tricking the Trinity to help Mongul, but she started caring about them along the way. While Poison Ivy skirts around the idea Jon being Superboy, White Mercy takes over Bruce Wayne's body and comes face to face with her "mother". Meanwhile, Wonder Woman stays in the dream to save Superman. I promise, it's not as confusing as it sounds.
What is confusing is how Poison Ivy doesn't see the big picture or why Wonder Woman is even part of the plan. She seems to be heading to help, but the real saving happens in the real world by Lois.
After a heartfelt goodbye between Ivy and White Mercy, Wonder Woman sees the truth (can we please stop doing this in every book she is in?!?!) and frees herself just as the Green erases Ivy's memories of this arc. It's an ending, but it just felt forced and ridiculous. The issue ends with a really odd architectural suggestion by Wonder Woman and a cliffhanger that didn't shock me or have me excited for where this book is going.
I really want to like this book, but after this first arc, I am not into it at all. Manapul kept us in the dark for most of this arc and when he turns on the lights, it's to see him rush his story to a forced ending. Emanuela Lupacchino's art is great here, but that hasn't been a problem with this series at all. Every issue has looked fantastic, but it's just not a good book overall.
Bits and Pieces:
The Better Together arc comes to a close with a forced ending that felt rushed at best. The art in this book is amazing, but it can't save it from being an average read overall. I really want to like this book, but I can't recommend it just yet.
6.0/10
I agree. This is a beautiful book but I wanted more from the story. I don't know a lot about the white & black mercy so the only thing I have to go on is what we got in this book. Maybe the next arc will redeem it?
ReplyDeleteI hope!!! I really want to love this book
DeleteFrom what I understand, Manapul is off the book with Bunn taking over the writing for issue 7 (an issue earlier than expected from what I read). His art is fantastic, not denying that, but I think Manapul would benefit from a co-writer or plotter to help him with his writing.
ReplyDeleteTalking to people in the know, Bunn is still not permanent writer...but may become it
DeleteThis book so far has one great issue and that was the 1st issue. After that this storyline fell apart and bored the crap out of me. I have no idea what Manapul was even trying to do the next 5 issues. Why was issue 1 such a great issue? Because we got to see into the personal lives of the three heroes. It was real, believable. It felt like an in-between of what would happen after the Justice League finished saving the earth and needed to take a few weeks off and we got to see into that. I was really hoping we were going to get more but instead Manapul took us into a sort of Alice in Wonderland dream story that became irrelevant to anything going on in the DC universe. I wish I had quit the book after issue 2 but instead stuck around. Won’t be picking it up again.
ReplyDeleteyou nailed it! The first issue was such a nice little personal story amongst all the end of world stuff we get in other books. Then we got the next 5 and I hate it
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