The Terrifics #14 Review and **SPOILERS**

We Are Family

Storytellers: Joe Bennett & Jeff Lemire

Inker: Dexter Vines & Scott Hanna

Colorist: Mike Spicer

Letterer: Tom Napolitano

Cover: Emanuela Lupacchino, Ray McCarthy, Stephen Downer

Associate Editor: Andrew Marino

Editor: Paul Kaminski

Group Editor: Marie Javins

Cover Price: $2.99

On Sale Date: March 27, 2019

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

Looks like this is the last issue involving Jeff Lemire, and his duties will be assumed by Gene Luen Yang next month. I like both of these writers a lot, but coming from the bloated, stagnant series we’ve had thus far, I’m concerned for what this comic book will hold. I can say for sure that consummate professional Lemire will set things up nicely for Yang! So let’s see how he does it in The Terrifics #14, which I have reviewed right here!

Explain It!

If you’ve been reading my reviews of this series all along, then you’ll know that I have written these two things repeatedly: 1. This issue’s artwork and plotting is good enough to warrant a three-dollar investment, and 2. It seems like this team is eternally “getting back together” and the story moves at a glacial pace. Another thing I’ve written is “when you flip through the book, you get the impression that it’s a really fun comic.” Hey, if Jeff Lemire can have his “best of” clip show, then so can I! Anyhow, if you’ve been reading my reviews, then you know that these things have held true throughout the series. Until now. The artwork is still phenomenal and warrants a look regardless, but the team is no longer just getting together. Finally, after fourteen issues, they feel cohesive.

The thing is primarily told by Linnya, in a kind of wistful diary entry about the trials they’ve endured, while some dynamic panels of the Terrifics fighting the Dreadfuls play across the pages. This is really the first time we see the Dreadfuls cut loose, and it’s cool as hell—I wonder if we’ll see them again? Using teamwork, the Terrifics are able to best the bad dudes and Java, who is kept in some bootleg ScienCell back at Terrifics HQ. Which, come to think of it, is Stagg Industries. I wonder how that will work.

Lots to be excited for going forward! The team, now also including Mrs. Terrific, Plas’ son Jake (aka Offspring…never liked that name) and Element Dog (we’re ready for the figure, DC Direct) seems more united and interesting than ever. There’s a few touching buddy moments at the very end that gave me the warm fuzzies. But I cannot forget that it took fourteen issues to get to this point. Forty-two dollars to form a team that I am excited again to read about. I wonder why it’s taken so long, and if it was worth the effort.

Bits and Pieces:

An awesome-looking, feelgood issue that finally puts the team together in a way that doesn’t seem temporary or tenuous. But is it worth the fourteen issues and forty-two dollars it took to get here? I guess we’ll find out next month!

7/10