Infinite Frontier #5 Review

 

Dead End

Writer: Joshua Williamson

Artist: Tom Derenick, Jesus Merino, Paul Pelletier

Cover Price: $4.99

Release Date: August 31, 2021

Infinite Frontier has been one of the better books coming out from DC since Death Metal and Future State ended.  It feels significant and is also fun and filled with fantastic characters.  Now, it does look like this 6-issue mini is only the start and is setting up the next thing (Justice League Incarnate), but it has still been great, and I hope that continues here.  Let's get into it...

The issue opens with Omega Psycho Pirate making his deal with Mr. Bones and Machine Head, and seriously, the guy talks a lot of sense!  He brings his cautionary tale of disgust at the "heroes" of Earth-0 who keep mucking up the Multiverse without a care in the world or memories of what the hell they have even mucked up!  He also brings a deal from Darkseid that will make sure it never happens again.

It's cool we finally see what Darkseid is promising, but I can't stop thinking that this is the exact thing that Perpetua was offering in Death Metal and was also being offered at the end by the Batman Who Laughs to Wonder Woman.  It didn't ruin anything for me; it was just the first time this story didn't feel fresh.

We hit the present just after everyone has hit Earth-Omega and Mr. Bones is rocking his old school duds and pissed as hell at Cameron Chase.  Bones explains what's going on and why certain people were kidnapped before a bit of a JSA reunion.  This is what I meant when I said fun!

Things heat up as the heroes confront Psycho-Pirate, and he calls in his Injustice Incarnate team!  The sides are battling for the very fate of the Multiverse because while this is going on, Barry Allen is about to burst it all to hell, unknowingly, of course.  

Joshua Williamson is doing a great job having the "villains" point out the damage the "heroes" of Earth-0 have caused. That continues with Machine Head telling Calvin Ellis the damage Barry did with Flashpoint, and it's very personal.  For me, that's the key to this story.  Both sides have their points, and even the bad guys are doing things because they think it's the right thing to do, not just to be evil.

The story continues with a focus on Roy Harper and I am always down with that!  We get a bit of an idea of why he is alive, but it's something we all kind of knew coming out of Death Metal.  However, there is a hint that the Black Lantern ring is darker and chose Roy because he has suffered more than anyone else.  I think Roy fans will agree on that!

The issue ends with Roy doing everything he can to save his daughter and the Multiverse before the cliffhanger hits, and we finally get to see and hear the real big bad of all of this.  It's a cliffhanger that will make you want the next issue right now.

I liked this issue a whole lot, but I've enjoyed most of them, so that's no big surprise.  I loved getting the setup and reasons for the bad guys teaming up with Darkseid, and while the art was a little down (no Xermanico) and a bit inconsistent, it didn't ruin the experience.

Bits and Pieces:

Infinite Frontier continues to be one of the best books coming out from DC Comics right now.  Joshua Williamson gives us some explanations, action scenes, and character moments that had me wondering which side I would pick if I were involved.  The art wasn't as good as it's been, but this is still a hell of a ride that every DC fan should be reading!

8.8/10