FOREVER EVIL #2 and the first tie ins titles reviewed

FOREVER EVIL #2: We begin with Lex Luthor, dealing with the results of the Crime Syndicate’s eclipse, searching through the basements of LexCorp Tower. There he finds a security guard named Otis. Meanwhile, the Teen Titans question the Syndicate’s claim that they truly killed the Justice League. Red Robin feels they should rescue Nightwing even though the rest of the group fears they will end up like the League. At the remains of the Watchtower, the Crime Syndicate debates how to control this world. Owlman wants to keep the police and government intact. Johnny Quick would just as soon kill everyone and he and Atomica leave, where they attacked the police gathered outside. The Teen Titans arrive to save the police but Johnny Quick uses Kid Flash’s frequency to send them all back to the future. Grid sees rebellion and sends Ultraman to stop the one in Khandaq. Ultraman, Superwoman and Owlman debate about what to do with Dick Grayson and finally decide to keep him alive as he might me able to help them if what doomed their world follows them here. Ultraman then sends Power Ring and Deathstorm to Central City to handle the Rogues. Ultraman leaves and Superwoman warns Owlman that it is only a matter of time before he realizes that the unborn child inside her isn't his. Back at Lex Corp, Lex and Otis make their way to the lab where Subject B-Zero is. Luthor opens the container and, to test it, orders it to kill Otis and it tears him apart. Luthor dons his warsuit while the creature puts on a Superman uniform inside out. Finally, at S.T.A.R. Labs Detroit, Dr. Silas Stone and Dr. Thomas Morrow are trying hard to protect the Red Room, even as the generators start to fail. The door to the room collapses and Batman and Catwoman enter. Batman tells Stone that Victor, his son, needs him and admits that the rest of the League didn’t survive.

Geoff Johns and David Finch deliver a second solid chapter in this soon to be epic tale. Luthor steps forward to save the day and gives birth to Bizarro. Unfortunately, he has to take out Ned Beatty inspired Otis in the process. The Syndicate is having their issues and the whole idea that Owlman and Superwoman are having a baby and Ultraman thinks that it is his is pure Soap Opera magic! This second act seems to belong to Luthor and the Teen Titans who, for their troubles, get rocked around the universe in the own title tie-in. All in all, this continues to be a winner!

FOREVER EVIL: ARKHAM WAR #1: Bane has arrived in Gotham City with his army and taken control of Blackgate Penitentiary. At Gotham Memorial Hospital, a patient tries to outrace Professor Pyg, who has swapped a broken hand for a leg. Disgusted, Scarecrow has come to warn of Bane's arrival and is trying to recruit Pyg in the in the war against Blackgate. At Blackgate, Bane has the guards lead him to their most dangerous prisoners: the captured Talons from the Court of Owls' attacks. Over at the Iceberg Casino, The Penguin warns the Scarecrow that his attempts to win over villains are making most nervous. Among all this, Bane arrives at Gotham Memorial and tells Professor Pyg that is now belongs to him as does much of their territory previously held by the Arkham Asylum escapees.

Peter J. Tomasi, who knows a little something about Professor Pyg, along with Scot Eaton, tells the tale of Gotham under siege. The inmates of Arkham have all had their areas set up for them to rule. Unfortunately, they didn’t expect bane to come marching in and take over. Now it’s up to these killers to band together and stop him. I love the dichotomy of all the series. What defines a villain? The Earth’s most powerful bad guys are teaming up throughout the NEW 52 to try and bring unity and maybe even salvation to their home. That’s a pretty intense idea when you get right down to it.

FOREVER EVIL: A.R.G.U.S. #1: Six years ago, Steve Trevor was saved by Wonder Woman and their relationship bloomed. A year later, the President called Steve and asked him to head A.R.G.U.S, asking him to find out everything he could about the Justice League. That was then and this is now. The Crime Syndicate has attacked Earth, apparently has killed the Justice League and A.R.G.U.S.  has all but been destroyed/ Etta candy reveals that the villains of the Secret Society have gotten access to the locations of agents all over the world and they are being exterminated. Steve and Etta gather up a team and head to the White House where Deathstroke is leading a team of his own. Steve gets attacked and flat lined…just as it seems that Doctor Light, a very ANGRY DOCTOR LIGHT, comes back to life.


Sterling Gates writes this mini-series part of the FOREVER EVIL event and this is a beauty. There’s a whole bunch of back-story regarding Steve, Diana and President Obama’s machinations. And those sequences feature some nice art by Javier Pina. The modern day story is equally action packed but the art of Phillip Tan and Neil Edwards is too random. You go from great art by tan on one page and rudimentary art from Edwards on the next. As I said, it’s a great story that is hampered by poor art.

FOREVER EVIL: ROGUES REBELLION #1: After attending the meeting of the Secret Society, the Rogues decided that they were not interested in ruling the world. They return to Central City  and find that it has been turned into a wasteland by Grodd. They find many of the police force chained to trees around. Captain Frye believes the Rogues are here to finish them off and, declaring that Rogues don’t kill, they free the police. They eventually end sup at the hospital to visit Lisa, who probably won’t be out of her coma anytime soon. The Secret Society arrives, wanting to make an example of Central City. The Rogues hold their ground and protect the hospital, but soon Power Ring and Deathstorm arrive to put the Rogues to death.

Brian Buccellato and Patrick Zircher, soon to be lending their talents to DETECTIVE COMICS, handle The Rogues like pros! I love this new version of the Rogues. They are criminals on one side who are also trying to be good and do the right thing. They arrive in central City and immediately become their champions. I NEVER would have seen that from the old school Rogues. And how many times could we see Captain Boomerang tossing exploding Australian toys?