DC Comics 2015
Written by Brian Buccalleto
Illustrated by Phil Winslade
Coloured by Lovern Kindzierksi
I think the introduction of Earth 3 and the Crime Syndicate was one of those moments that fans loved simply because it was that what if moment. Villains instead of heroes made them immensely popular but they had all too few appearances but when they happened everyone took notice! Heck back in the day the Joker had a series and so did the Secret Society of Super-Villains and I always wondered why they never even warranted a mini-series of their own?
Lois Lane, Superwoman, the evil Amazon version of Wonder Woman lost her powers when the dome went up and she got caught and jailed. We see her reflect on the life she lead and the moment she first met their Earth 1 counterparts and how things could have gone differently. Funny what happens to you when you are on death-row awaiting execution and the remorse one feels for their actions.
Powerless the rest of the Syndicate goes to try and free Lois before she can be executed only to be delayed by the Rogue Hunters. Meanwhile this issue does something many other Convergence issues didn’t do and that’s spend as much time on the team they are going to be fighting and in this case the 853rd Century Justice League. Both teams feel the helplessness of their situation and the loss of team members in trying to do what they can. The biggest shocker however was Superwoman’s demise before the dome could come down for me. Though seeing the future League going up against Luthor Squad and losing people was interesting just not as impactful.
What really gets me is the writing here by Brian. As he delves into the mind of these characters as they have to come to grips with deaths among the teams and the ramifications of who is affected by them and how they feel now that the dome is gone is remarkable. Plus now that the voice has placed all the players in one city to fight to the death it seems odd to me, maybe because it’s so rare that he takes this hands on approach to ensure they battle but also because there’s no Superwoman fighting with the Syndicate.
Brian, Phil and Lovern do some really incredible work on the interiors here too. The first page pin-up alone well that embodies everything we associate with the Syndicate and why they’ve fascinated readers since their introduction. While I’ve never really cared for Justice League A they too are rendered beautifully showcasing that the talent available is limitless.
The Positives
The Crime Syndicate, the characterization, writing and emotional impact that has on the reader. The strong interior artwork which is able to showcase two different styles of the eras by one team.
The Negatives
Death of one of the Syndicates best members. The limited use of the Rogue Hunters.
Overall
This reminds us why the Crime Syndicate should have a series or mini-series of their own and takes us back to when we saw that the possibilities of what could be were new, fresh and interesting. This is the week to read Convergence tie-ins!