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A review by the_rox13
Justice League, Volume 5: Forever Heroes by Geoff Johns
4.0
Synopsis: Much of this book is the backstory of the Crime Syndicate members. Ultraman (Kal-il) also came from Krypton. On this Krypton, however, the idea of being the strongest is held above all other things to the point where Ultraman's parents killed any other Kryptonian who tried to escape Krypton because they would only stand in Ultraman's way. Kal-il ends up with the Kents, but disposes of them in a few short years. Back in the present, Ultraman flies to the Daily Planet to see if this earth's people are as "weak" as they appear to be. There he discovers that Jimmy Olsen is not a blackmailing, pervert, murderer and this is upsetting to him. As he is about to seemingly rape Lois Lane, Black Adam comes in and attacks him.
In Owlman's backstory, we see that the Waynes had two sons: Bruce and Thomas. Bruce, Thomas and Alfred made a plan to kill the Waynes, but Bruce tries to thwart the plan at the last second. Alfred comes in and shoots the Waynes and Bruce. Thomas as Owlman ran all organized crime on Earth-3 and is attempting to do the same this on our earth. Owlman takes a special interest in Dick Grayson, who the Syndicate has captured. He tells Grayson that he wants to stop the Crime Syndicate with Grayson's help. Grayson agrees but in Owlman's inner dialogue it seems there is more going on than what he says. On his earth, he had Dick Grayson's parents killed to bond the boy to him. Owlman claims he wants to fix his family while Superwoman listens in.
The Grid is analyzing the histories of Power Ring, Johnny Quick/Atomica and Deathstorm in hopes that he will learn something about how to feel from them. Power Ring was a coward verison of Hal Jordan who was tricked by Abin Sur into accepting the Ring of Volthoom. The ring causes Hal immense physical and psychological pain constantly. Johnny Quick and Atomica were "Natural Born Killer" type criminals who are hit by lightning during an escape and given powers. Deathstorm was originally Dr. Martin Stein, who was obsessed with life and death. He eventually combines with a dead body and becomes Deathstorm, who is neither alive nor dead.
Cyborg's body is rebuild in the Red Room and he patches things up with his dad. From there, he seeks out Will Magnus, the creator of the Metal Men. Magnus insists the Metal Men were a failure and goes into a backstory about how he made them and what they're like. Ultimately, the Metal Men weren't a failure, Magnus just doesn't want to watch them die again. But Magnus agrees to bring the Metal Men back.
The Metal Men and Cyborg face off against Grid. During the battle, Grid connects his and Cyborg's minds together in hopes that in killing Cyborg he will finally feel something. Cyborg is able sever the Grid's connection to the outside and in essence, traps Grid within his own body. Grid is finally able to feel an emotion: fear.
Review: Had this book been focused solely on the Crime Syndicate and their backstories, it would have been five stars. While I did enjoy the Metal Men stuff, I don't know how necessary it was. I get why Cyborg needed them to come back online, but did we really need to see how conflicted Magnus was about it through backstory? I don't think so. That being said, I did like the Metal Men story. I don't know that I would read a Metal Men book, but I didn't mind the page time they got here. I liked Magnus' character growth and how he learned to love something even if that something wasn't human necessarily.
The backstories for the Crime Syndicate are basically the same as the heroes we know but twisted in some way. Well, except for Superwoman. I want to know what her deal is because even Grid can't find what her history is. Earth-3 really does seem like the birthplace of evil, honestly. Every little thing is just twisted in someway like the Kents being a couple in which abuse is a staple or Alfred taking part in the murder of the Waynes.
I don't know why but Power Ring's backstory always bothers me in a way none of the other Crime Syndicate members do. It's stupid but I am chilled at the thought of his ring just causing him such immense pain at all times and those veins that pop out of his arms are disgusting. Not to mention, how repulsive Abin Sur looks when he tricks Hal into taking the ring.
I wish that Deathstorm would have gotten a slightly longer origin because I'm pretty sure his is the shortest. I guess it wasn't any longer than it needed to be, but I find him more interesting than Johnny Quick and Atomica. But I get it, Atomica played a huge role in bringing the Syndicate to earth. I also would love some more backstory on Owlman and Dick Grayson because Owlman says the relationship fell apart, but I wonder if that means he killed him or Grayson just left?
Solid book. Not sure that it is 100% necessary before diving into Forever Evil, but if you like the Crime Syndicate, it gives you backstory on them so just for that I think it's worth it.
In Owlman's backstory, we see that the Waynes had two sons: Bruce and Thomas. Bruce, Thomas and Alfred made a plan to kill the Waynes, but Bruce tries to thwart the plan at the last second. Alfred comes in and shoots the Waynes and Bruce. Thomas as Owlman ran all organized crime on Earth-3 and is attempting to do the same this on our earth. Owlman takes a special interest in Dick Grayson, who the Syndicate has captured. He tells Grayson that he wants to stop the Crime Syndicate with Grayson's help. Grayson agrees but in Owlman's inner dialogue it seems there is more going on than what he says. On his earth, he had Dick Grayson's parents killed to bond the boy to him. Owlman claims he wants to fix his family while Superwoman listens in.
The Grid is analyzing the histories of Power Ring, Johnny Quick/Atomica and Deathstorm in hopes that he will learn something about how to feel from them. Power Ring was a coward verison of Hal Jordan who was tricked by Abin Sur into accepting the Ring of Volthoom. The ring causes Hal immense physical and psychological pain constantly. Johnny Quick and Atomica were "Natural Born Killer" type criminals who are hit by lightning during an escape and given powers. Deathstorm was originally Dr. Martin Stein, who was obsessed with life and death. He eventually combines with a dead body and becomes Deathstorm, who is neither alive nor dead.
Cyborg's body is rebuild in the Red Room and he patches things up with his dad. From there, he seeks out Will Magnus, the creator of the Metal Men. Magnus insists the Metal Men were a failure and goes into a backstory about how he made them and what they're like. Ultimately, the Metal Men weren't a failure, Magnus just doesn't want to watch them die again. But Magnus agrees to bring the Metal Men back.
The Metal Men and Cyborg face off against Grid. During the battle, Grid connects his and Cyborg's minds together in hopes that in killing Cyborg he will finally feel something. Cyborg is able sever the Grid's connection to the outside and in essence, traps Grid within his own body. Grid is finally able to feel an emotion: fear.
Review: Had this book been focused solely on the Crime Syndicate and their backstories, it would have been five stars. While I did enjoy the Metal Men stuff, I don't know how necessary it was. I get why Cyborg needed them to come back online, but did we really need to see how conflicted Magnus was about it through backstory? I don't think so. That being said, I did like the Metal Men story. I don't know that I would read a Metal Men book, but I didn't mind the page time they got here. I liked Magnus' character growth and how he learned to love something even if that something wasn't human necessarily.
The backstories for the Crime Syndicate are basically the same as the heroes we know but twisted in some way. Well, except for Superwoman. I want to know what her deal is because even Grid can't find what her history is. Earth-3 really does seem like the birthplace of evil, honestly. Every little thing is just twisted in someway like the Kents being a couple in which abuse is a staple or Alfred taking part in the murder of the Waynes.
I don't know why but Power Ring's backstory always bothers me in a way none of the other Crime Syndicate members do. It's stupid but I am chilled at the thought of his ring just causing him such immense pain at all times and those veins that pop out of his arms are disgusting. Not to mention, how repulsive Abin Sur looks when he tricks Hal into taking the ring.
I wish that Deathstorm would have gotten a slightly longer origin because I'm pretty sure his is the shortest. I guess it wasn't any longer than it needed to be, but I find him more interesting than Johnny Quick and Atomica. But I get it, Atomica played a huge role in bringing the Syndicate to earth. I also would love some more backstory on Owlman and Dick Grayson because Owlman says the relationship fell apart, but I wonder if that means he killed him or Grayson just left?
Solid book. Not sure that it is 100% necessary before diving into Forever Evil, but if you like the Crime Syndicate, it gives you backstory on them so just for that I think it's worth it.