Black Hammer Age of Doom #11 // Review
Jeff Lemire and Dean Ormston continue to get the band back together as the Anti-God makes his return to finish what he started once and for all. Following their universe spanning reboot, the heroes learn the secrets behind their lives on the farm at long last and must now take down one of their own. The duo continues to perfectly pastiche the superhero genre while maintaining their own original flavor and overarching story as a whole. As the secrets finally come into the light, the final showdown begins as the hammer strikes down.
With Lucy Weber now taken up her father’s old mantle and regaining her memories once again, The Black Hammer lives again, as she must correct the mistakes brought upon her universe with the help of some old friends. Having ascended after his death passed his once physical form, now on New World Lucy meets again with her father the original Black Hammer as he stands among Starlok, the Highfather/Odin pastiche, as a god. With his words of wisdom, she knows what she must do as she returns to her friends as they set to take on Madame Dragonfly.
Dean Ormston continues to bring his signature style to the series and deliver the quintessential aesthetic fans have grown to love. Even with these last few issues being more on the quiet side, Ormston produces the heart and soul to the series as he brings each character to life, the way only he knows how. As the looming threat draws near, Ormston is still able to fit in the sweet moments between a mother and her family, albeit a twisted reflection of reality. The colorwork of Dave Stewart perpetually creates the motif for the title, muted hues and rough color work bring the signature vibe to the series.
With one title after another, Jeff Lemire refuses to quit as he hits one home run after another. His ability to work exceptionally well with a multitude of artists is yet another hallmark to his craft. An artist at heart, Lemire knows comics inside and out and knows what will and won’t work for his own comics. The man simply won’t stop as each month a handful of creator-owned works continue to pour out of this young creator’s mind.
With a Justice League crossover set to debut next week, the broader reading public will be exposed to this glorious love letter to the genre and will hope to bring more eyes onto the series as is grows ever larger. As the final showdown against the Anti-God looms near, fans will expect nothing other than to be swerved entirely into another unexpected direction as this universe continues to swell perpetually.
Grade: A+
