Dark Crisis #2
Nightwing and the Titans face off against Deathstroke’s Secret Society in Dark Crisis #2, by writer Josh Williamson, artist Daniel Sampere, colorist Alejandro Sanchez, and letterer Tom Napolitano. This issue has some thrilling action and more build-up of the big plot, but it feels a little too fast-paced.
As Pariah discusses the plan with the Great Darkness, Nightwing tries to get his students to fight back against Deathstroke, but it’s futile. Deathstroke talks down to Nightwing and challenges him to a one-on-one battle, which Nightwing wins and then asks him to choose a student to fight him next. Nightwing refuses and is about to be shot when Superman shows up. Jon makes quick work of the Secret Society before Deathstroke calls in Cyborg Superman. As they battle it out, Deathstroke starts to explain why he’s doing what he’s doing when Pariah tells him to retreat. Deathstroke follows orders just as Superman takes down Cyborg Superman. Black Adam shows up and chides everyone for their failures before offering to not only form a new Justice League but train them. In space, Hal Jordan and Jo Mullein free Kyle Rayner from captivity and fill him in on the situation, recruiting him to hunt down the Dark Army that killed the Justice League.
Williamson lays a rather exciting story in this one. It’s a shame readers didn’t get to more of the battle between the Secret Society and the Titans, but the Deathstroke and Nightwing interactions are top-notch. The strength of the way the battle is presented is that it does give readers the right sense of hopelessness going in, which is defused when Nightwing is able to beat Deathstroke at his own game and again when Superman shows up.
It’s a great set piece for the issue and lays out Deathstroke’s “relationship” with Pariah, which looks to be another case of him controlling someone. Black Adam showing up bodes well for the future, although writing off the new Justice League before readers ever get to see it in action for re-training seems a bit weird, especially since they were just introduced. The ending of the issue is good as well, getting the Green Lantern Corps involved. If there’s any drawback to the issue, it’s the pacing. The comic centers on action and goes by a bit too fast. Fast pacing isn’t always bad, but this issue barely takes a breath. Other than that, it’s a pretty good comic. It just would have been better to slow things down and space things out.
Sampere and Sanchez’s art is definitely a highlight of the book. The double-page spread of Deathstroke and Nightwing’s battle is impressive. The main image of them clashing is surrounded by smaller panels that outline the two fighting with staff and escrima sticks. The fight between Superman and Cyborg Superman is pretty great as well, the perfect hard-hitting affair. All of the characters look great, and the art has that event book feel.
Dark Crisis #2 is exciting but a little too fast-paced for its own good. Williamson is still setting things up, though, and it does show in the way the story is set up. Sampere and Sanchez are a great art team, so the issue is a joy to behold. Dark Crisis is shaping up well, but it needs to slow down and breathe.
