There are a lot of comics out there, but some just stand out head and shoulders above the pack. With “Don’t Miss This” we want to spotlight those series we think need to be on your pull list. This week, Dark Horse Comics and DC Comics proudly present “Black Hammer/Justice League” #5, the finale to their fun crossover event.
Who is this by?
“Black Hammer/Justice League” is lettered by Nate Piekos of Blambot, drawn by Michael Walsh (“Secret Avengers”, “Worst X-Man Ever”) and written by Jeff Lemire. If you’re familiar with the world of “Black Hammer”, that last bit should come as no surprise. Lemire created the universe himself and has penned every “Black Hammer” series to date. As a matter of fact, this year’s “Black Hammer ’45” marks the first time that he had a co-writer, Ray Fawkes. Jeff Lemire also has written several DC titles, the titles “Justice League Dark” and “Justice League United” both somewhat in the League’s orbit.
What’s it all about?
I’m sure you already know the Justice League. They’re the greatest superheroes of the DC Universe, still in their prime. The cast of “Black Hammer” were once great superheroes too…but their prime has long past. Abe Slam, Golden Gail and the rest are trapped in a sort of purgatory, living on a farm in a world where superheroes don’t exist.
In the ‘Hammer-verse’, a mysterious villain pays the farm a visit. At the same time, that same villain pays the League a visit in the DC Universe. He forces heroes from both worlds to swap places so that you’ve got Leaguers on the farm and “Black Hammer” characters in the DC Universe. Soon, everybody’s scrambling to solve the mystery of what the heck is going on. Who was the villain and why did he force the swap? Everyone’s gathering pieces to the puzzle and in the final issue, any remaining questions are answered and the matter is resolved…for better of for worse.
What makes it so great?
Did the swap work things out for better or for worse? One of the reasons that this issue, and the mini-series as a whole, is so great is that there’s no clear-cut answer to that question. None of the heroes asked for this but some find the grass greener on the other side. While the “Black Hammer” crew isn’t home, they aren’t trapped anymore either. There are some clear improvements in the DC Universe…why not just let things be? On the other side of the coin, a certain Leaguer is absolutely obsessed with getting back home. Are they taking things to an unhealthy extreme or should they do everything in their power to reinstate the status quo? Two very different, but equally valid, perspectives.
Indie and superhero comics are also two different, but equally valid, perspectives. Michael Walsh is the perfect artist to bridge the gap. The original “Black Hammer” artist, Dean Ormston’s artwork is great but it’s definitely more Vertigo than DC, if you catch my drift. A high-profile talent like Jim Lee is always welcome to bring Justice League heroics to life but would he be a good fit for the more grounded ‘Hammer-verse’ characters? Walsh is a perfect fit for both worlds, a happy medium. As a matter of fact, over at Marvel, he drew another comic that also seemingly straddled both worlds, “X-Men: Worst X-Man Ever”.
Another reason this mini-series excels is because it truly makes the most of the crossover. We hit familiar checkpoints like the initial misunderstanding/kerfuffle and the final epic battle but familiarity doesn’t make the ride any less enjoyable. Readers are treated to different combinations of characters from both realities, some obvious and some are unexpected. The mystery is examined from multiple angles. I won’t spoil the villain’s identity but in this issue, the character manages to stick out in a crowded cast. The story goes to some far out places in the DC Universe, ‘Hammer-verse’ and realities in between. It’s impressive how multiple plot-lines are juggled, still feeling connected instead of disjointed. It’s impressive that the series manages to stick the landing and leave room for a sequel at the same time.
Furthermore, the crossover just makes sense. “Black Hammer” has often held up a mirror to superhero comics as a whole. For example, Abe Slam went through a grim n’ gritty phase, complete with pouches and shoulder pads that would make Cable blush. Golden Gail is an inverse of Shazam! Instead of a compassionate and pure boy magically becoming a super-powered adult, she’s a foul-mouthed and bitter woman who magically becomes a super-powered child. “Black Hammer” has been commentating on superheroes for so long so…why not pair them with the greatest DC superheroes and see how they bounce off each other? Even in the end, the comic can’t resist but ask the same question every crossover asks point-blank:
Continued belowWill it have lasting consequences or was it just another fun imaginary story?
How can you read it?
“Black Hammer/Justice League” #5 is out today. The series isn’t in trade yet but all previous issues are available through your LCS or Comixology. To fully enjoy this and get a good sense of Lemire’s characters, I would strongly recommend at least “Black Hammer Vol. 1: Secret Origins” as prerequisite reading, the trade available on Comixology.
