Dial H, DC’s experiment in reviving the retro-grade IP, has come to an end. It has consistently been the most wild and imaginative comic to come out of the big two in recent years, and along the way has raised more questions than its answered. Will we finally get the revelations we have been waiting for? Or will the finale leave the readers wanting? Find out with your Major Spoilers review!
SUMMARY
Pros
Answers all the previously set up questions, wraps up the story nicely.
Cons
Feels like the author was rushed into fitting all his ideas into a final issue.
READER RATING!
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Dial H #15
Writer: China Miéville
Artist: Alberto Ponticelli, Dan Green
Colorist: Richard Horie, Tanya Horie
Letterer: Taylor Esposito
Cover Artist: Brian Bolland
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $4.99
Previously in Dial H: Nelson and his crew of dialers have been hoping from dimension to dimension, in their attempt to stop The Centipede and the dial fixer. They have finally caught up to them at “the hub,” the nexus of all realities.
HUNG UP TOO SOON
Dial H has played with some grand concepts in its mere sixteen issues (if you count the zero issue). Issue fifteen continues this trend, but also has double duty by having to wrap up all of the hanging plot threads, of which there are plenty. Amidst the pages of history dealing with the origin of the dials and inter-dimensional war, I was left with very distinct rushed feeling and would have preferred if Miéville would have taken another fifteen issues to fully explore everything introduced, especially since the series had no problems previously taking its sweet time to feed us answers. The issue still feels like a complete story, and offers a very satisfying conclusion to everything built up to this point. There is a really clever, and somewhat obvious, allegory for internet piracy and how its dealt with, that is reminiscent of the kind of big concept stories that were so prevalent in DC circa the 80s at the height of Miller, Moore, Morrison et al. It’s the kind of stuff I love to see in superhero comics, and where I think the real strength of the genre lies.
DIAL A FOR ARTIST
The art is just as good as it has been the whole series. It’s slightly stylized and is not afraid to make people ugly when they are supposed to be, very refreshing in the current climate of sex idol superheroes. The imaginative character and creature design is at high-caliber and makes everything else I’m reading feel lazy in comparison. The coloring and line work continue to be suitable to the book’s tone, but are nothing to write home about.
BOTTOM LINE: GREAT ENDING TO A GREAT SERIES
If you were reading Dial H thus far, then this is the finale you have been waiting for. If you have not been reading Dial H then now is a great time to start from issue one. It’s a shame a book this good had to go, but it had a great run and has lasted more than many other New 52 titles. Dial H #15 earns 4 out of 5 stars.
DID YOU READ THIS ISSUE? RATE IT!
Reader Rating
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