The Shining Knight has his powers once more, but will even his mystic might prevail against the technological warriors of Qward? Your Major Spoilers review of Convergence: World’s Finest #2 awaits!
CONVERGENCE: WORLD’S FINEST #2
Writer: Paul Levitz
Penciler: Jim Fern and Ron Wagner
Inker: Joe Rubinstein, Wayne Faucher and Jose Marzan Jr.
Colorist: Paul Mounts
Letterer: Tom Napolitano
Editor: Marie Javins
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
Previously in Convergence: World’s Finest: After a year under the dome, Earth-2 Metropolis was finally freed from captivity, only to be launched into battle once again. The three surviving Soldiers Of Victory now launch into mortal combat with the anti-matter bug-eyed monsters of another world…
Will any of them survive?
LAST STAND OF THE 7 SOLDIERS
Short answer: Nooope. We open exactly where last issue left off, with the re-empowered Sir Justin and his new squire, Scribby Jibbet, meeting a mysterious enemy in battle. That enemy turns out to be a weaponeer of Qward (these guys really need names, which is half the reason that they’re not particularly interesting as antagonists), who is willing to flat-out murder Justin, Scribby and the entirety of Earth-2 Metropolis for giggles, but especially because he has something to gain from it. While their one-on-one battle rages, Vigilante and the Crimson Avenger try to get involved, but are barred by Telos, and given an army of their own to fight off. With three of their number dead, things look grim for the remaining Seven Soldiers…
THE BOLIVIAN ARMY ENDING
Unlike many of the Convergence titles, which are designed to homage and honor characters and teams of DC past, this issue is a loving tribute to Sheldon Mayer, one of the first employees at National Allied Publications, which became DC Comics. The focus on Scribbly (whose humor strip was all over in the Golden Age, and spawned the original Red Tornado, Ma Hunkel) is actually my favorite part of the issue, as he aids the Shining Knight in battle and earns the title of squire. Sadly, the army of aliens is too much for our heroes, leaving our cowboy and avenger to fall, ending the issue with Scribbly and Sir Justin setting off for certain death. The art is enjoyable, especially in its rendition of Vigilante’s motorcycle, and the sword fight between Thunderer and Shining Knight…
THE BOTTOM LINE: A TRIBUTE TO SHELDON MAYER
On the whole, I actually find myself liking this mini-series as much or more than some of the books I anticipated, as Levitz reminds me why he’s been in the business for decades (the man can write, dangit!), and the sequence of art showing Sir Justin stopping a sword with his bare hands was beautiful and terrible all at once. Convergence: World’s Finest #2 is something of an unexpected pleasure, well-written and well-drawn, but with one hell of a downer ending, earning 3 out of 5 stars overall.
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