“Damage Control” (No Spoilers)
Writers: Grant Morrison & Keith Giffen
Pencils: Brandon Badeaux
Colors: Jonny Rench
Letters: Rob Leigh
Editor: Scott Peterson
Cover: Gene Ha
In-freaking-credible! I wish all of Lost Year had been like these last two issues. Everything came together in this issue; the story was engaging and once again we’re treated to amazing art by Brandon Badeaux.
Badeaux’s art is what really made this arc for me. It is incredibly detailed and combined with Jonny Rench’s colors makes for some of the best art in a comic I’ve seen in a long time. Plus, Badeaux’s designs for the alternate reality Authority are just wicked! I’ve heard people say they don’t think Badeaux could handle a monthly book because his art is so detailed. Personally, I’d wait on a bi-monthly book if he were doing the art. It’s that good.
But one thing’s that also really good here is the story. It’s not something that’s entirely original but it’s enough to give this little two-issue arc the sense of being something bigger and more epic. There are also a ton of cameos by other Wildstorm heroes in this alternate universe which adds to the scope of the events. And this time, even though the story is wrapped up quickly, I don’t feel cheated. I consider this the big budget movie of this series (complete with awesome special effects).
If you have not been following Lost Year, or got frustrated by some of the same things I did along the way, I say pick up issue 10 and 11. They are just too beautiful not to have in your collection. I cannot say enough good things about them. Although at the same time it saddens me that the series as a whole was not like this. It could be argued that they were saving the best for last but it’s still a lot stuff to sift through before we get to this point.
Well, we’re done to one issue left and then this series wraps up. It will be interesting to look at the series as a whole when all is said and done but the awesomeness displayed here is probably too little too late.
9 out of 10 (Excellent!)