“Pocatello: Part 5-Heroes” (No Spoilers)
Writer: Phil Hester
Pencils: Cruddie Torian
Inks: Andy Smith
Colors: Wildstorm FX
Letters: Wes Abbott
Assistant Editor: Chynna Clugston Flores
Editor: Scott Peterson
Cover: Dustin Nguyen
Next up out the door, everyone’s favorite teen team: Gen 13. I have to say I was hoping for a fonder farewell to my favorite teens but I think the circumstances didn’t allow it as much.
When Phil Hester came onboard, I’m sure he had this specific story in mind to tell and it was in no way supposed to be a story that ended the Gen 13 title. It seems that they may have told him in time about Wildstorm’s closing and he tried to adjust what he could but so much change had occurred in the title, most of the original characters were not around for the finale.
Now I’m only a little torn with that because when you have a finale for a book, you’d like to have the main players involved. But like I said, Hester had already been moving the title in a totally different direction. However, in the end it may have worked out in favor of a more realistic ending. With the world in the chaos it’s been in during World’s End, it’s a wonder most of the Wildstorm teams were able to stay together as much as they did. The Gen 13 kids lucked out the most because they actually missed the event that ended the world and came into it after the fact. Since then, they’ve been through enormous changes as a team and that included some of them moving to other books.
As much as I would’ve loved to have seen the originals in the finale, it made more sense for it to happen this way. I guess it’s easier to believe that the kids wouldn’t all be together after everything that’s happened. Plus it was obvious Hester was setting up this new team for more adventures beyond this story. I am glad that we at least had Fairchild and Burnout here at the end. Fairchild was always my favorite Gen 13 member so I was glad to see her in action one last time in the pages of her own team title. The story did have an epic conclusion but it was all a little predictable and it seemed a little rushed. I wish they had not made this title bi-monthly like they did. It would’ve allowed Hester more time to flesh out what happened.
Ultimately, it was just an ok ending for the team. It was a hopeful ending and I do like that the last page contains two of the originals characters in the final panels. The final shot of Fairchild looking into the sky was a little sad because I know it’s the last I’ll see of her for a while. Because of all the characters that’ll make the transition to the DCU, I know she’ll be one of the first. Until then, take it easy kids!