Convergence #3
DC Comics
Written by: Jeff King
Art by: Stephen Segovia
So far Convergence has been a book focused on character moments, and in issue #3 it was the villain’s turn. From Telos to Batman’s rogue’s gallery this issue featured protagonist of the DC universe old and new doing what they should do best. Pushing our heroes to the point of making the audience respect an admire the sacrifices they are asked to make.
Telos really shines in this issue as the main baddie of Convergence is able show he is more than a super henchmen of Brainiac. By destroying the plant of Candor which has been a sacred possession of his master for years of DC continuity, Telos for the first time lives up to the promise of either fight or be destroyed which has repeated at nausea throughout multiple Convergence titles. The only detraction from the might of Telos comes from other characters need to remind us that he is nothing more than a slave to Brainiac, thus rendering the power and legitimacy established for the villain in early panels a bit mute.
Telos may take one step forward and two steps back in his character development, but Convergence #3 does a good
job of reminding us just how notorious and rich in character the Batman rogue’s gallery is. As Thomas Wayne Batman is confronted by his son’s greatest foes, headlined by the one and only clown prince of crime. Artist Stephen Segovia does a nice job mimicking Jim Lee’s version of the Joker from Hush, one that as always pushes the bat family to the utmost limits no matter the Wayne or the multi-verse.
As strongly as King handles the villains of Convergence in issue #3, his story unravels a bit when it shifts focus to the team dynamic of the Earth 2 Justice League. The obstacles that he throws at the team do not feel organic at all outside of Batman and Dick Grayson. As all of sudden heroes encounter new allies, and quickly find themselves in new locations just because the story calls for it. As the Justice League’s story begins to unfold story elements begin to feel less natural making the reader ponder for the first time if television writer Jeff King should have been handed this major DC event as his first project.