The Question: All Along the Watchtower #4 – Alex Segura, Writer; Cian Tormey, Raul Fernandez, Artists; Romulo Fajardo Jr, Colorist
Ray – 9/10
Ray: This has been one of the fastest-paced comics coming out of DC’s lineup right now, setting Renee Montoya up as the DCU’s new top detective – and immediately plunging her into a high-stakes mystery in the Watchtower. After three issues of attempted murders, betrayals, and close calls, the culprit has finally been revealed. Cyborg Superman has tapped into the power of the Phantom Zone, controlled all robotic and cybernetic heroes on the tower, and begun possessing human heroes to attack fellow League members. And now that Renee has exposed his plan – things are only getting more dangerous. The villain has taken complete control of the tower’s mainframe, allowing him to control the very structure, and has begun hunting the only person who knows it’s him. Soon enough, Renee winds up captured – alongside her ex-girlfriend, Batwoman, who things are still…complex with.
Renee has been holding it together until now, but losing on this scale leads to a bit of a breakdown. I like how Segura, in this series and the prequel anthology story, has not shied away from the level of trauma that Renee has endured and the scars it’s left. Even if she and Kate aren’t back together here, it’s nice to see the bond the two of them still share and how Kate is there when it counts. Animal Man joins the team after being snapped out of his possession by some very intense questioning involving his family and the darkest chapter of his life, and the trio is able to make it closer to Cyborg’s inner sanctum – with the Watchtower itself seeming to conspire against them as they make their way inward. Great visuals, very intense storytelling, even if this issue does feel a little bit like a transition point to get them from the end of the last battle to the final showdown.
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GeekDad received this comic for review purposes.
