At long last, after another two month gap between issues, Geoff Johns, Gary Frank and Brad Anderson return as the clock ticks one step closer to midnight. By far the fastest paced issue yet to come, sets the stage for the final act of this series and Rebirth ad s whole while sides are chosen and mistakes are made. Tension is high this time around, dropping jaws on the metaphorical floor with a slap in the face of an ending leaving readers to wait another two months for answers. As the series finds heavy inspiration from our real world events, Johns and Frank are able to craft an elaborate tale without picking from the low hanging fruit. With every issue, this series proves more and more why it must exist.

The range of storytelling Johns’ is able to displays, lies under the microscope of readers this week as he plays devils advocate between both the serious nature of Doomsday Clock and the bubbly light hearted Shazam series. Johns is able to tell a compelling high stakes issue without threatening a continuity shattering Crisis scenario but rather high anxiety character moments this time around. The tension of this issue can be cut with a knife as national issues take center stage while dividing our heroes in their ideologies.

Kahndaq stands as the centerpiece and acting safe haven for metahumans described in past issues, now fully realized on the pages. A conflict with Firestorm and Russia ignites political backlash as Superman steps in to make amends for the transgressions of Ronald Raymond, to no avail. Batman attempts to reach Clark in hopes of circumventing any further conflict in the motherland, he too fails to catastrophic results.

To no one’s surprise, Gary Frank never ceases in quality as each page stands up to scrutiny against any of the previous issues. By far, his character work, more specifically the way in which he can emote with each character in such a realistic manner, is what truly sells this series and the high stakes it invokes. The absolute horror that Firestorm is put through is made believable by the master class pencil work of Frank. The colorwork of Brad Anderson cannot go without notice. As Firestorm plays a heavy role this issue, Anderson is right there to encapsulate Franks pencil work and lift Ronald Raymond right out of the pages erupting across each page.

Yet again, readers are left to wait another two month gap between issues after an absolutely explosive ending this time around. With only four issues left in the series, the ending is in sight as this final arch ratchets up for the long awaited showdown between Superman and Doctor Manhattan. These final issues are not to be missed as mysteries still wait to be uncovered and the future, and past, of the DC universe hang in limbo.

Grade: A+