Dark Crisis On Infinite Earths #5
As the heroes come up with a plan to deal with Deathstroke’s Dark Army, the Justice League confronts Pariah in Dark Crisis On Infinite Earths #5, by writer Joshua Williamson, artist Daniel Sampere, colorist Alejandro Sanchez, and letterer Tom Napolitano. This issue is exciting and has momentum, building things toward their inevitable conclusion.
This story jumps between two plot lines: on Earth-0, the heroes rescue Black Adam from Deathstroke’s Dark Army. They gather heroes together and make a plan, sending groups to deal with different threats while luring the Dark Army to them. Meanwhile, Barry Allen and Hal Jordan break through to Batman, and the three of them form a plan to show the other Justice Leaguers the truth. When they get to Superman, he tells them he knew it was a trick but couldn’t leave. He shows them how to break free of the dreamworlds, and they confront Pariah. His new infinite Multiverse is unstable, and he needs more power to stabilize them, but he escapes the League by going to Earth-0, joining with the Dark Army.
One of the complaints about DCOIE is that nothing has happened yet. Many believe the pacing is off in the book. This issue shows that both of these thoughts are wrong. The previous four issues were needed to build up to this one. A lot happens in this comic, but it proves that Williamson knew what he was doing when he plotted out the story. Even this reviewer’s opinion that this story needed more chapters is incorrect; as the plot comes together, it shows that this story is meant to work as a shorter book, which is good. Event books have gotten much too bloated and kind of always were. Secret Wars and Crisis On Infinite Earths are classics, but going back and reading them again shows how much filler there is. This book, and A.X.E.: Judgment Day at Marvel, have trimmed the fat considerably, which is a strength of both stories.
Beyond all of that, this is just a really excellent issue. It has momentum throughout; each event leads to the next as it builds the overall tapestry of the chapter. This is a lot of fun for DC fans; it’s nice to see Nightwing take the lead of everything and have Mister Terrific with him front and center. There’re some cool crowd-rousing moments, like the attack of the Titans. Even sacred Black Adam works. This is such a well-done issue, from start to finish.
Sampere and Sanchez are doing a fantastic job on the art. Sampere is a master of big splash pages with lots of heroes and villains. Crisis events are all in the shadow of the late great George Perez, and Sampere is proving that he was the best choice to draw this comic. His art is detailed, and his figures look sensational. Sanchez’s colors are gorgeous as well. A good colorist makes the pencils look even better, and that’s what he’s been doing throughout the series, but especially here. There’s a scene where Superman shows his true power that’s amazing all because of the coloring.
Dark Crisis On Infinite Earths #5 feels like the series is coming together. Williamson has built something really intriguing so far, and this issue makes one appreciate it even more. Sampere and Sanchez are doing brilliant work with the art, and Napolitano’s letters bring the dialogue to life so well. This event is a DC lover’s dream.