DC Comics reviews 12/11/19 – Detective Comics #1017, Superman #18

Tales From the Dark Multiverse: The Judas Contract #1

With a couple of exceptions the Tales From the Dark Multiverse series hasn’t really offered compelling twists on iconic DC events. Instead it’s been an exercise in killing off characters quickly and exploring the aftermath that lacks an interesting conflict.

Tales From the Dark Multiverse: Judas Contract is more of the same with a less inspired take than most.

In this version of the famed Teen Titans story, Terra turns on Deathstroke the Terminator and quickly kills her former teammates.

Writers Kyle Higgins and Mat Groom make the Titans come off like such a JV squad that Superman has to come in to provide some competition.

Like most of the Dark Multiverse books, Judas Contract takes the farthest extreme and quickly runs out of steam before its worst case scenario ending. Consider the Infinite Crisis Dark Multiverse Story, which changed one aspect that altered everything in an unpredictable and interesting manner.

Judas Contract was a personal story of betrayal and revenge and this story just focuses on a power mad Terra. This twist robs the emotion from the story, eliminates Jericho and the evolution of Robin to Nightwing for the blink and you miss it quick murders of the Titans. After watching Terra kill the Titans it’s doubtful Superman would still try and appeal to her good nature.

Tom Raney handles the art this issue, but it’s not at the same quality of his earlier work. Character definition is weak particularly around their faces while the action seems somewhat stiff. It’s hardly Raney’s best work, but in the context of the story it doesn’t matter.

Tales From the Dark Multiverse: Judas Contract doesn’t have anything fresh to offer and fails to do something interesting with the story. This series is quickly becoming a one note story that lacks the necessary depth to make these altered tales memorable beyond shock value.

Rating: 3 out of 10