DC Comics reviews 10/26/21 – DC vs Vampires #1, Checkmate #5
Checkmate #5
After being attacked by Leviathan at their secret headquarters and teleported to Royal Thai Air Force Sports Stadium in Thailand, Manhunter’s response perfectly sums up writer Brian Michael Bendis’ stint on this title.
“How are the stadium hot dogs here? Do they have them in Thailand” Steve Trevor responds “No time for hot dog talk” and Manhunter replies “Says you!” Then Green Arrow says “Now it’s all I can think about.” Question says “I think we all deserve one” and Talia responds “What nonsense are you all speaking?” This is a natural question most readers would ask at this point. Bendis helpfully has King calm the readers and Talia down with the sage wisdom of “It’s stress banter, Talia. Let it happen.”
Except this never happens in books outside of Bendis’ sitcom style of writing comic books. Perhaps if there were less talk of hot dogs and stress banter, the sloppy Checkmate storyline wouldn’t have to spill over into Justice League so Bendis can attempt to properly develop it?
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Bendis is also very confused as to his own wacky way of shoehorning a brother for Lois Lane. Over in Justice League, Lois acts like Leo was the black sheep of the family. Here, Lois is meeting Leo for the first time.
Alex Maleev’s artwork is always best suited for Bendis’ chatty stories. Maleev’s style isn’t for everyone — it looks flat at times — but Bendis plays to his artist’s strengths so there’s very little actual action here.
This series has been a train wreck that’s almost worth hate reading to see what kind of foolishness Bendis will perpetrate next. There’s just one more issue to go and it’s a guarantee nothing will get resolved forcing Bendis to resume the story he really wants to tell in Justice League.
Rating: 3 out of 10