DC Comics reviews 5/3/22 – Flashpoint Beyond #1, Batman #123

Hardware Season One #5

Hardware prepares for his showdown with Alva provided he can survive being buried alive.

Writer Brandon Thomas has established how Alva simultaneously manipulated Curtis Metcalf by playing the role of father figure.
That’s been effective especially in showing how Curtis feels so betrayed and seeking to set things right as Hardware.

Thomas isn’t as concise with some of the other supporting characters whose motives still feel too vague.

Denys Cowyn’s artwork with Bill Sienkiewicz on ink retains that classic Milestone look. It’s awesome to have that visual consistency from one Milestone era to the next.

It’s not until the end of the issue that Thomas sets the stage for the season finale with an enticing cliffhanger.

Ideally there’d be more excitement in this issue building to the big showdown. It sets the stage up alright but I’m not as excited as I should be for this finale.

Rating: 7 out of 10