DC Comics reviews 2/14/23 – Icon vs. Hardware #1, Batman Incorporated #5

Lazarus Planet Dark Fate #1

Increasingly Lazarus Planet is feeling like a non-event. It’s certainly been the weirdest rollout of a big DC storyline in years with the story being told through a series of disconnected anthology specials.

The latest, Dark Fate, is in the running for worst of the bunch. There’s only so many times creators can roll out new characters and link it to the Lazarus Rain hoping for the best.

These new additions to the DC Universe have largely felt uninspired and destined for the cancellation pile whenever they get their own series.
Dark Fate’s new additions are The Envoy, a woman who carries a Final Fantasy style massive sword and fights on the magical realm and Circuit Breaker, a new transgender character that can absorb energy whose next appearance is in the upcoming DC Pride special.

Neither character seems like a needle mover on first glance, and it feels like DC is just throwing any concept out hoping something will stick.

The Doom Patrol story, from writer Dennis Culver and artist Chris Burnham with colorist Brian Reber, is the issue’s standout. There’s no magic formula here. Culver has a solid take on a team of interest to DC fans and Burnham has a lively style that gives their adventure an appropriately larger than life feel.

Tim Seeley writes a Huntress story where she’s back at Arkham Tower trying to prevent the inmates from getting exposed and super charged by the Lazarus Rain. The story is fine, but artist Baldemar Rivas’ looser style isn’t a great fit for a Bat Family character.

At this point Lazarus Planet’s spin-offs can be safely ignored. There’s no reason to hope for a true advancement in the story while these character introductions slowly roll out with little repercussion to the actual event itself.

Rating: 5 out of 10