Azrael vs Cyborg!
First posted on my blog.
Philippe Briones and Jeromy Cox stay on as artist and colourist respectively.
As I said in my review of issue #3, Briones seems to have an problem with drawing faces - one that I would have hoped to have been resolved by now. Sadly that isn't the case.
You would think with this being a monthly series, that more time would be spent on getting the faces to look right. But what Briones lacks in human face detail, he makes up in world and alien design. That and Darkseid looks a badass this issue, for what little he's in it anyway.
[caption id="attachment_222" align="alignnone" width="1290"] He’s the strongest one there… wait! Wrong character.[/caption]
Story wise, this is a slow paced issue up until the last few pages where things feel rushed as everything happens at once. Yet, I can see why that choice was made, to a certain extent. We spend a lot of this issue learning about about the Machine Worlds and their inhabitants and other events to set up future issues. Rather than uncovering the truth about their roles as "Old Gods".
Williamson seems to be setting up the team to be all-powerful gods, while not showing us anything from the team. Just how far their followers will go to prove themselves true worshippers of their chosen gods, a scary thought for the heroes who wish to save them, not rule over them.
Spoilers!
For the first time since DC's "Rebirth" we finally get to see the return of Blackfire. Starfire's evil sister. Only this time, she's teaming up with Darkseid.
End of Spoilers
The Odyssey League also meet the mysterious Azrael worhipper, Rapture. Azrael seems a little bit too happy about the idea that people worship him. Hopefully setting up plot threads for Azrael to eventually betray his team to become a god - doesn't seem to far-fetched for him.
Score 4/5
Like the previous issue, it's the art holding itself back from being the best that it could be. All that might change with issue #5 as the artists are changing.