The Question: All Along the Watchtower #5 is a collection of cliches with the Question’s blank mask slapped on top of it.
All right, review over.
Recommended If
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*gets an email from the editor
“What?”
*a few angry back-and-forths later
“Fine, I’ll write an actual review.”
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This series has been extremely disappointing to read. While there was an interesting premise (well, a premise) where former cop Renee Montoya a.k.a., the second Question and one of my personal favorite characters is brought on the Justice League Watchtower as the head of security with a secondary goal to unravel a conspiracy that is plaguing the Watchtower.
Sadly, what we have so far is a mystery that fails to intrigue, a protagonist that can be charitably called ineffectual and a plot that could have been wrapped up in 4 issues. Unfortunately, there are 6 issues of this series so we need to pad. This. Story. Out. And since there isn’t an original bone in this plot’s body, it’s time to bring in the audience favorite – cliches. Every single cliche imaginable.
Last time we left off Renee surrounded by five mind-controlled superheroes, including characters like Nightshade, Animal Man, and Jaime Reyes, who she shouldn’t be able to scratch. Naturally, she wipes the floor with all of them to show how cool she is…except Batwoman because the love interest gets to have a special fight later. Said special fight manages to rekindle their lost passion and the two make out. Now, I actually would like it if these two got back together…but something tells me we’re going to see the cliche “we should stay friends” at the end of this series.
Now, if for some reason you feel that Renee hasn’t been a compelling protagonist this series (because she hasn’t), the creative team has you covered. She…now has an alien dog sidekick, whom she names Crispus (now I may be a bit off when it comes to my knowledge of American pop-culture, but here in India, naming a dog after someone is usually an insult. So to me, she insulted her dead former partner). Also, we get a cameo from someone Renee respects a lot and who tells her she did a good job, so we can throw in the validation cliche there as well.
But we are not done yet folks! Cyborg Superman also tries to fulfill as many villain cliches as he possibly can. Being a bad boss to his underlings (well, underling), letting his evil plan have a timer just so the protagonist can save the day, and pulling another plan out of his metal rear so that we can leave the issue on a cliffhanger.
Recommended If
- You have money to burn. In this case though, you’re better off burning the money in a trashcan fire.
Overall
There are bad comics out there. All Star Batman and Robin is bad. Marville is bad. Superman: Distant Fires is bad. But, at least, I get some value out of those stories as they serve as a shining example of what NOT to do. This mediocre slop provides nothing other than a relationship tease and little else.
Score: 2/10 (the dog gets a point because he is adorable)
Disclaimer: DC Comics provided an advanced copy of this issue for review purposes.
