You can pickup your copy of DCeased #5 now where all good comics are sold. Read our reviews of previous issues of DCeased here.
Synopsis
The world is dying at the hands of the infected, and the very survival of humanity is at stake. Facing extinction, Superman and the heroes will make a decision that will fundamentally alter Earth’s present…and future!
Review
DCeased #4 broke essentially every reader who picked up a copy. Tom Taylor crafted an emotional story arc which culminated in the supposed deaths of Superman and Wonder Woman but with two issues left there was clearly plenty of story left to tell.
It was a cliffhanger stop gap which forced readers to take a breath and consider the consequences this techno-virus has had on the DC Universe. Rather than a turning point in to the final two issues this was another punch to the gut from a story which just keeps delivering killing blows.
For the first time the series utilised a rather cliche plot device to bring us back in to this latest issue. The pair were, in fact, not killed by the nuclear blast. Surviving the explosion we’re immediately thrown head first in to the search for survivors. There’s a huge sense of urgency when Clark realises his whole family may have been wiped out of existence. That urgency easily mirrors the pacing of this issue overall.
At first the story of this issue is bewildering, much like the emotional state of its characters. As Clark finds that Green Canary Lantern was able to save the group she was with, including Lois, Jon and Damian, there’s a huge exhale of relief for Supes and for us as a reader.
But this is DCeased and the relief does not last for long.
Just as Taylor seems to be turning a corner towards the inevitable conclusion of the story he pulls the rug out from underneath us once again. It all felt a little too easy that we were suddenly seeing the heroes regroup and plans afoot to create a safe-haven away from technology and the virus. And of course it was too easy.
Taylor cleverly constructs the narrative of the issue so that these scenes of relative peace last long enough that as a reader you are just beginning to buy in to the idea when things go horribly wrong.
Then in a moment of fiendish glee, Taylor removes Martian Manhunter, Barry Allen and, to my utter horror, Superman from the table.
The third act of DCeased #5 is dedicated to the loss of Superman. In a parallel of the events in Batman/Superman we learn that the virus will take hold slowly due to his Kryptonian physiology allowing for some emotional goodbyes with friends and family.
I defy anymore to close out issue #5 without a tear in their eye as Clark bids farewell to his son and the love of his life before flying up in to the atmosphere in the hope of removing himself from the board before the virus does.
The closing panel, and the words which go with it, will undoubtedly leave a chill with any reader. A Superman is overcome by the virus before he can incapacitate himself clearly spell certain doom for humanity in the final issue of the series.
That panel is captioned simply with “And any hope our world has is gone with him.”
Oh dear…
Verdict
DCeased #5 proves, yet again, that Tom Taylor has crafted an emotional story set in a world of graphic horrors. The way he has deconstructed the worlds greatest heroes is utterly genius.
10/10
DCeased #5 is written by Tom Taylor with pencils by Trevor Hairsine, inks by Stefano Guadiano and colours by Rainier Beredo.
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