DC All In Special #1 features two stories by Scott Snyder & Joshua Williamson and is published by DC. “Alpha” features artwork by Daniel Sampere and colours by Alejandro Sanchez. “Omega” features artwork by Wes Craig and colours by Mike Spicer. The book’s centrefold is by Dan Mora and Tamra Bonvillain and letters on both stories are by Steve Wands. Main cover art (left) is by Sampere and Sanchez.
DC All In Special #1 is available from today, in print and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your digital copy from Amazon Comixology UK right here.
Synopsis
Following the events of DC’s blockbuster storyline Absolute Power, the heroes of the core DC Universe have fought against the deep divisions in the world around them to usher in a new era of unity. And it’s just in time, too—because Darkseid has returned. Superman must gather every hero on Earth to hold the line against a very different version of the Lord of Apokolips, as they raise our cosmic defenses and prepare for war…and when the first blows land, the shock waves will ripple into every series in the DCU and shake the nature of their reality to its core!But little do they know…the greater threat is still to come. For there is another Earth: the Absolute Universe. Here, DC’s biggest icons are coming of age with fewer advantages and facing greater opposition than ever before…while miraculously retaining the immutable heroism that has inspired fans for decades. But can they really protect the light that shines inside them when the world in which they live is hurtling toward a terrible destiny?
Review
It’s hard to believe it’s been less than two months since DC first announced their DC All In Special. The launch of a brand new initiative aiming to recapture the magic of the DCU. But now, after weeks of anticipation and huge hype at San Diego Comic-Con the special is hitting comic book stores today and laying out the publishers ambitious plans for the future.
The DC All In Special arrives in stores as a flip book. On one side a story of hope and new beginnings as the Justice League reunites on their new Watchtower. On the other, the return of Darkseid and the birth of the Absolute Universe and its new vision for DC’s most legendary characters. Two sides of a coin setting up a huge mystery whilst offering readers the chance to engage with two very different sides of the company. But whilst the book sets out DC’s mission statement for the next years of storytelling, the special also has to prove this new universe is more than simply a gimmick to bolster sales.
That’s why you call on two of your heavy hitters, in this case Scott Snyder and Joshua Williamson, to write a book like this. These are writers with an unparalleled understanding of the universe and the characters they’re working with. They’re also both proven success stories when it comes to inventing new interpretations of the DCU. Snyder, triumphantly returning to DC after an extended hiatus, is known as the mastermind behind not only the Court of Owls but the incredible Dark Knights Metal storyline which birthed The Batman Who Laughs. Whilst Williamson was the architect of last year’s Knight Terrors event and has been steering multiple books including Superman, Green Arrow and Batman & Robin back in to the limelight.
There’s a potentially fascinating psychological experiment over which of the DC All In Special stories you choose to read first. I chose to begin with “Alpha” which explore what the Justice League did next following Absolute Power before diving in to “Omega”. “Alpha” wonderfully embraces the sense of scale and adventure which DC is trying to capture moving forwards. Part of that is the return of the Justice League and the launch of the upcoming Justice League Unlimited book. “Alpha” feels like a prelude chapter, a new start and a chance to wipe the slate clean. After quickly recapping events which have led to this point the priority shifts to setting the new status quo and establishing who will form part of the new team.
Of course the title of Justice League Unlimited should be a strong signifier to how expansive the cast will be. The writers works to encompass this by incorporating appearances by Robot Man, Metamorpho and other less predictable characters. It quickly communicates just how wide the core group is casting the net in the wake of what Amanda Waller has put them through. But there’s one potential member of the team for who “Alpha” saves plenty of room. This is Booster Gold’s moment to shine. With Superman making the pitch, Booster is offered the chance to become a bona fide member of the team. It’s his chance to become the hero he always wanted.
READ MORE: SDCC – Going All In on DC With Daniel Sampere and Joshua Williamson
Moving towards the middle of the book “Alpha” and “Omega” reach a point of convergence. At times the stories literally bleed in to each other. Another unique aspect of DC All In Special‘s approach to launching this new initiative. From a purely functional perspective there are aspects of each story which pay off in the other. So in “Alpha” we see what happens when Darkseid arrives on the Watchtower as Booster has crossed through the dimensional rift to explore what lies on the other side.
Leading from the other side, “Omega” naturally follows the journey of Darkseid as he grapples with a his journey back to power. It feels equally unique, putting more of a spotlight on the villain and his own emotional journey. There’s a determination to his character which feels as renewed as our heroes in “Alpha”. It’s also fair to say that many will be surprised by Darkseid’s ultimate involvement in the creation of the Absolute Universe and it certainly isn’t a predictable turn of events.
Snyder and Williamson take Darkseid to a number of recognisable locations, flirting with the DCU’s New Gods and their associated characters. Clocking in at under 60 pages in total, there isn’t a huge amount of room for DC All In Special #1 to catch up with all the major players. But “Omega” in particular gives a glimpse at some interesting power struggles happening outside the realm of the Watchtower.
It’s also in “Omega” where we get our first official glimpse at the new Absolute Trinity. To say much more would spoil the introduction of the new Wonder Woman, Batman and Superman but our first glimpse at each is spectacular. All In achieves its mission statement to ignite the excitement of the audience. The accompanying narration comfortably lays out the different circumstances in which each of them was born.
Ultimately DC All In Special has to work on multiple fronts, transitioning the wider story from Absolute Power in to a new era whilst introducing the foundations of an entirely new Earth. All within the space of one oversized issue. Despite the limitations on physical space both stories are able to achieve their goals. Both bring distinctly different flavours whilst simultaneously acting as two parts of a whole.
Verdict
DC All In Special succeeds in building hype for the publishers new initiative. Snyder, Williamson and artists Daniel Sampere and Wes Craig present two very different perspectives of the DCU. It’s ambitious, unique and distinctly DC and I can’t wait to see what comes next.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
