Mild Mannered Reviews – Crime Syndicate #3

Crime Syndicate #3

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Crime Syndicate #3

 

Scheduled to arrive in stores: May 4, 2021
Cover date: July 2021

“The New Deal” – Part 3: “Broken Ambassador”

Writer: Andy Schmidt
Penciller: Kieran McKeown
Inker: Dexter Vines
Cover: David Finch & Romulo Fajardo Jr.
Variant Cover: Babs Tarr

Reviewed by: Craig Boehmer


This issue is narrated, for the most part, by Donna Troy’s Superwoman. She begins by recounting a major battle between Starro and the Emerald Knights led by Harold Jordan. The battle was catastrophic. We then zoom to now where the metahumans are uniting to push back against the Starros invading earth. Owlman has “united” the metas under a strategy, there is significant friction between the different characters. Atomica shrinks and enters Starro’s bloodstream and the subsequent damage allows Ultraman and John Stewart to enter it. They are unable to defeat it though, prompting Superwoman to tie it up in her barbed wire rope and kill it, in spite of its pleas for mercy.

 

4Story – 4: This story was pretty fun. The dynamic between the characters is interesting to read. The standouts for this issue are obviously Superwoman and Owlman. Luthor makes an interesting appearance to the story by trying to get the metas to protect the people of the city, rather than defeat the aliens. He is defeated by Ultraman prior to the final battle. Ultraman is written as an arrogant and irrational character who is a kryptonite junkie. It’s an interesting aspect of Ultraman, but I don’t know if it’s a character that can be a central focus for a full series.


5Art – 5: The art is epic and fun. Bright colours, and great designs that allow for subtle shifts from the main DC universe. The final page of the story, highlighting each of the characters is a fun image. Each design is interesting, and appealing.


“Tools of the Trade”

Writer: Andy Schmidt
Artist: Bryan Hitch

Donna Troy is training on Demon’s Island with the rest of the Warrior Women. She is the daughter of the queen and thus the target of more difficult training. In the process of her training she discovers Steve Trevor and falls in love with him. He betrays her trust by threatening to kill her unless some of her armies join him in the war. Donna kills him and heads off the island, determined to lead the new metas she is hearing about, to kill her mother.

5Story – 5: This was a fun short story about Donna Troy’s origin. I would like more of this fleshed out for the betterment of her character, especially the mention of Diana. The little betrayal and subsequent death of Steve Trevor references lines of dialogue used in the main story about Donna not having emotions.


5Art – 5: I always enjoy looking at Bryan Hitch’s artwork. He is great a creating blockbuster images.


5Cover Art – 5: The cover is engaging and provides hints at the story inside. Each character is visible, plus a number of other characters that have small cameos in the issue.


4Variant Cover Art – 4: This cover really seems to fit the character of Superwoman, not only is she this powerful titan, but she also utilizes her sexuality to manipulate others. Her face is weirdly designed in this image though.


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