Inferior 5 by Keith Giffin, Jeff Lemire, Michelle Delecki, Scott Koblish and, Scott Kolins (graphic novel review).
Firstly, don’t think this is the Inferior 5 of 1965 and later appearances. There are brief appearances of Dumb Bunny (although she no longer likes the name) and Awkwardman but things are dire here. This particular here is Dangerfield, Arizona and after the second Invasion by the Dominators and Khunds. Although this is a 5 part mini-series, there is also Invasion # 27 giving away some of the events that contributes to it.
Now how much to say without going too spoiler. Dangerfield is a wrecked danger zone and people are scrapping by for an existence. Four pre-teens are looking around for a fifth member and make sense of everything. A risky business as their previous fifth members have ended up dead. There are a lot of mysteries going on and several C level characters like Brother Power and the Tasmanian Devil rearing their heads from time to time.
I’m not too familiar with this ‘Invasion’ series although it isn’t the first one which I have read years ago. Its reported here that Superman is dead and Captain Atom is contained but still no real indication which DC Comics Universe reality this belongs to. Added to this mix is the Peacemaker being prepped up to investigate. I hadn’t realised until now that his helmet is sentient.
I should point out that writer Keith Giffin focuses mostly on the ‘Inferior 5’ aspect and writer Jeff Lemire the ‘Peacemaker’ material and final issue. The art has a scratchy cartoony look but this is Giffin’s later period look and seems to work here. In many respects, it actually ended up being a fast read, mostly to work out what is going on and with an ending suggesting that there will be a second volume in the works.
GF Willmetts
April 2022
(pub: DC Comics, 2021. 152 page graphic novel softcover. Price: I pulled my copy for under £10.00 (UK). ISBN: 978-14-77951-347-2)
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