The Terrifics #8
Joe Bainbridge
Recap
The Terrifics are stuck in the Forest of Eternity with Tom Strong, trapped in vines. Their only hope in Linnya. She is surprised when she doesn’t turn intangible and after a quick analysis, Mr Terrific recognizes that none of them are affected by the Dark Multiversal energy that bound them together. Tom String tells them that his family and team have been taken by Doctor Dread and placed across the multiverse. They split up into groups, with Tom going with Terrific, plastic man going with Pneumon and Phantom Girl going with Rex.
Going through different portals, Red and Phantom Girl end up in the Aztech Empire, where the Aztec’s are now technologically advanced and chase them down. When the two become outnumbered, they are rescued by Tesla Strong. Meanwhile, Plastic Man and Pneuman travel to Funnyland where they meet Duckter Dread who is trying to kill Solomon the ape, one of Toms friends. Plastic Man throws Dreads bomb back at him and tries to rescue Solomon but fails, yet he is rescued by that worlds Warren Strong, a rabbit. Tom and Terrific end up in Slaughter Swamp in Gotham, and after Terrific reminisces about his past mistakes and his wife, they are attacked by Swamp Thing who is not pleased by their presence...
Review
This issue of The Terrifics is more story-oriented than the previous issues and we learn more about Tom Strong’s connection to the Dark Multiverse– that he had traveled there before and left a message so no one would go there. The way the team lost their connection felt underwhelming and slightly disappointing.however the character connections are what carry this series– those connections and the way that it doesn’t take itself seriously. Rex and Linnya in the Aztech Empire look to be more fun and interesting as the arc goes on with a lot of promise being shown there. Plastic Man and Pneuman in Funnyland is a stroke of genius from Lemire with Duckter Dread! It’s always nice to see the artwork play with Plastic Man’s abilities.
Tom Strong and Mr Terrific engage in the deeper elements of the comic. He still mourns for his wife and I expect that this tragedy will return in a later issue the way they are shoving it on the page, though it does make for some good art by Atiyeh. And the return of my favorite character, Swamp thing, is particularly pleasant to see on the final panel.
Final Thoughts
The issue has moments that mean that the next one will be awesome but I need more from this series than the promise that something good will come along. The Terrifics arc is interesting and keeping me entertained with the clever writing and artwork and I just hope that we get something that is truly spectacular
The Terrifics #8: Finding the Family
- Writing - 8.1/108.1/10
- Storyline - 6.9/106.9/10
- Art - 8.1/108.1/10
- Color - 7.5/107.5/10
- Cover Art - 6.5/106.5/10
