The L.A.W. Living Assault Weapons mini-series featuring the former Charlton Comics characters now making their home at DC Comics concludes this issue.
This issue feels like a complete epilogue. Judomaster's former sidekick, Tiger, now The Avatar, has been defeated, his demons repelled. And yet, now one seems concerned about more than a moral victory over the former hero, now turned ruthless villain. There seems to be only muted outrage and "harumphing" going on.
It also seems like a half-hearted attempt to relaunch the Charlton characters. Captain Atom seemed to be the only series that caught on and had legs. Blue Beetle did fairly well with Booster Gold on the Giffen, Maguire, DeMatties Justice League; but on his own he floundered. The Question did very well for awhile. I don't know if Judomaster, Nightshade, or Peacemaker had an opportunity to make an impact.
This series provides a number of redesigns for the characters. While Blue Beetle maintains his look; The Question is slightly different and Nightshade, Peacemaker, Judomaster and Captain Atom get a whole new look. Having done absotively nothing but be a prisoner the entire series, Captain Atom re-emerges in the most ridiculous, preposterous and downright silly costume this side of Jar Jar Binks. And then he flies off into the sunset.
The resolution for Justine and Sarge Steel is equally preposterous.
The issue ends with several epilogues; the second epilogue featuring Salt and Jagger stretches the rational bounds of credulity as much as the final six panels of the issue. It's almost like watching the Sam J. Jones version of Flash Gordon or an episode of Challenge of the Superfriends. Roll the Wonder Twins tag and we're out.
