Double Climax
How is it that Miguel Sepulveda is so great at covers I should hate. He always does these covers with designs that should be cheesy or 'standard action' or whatever type of cover I usually hate or just get bored of. But there's always some little touch to them that make them great and compelling covers. This one is no exception, it's intense and in your face.
The dethroning of Adam One is a clever catalyst for delivering some well disguised exposition on the backgrounds of the main characters via the Shadow Cabinet's representative's analysis of each team member's potential leadership qualifications. It helps ease us into the team after the harsh initiation of the first four issues. Meanwhile, Apollo and Midnighter's flight similarly shows off sections of the headquarters without blatantly giving us a straightforward tour.
I had forgotten about Apollo and Midnighter's sexual orientation. I knew about them prior, but forgot about it when I started reading this series. So a throw away line where Midnighter called Apollo handsome in a previous issue seemed odd, but hits me full on this issue when they all but come out of the closet to each other. They get as close as they can without actually saying it, but you know what they mean. It was strangely adorable to watch these two badasses begin some subtle flirtation.
And all the foreshadowing of Harry Tanner comes to a head here. From the first issue we've known he was bad news, but his motives, and even each next step in his machinations were a complete mystery. The king of liars is amazing at misdirecting the reader as much as the other characters. He causes some massive changes this issue, but I still have no idea what he's trying to do or why; in a good way. And the fight between him and Midnighter is as awesome as it promises. But all of this leads into an cliffhanger ending of explosive proportions, cleverly tying an 'end of 2011' theme into it, and promising widespread consequences.
In Conclusion: 5/5
This issue had me on the edge of my seat exactly as much as the last one. Even though the arc seemed wrapped up, things manage to be just as climactic, which is impressive for a story that's almost tacked onto the end of the previous one.
