God, I hate
this book! It is so utterly lacking in originality. Rather than present a
remarkable re-interpretation of Cyborg’s 21st century potential in
the Digital Age, instead it falls so easily into over-used plot devices and
clichés.
In the latest issue,
Cyborg and his pals have been transported to an alternate reality, in which
Earth has fallen into a Terminator-like wasteland, dominated by mechanical
zomboids. In this world, Victor Stone’s mother still lives, and has abducted
him to recover the cure for the digital virus that plagues humanity.
The story begins with our
heroes in the thick of battle, midway through the narrative. We flash back to
what has brought our heroes to this point, because Semper was unable to offer a
better hook at the start of the story. It’s an all-too-common narrative ploy,
which I attribute to lazy and/or unimaginative writers.
Among our players is
Cyborg’s pal Exxy, an ordinary Joe with a passion for tech. But among the likes
of this world’s freedom fighters and heroes like Beast Boy, he seems wholly
unqualified for such a dangerous mission. Of course, because he is so easily
dismissed, that just means he’s going to play a pivotal, life-saving role. It’s
much like all those episodes of Star Trek:
the Next Generation when nobody listens to Wesley Crusher, only for him to
save the Enterprise yet again.
No doubt this quest some
form of deception at its root, which means it will end in betrayal. I could
make additional predictions, but I try to keep my reviews spoiler free.
Rating: 2/10