Well, that was creepy. But, it's probably also the best issue of "Forever Evil" (and possibly "Justice League") so far.
Johns makes it absolutely clear that we shouldn't trust anything that Owlman is saying in this issue. That said, he also leaves you wondering if Owlman maybe isn't quite as completely evil as Ultraman. He doesn't exactly want to run Earth to make it a happy paradise, but he may in fact want something less evil than enslaving humanity. On one hand, we are talking about the guy who killed his parents and brother to ensure that his parents didn't spend his inheritance. (So, you know, not a good guy.) On the other hand, he talks in his narration about how he's trying to fix his broken family on the Earth. Of course, part of the reason that his family was broken on Earth-3 is not only because he murdered them but also because Dick Grayson discovered that he murdered Dick's parents to force him to emotionally bond with him. (My question, though, is why Dick? Thomas dealt with Dick's money-laundering parents, so he would've clearly been aware of Dick. But, why did he decide that he needed him specifically as a partner, other than the somewhat creepy possibility that DC probably doesn't want to explore?) Curiouser and curiouser.
Johns also clarifies some background information here, letting us know that Earth-3 has been almost completely destroyed, in all likelihood by the mysterious threat that we've seen mentioned a few times. Moreover, he reminds us that Owlman is acting because Ultraman's lack of access to kryptonite gives him an opening to defeat him that he never had on Earth-3. Also, it's easy to overlook the conversation between the mobsters at the start of this issue, but it's actually one of the better meditations on the fear that average people have about "capes" taking over their world that I've seen.
One of the reason that I decided to get "Forever Evil" was the opportunity to learn more about Earth-3. I'm not an old-school DC reader, so the whole idea of the Crime Syndicate was new to me. So far, I have to say, Johns is delivering in spades. The "Justice League" tie-in issues are really painting a vivid picture of the world that Earth-3 is and I find myself anxious for Superwoman and Power Ring to get their turn in the spotlight. Although not necessary to the overall plot of "Forever Evil," this issue certainly gives the event some nuance, making it clear that the members of the Crime Syndicate aren't all cartoonishly evil in the same way, but driven by their own demons.
(The only downside of this issue was pet peeve #2, since Ultraman doesn't appear in this issue, let alone fight Nightwing, as depicted on the cover.)
I actually went back and forth on whether to give this issue four or five stars, but I went with five because I think, at the end of the day, this story is going to stay with me for a while.
***** (five of five stars)
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