You could make a game out of Dark Crisis #2. Count how many times the word “crisis” is said and take a shot. You might not make it through the issue. While in reality it’s only about 3 times, the issue feels like the moment in the film where a character says the title in some speech. “Dark” and “crisis” are thrown around a lot to a point it feels a little eyerolling and definitely borderline cheese.

The debut issue ended with Slade and his new Secret Society attacking the Titans Tower. This issue picks up on that as they spread terror throughout the facility and students do their best to survive. Writer Joshua Williamson gives us an interesting issue as Slade and Nightwing clash, a rivalry that goes back years.

Much like the first issue, this feels like more setup as we see Slade and the Society’s role into the “crisis to come” as well as decisions by two other legacy heroes in standing up to face the challenges. There’s action and some interesting moments but overall it feels like a fancy actions sequence that’s there more for the flash than the depth.

That “flash” is provided by Daniel Sampere whose art is very nice. The battle between Slade and Nightwing looks fantastic in a two-page spread that’ll leave you lingering on the page. Sampere teams with Alejandro Sánchez on colors and letterer Tom Napolitano. The destruction looks great but there’s a sense of fear that’s missing. Wide shots are used a lot instead of closer ones on faces to really drive home the panic. “Holy shit” moments don’t quite deliver the punch they should but the characters and detail of each scene does look really good.

Dark Crisis #2 is an interesting comic much like the debut. There’s a lot I like and a lot I don’t At times there’s some really interesting moments and others where it feels like it’s going through the motions. The comic feels like it’s trying to be its own thing but also is waist deep in continuity. The event as a whole fits in this weird spot. It feels like one that’ll have to be judged but the whole instead of each individual part.

Story: Joshua Williamson Art: Daniel Sampere
Color: Alejandro Sánchez Letterer: Tom Napolitano
Story: 7.5 Art: 8.15 Overall: 7.5 Recommendation: Read

DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

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Purchase: TFAW – Zeus Comics – comiXology/Kindle