I was a big fan of DC's team-up titles when I was a kid. Seeing two radically different characters join forces in the same adventure in DC Comics Presents or The Brave and the Bold was a wonderful thrill. I still get a kick out of team-up stories; they tap into a strong sense of nostalgia for me. Unfortunately, DC's team-ups today often cross over between two titles, as is the case here. Fortunately, Geoff Johns has presented a strong script here that maintains this title's flow while providing an accessible introduction for those who haven't been following Greg Rucka's Wonder Woman stint. To be honest, though, it's the villains who steal the show this time around.
Dr. Barbara Minerva, AKA the Cheetah, has freed Zoom, the Reverse Flash, from his stasis cage in Iron Heights prison because she wants him to help her become faster, for him to lend her some of his speed so she can defeat Wonder Woman. He explains to her that his powers are time-based, not speed-based like the Flash's. But he has other abilities -- his insight into the psychology of the metahuman criminal mind -- that might do just as well. Meanwhile, when the Flash learns of the breakout, he seeks out a blinded Wonder Woman for advice about the Cheetah, but he soon realizes that Diana isn't one to just sit idly by while others rush into danger, disability be damned.
Justiniano's work here really plays to the focus on the villains. His distorted take on the human form works incredibly well when it comes to bringing the inhuman Cheetah to life as well as the weirdness of Zoom. His depiction of Zoom's fluctuating presence, his disconnect from reality, is incredibly effective. Sinclair's colors really pop here as well, especially when it comes to imbuing Wonder Woman's magic lasso with a pure, supernatural energy.
Johns explores how the two heroes' personalities separates them. The Flash's blue-collar background puts him ill at ease around the classic royalty of his Justice League colleague. He's resistant to the notion of being subservient to her, to relying on her help at all. The conflict between them is subtle, but it makes sense as well. I'm also pleased to see that a crossover with Wonder Woman hasn't put the brewing "Rogues War" storyline on hold.
I had forgotten what a weird and unusual character the new Zoom was, and it was great to visit with him again here. I love that he clings to the delusion that his malevolent acts are actually his way of helping the Flash. His powers are bizarre and grant him an alien aura, but it's his mind that's truly chilling. It's his knowledge and expertise that makes him dangerous. The Cheetah's reasons for seeking him out make sense as well, so the crossover doesn't come off as too forced. 7/10
