Geoff Johns launches a new story arc with this issue, turning his attention to the Hourmen plotline. When he brought back the original Hourman when his son was still running around with the same powers and similar costume, I really didn't see the point of it. The point makes itself quite clear with this issue, though, as Johns tells a compelling story about a man who was given a chance to reconnect with a family he never knew. Furthermore, the medical "action" of this issue is tense and engrossing, making for an exciting read. Unfortunately, one affliction that goes untreated here is an important one: accessibility. These characters have such long and therefore convoluted histories that it's going to be difficult for new readers to delve into these new adventures without more background information.
The original Hourman brings help to the chronal limbo known as Timepoint, where his son, the current Hourman, lies bleeding to death. Dr. Mid-Nite gets to work, sealing up the young hero's wounds while the android Hourman from the future waits to use his time-manipulation powers to speed up the process. The original Hourman only has the remnants of an hour left before he has to return back to a point in time when he and his fellow JSAers saved the universe from a villain's cosmic rampage, and the time it takes for his son to be treated is time the father and son are losing.
J.H. Williams's cover for this issue is stunning, demonstrating an evolution of the Hourman concept. Kramer's interior art serves the story well. He captures the emotion that's at the heart of this episode as well as the dynamic and powerful nature of the players. He also conveys the critical nature of Hourman II's injuries without getting too graphic or gross about it. The tone of Kramer's work is remarkably similar to that of the previous regular penciller, Leobard (Bloodhound) Kirk, which is fine. But given that DC was apparently looking to go into a different visual direction, the change still puzzles me.
The art and script converge to communicate the crucial nature of the plot. There's an urgency in the dialogue that conveys the uncertainty of Rick's future. Johns makes trauma treatment and health-care standbys seem cool and exciting with a sharp script that fosters a mood of tension and triumph. I also appreciated how there are hints of happiness in the midst of the terror and grief. Reunions between friends who haven't seen one another in a long time are heartening and make for a nice balance with the otherwise sad tone of the story.
The battle with Extant from Zero Hour. The introduction of the Hourman from future in DC One Million. The rift between Rick Tyler and his father. These past stories and many more come into play in this issue, but they're only touched upon briefly in the script. There's a massive amount of history behind these characters and plotlines. While building upon them is a treat for longtime fans such as myself, the problem is that new readers are in danger of being alienated.
