Nov
30
2015
0

Justice Inc.: The Avenger #6 Review

Written by: Mark Waid and Christopher Sequeira

Art by: Ronilson Freire

Publisher: Dynamite

You don’t need powers to be a superhero.

Batman and Oliver Queen are both fine examples of this statement, but they have the advantage of new technology, piles of cash, and training in martial arts. Know who doesn’t have these advantages but still manages to fight crime? Richard Henry Benson. Technically the head of Justice, Inc. may have millions of dollars in the bank, but he can get away with it because of his facial paralysis and paper white skin and hair. Besides, Benson only relies on a knife and pistol instead of a jet, tumbler, utility belt, or dozens of gadgets.

The first five issues of Justice, Inc. The Avenger have done a fine job treading the line between intensity, action, and humor, meaning that the finale has a high standard to meet. More importantly, the finale has a lot to answer for now that Benson’s team is in jail and war is near. Luckily, Mark Waid and Christopher Sequeira have been crafting an impressive story with their revitalization of this classic franchise, and issue #6 is a fine way to finish this first series.

After some major problems in previous issues, Benson is unfortunately working alone. The entirety of his team is stuck in jail, and the police are refusing to help them out. To make matters worse, Benson is dealing with one of his most formidable foes ever. The mysterious villain known as Sleeperman is a ruthless enemy, having no regard for the lives of his team or his opponents. This is a scary attitude for Benson to face, but it makes for some great action. The scenes at the brick factory are a simply fantastic because of Sleeperman.

Why is Benson investigating a brick factory? Well, there is a missing family in need of rescuing, and the investigation leads Benson to this abandoned building. You have to find out the rest by reading the issue.

It’s worth mentioning—without too much detail—that the story of this final issue is pretty great. Benson’s investigation is just as interesting as usual, and the addition of invisible characters and weird science keeps the story moving. The brick factory fight leads perfectly into the final confrontation, answering some major questions and tying up the other loose ends. The story just flows in a way that doesn’t leave room for any lulls.

The only complaint about the story is that a few moments were omitted to wrap up the story. It would have been nice to see Benson’s final meeting with the secret service or a crucial rescue attempt.

The issue is still great, but it’s unfortunate to miss those moments.

Justice, Inc. The Avenger had a solid first run with a great main character and some fun side characters. Mark Waid and Christopher Sequeira perfectly revitalized this classic character for the modern era, and Ronilson Freire’s art brought the visuals to life. There were a few minor missteps during the series, but the arc was absolutely enjoyable from start to finish. Issue #6 is a fun end to this first story, but hopefully Benson’s story continues in the coming months.