The Stop Button

All-Star slightly improves from last time, mainly because Wildcat has fewer opportunities to be a sexist prick. There’s a huge one at the beginning, so much of one the Flash comments on it (internally) and assumes his friend is upset about the disasters threatening the world when it’s just because a Power Girl is stronger than him.

But Wildcat, Flash, and Power Girl are away most of the issue, on a rocket to intercept Brainwave’s spaceship.

Instead, the action checks in with the other heroes—Robin, Green Lantern, and Dr. Fate; they get their scene, which reveals the villain is hypnotizing the heroes into believing regular people are his evil henchmen. In the very next scene, Hawkman, Dr. Mid-Nite, and Star Spangled Kid beat the ever-loving shit out of a bunch of henchmen. So either the bad guy had some real henchmen and some fake henchmen, which seems like a lot of extra work, or our heroes beat up a bunch of civilians.

Because despite writer Gerry Conway’s inability to stop with the superhero worship thought balloons of most of the characters—and then the general exposition, too—he underwrites the book’s action. But still somehow paces it really well. The issue’s nowhere near a success, but it’s got some good art (Ric Estrada and Wally Wood again).

It’s also got some not-good art, and it’s still weird how Estrada contorts Power Girl’s cleavage and gams into every panel. Even when she’s saving the world. Conway’s going on and on about how it’s so much more heroic because she’s not Supergirl of Earth-One, and Estrada’s drooling on the page.

Then there’s the villain, Brainwave. He’s got googly eyes. Googly eyes had been a craze by the time this comic came out; the creators must’ve known, yet still, they did googly eyes.

Much of the issue is spent with Brainwave. We get his recent backstory, just how it pertains to the current event, and then he’s around a lot. When the action gets to him after the hero check-ins, it stays with him, which makes Conway’s plotting even more successful.

The finale’s way too purple in the exposition, but it’s dramatic enough. It’s mostly Dr. Fate talking, and Conway doesn’t give Fate any personality, which makes him likable because everyone with personality seems like a dick.

Of course, Estrada and Wood have problems with Fate’s helmet.

Baby steps.