Wesley Dodds: The Sandman #6 – Robert Venditti, Writer; Riley Rossmo, Artist; Ivan Plascencia, Colorist
Ray – 9/10
Ray: Venditti and Rossmo have built a slow-burn mystery in this title, as Wesley Dodds operates as an under-the-radar vigilante investigating the theft of his own gas technology in the years between the World Wars and the founding of the JSA. The mystery led him to several targets, ultimately leading him to capture and interrogate his former commanding officer. But the officer who tried to steal the tech and convert it to lethal weaponry was just part of the investigation—and he needed a man on the inside. That led to the reveal that Wesley’s best friend and mentor, Wheeler Vanderlyle (who had just survived an assassination attempt) was the actual mastermind behind the whole plot. And now, as the two old friends face off, it becomes clear how far gone Vanderlyle is—and how far he’s willing to go to ensure the Dodds legacy dies with Wesley and the gas winds up in his hands.
The final battle here is a great exercise in minimalism, as there are very few flashy elements—it’s ultimately just two men, caught in a cycle of violence as one tries to save the other and one tries to destroy the other. The viciousness of Vanderlyle’s descent into madness, the desperation as Wesley tries to reach him in vain, and the horrible war lurking behind both their trauma combine into a very compelling story that reaches a tragic ending. From there, Venditti brings things full circle with the introduction of a character who will play a key role in Dodds’ life, as well as the first full appearance of the JSA in this series. I’m not sure who will be taking over the JSA once Johns brings his run to an end, but it seems like Venditti—just like his fellow writers on this mini-line of books—have already built a great foundation for continuing these characters’ long legacy.
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GeekDad received this comic for review purposes.
