Secret Six #2 – Nicole Maines, Writer; Stephen Segovia, Artist; Rain Beredo, Colorist
Ray – 9/10
Ray: The first issue of this series set up an incredibly tense, toxic dynamic as the trio of Jon Kent, Jay Nakamura, and Nia Nal reckoned with the fallout of Absolute Power, which saw
Dreamer play a key role in the death of Jay’s mother. Now, with Amanda Waller captured by a mysterious group – revealed to be Checkmate – and the caustic Black Alice joining this bickering trio, they escape – and emerge right into the hideout of Catman and Deadshot, the two former Secret Six headliners who are at each other’s throats as well. It seems there was a nasty betrayal between them that’s still unresolved, but there’s no time to sort it out – because Dreamer might have just accidentally killed Catman when she arrived through his dreams. He gets better, of course, but the first thing that stands out about this issue is that not only don’t they feel like a team – they barely seem to be able to stand each other.
Amid all the bickering, there is a pretty strong story here, as Waller wakes up in the company of Checkmate agents who seem to restore the memories taken from her by Dreamer. This will include the secret identities of some of the most powerful people in the world – something Checkmate has good reason to want. The problem is, the team has very different ideas of what to do with this information. One side wants her captured, the other side wants her killed. There’s a very powerful segment as Dreamer and Jay talk out their issues – Dreamer fully knowing she can’t make him forgive her, despite how coerced she was into her role – before coming to an agreement on what needs to be done with Waller and what they need for each other. Maines’ writing here feels very messy, but also very honest, which is one of the best things this series has going for it.
To find reviews of all the DC issues, visit DC This Week.
GeekDad received this comic for review purposes.
