Final Crisis Review – “Final Crisis: Resist”

With this review, the Final Crisis event reviews are caught up. Tomorrow I’ll catch up on Secret Invasion with the latest issues of Nova, followed on Friday by a Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season Eight review of the issues that come out in a collected edition this week.

General Information

Title: Final Crisis: Resist

Author: Greg Rucka and Eric Trautman

Illustrator(s): Ryan Sook and Marco Rudy (I’m not clear on their roles; the issue only has cover credits, and the website doesn’t list Rudy at all.)

Cover Date: December 2008

Cover Price: $3.99 US/Can

Premise

Darkseid has won, but Mr. Terrific, Snapper Carr and Cheetah haven’t given up fighting. They face multiple difficulties, but eventually put together a plan to fight back that may actually work.

High Point

For the first time in a long time, heroes are showing the “never give up” attitude they’re known for. That’s been far too rare during this event.

Low Point

There’s no recap or explanation of what the Checkmate facility is all about. Maybe if I read less Marvel I’d have the same complaint about “Secret Invasion,” but I find that “Final Crisis” in general is not particularly new reader friendly.

The Scores

As mentioned in the high point, this is the first Final Crisis issue that shows heroes who refuse to give up, which I always thought was one of a hero’s defining characteristics. That counts as original in this event. I give it 5 out of 6.

The artwork is well done, depicting every page with detail and clarity. I give it 5 out of 6.

The story seems to work well enough for those who already know what the Checkmate facility is. I’m vague on why these characters start out together and what they’re doing at the time, but I can follow easily enough from there. I give it 4 out of 6.

The characterization of the three leads is nice. I’m impressed by Mr. Terrific’s attitude, especially in contrast to the rest of the Universe. I give it 5 out of 6.

The emotional response improves through the issue, as it moves from unfamiliar territory into the story points. I give it 4 out of 6.

The flow of the story is nice, keeping things moving from point to point, filling in details that take place between issues 3 and 4 of the main event. I give it 5 out of 6.

Overall, this is a decent tie-in, which feels like a must-read if one is going to be able to understand where these characters got this plan and technology from when they appear in the main series. I give it 5 out of 6.

In total, Final Crisis: Resist receives 33 out of 42.

Final Crisis Checklist