Review: Michael Cray #12

DC/Wildstorm“s Michael Cray is probably the best superhero comic book you have not been reading this year. Cray aka Deathblow was created by Jim Lee and Brandon Choi way back at the inception of Image Comics. Even back then he was a deep, intriguing and enigmatic character, a government-trained assassin with more questions than answers about himself, his abilities, and his employers. Now, that the Wildstorm universe is being reimagined within the DC universe, the potential for great storytelling across these platforms is limitless. And Michael Cray, written by Bryan Hill, with art by N. Steven Harris, Dexter Vines, and Steve Buccellato, and amazing cover art by the legends ”“ Denys Cowan and Bill Sienkiewicz, is a comic book that fully realizes its potential.

Michael Cray #12 is the conclusion of the limited series, and writer Bryan Hill has transformed our sense of the DC universe over the criminally short span of time that this series has been given. DC titles will always have a crisis of infinite earths in the sense that writers/artists do not necessarily have to be locked into one central narrative of continuity. Bryan Hill, N. Steven Harris and company really use this creative freedom to craft an incredible narrative ”“ ultimately de-familiarizing readers“ understanding of some of DC“s core characters. Cray“s first few targets in the series were Oliver Queen, Barry Allen, and Arthur Curry. He is a very effective assassin.

Over the course of the 12-issue arc Cray has been dealing with an innovative interpretation of a classic racial, socio-psychological phenomenon known as double-consciousness. Coined by W.E.B. Du Bois, in the early 20th century, double consciousness refers to black people“s internal conflict between being black and being American in a racist white American world. Bryan Hill“s version of this for Michael Cray is too complex to capture in this review, but it involves an alien being with god-like powers and some deeper questions about the nature of synthesis between a host and a parasite. To get the best sense of what Hill and company achieve in the series with this alien double consciousness just review all of the mirror scenes across the 12-issue arc.

It is actually sad to see/read the conclusion of this comic book. It“s that good. Cray“s ultimate target is Diana Prince. Assassinating Green Arrow, Flash, and Aquaman is one thing, but Wonder Woman? Enough spoilers. The conclusion to the series is as satisfying as it can be. You“ll need to read Michael Cray ”“ all twelve issues to best appreciate the craft of Bryan Hill“s vision. Surely there will be a TPB that will collect them all soon, but do yourself a favor and pick these gems up now. 4.5/5!

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(W) Bryan Hill (A) N. Steven Harris, Dexter Vines (CA) Denys Cowan, Bill Sienkiewicz