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COMIC BOOK REVIEW: Convergence #4 – The Painful Truth

 
Convergence4
Convergence4
Convergence4

 
Overview
 

Story by: Jeff King
 
Art by: Stephen Segovia & Jason Paz
 
Publisher:
 
FG RATING
 
 
 
 
 
3.5/ 5


User Rating
2 total ratings

 


To sum it all up..

We are beginning to see some developments in the fourth chapter of Convergence. Two stories merge into one and a reveal of sorts for the next chapter. That’s how simple it is. So simple that I had to read twice or thrice to make sense how the script is still virtually and essentially the same […]

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Posted May 13, 2015 by

 
FULL REVIEW
 
 

Convergence4

We are beginning to see some developments in the fourth chapter of Convergence. Two stories merge into one and a reveal of sorts for the next chapter. That’s how simple it is. So simple that I had to read twice or thrice to make sense how the script is still virtually and essentially the same for the last five issues (including the zero chapter). I get it, the editor(s) made some few efforts to make the Jeff King script streamlined, but there are times dialogues are unnecessarily cluttered. I understand that the story revolves the game that is Convergence, the comic superhero genre in the likes of Gladiator, The Hunger Games, Battle Royale, and the young-adult novel-movie adaptations The Maze Runner and Divergent.

I am an old-fashioned reader who deserves a good quality read. The fourth part states for the most part that there are a number of shameless rip-offs (or homage if you insist) of every literary and storytelling technique Jeff King applies. First, making the main antagonist (Telos) listen the protagonist’s (Dick Grayson) pleas and rationality…I read a lot of that already. Second, a double-crossing character when the opportunity comes…we see that numerous times, right? Third, seeing some qualities to the story’s weakest link (read: non-powered or the underdog types)…we are exposed of that kind in movies, television shows, and anime all over. Villains never acknowledge their so-called villainy even the obvious notorious acts are already in plain sights…that’s the commonest way in superhero storytelling. Lastly, the urgency of completing the objective of the story…well, this is a major comic event after all; but I still find this wanting. I already throw my hands after reading this in disappointment. If the storyteller executes better, I might continue up to the last chapter. Sadly, either King and/or the designated editor(s) failed miserably in bringing the excitement, tension, suspense and gravitas to this comic Battle Royale rip-off.

One of the great consequences of the stale (or terrible, depending on how you read this event series) script or storytelling is the art department. The setting is obviously grim, dark and nasty. Stephen Segovia personally can match that challenge since his artistic style really gears to that kind of dystopian setup. However, many of his illustrations are painfully rushed, uninspiring, out-of-proportions, and at times, sluggish. I personally blame on the obvious convoluted scriptwriting style of the Hollywood screenwriter (or the rushed-nature in the editorial department of DC Comics itself). I see Segovia’s artworks whenever possible, and he is very good of his craft (though still incomparable to the classical-anatomical proportional aesthetic execution of Carlo Pagulayan), but being rushed, pressured and other stuffs related to mainstream editorial ins-and-outs, his art hurts. I am just being honest here.

Even the inking department suffers the classic “too many chefs” syndrome. Jason Paz is the main man, but issue four parades SEVEN inkers, including the illustrator himself, whose styles are definitely way too different from one another. Their inking executions surely suffer Segovia’s illustrations, adding insult to injury! Only Stelgerwald’s coloring is the only positive thing left and I do not know now how long he will be onboard in this transitional DC superhero comic event.

Due to the continuing mistakes or flaws plaguing the Convergence, I decide to skip the last three issues until the ultimate one. Call this a patriotic or nationalist part of me, but Pagulayan, Segovia and Paz are the reasons why I pick the Convergence hype in the first place. And due to the sneak previews of future DC titles or the post-Convergence aftermaths, there’s nothing to expect more than a rebooting (last since 2011, the New 52) or re-numbering of sorts. I commend the Filipino trinity abovementioned of taking part of this comic event. If only the quality overall is good to begin with, and inspiring at the same time. I will come back on Convergence #8.


Paul Ramos

 


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