A very descriptive piece on the problem of substance abuse and obsession.
This issue focuses on Kirk Langstrom, first fighting against his wife, who has stolen his formula and become She-Bat and then goes on to have him work obsessively to make himself into a better, faster and stronger Man-Bat in order to fight crime and corruption with the Batman gone.
I do love the descent Langstrom has into madness and the way he becomes addicted at the end, turning into the very thing he wanted to protect the world from... a "monster." The characterisation is strong as well, giving us a new and darker look at Francine Langstrom, who when she first appeared seemed to be neutral, having connections to people stealing Langstrom's formula.
I do think the formula is a meant to be a reference to the powerful nature of drugs and the long term affects on the user and if it it, I think this comic is both entertaining as well as being a positive educator without being blatant and in your face.
Overall I would rate this comic highly. It has one of my favourite characters and the story is simple, strong and effective in it's portrayal.
Hey everybody, before I do this review, I wish you all a very happy Halloween.
Okay, so I absolutly love this comic and love what The New 52 has done with the Ocean Master.
The premise of the story is Ocean Master's journey back to Atlantis after all the criminals are broken out of Belle Reve Prison by Deathstorm and Power Ring (chronologically before Forever Evil #1.)
This comic is rather slow pace as he makes his way to the sea, but it also gives a more genlte and "human" look on Orm.It also has some great dialogue and a surprising twist at the end that will surprise the reader and possibly make the charcter more likable, without making him repent and turn to a superhero. I like slow pace when it is worthy of the speed, choosing to go down a diffrent route to the more action packed Forever Evil central series and I feel the speed and tone of this issue is just perfect for the story it's trying to tell. This is Orm learning about both humanity and the act of humanity.
I would recommend this title for fans of the original Ocean Master in the early Aquaman comics, but would suggest for a tiny bit of back story to read Justice League: Throne of Atlantis, just to learn about the Atlantean attack on America.
