Convergence #3 (DC)

writer: Jeff King

artist: Stephen Segovia

The third issue of Convergence isn't as sharp as the second, but it still shows the inherent strengths of allowing a clear new voice into DC's most hallowed grounds.

The included page introduces the old stomping ground of Skartaris into the narrative.  "Old stomping ground" is a phrase here that means a relatively obscure location from Warlord, the main character from which does not appear in this issue, but who is referenced at the bottom of the page in such a way that totally redefines him in much the way Convergence itself, in full Crisis tradition, hopes to redefine DC for a new generation.

Which is to say, yes, Convergence is meant to reassure older fans that everything they loved still exists, but it's also a wonderful opportunity to use that familiar in exciting new ways.  Much as DC has done pretty much throughout its whole history.

Jeff King has a remarkable way of going about it.  The issue includes [SPOILER ALERT] the death of the Thomas Wayne Batman from Earth 2, in a sequence that includes many famous villains from Grant Morrison's "Batman R.I.P.," including of course Dr. Hurt.  It's a scene that works well for those familiar with these faces, but it also leaves Thomas Wayne's reluctant traveling companion, to that point, on his own.  The companion's name?  Dick Grayson.

I mentioned in my review of the previous issue that Dick is an excellent choice for a number of reasons to focus Convergence around.  This particular incarnation also evokes without anyone needing to point it out the star of Grayson, the familiar erstwhile Boy Wonder who is also walking around without a superhero costume these days.  Dick Grayson is best known as Robin and/or Nightwing, but the Dick in Convergence comes from Earth 2, where he was never either one, much as the Dick in Grayson is what resulted from his experiences during Forever Evil, in which he was forced to leave the costumed life behind.

An, ah, convergence...

So yeah, conceptually at least King is absolutely pulling this off.  Probably most readers are still thinking of this as a gimmicky story where heroes are nonsensically pitted against each other.  But it's quickly becoming much more than that.  I for one can't wait to see where King goes with all this.