***Contains Spoilers***
I recently read DC’s Underworld Unleashed, and I have to say, I had a mixed experience with it. The main storyline from Mark Waid was great. Right from the get-go, I was thoroughly impressed by the coercion and betrayal of five of the Rogues Gallery by Neron, and the way he made deals with the rest of the villains was a Faustian twist that I really enjoyed. Issue 2 was also a real highlight for me. The heroes being offered their deepest desires was a concept I found really intriguing, and I enjoyed exploring the characters’ motivations and, of course, their resolve not to give in to their desires.
The Special Edition Tie-ins are where I felt this collection was mixed. The Apokolips issue was just okay for me. I’ve never been a big fan of the New Gods stuff, and since I wasn’t familiar with the players, it just wasn’t as engaging for me. Additionally, the Allan Scott-focused issue would have probably been better if I had been more familiar with his history. I had no idea that he played such a significant role in the 90s, along with characters like The Stranger, Spectre, and Deadman. After reading this, I think I’m going to take some time to catch up this side of DC, as I think it will give me a better appreciation of these stories.
The Arkham issue, as to be expected, was a standout for me. I find that most events that take place in the asylum tend to be really interesting, and although they often end anti-climactically, it’s always a treat to see Batman’s most fearsome foes in action.
Finally, the Oracle issue was a good grounding for me to learn about villains that I wasn’t as familiar with. Although nothing fascinating happened in that issue, it was still a solid read and an excellent introduction to new characters and revamped supervillain capabilities.
Unfortunately, I didn’t get to read any of the tie-ins, but from what I could gather from the highlights in the main story, some of them seemed pretty intense. I would have liked to see more of the supped-up villains in action.
All in all, I’d say that DC’s Underworld Unleashed was a mixed experience for me. While there were definitely some issues and tie-ins that I wasn’t as fond of, there were also moments that I really enjoyed. I give this a 2-star rating, as I probably won’t be picking this one up again.
Feature Image Underworld Unleashed 25th Anniversary Cover art by Howard Porter and Dan Green