“The Chrysalis Affair: Part 1”
Writer: Jay Faerber
Artist: Mahmud Asrar
Publisher: Image Comics
Dynamo5 is a great concept. Five teenagers brought together because they each inherited a specific super-power from their biological father whom they have never met. It is really a bold concept that has a great deal of potential so long as the stories stay fresh and Jay Faerber and Mahmud Asrar continue to bring great personalities to the table, both original and from the Image universe. This series has been entertaining mostly due to the unique personalities mixed with each super-power of the distinct characters. To recap for those of you unwisely passing over this series, the team has been brought together by Captain Dynamo's widow to round up former enemies of the late hero. While she suspiciously has ulterior motives, the different personalities of the young team are a real highlight of the series. But there has recently been a fantastic twist: Captain Dynamo, or someone masquerading as Captain Dynamo, has appeared resuming his former duties as protector.
I wasn’t sure how Faerber and Asrar were going to play off of the “Return of Captain Dynamo” angle. Sure, it adds to the characters involved, including Maddie, Dynamo’s widow, but it seemed like it would just hinder the overall tone of the series. While last issue revealed a new villain behind the return of Captain Dynamo, the effect of the late heroes re-emergence has sent Maddie into a bit of a mind-warp. Faerber plays up her confusion and her emotions very well as she basically ignores the team while she ponders over her husband’s return.
Maddie ignores the team when they need her the most, during a battle with super-powered villain, Voltage. The team is still relatively new, inexperienced and needs Maddie’s guidance to this point. But as Maddie is engulfed in the newspaper articles regarding her husband, Faerber advances the evolution of this super-team in a big way. Up until this point, Maddie has told the team where to go and who to take down, but without her guidance they were left to fend for themselves and come up with a strategy on their own. There’s an odd family element that plays into this series but even more than that the team element is very strong.
Captain Dynamo had every super-power imaginable at his disposal, but the Dynamo5 have to devise a way so that each one of their powers will be effective towards victory in a given situation. The other aspect of this is that not all of their powers have fully developed yet, and as they battle Voltage, they realize they need to utilize their powers to the fullest extent in order to make it out alive. This is a key moment specifically for Gage, the jock and the telepath of the group. Faerber offers up a sequence during the battle that was very well done. It’s an idea rarely seen, but when used correctly, it works very well. The way Gage maximized the intensity of his powers and get inside Voltage’s head is both humorous and fantastic.
Maddie continues her search for answers and does what any grieving and confused widow would do: she goes to her husband’s grave. When Captain Dynamo swoops in to pick her up, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I wasn’t sure what role the villain introduced last issue was playing in all of this. When Maddie is brought to that villain, the twist is unexpected and amazing. Faerber ups the ante of this entire series with the revelation at the end of this issue. It really opens up the possibilities and increases the overall potential of this title. But there is one key question that remains, according to Dynamo5 member Visionary: Captain Dynamo’s body is missing.
Mahmud Asrar only adds to the quality of this title. The artwork continues to work very well with the story, and each character maintains his or her distinct look. The battle with Voltage was definitely a highlight of this issue as it was drawn to capture the intensity and electricity (no pun intended) of the action.
Dynamo5 has definitely become one of my favorite super-team books. Faerber and Asrar keep delivering a twisted, high octane story that can easily maintain its own continuity as well as be integrated into the Image universe. I love the continuing maturation of the team as well as the continued development of each hero’s power. The twist that came at the end of this issue was unexpected and definitely raises the bar for this series.
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