4 issue test #34 - Trinity

Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman in the same issue. Sold. Writer: Francis Manapul… ok, expectations lowered a bit.

Look, I have not read a lot of Francis Manapul’s work, I dropped the New 52 Flash after the first issue, I was less than impressed. And I’ve seen what happens when someone tries to do double duty as both writer and artist on the same title, JLA was not a great, sure it isn’t the same writer but the constant delays of a title like this worry me. But DC seems interested in getting titles out at their allotted time lately, so we have Clay and Seth Mann and Scott Anderson doing #3 and Emanuela Lupacchino, Ray McCarthy and HiFi doing the art for #4. Could this ruin the feel of the book? Let’s take a look.

We open with Jonathan Lane Kent spreading some seeds on the farm, as he enters the house Wonder Woman arrives in her invisible jet. Batman follows soon after. Apparently Jon took some seeds from a guy who was giving it away… This definitely won’t become important later. Nope… Anyway he hears a knocking on the door, tries to see through but ends up accidentally knocking Wonder Woman back with her heat vision. Clark arrives to see what’s going on. Lois invited them, wanting Clark to learn to trust them as he trusted their predecessors.

Bruce intimidates Jon but Lois recalls a time he wore a rainbow suit to protect Robin when he broke his arm, something Bruce does not recall. Bruce says he connected with former Supes since they both shared the loss of their parents. Superman, Jon and Bruce go to get desert whilst Wonder Woman wants to talk with Lois. She’s not here to rekindle any flame and she mentions the things going on in her own title. Not sure when within that title this takes place but…

As plants grow around the barn, they put Jon to bed and the 3 talk. Clark hears something inside the barn and something happens. I wish I could tell you what but I literally have no clue.

#2 opens in Smallville, Superman is seeing his past in front of him, including his father dying of a heart attack right in front of him. Excuse me but what? Superman’s father died when he was an adult in Pre-New52 continuity, where this Superman is supposedly from! Anyway, young Clark attacks Superman, Wonder Woman calms him down before he flies away, through the roof.

Superman gives Pa Kent chest compressions. He is revived and thinks Superman is Clark’s real father and doesn’t want Clark taken away. Back at the farm, Jon wakes up, having slept by the window. Lois reassures him that nothing’s going to happen and that worrying is her job. Meanwhile young Clark heads to Devil’s Mouth Falls (charming name) thinking it’s all his fault, a voice says “your fault.”

Mr Kent takes the three to the crashed rocket ship. Superman may not be Clark’s father but he may have the answers that Mr Kent can’t give. But first they have to find him. Batman is sceptic but Wonder Woman argues she may well have done the same. The water by the Devil’s mouth falls seems to be lined with kryptonite so Superman weakens and falls into the River and is rescued by Mr Kent, with more dialogue about walls and trusting again

Wonder Woman finds Clark and reunites him with Mr Kent. Jon heads to the barn, now covered in vines. The mysterious stranger who gave Jon the seeds turns out to be poison Ivy. He will take care of them in their dreams whilst she holds them in the barn.

#3 starts at *sigh* the theatre where Batman’s parents are murdered. We’re here again. Batman decides to let it happen. It did happen and he’s not here to change things, he just wanted to see his parents’ faces again. He admits himself to be lost in his own city. Back at the farm, Lois comes out to investigate and finds the barn as if it had been welded shut, she continues to worry after seeing Jon’s hat.

Young Bruce is talking with a psychologist, in fact it’s Doctor Quinzel aka Harley Quinn, a whole kettle of fish that will be covered in my eventual review of Suicide Squad. Batman says he knows the city he grew up in and patrolled in as Batman, this isn’t Gotham, they were brought here as someone’s playing a game with them. Wonder Woman suggests they start at Wayne Tower.

Alfred is giving Bruce meds but suddenly Bruce sees him as a monster, I think, possibly the Scarecrow. They’re pushed out of the window of the tower, Superman catches him but he also looks like a monster to Bruce. Batman catches him and holds him tight whilst Superman catches Alfred. Wonder Woman uses her lasso to make him see the truth again, that Alfred was with him.

Batman laments the death of Tim Drake in an issue which confuses me further about where this story is in continuity, Superman and Wonder Woman both offer their unique comforts to him. Meanwhile, Lois Lane crashes into the barn telling Ivy to get away from her son.

#4 opens with the trio on a boat, heading for Themyscira, where Wonder Woman has sought to be for so long. Upon arriving on the Island they’re attacked until Princess Diana intervenes. They’re brought to the arena to fight to stay. Then win but only Wonder Woman is offered respite. Lois thinks she knocked Jon during the crash but Poison Ivy says he got him out of the way? Not sure why she would do that, she has no caring for humanity, men particularly. Anyway, she punches Lois.

They all head to the Dark Quarters where they banished on a raft. Princess Diana joins them and Wonder Woman binds them with the lasso of truth. She is a figment of her subconscious, someone wants to study them by seeing them at their darkest moments. A snake monster attacks and Diana suggests they let it eat them. They do so and eventually find a sword to slice their way out of the monster. They come face to face with Mongul and his daughter?

So that was Trinity #1-4, where did it go right and wrong, let’s take a look.

What I think Manipul gets really well is the dynamics between these 3 characters, he uses them all in the right way and all their dialogue speaks for their character, this is especially true in the first issue which has a lot of character building to establish motivations and the plot at hand.

Unfortunately, points are lost for poor character focus. A good issue should focus equally on each character or at least focus enough so they don’t feel in the background. #2-4 all suffer from this problem. Not helped by the fact we are very familiar with Batman and Superman’s origins to the point of nausea.

Also, the pacing of the story is very slow, 4 issues in and it’s still very confusing as to what’s actually going on. It’s also not particularly heavy on action despite 3 strong leads, although given Mongul’s appearance, that might change soon.

On a positive note, the artwork is pretty good, the 2 guest artists both bring a unique to the respective character studies, although it does look a little inconsistent with the stuff on the farm. The artwork in #4 was particularly nice.

Ratings:

#1 – 8/10

#2 – 7/10

#3 – 5/10

#4 – 6/10

Overall: 6.5/10

Recommendation: Whilst it's not bad, it’s difficult to recommend this title, especially when the solo titles of the 3 leads are so good. I think it’s not one I’m going to continue reading sadly.

Images/clips used in this review are from Trinity and belong to their respective owners. All images in this review are subject to fair use