Comic Review: Black Hammer Age Of Doom Part II

Is…is this the end of Black Hammer?

That’s not a bad question, no matter how melodramatically I posed it.  This volume does suggest, perhaps, an end to the Black Hammer story, but perhaps not the Black Hammer universe.  The first part of Age of Doom gave the readers the truth about the farm, the people there, why the heroes were trapped there in the first place, and why they couldn’t leave.  The second part wraps it all up, showing the consequences of that knowledge and what the heroes need to do in order to hopefully stop the viscous Anti-God for the final time.  The real question is whether or not they really want to.  And that’s where the new Black Hammer, Lucy Weber, comes into play.

But the return trip isn’t without its twists.  Once Colonel Weird’s ship passes out of the para-zone, the one thing keeping the Anti-God out of the main universe, the characters are separated.  Colonel Weird has, fittingly, the most weird and meta adventure while the others settle into life in Spiral City, seemingly without there having ever been any superheroes at all.  But a lack of superheroes isn’t going to save the day, and it’ll take a leap of faith and some trust to get things right this time.

So, is this the end?  Perhaps.  I think writer Jeff Lemire could continue telling stories of Lucy’s adventures as Black Hammer, but it does seem as if Barbalien, Abraham Slam, Colonel Weird, Talkie Walkie, Madame Dragonfly, and Golden Gail won’t be coming back any time soon.  I think this may be the best ending these characters could have hoped for while still leaving room for further explorations of this universe.  Lemire got a lot out of these characters.  Let’s see what else he could do in his own private universe if he were given the chance.

9.5 out of 10 true love reunions.