Justice League of America's Vibe #10

"Clean Out Your Desk"

Sterling Gates Writer
Derlis Santacruz Penciller
Wayne Faucher Inker
Brett Smith Colorist
Taylor Esposito Letterer
Kate Durré and Brian Cunningham Editors
Vibe created by Gerry Conway and Chuck Patton

The cover is by Brett Booth, Norm Rapmund and Andrew Dalhouse. Although I would have preferred to have the inside artist do the cover, I do actually like this, thanks to Booth's artwork. He has a very clean and detailed style — not too different from Jim Lee's. Coincidentally, Brett Booth was recently named as the new artist for The Flash. I think he'll do a solid job, although he won't be as experimental and unique as Francis Manapul.

So it's been a long time since I've read Vibe. To recap briefly, Cisco Ramone was just a kid when Darkseid invaded. He almost got sucked into a boom tube, but his older brother, Armando, saved him. However, Armando was taken away to another dimension. Later, Cisco found his brush with the boom tube gave him vibrational powers, and he was recruited by A.R.G.U.S. to become the superhero Vibe.

Our story begins at the ARGUS Detroit Branch. Amanda Waller is quietly working at her desk, which as usual includes pictures of the Flash and other heroes. Suddenly, she's interrupted by a very angry Vibe.

Apparently, Vibe has been missing for the past three weeks. To make a long story short, Vibe has been in a different dimension, battling his brother, who had been under the control of the evil Mordeth. Vibe is able to help Armando regain control of his body, but he can't bring him back to Earth. So Vibe tells Waller that he will continue working with ARGUS as long as they help him find a way to save his brother.

Verdict:

I don't really have anything good or bad to say about this issue. I was a bit confused, but that's because I haven't read any Vibe since issue #3. I have no idea whether this story happens before or after Trinity War, but for Flash continuity purposes, that doesn't matter — he only shows up in a picture here. But anyway, this issue was sadly (but understandably) the final issue of Vibe. I saw the great potential this title had, but I also saw the problems and challenges facing it. And since everything had to quickly be wrapped up here, while also maintaining a sense of status quo, I can't really complain about this story. It's not bad or good. It's just … there. A necessary closure to a title, while also keeping the character available for any future writers who want to include him in another team book or perhaps resurrect this Vibe series. The end result is a perfectly average comic book.

Final score: 5 out of 10