Some thoughts about Tales from the Dark Multiverse: Infinite Crisis #1

In the Dark Multiverse the Infinite Crisis was prevented but at what cost?

Blue Beetle was destined to die and create a countdown to one of the biggest crisis the universe saw but his survival might actually turn things for the worst.

Another Tales from the Dark Multiverse one-shot is here and as all of the others, this is going to tell the story of a famous DC event with the worst possible outcome and this might be the most surprising of all of them.

James Tynion IV is the one handling this and I must say that I was pretty shocked at how much I enjoyed this considering how his work usually tends to be underwhelming for me. The premise is about Blue Beetle surviving his death in Countdown to Infinite Crisis by killing Maxwell Lord instead and is something that I can buy since this is supposed to be a dark take of the whole situation and this is one of the few cases where Tynion's typical off characterization can be explained.

What follows is Ted Kord showing how competent and important he can actually be which is motivated by the usual disregard he suffered by his peers and allows for interesting changes in all the events that lead to Infinite Crisis including the all so famous fight with Alexander Luthor Jr. and Superboy Prime concluding in one of the least expected directions you could see a character like Blue Beetle take.

And I really like that, is a pretty unique route to follow, one that is decently explored and shows compelling situations and characterization. It might also be my particular love for this era but I can't help but really dig this "What if?" story.

Aaron Lopresti is on art duties and his work is really solid in terms of character expressions and storytelling.

Pretty good read, wish Tynion delivered more work like this.