Review: Stormwatch Vol. 3- Betrayal
Quick Summary
Pros: The main storyline is great and sees a satisfying end to plot threads started in the first story arc. Midnighter and Apollo’s relationship is well done.
Cons: There are a few moments throughout the book where characters’ actions seem illogical or out of place.
Overall: This is a big improvement on the series as a whole and a nice conclusion to events that have been teased for a while now. Here readers are treated to a book that contains a solid critique of Stormwatch, a spotlight on Midnighter and Apollo’s relationship, and an ending to the Harry Tanner plotline from the first book. All of these things work well and provide a well constructed narrative for the book as a whole. There are still a few flaws throughout the read, but overall this has been the best installment in this series so far.
Story
Stormwatch Vol. 3: Betrayal is the Stormwatch readers have been waiting for. It is a well constructed story featuring some high intensity action, an interesting plot, and even a little romance here and there. It still is not perfect, as some illogical character actions make certain moments frustrating, but it is a huge improvement on the previous volume. This is Midnighter, Apollo, and the Engineer at the best they have been in this series.
(spoilers start here)
The first half of the book spotlights two separate, but related plotlines. The first involves Jenny Quantum’s disillusionment with Stormwatch as an institution. She learns of its shady and often morally grey past and simultaneously starts to realize some of the bad things they do in the present. This both sets up the story for future conflict and is a nice critique on organizations that operate on an “ends justify the means” mantra.
The second plotline revolves around Midnighter and Apollo’s relationship. These two have been flirting since the series started, yet little has been done in terms of actually starting anything. Here we see them actually begin a relationship, only to have the entire thing confounded by the lies of Harry Tanner. However, later in the story, they get together again and kiss, starting a relationship for real this time.
The second half of the book is dominated by Harry Tanner’s plans, which have finally come to fruition after being teased in the two previous volumes. Harry masquerades as one of the Stormwatch leaders, sends the team on a manhunt after Midnighter, and almost manages to take over the entire organization. He is a very well written villain who is just cocky and manipulative enough that it makes it very fun to hate him. His deception also adds layers of tension to the story as well, since you never know who he will use his newfound power to betray next.
However, the real highlight of the entire book is the Engineer’s role reversal. After Harry’s disguise is figured out, he makes one last plea that Stormwatch take the advice he has given and become a more powerful and proactive organization. The Engineer, who has become increasingly harsh and devoid of human emotion since the events of the last volume, listens to him and instantly takes out the majority of Stormwatch. It is unexpected, yet not completely out of nowhere, which is exactly how a good twist should be put together. The rest of the story is an action packed and well thought out battle where the Engineer is actually the true villain and even Harry Tanner ends up trying to stop her. This is the most fun the book has been in a while and is what makes this volume so enjoyable.
Not everything is good in this book though, there are plenty of moments that don’t exactly make sense but are done to throw the plot forward. The entirety of Stormwatch instantly believing Midnighter is a villain and Apollo wondering if Midnighter is straight are the two biggest offenders and are what will leave most fans scratching their heads. These are moments that simply do not make much sense based on the character traits we have been given so far and thus feel out of place. Though there are a few of these moments, none of them are so large that they majorly damage the book’s story as a whole.
(spoilers end here)
Art
Will Conrad and Cliff Richards do a great job in presenting the realistic side of Stormwatch. The characters and locations are all detailed in a way that makes them seem very down to Earth and real. The only problem with this is that it hampers the weird science side of Stormwatch, as scenes involving interdimensional travel or magic seem more mundane than usual. Overall though there are not many problems here and the collection as a whole looks alright.
Continuity
Stormwatch Vol. 3: Betrayal starts right where Stormwatch Vol. 2: Enemies of Earth (Review) left off.
The story here is continued in Stormwatch Vol. 4: Reset (Review).
This volume also references and continues the stories from other comic books, detailed below:
- Etrigan’s initial involvement with Stormwatch is explained in the first volume of the Demon Knights series, Demon Knights Vol. 1: Seven Against the Dark.
- The current location of OMAC is due to the events at the very end of Justice League International Vol. 2: Breakdown.