Reviews

Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger, Vol. 1: A Stranger Among Us by J.M. DeMatteis, Brent Anderson, Dan DiDio

librarimans's review

3.0

I've always enjoyed how the DC Universe is filled with near immortal alien beings, magical beings, power rings, physical manifestations of pure emotion, New Gods, old gods, a multiverse, and many, many other fantastic things, yet it has always been home to God with a capital G as well. I've long been a fan of characters like the Spectre (God's wrath) and the Phantom Stranger. I was a bit apprehensive when they they not only gave the Stranger an origin but made him Judas Iscariot of Biblical fame, but as I've read the series it has grown on me and it works quite well. The Stranger doing God's work to pay off his debt of 30 silver coins is a nice twist, especially since on the surface it seems he is continually betraying those he thinks he is helping. And really, who can't appreciate the visual of God speaking through a Scottish Terrier? Gotta figure the big guy would have/has a great sense of humor.

ipacho's review

2.0

Umberto Eco said that every character is defined by some precise traits; and even when you deconstruct its story or itself, there must be kept a minimum of those traits to make that character recognizable by what it is. Didio did not deconstructed the Stranger, he flipped and mirror-imaged it, so EVERY SINGLE of the traits was turned down. Wheter the Stranger was nearly omniscient, this version is absolutely clueless. Wherer the original was impossible to find and it manifestered whenever he wanted, every single character was able to pick up where he was. He was not even a Stranger! Every single mystic character knew who he was and its story. And not to talk about him having a family, whereas the original was a true wanderer...

On the positive side the drawings are good, and the reimagining of Dr Thirteen was interesting. The New 52's were a total shame regarding the mystic characters of DC.