Dynamo 5 #25

Dynamo 5 #25 was solicited as "change" and this team is definitely changed by the end of the book. Their powers were stripped from them in the previous issue by Synergy, their troubled half-sister who possesses all five powers. She blasted them with a mysterious F.L.A.G.G. weapon that somehow rendered them ordinary (except Myriad, who gained super strength and speed by abusing a drug called flex in a previous issue). They momentarily overpower her (Myriad's drug abuse pays off here) and commandeer said weapon to use on themselves and restore their powers. Each of them has his or her power restored, but it's not the one they started out with. For example, Scatterbrain, who used to be a telepath is now Ramjet, capable of flight. What's intriguing is some of the powers seem to be modified. While Slingshot used to fly, Ramjet is more of a missile. Myriad used shape-shift to appear like other people, but Menagerie morphs into animals. And how cool are their new names? Smasher, Supervision. Sometimes a super-hero team will have this type of shake-up just for the sake of change. That doesn't seem to be the case for Dynamo 5. Seeds were planted for this many issues ago. This team is revamped and in a way, many of the characters seem to fit their new powers better, even as they struggle to harness them. It makes more sense that Gage, the big guy, should be crashing through buildings than reading someone's mind. And Spencer always had a troubled side to him; he has more depth as Wraith, a ghoulish figure that lurks in dark alleys and punishes bad guys. I can't wait to see the new Dynamo 5 in action. And the book ends with an appearance by fan-favorite War Chest, who is being recruited by a new team, formed to replace Dynamo 5. The book did leave me with a bittersweet feeling. Mahmud Asrar will no longer be the interior artist. His art gave me a fresh, saturday morning feeling (but maybe that's because I read them on saturday mornings). Also, the letters page may be discontinued. I feel responsible for this since I haven't sent in a letter (yet!). And lastly, the book may become more like a series of minis instead of an ongoing. Not sure what's the difference, but I prefer the ongoing. Nonetheless, congrats Jay, Mahmud et al for 25 issues of the best superhero book on shelves today.