So the ending of this series has some interesting ideas, but it feels very…sudden. From Crux’s sudden return and rehabilitation, to Jason and Starfire both suddenly developing drug problems, and Ravanger showing up as suddenly a former flame of Jason’s (which I’m pretty sure was the only time mentioned, unless I’m forgetting something from earlier in the series).
I think what likely happened was that between the start of “DCYou” and Starfire getting her own, completely different series, editorial basically asked Lobdell to close the book earlier than he initially had planned, and he tried to use some of those ideas he did have right then.
So I think stuff that, if Lobdell was allowed to keep his original series going, these developments probably would have had another year maybe to seed in and then properly execute. Would it have made the series that much better? …I dunno, but I think that’s something to consider about this ending.
As for the Blackfire reveal…I dunno, I kinda like it, though I think they went the easy route in making her a straight up ally in the end. From what I’ve read of Blackfire’s original NTT arc, she was kind of a standard megalomaniacal supervillain. Like if she had a mustache, she would twirl it with relish and glee. Those kinds of villains can be fun, but they’re really not that deep or interesting to read over long periods.
I liked the idea that Blackfire legitimately loved her sister, that what she did while under Citadel occupation greatly pained her and is a major regret. But I think what we initially saw from “The Starfire” story arc was far more interesting, where she was still going to be an antagonist, because while she loved her sister, they were going to be on opposite sides due to ideological beliefs. Again, I think this was something that was likely truncated because of the book being canceled/rebranded.
I guess with the series overall…it’s definitely not the strongest book going, but I don’t think it was the worst either. I think it was a book with kind of weak plots, often interrupted by tie-ins and events, that survived and thrived due to the characters and their interpersonal dynamics being stronger.
