This is both a happy and a sad post to write. For today I review the final issue, at least for now, of the Valiant Comics' series Doctor Tomorrow.
In the last issue of Doctor Tomorrow, young Bart Simms arrived in an alternate reality, where an older version of his friend Gretchen tutored and guided him along a path to maturity. Now, in Doctor Tomorrow #5, an older, wiser Bart returns to our universe. Our beloved Valiant heroes helped him fight Hadrian, as well as his other self, in issue #3. Still, as in all the major battles of life, a hero cannot rely on others to fight his battles. So in this final issue, our Bart must confront the older-brother figure he had once viewed as his ultimate self.
At first, his older self seemed so suave and assured. He had bonded with young Bart over his cool powers and a mutual love of The Simpsons. But this older self from another universe also revealed a brittle nature in issue #3. When his allies disagreed with his leadership decisions, he turned on them.
For Bart's older, and seemingly cooler self, that battle didn't turn out so well.
Still, he refuses to give in to our Bart. This alternate-universe Bart cannot see that he has become everyone's enemy. Nor can he see that his strong-handed, easy-way-out approach to achieving his goals has led him to ruin. Like every other bully, he attacks what he does not understand.
This seems a very personal story for writer Alejandro Arbona. Life has clearly taught him that there are many paths open to us. Not all will take us to the place we ultimately want to be, or help us become our own ultimate selves.
We have only to look around, and see how people in the media and in government treat others, to know that some use their power wisely, and others less so.
As in earlier issues, penciler Jim Towe and colorist Kelly Fitzpatrick breath life into this all-ages adventure. Likewise, letterer Clayton Cowles draws us to the epicenter of the climactic issue. And what a climax it is, with the glorious return of the giant robot GIN-GR, a certain Dinosaur scientist we saw too little of after issue #2, and this blog's namesake X-O Manowar.
A glance at the inside cover of this comic reminds us that there are casualties inherent in any battle or time of trial. Such has proven the case at Valiant, which like other comic book publishers has not battled this pandemic without suffering pain and loss. Neither of the editors who steered this series through the story-creation process--Assistant Editor Drew Baumgartner and Senior Editorial Director Robert Meyers--remain to see issue #5 arrive in stores next Wednesday. We can only hope and pray that they are well, and that wherever their own journeys take them, they find happiness and fulfillment.
As usual, Valiant offers us a selection of cover options for Doctor Tomorrow #5.
Cover A was created by former X-O Manowar artists Clayton Henry and Ulises Arreola.
Cover B was created by former X-O Manowar artist Kano.
And finally, if your love of Valiant prompted you to commit to this entire series from the very beginning:
This Preorder Cover by former X-O Manowar artist Cary Nord will bring you right into the heart of Issue #5's climactic battle.
No bad choices there. Lovers of X-O Manowar may want all three!
Writer Alejandro Arbona has more Doctor Tomorrow stories to tell. If you loved this series, tell your friends about it. Send them to the comic book stores to pick up all five issues. Who knows? Once the pandemic is over, and normal production can resume, the good folks at Valiant Comics in our universe could produce another series of Doctor Tomorrow. But first, they need to know that you not only want it, but you demand it!
Doctor Tomorrow #5: on sale Wednesday, August 26, 2020.
Dragon Dave
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