Yeah we all knew it was coming. Johns never gives us a happy ending for long and reuniting Booster and Ted couldn't last long. We knew it was coming, but it doesn't make it hurt any less.
That being said, Johns did an excellent job of throwing a few curve balls our way in this issue. About half way through you think you have it figured out. "Oh Booster's dad is actually trying to help the time-stream, I get it." You assume Booster will end up having to kill Ted (or, like what actually happened, Ted would commit suicide to save Booster from the guilt), and that might finally teach him his lesson about time travel.
Instead he actually gives us a much cooler explanation of why all these D-Listers (no offense Kathy Griffin) were able to one up Booster (granted, not that hard) Ted (getting tougher) and Rip Hunter (slow clap for this achievement).
The issue may end with a "To be concluded in..." tag line, but I think we can all pretty much gleam what's coming next.
I will admit this arc has taken WAY too long. This could have been done in three issues pretty easily, instead it's going to be six when it's all done. While this has afforded us some great character moments and some JLI nostalgia, it did drag more often then not.
So why does this issue get a 4 for story then? Two reasons. The first being Skeets kicking Maximillion's shiny tin hide, by dumping "excrement" on him no less, and having some of the best lines of any robot this side of L-Ron.
The second being the board in Hunter's lab with my most favorite line ever..."Jean Paul Valley Lives!" Yeah I know most of comicdom didn't care for Azrael, but he is one of a few characters I will totally fanboy out for. The other being Ben Reilly, but that's a lynching for another day.
Story: 4 - Very Good
Art: 4 - Very Good
