My Rating
“Signs”
Boston, Massachusetts—somewhere near Jared Stevens’ slum apartment building, the pounding of heavy footsteps echoes around a street corner. It’s Fate, and for once he isn’t charging into battle. He’s running for his damn life! Behind him, a ravenous horde of giant sewer rats gives chase. Desperate for answers, Jared snatches a cellphone from a passing tourist and attempts to call Arnold Burnsteel. Can an emissary to the Lords of Order carry on a conversation and run for his life at the same time?
Somewhere deep in space, the Sentinel, Alan Scott, arrives at the altar of the Conclave. The strange facility appears almost infinite in scale, but Alan’s tremendous powers make quick work of navigating its endless corridors. He has come seeking answers—and the artifacts of Fate. Alan believes himself to be their rightful inheritor, but there is one rather large obstacle standing between him and his supposed destiny: Jared Stevens.
Back on Earth, Jared is quickly reaching his wits’ end. Not only is a ravenous horde of oversized rats about to make him their next meal, but a mysterious woman claiming to be Arnie’s sister has him playing phone tag. Who the hell is she really? More importantly, can she answer one simple question about pestilence? Too late! Fate suddenly finds himself in free fall from the side of a multi-story building. This day just keeps getting better and better.
How did Senator Clain return from the dead without attracting media attention? What’s with the giant rat pack? Can Jared Stevens win friends and influence people—or at least survive long enough to try? And just what does Alan Scott intend to do once he gets his hands on the artifacts of Fate? Collect the series to find out!
Review
The Book of Fate #7 is another fun-filled issue packed with supernatural hijinks, cosmic mysteries, and enough giant sewer rats to make me reconsider ever visiting Boston. I’m really beginning to enjoy the strange mixture this series has settled into. There are Lords of Order, ancient artifacts, resurrected politicians, and battles taking place across different realms, yet Jared Stevens still comes across as an ordinary working-class guy who would probably rather be left the hell alone.
This issue is also considered a key book due to the first appearance of Vera Burnsteel, the sister of Arnold Burnsteel. Her introduction adds another mystery to Jared’s increasingly complicated life, while the storyline involving Alan Scott and the artifacts of Fate continues to build in the background. I like how the series jumps between these huge cosmic events and Jared running through the streets of Boston while being chased by giant rats. Somehow it works. Jared isn’t your traditional clean-cut superhero, and that’s becoming the biggest reason I enjoy this version of Doctor Fate.
I’m surprised by how much Jared Stevens has grown on me over the last few issues. He’s rough around the edges, sarcastic, and usually seems about two minutes away from telling the entire supernatural world to piss off. I know this incarnation of Fate isn’t the version most people immediately think of when discussing the character, but I wouldn’t mind seeing Jared find his way into the DC Universe movies someday. Give him the sword, the attitude, and a crappy apartment full of rats. I’d watch it. I give The Book of Fate #7 four out of five stars.