DC is making some pretty bold claims heading into their massive Convergence event, which will wipe away the DC universe as we know it. Every alternate universe, every storyline, DC says, will matter.
It's obviously too early to tell exactly how all this will pan out in the end, but the premise of the event, the idea that Brainiac "kidnaps" cities from various timelines across the multiverse before their final moments and brings them elsewhere, is an intriguing one.
That's what issue #0 of Convergence is - an intriguing entry point into DC's biggest comic event since the New 52, but one that provides more questions than it does answers.
Superman finds himself transported to a mysterious segment of the universe by Brainiac. He has no memory of how he got there or of the experiments that have been conducted on him, but in true Superman fashion he starts punching people to get some answers.
He does get a few at least. No matter what DC universe timeline or alternate history, it always comes back to Superman. He is at the center of it all, and Brainiac knows this - hence the experiments on the universe's most well-known Kryptonian. Kal-el does learn that his particular city, the New 52 version of Metropolis, has yet to be snatched from the jaws of oblivion.
It seems Brainiac has an interest in conducting a grand expirment with these various realities, pitting them against one another in a "survival of the fittest" style battle royale. Not the most imaginative master plan, but this is a DC comic event we are talking about, and comic fans love their "what-if" scenarios.
How important is this initial chapter to the overall Convergence storyline? Not very, but it's hard to say for sure. After receiving a grand tour of Braniac's zoo-like world and asking Braniac the same questions over and over again, Superman is blasted off the planet in a manner that will cause him to forget everything he learned and experienced there...for now. This issue provides some explanation for the battles to come but doesn't feel like an integral part of the story, which is probably why this is labeled issue #0 rather than issue #1. It is by no means required reading, but doing so will likely help you dive into the story proper a little easier.
Also of use is the DC universe "Who's Who" guide found in the back of the book, which gives a brief summary of the many alternate DC universes that will be appearing in Convergence proper. From the more recent Injustice universe to the world of Superman: Red Son, it is mind-boggling to think about how all of these storylines from DC's long history can possibly come into play in a meaningful way.
That is, of course, what makes comics like these so much fun. Issue #0 may not be anything out of the ordinary, but it does a nice job of setting up the universe-altering events to come. If you are interested in learning a little more about the stage upon which Convergence will play out on and reading up on some of the bizarre alternate worlds of DC comics past, it's worth checking out this zero issue. Otherwise most readers will likely be fine just picking up issue #1.
Story
★★★☆☆
Art
★★★☆☆
Overall
★★★☆☆
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Batman #39
Gotham Academy #6
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