Zero Month hits Dial H in a tale called “Sundial H for Hero” that takes us back to the ancient past of the H-Dial. Not an origin story, this issue gives us a little insight on how long the H-Dial has been on Earth, and exactly what the nature of its powers are. Keeping with the insanity that is usually found within each issue, this installment answers a few questions while raising even more, which is standard fare with this series. 

Read on for my review!

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Unlike some of the other DC titles that resurrected characters from limbo in the relaunch (see Animal Man and Swamp Thing), I’m completely unfamiliar with the H-Dial outside of this series, thus I cannot ever say whether this title is staying with what was done previously, or if it’s being entirely new in its stories and concepts. To me as a reader, it’s all new, so whatever origin might be behind the H-Dial, I am still completely unaware of (if it exists), and what we get in this issue is the closest to any sort of origin I know of. And it’s not an origin at all, so if that’s what you were expecting, then you will be sorely disappointed. However, if you were just expecting another crazy story set in this insane series, then you won’t be too disappointed because it totally delivers. 

Set in ancient times, this issue shows us not where the Dial originated from, but rather reveals more about it’s actual powers, and what happens when the Dialer uses the item. It gives a really tragic piece of narrative to all the heroes who are drawn from the Dial, and at the same time, makes us wonder if there are Dials in other dimensions that have a similar effect on the heroes of our own universe. 

The story really hinges on what it reveals about the dial, because in its 20 pages, it doesn’t really give enough for me to care about the focal character and her own plights. The only thing I cared about afterwards was what I’ve now learned about the powers that these dials hold. Maybe Laodice and her story will appear again later in the series, but for now it doesn’t really hold much importance as far as what’s going on elsewhere currently. However, it does introduce an interesting concept that may hopefully be utilized later on; other characters passing into our dimension from the dimension the Dial borrows abilities from.

That’s not to say we don’t get an entertaining 20 pages, though, as Laodice gets some cool action sequences of her own as Bumper Carla, a 50s looking gal in a bumper car who is completely anachronistic in this early history setting. All of which, I have to mention, are effectively illustrated by Riccardo Burchielli. 

For a #0 issue, this one is pretty successful, and I think it’s also a lot different than any of the other #0 issues we’re going to get this month, but it’s one that’s definitely catering to fans of the series it comes from. Now I can’t wait to get back to the main story so we can find out what the hell is going on in this book.

GO Rating: 4/5

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