tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013594081496330946.post2916476480107796181..comments2023-03-25T04:53:31.262-07:00Comments on Final Crisis Annotations: Final Crisis: Superman Beyond #1Douglas Wolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10691167073493285913noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013594081496330946.post-74647559480193756312008-09-15T20:04:00.000-07:002008-09-15T20:04:00.000-07:00It does address current continuity: the villain is...It does address current continuity: the villain is turning up in FC, and Superman's only on this mission to save Lois's life.<BR/><BR/>Pg. 8: The most recent version of this idea by Morrison may be Seven Soldiers: Zatanna, wherein interdimensional and intertemporal space is represented as flat comics panels characters like Zatanna can leap between out of sequence. Note also that Zatanna cries out to the fourth wall in both 7S: Z #4 and 7S #1.<BR/><BR/>Pg 22: The structure is a fractal, apparently.<BR/><BR/>Pg 28: "...No, but you see, now they know something can happen, they think anything can happen! The first thing they'll do is kill me for being so useless."<BR/><BR/>Merryman condemns the idea of the universe-altering megacrossover and the use of D-listers like himself as cannon fodder because they don't, as he laughingly claims a panel later, "have a real talent for gritty drama no one's ever thought to exploit."<BR/><BR/>If anything can happen in a fictional universe, then nothing that happens matters and no character in it matters. (They could wake up a Skrull tomorrow, after all.) Put another way, who cares if evil finally wins when there's nothing consistent enough to worry about winning in the first place?<BR/><BR/>I'd also note that the glasses insert labels the readers as "Overvoid Viewers," suggesting that we're all Monitors after all. Again, cf. Ztanna in Seven Soldiers pleading with the readers themselves (some of whom are also comics creators, the Seven Unknown Men).Kris Weberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00550629204597763462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013594081496330946.post-24140588612435375012008-09-10T10:50:00.000-07:002008-09-10T10:50:00.000-07:00I've been backtracking 52 pick-up while I read tha...I've been backtracking 52 pick-up while I read that series, and thanks for keeping up with Final Crisis.<BR/><BR/>That said, although this issue of full of ideas and wierdness like everything else Morrison writes, isn't anyone even mildly concerned that this appears to have ZERO bearing on anything going on with DCU continuity? I mean, wow, it's great and clever that Superman may be fighting Mandrake the Magician on a meta-textual level...and it's nice that Grant is doing a "greatest hits" review...but is that what anyone actually wanted in this event? Some actual, linear storytelling that addresses current DCU situations might be helpful. If Grant wants to do this, let him do it off to the side, like 7 soldiers.<BR/><BR/>I KNOW this was written a year/2 years ago, and that DC editorial screwed things up beyond repair, but to label this an important crossover book, while considering Last Will and Testament apocryphal...straight up heresy: I preferred Last Will and Testament. It has the mounting fear and dread of Final Crisis, yet events play out in a fashion that is easily understood and doesn't cater to the writer's pet obsessions (Deathstroke notwithstanding...but I would rather read about Deathstroke that these bizarre monitor spin-offs).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013594081496330946.post-20525203188501774532008-09-07T04:28:00.000-07:002008-09-07T04:28:00.000-07:00Pg. 1I could swear I've seen the line "what shall ...Pg. 1<BR/><BR/><I>I could swear I've seen the line "what shall we engrave upon your tombstone?" somewhere before, but I can't think of where.</I><BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCEmaec1qtE" REL="nofollow">Maybe here?</A><BR/><BR/><BR/>Pg. 8<BR/><BR/><B>Ultima Thule</B>: Interesting also in that the phrase was often used to indicate <I>terra incognito</I> on old maps... It was one of those mythical land masses that would show up on the edge of the map, like Hyperborea, or Hy-Brasil (hello, Promethea). Also, Thule would have particular meaning to Ubermensch... Thule supposedly played a huge role in Nazi occult arcana as a mythical homeland for the Aryan race. (Fans of Roy Thomas's <I>Young All-Stars</I> (all three of us) may remember the Black Order's quest for Thule playing a role in the Arctic arc, "The Dzyan Inheritance.") <BR/><BR/><BR/><B>Ultramenstruum</B>: <BR/><BR/><I>Menstruum</I>, in addition to the obvious connotations, is also an alchemical term... referring to a solvent used in the transformation of base metals to gold.<BR/><BR/>Interesting, <I>menstrua</I> in the original Latin literally means "monthlies" and was originally used to describe the paying of wages. Of course, comicbooks also tend to be "monthlies"... and FINAL CRISIS and its various sequels can be seen as <I>ultramenstrua</I> in that they're "far beyond monthlies". (Insert scheduling joke here.) <BR/><BR/><BR/><B>4-D Vision</B>: I couldn't help but recall how the spread in <I>Superman Beyond</I> recalled GM's other attempts to have his artists depict 2D space shattering into 4D... esp. various spots in the Dulce arc of INVISIBLES vol. 2 and Moog Mercury breaking out of "Status Quorum" in THE FILTH.<BR/><BR/><BR/>pg. 24:<BR/><BR/>I wonder if this goes way beyond "Superman as a concept" to "superhero as a concept." In that IGN interview, GM stated that FC and SUPERMAN BEYOND in particular are kind of his thesis statement on why the hero "monomyth" are such a persistent part of human culture.<BR/><BR/><BR/>Pg. 26<BR/><BR/>The "ultimate good / ultimate evil" / "most despised / most beloved" thing is driving me nuts too.... I swear I've seen that in some alchemical context as well!<BR/><BR/><BR/><B>Mandrakk:</B><BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.comicsbulletin.com/reviews/122023325242469.htm" REL="nofollow">Over here,</A> Thom Young has a brilliantly nutso post on this subject, wherein among other items he suggests that....<BR/><BR/><I>Mandrakk may be a play on the name of Lee Falk’s character Mandrake (the Magician), who was arguably the first “comic strip” superhero to appear in print.... <BR/>Metatextually, Mandrakk is threatening Superman for the title of the “first superhero story.” In a way, Mandrake/Mandrakk is Lilith to Superman’s Eve.</I><BR/><BR/>KA-POW! A theory so crazy it just might be <I>completely insane</I>.<BR/><BR/>And chew on this... who was the central figure in the godfather of metatextual, 4th-wall breaking comics riffs? That's right.... The Mandrakish figure in Alan Moore's "Pictopia."Ink-Stained Wretchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02464067182969810865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013594081496330946.post-41169421571376642042008-09-05T17:08:00.000-07:002008-09-05T17:08:00.000-07:00I'm confused - is Mandrakk, the Dark Monitor, supp...I'm confused - is Mandrakk, the Dark Monitor, supposed to be a new version or spiritual successor to the Anti-Monitor?Will Stapleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05102456593495895955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013594081496330946.post-73998495329020990162008-09-05T16:38:00.000-07:002008-09-05T16:38:00.000-07:00The reference to Earth-1 in Tangent Superman was a...The reference to Earth-1 in Tangent Superman was a mistake, i.<BR/><BR/>Or according to Jamal Igle, they decided New Earth was Earth-1 then Didio apparently changed his mind.<BR/><BR/>http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=150688&highlight=tangent<BR/><BR/>http://www.newsarama.com/common/community/forums/?plckForumPage=ForumDiscussion&plckDiscussionId=Cat%3a46ada8ea-92e4-4618-9265-5be7cad0342bForum%3aa8187eb8-72cf-4029-8dc7-4606779dcdaaDiscussion%3a9046e395-a71f-4023-8848-37768bf91f6fraphaeladidashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14481838729571105834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013594081496330946.post-32529862949924811552008-09-05T14:57:00.000-07:002008-09-05T14:57:00.000-07:00A post-52/Infinite Crisis/OYL view of Earth-1 is o...A post-52/Infinite Crisis/OYL view of Earth-1 is offered in the first issue of the Tangent: Superman's Reign maxi-series.anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03224100245539599451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013594081496330946.post-49671153409882879042008-09-05T07:56:00.000-07:002008-09-05T07:56:00.000-07:00Obviously, by their - Alexander Luthor's - own tax...Obviously, by their - Alexander Luthor's - own taxonomy, the Crime Syndicate's Earth is Earth-1: "I decided to call it Earth-2" isn't correct for the mainline DCU though and I rather prefer the antimatter universe as a (hyper)fly in the ointment of thuh Fifdee-Tuuh... Earth -(-1) or something.Bots'wana Beasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00928344582699519711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013594081496330946.post-66745687806697199672008-09-04T16:25:00.000-07:002008-09-04T16:25:00.000-07:00That was a goof, fcfanatic. I think we'll see Eart...That was a goof, fcfanatic. I think we'll see Earth-1 eventually, although whether the mystery of its existence is even part of Final Crisis or something later I have no idea.David Uzumerihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12273284254602286534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013594081496330946.post-55315006108021074082008-09-04T14:48:00.000-07:002008-09-04T14:48:00.000-07:00Yeah, what is the deal with Earth-1? Actually, Ea...Yeah, what is the deal with Earth-1? <BR/><BR/> Actually, Earth-1 has been the crux of my theory about how they can keep publishing DCU stories after they destroy the DCU.<BR/><BR/>But after reading "Superman Beyond," I have a new theory... something about heroes dying but their legends living on.<BR/><BR/>Earth-1 was seen in Tangent: Superman's Reign, but I think that was a goof-up and it was supposed to be New Earth / DCU 0. Then again...fcfanatichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12926354797807162523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013594081496330946.post-74996925032699649382008-09-04T11:03:00.000-07:002008-09-04T11:03:00.000-07:00On the Borges bit - the artifact in the library is...On the Borges bit - the artifact in the library is more correctly The Book of Sand, as I mention here: http://mindlessones.com/2008/09/01/unreal-estate-superman-beyond-the-book-of-sand-and-the-harlequin/Bots'wana Beasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00928344582699519711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013594081496330946.post-39565157191742109562008-09-04T10:28:00.000-07:002008-09-04T10:28:00.000-07:00Good notes, everyone. Thanks for the corrections--...Good notes, everyone. Thanks for the corrections--I've fixed some stuff.Douglas Wolkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10691167073493285913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013594081496330946.post-13083909757855600042008-09-04T08:31:00.000-07:002008-09-04T08:31:00.000-07:00Tom, I *absolutely* need to see Mandrakk doing thi...Tom, I *absolutely* need to see Mandrakk doing this. He can keep the corn rows instead of going for the perm, though.David Uzumerihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12273284254602286534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013594081496330946.post-3054502301561250432008-09-04T06:56:00.000-07:002008-09-04T06:56:00.000-07:00"The broken-off shard from the Rock of Eternity ha...<I>"The broken-off shard from the Rock of Eternity happened in DAY OF VENGEANCE, i.e. it didn't happen to this version of Captain Marvel."</I><BR/><BR/>Unless you have access to papers and notes the rest of us do not, you don't know the story (yet) behind this Captain Marvel. It could easily be assumed that his one goal (per the promise of the Monitor) was to locate this piece of the Rock of Eternity. This piece might be from his Rock and not from the Rock of Earth 0.Squashuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14665419613561138127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013594081496330946.post-85822133314069207302008-09-04T06:47:00.000-07:002008-09-04T06:47:00.000-07:00"Note that Superman is wearing some kind of armor ...<I>"Note that Superman is wearing some kind of armor (check out the gauntlets), and that his face doesn't quite look like his own"</I><BR/><BR/>The face has bolts on it. Superman (or whomever) is wearing/wielding the armor/weapon that stands over all the Monitors at the end of the book. The gauntlets are identical.Squashuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14665419613561138127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013594081496330946.post-63609722888535832652008-09-04T04:53:00.000-07:002008-09-04T04:53:00.000-07:00I wonder if the Superman on page one is also Ultra...I wonder if the Superman on page one is also Ultraman: Morrison's described Final Crisis as a greatest hits album of his own stuff, explicitly mentioning Zenith among that, and the war in heaven in *that* story climaxes with a bait-and-switch in which a different version of the hero dies.<BR/><BR/>The flaw-perception origin of the Monitor presented here is of course directly linked to a best-selling mid-80s crossover, that being not COIE but Secret Wars I and the Beyonder's origin: a clever link maybe between the stories that began the modern age of mega-events. (And a prophylactic against Final Crisis II ever happening: nobody needs to see Mandrakk walking round with a curly perm asking Blue Beetle how to use the bathroom.)Tom Ewinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01683106707439164842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013594081496330946.post-76937545075109661132008-09-04T02:06:00.000-07:002008-09-04T02:06:00.000-07:00A quick correction: I'm fairly certain this *is* t...A quick correction: I'm fairly certain this *is* the Ultraman from that issue of Brave and the Bold, as well as the one who's currently appearing in Trinity.David Uzumerihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12273284254602286534noreply@blogger.com