tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50135940814963309462024-03-13T07:24:16.698-07:00Final Crisis AnnotationsNotes on Grant Morrison and company's DC megacrossover and its roots and shoots. Spoilers ahoy.Douglas Wolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10691167073493285913noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013594081496330946.post-29724339886956368472009-02-14T15:11:00.000-08:002009-02-14T15:12:31.131-08:00Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds #3Sorry so late on this. There's actually not a lot to annotate this issue, despite the amount of on-panel chaos, and the <a href=http://adventure247.blogspot.com/2009/02/annotated-legion-of-three-worlds-3.html target=_blank>Legion blog</a> has already gotten to a lot of it... so let's get to the rest:<br /><br />Pp. 6-7: <br /><br />Tyr, created by Cary Bates and Dave Cockrum, first appeared in <a href=http://comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=26615&zoom=4 target=_blank>SUPERBOY #197</a>. Neutrax, created by Gerry Conway and Joe Staton, first appeared in <a href=http://comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=33503&zoom=4 target=_blank>SUPERBOY AND THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #253</a>. Ol-Vir, created by Paul Levitz and Keith Giffen, first appeared in <a href=http://comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=36893&zoom=4 target=_blank>LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #294</a>. <br /><br />Pg. 10:<br /><br />Yeah, Karate Kids don't have much luck. Tusker, created by Jerry Siegel and Jim Mooney, first appeared in <a href=http://comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=19058&zoom=4 target=_blank>ADVENTURE COMICS #331</a>. <br /><br />Pg. 16:<br /><br />Valor is an alternate version of Mon-El whose backstory makes my sinuses flare up. Andromeda, here, is the L(II) variation on L(I)'s Laurel Gand--created by Mark Waid, Tom McCraw and Lee Moder, she first appeared in <a href=http://comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=56800&zoom=4 target=_blank>LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #66</a> in 1995, but the original Laurel was created by Tom and Mary Bierbaum, Keith Giffen and Al Gordon, and first appeared five years earlier in <a href= http://comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=47662&zoom=4 target=_blank>LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #5</a>. <br /><br />Andromeda hasn't seen Kal-El on panel before; this has to be a reference to Johns' "untold first meeting of the three Legions" thing.<br /><br />Apparition is the L(II) version of Phantom Girl. <br /><br />Pg. 19:<br /><br />Luthor lived in Smallville (and started losing his hair in his teenage years) per <a href=http://comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=15604&zoom=4 target=_blank>ADVENTURE COMICS #271</a>, as well as <a href=http://comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=354570&zoom=4 target=_blank>SUPERMAN: BIRTHRIGHT</a>. <br /><br />Luthor's father is Lionel Luthor on the <i>Smallville</i> TV series; was he ever given a name in pre-<i>Smallville</i> comics? Anyway, showing him from the back and leaving him unnamed here gets around the problem. <br /><br />Which sister? Not Lena Thorul? Or is it? I imagine we'll be seeing more of this stuff in Johns' forthcoming history-of-Superman mini. <br /><br />Pg. 20: <br /><br />Only one brain in a jar!<br /><br />Pg. 21: <br /><br />The Legion Omnicom has a pretty comprehensive rundown of what's in the trophy room, so I won't repeat it here. <br /><br />Earth-247 out of... 52? We saw it before in <a href=http://comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=256146&zoom=4 target=_blank>INFINITE CRISIS #6</a>. <br /><br />"The keystone to the multiverse"? Earth-0, then? The Flash connection to Keystone City is appropriate, I suppose.<br /><br />Pp. 22-23: <br /><br />Okay, this is all fairly baffling, so let's try to debaffle:<br /><br />Don and Dawn Allen, the original Tornado Twins, were created by Jim Shooter and Win Mortimer, and first appeared in <a href=http://comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=22201&zoom=4 target=_blank>ADVENTURE COMICS #373</a>. (...In a story that's now out-of-continuity post-Crisis, but does have a fine Neal Adams cover.) Don Allen and Meloni Thawne are the parents of Bart Allen, a.k.a. Impulse/Flash IV/Kid Flash. (Meloni and Digger Harkness are also the parents of Owen Mercer, the new Captain Boomerang.) Dawn Allen and Jeven Ognats are the parents of Jenni Ognats, a.k.a. XS. <br /><br />The whole business with Professor Zoom, his "25th century speed soldiers," Starman's uniform as a map to the multiverse, etc.--the first Lo3W story--is all being mentioned for the first time here. <br /><br />Pg. 26:<br /><br />Tharok, created by Jim Shooter and Curt Swan, first appeared in <a href=http://comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=20638&zoom=4 target=_blank>ADVENTURE COMICS #352</a>. <br /><br />Pg. 30:<br /><br />Bart Allen/Kid Flash here, created by Mark Waid and Mike Wieringo, first appeared in 1994's <a href=http://comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=55167&zoom=4 target=_blank>FLASH #91</a>.<br /><br />And that's it until the last two issues come out, which I gather is going to be a while--#4 is currently scheduled for Mar. 25 and #5 for May 13, but I wouldn't be surprised to see them later than that...<br /><br />Also, in reply to a couple of queries, I don't think I'm going to be dealing with the FINAL CRISIS AFTERMATH books here. But I look forward to seeing what other people have to say about them.Douglas Wolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10691167073493285913noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013594081496330946.post-16948238982823981442009-01-31T10:31:00.000-08:002009-01-31T10:32:45.901-08:00Final Crisis: Revelations #5Right. This one. <br /><br />Pg. 1: <br /><br /><a href=http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%201&version=9; target=_blank>Genesis 1:1-3</a> in the King James Version. Just to state the obvious.<br /><br />Pg. 4:<br /><br />She's technically praying to Mary. <br /><br />Pg. 7:<br /><br />I'd hoped that at some point this series would have a clever reversal involving Cris's sons, but no. I know I keep saying this, and I know they're both apparently alive as of the end of the issue, but just one more time for the record: In INFINITE CRISIS AFTERMATH: THE SPECTRE #3, the issue that is the impetus for this entire story, the Spectre killed Malcolm Allen, <i>not Jake Allen</i>. Really. <br /><br />Pg. 9:<br /><br />"Shalt" is actually used only for the second person. I shall, thou shalt, God shall. "Tastes like mutton" is a good line, though: the blood of the Lamb!<br /><br />Pg. 20:<br /><br />If I am reading this correctly, the bum-rushers of Cain here are the dudes who killed the Radiant when she was a person, although the storytelling is mighty unclear.<br /><br />Pg. 21:<br /><br />"Longinus cured the blind": this is a new one. Longinus, remember, doesn't actually show up in the Bible--he's in the apocryphal 4th-century Gospel of Nicodemus. According to Jacopo da Varagine's 13th-century <a href=http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/goldenlegend/GoldenLegend-Volume3.htm#Longinus target=_blank>"Golden Legend,"</a> Longinus was himself blind (a blind centurion?), and was healed by a drop of Christ's blood. But the only thing that he did that resembled healing the blind was that the provost who tortured and killed Longinus went blind, then repented and regained his sight. The Spear wasn't involved. <br /><br />Pg. 22: <br /><br />"No question": a nice twist on the "good question" formula (which we'll see again at the end of this issue). <br /><br />Pp. 24-25: <br /><br />Everybody's celebrating and beating back the Justifiers, the Statue of Liberty is restored, etc.: isn't it a little early in the timeline for this? <br /><br />Pp. 26-27: <br /><br />So much for the crime cult. "You have been judged and found wanting": a riff on <a href=http://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/kjv/dan005.htm target=_blank>Daniel 5</a>.<br /><br />Pg. 30: <br /><br />No safety? No safety from what, if he can't be harmed? "I'm not going to kill you, I'm going to do something worse: people will throw stuff in your general direction!"<br /><br />Pg. 31: <br /><br />Tears coming from the tip of the spear, as we saw in the fragment of the Book of Lilith in FC SECRET FILES. And the Spectre and the Radiant evidently head off to get noshed on by Mandrakk in time for FC #7. <br /><br />See you next week for Lo3W #3!Douglas Wolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10691167073493285913noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013594081496330946.post-71104329394486803352009-01-28T17:51:00.000-08:002009-01-28T17:53:24.858-08:00Final Crisis #7I'm still kind of processing this one. I'm sure these notes will change as it has a while to sink in and people respond...<br /><br />Pg. 1:<br /><br />"The end is nigh": one more WATCHMEN callback.<br /><br />The world we're seeing here is a little like Earth-D from <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=62578&zoom=4 target=_blank>LEGENDS OF THE DCU: CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS #1</a> (there's a bit of it excerpted <a href=http://lastshortbox.blogspot.com/2007/09/earth-d-lightful.html target=_blank>here</a>; the black President Superman's yellow-on-red design recalls Sunshine Superman, who appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=47882&zoom=4 target=_blank>ANIMAL MAN #23</a> and <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=48003&zoom=4 target=_blank>#24</a> (although it's not him, since we'll see him later this issue with the normal Superman color scheme). And of <i>course</i> he knows what gravitons are; it's so nice to have someone competent in the White House. So there to anyone who thinks this is a pre-Obama series--!<br /><br />"Vathlo": reclaiming the name of Krypton's Vathlo Island, as cited in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=24329&zoom=4 target=_blank>SUPERMAN #239</a>, the home of a "highly developed black race," oh dear. (It's also mentioned in the inexhaustible <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=39524&zoom=4 target=_blank>SUPERMAN ANNUAL #11</a>.) <br /><br />Pp. 2-3:<br /><br />Nubia is a variation on a character created by Robert Kanigher and Don Heck, who first appeared in 1973's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=25812&zoom=4 target=_blank>WONDER WOMAN #204</a>. <br /><br />The "Wonder Horn": I can't find any previous DC reference to this, but it has to be a reference to the German folk-poetry anthology <i>Des Knaben Wunderhorn</i>. Interestingly, the most common English-language use of it these days is in a series of children's books that begins with "Jason and the Wonder Horn," and later on this spread we have a reference to the Argo--the ship, as in Jason and the Argonauts. (Although, of course, Argo in the context of Superman can also refer to Argo City.) <br /><br />"The great sad music" that Overman mentioned in SUPERMAN BEYOND #1. <br /><br />Pg. 4: <br /><br />The alternate Supermen mentioned but not seen in SUPERMAN BEYOND #2, pg. 5--visual nods to various Superman-analogues (stick a mask on Sentry and you get Guardsman, etc.). <br /><br />Pg. 5:<br /><br />Lois starts narrating. This Watchtower appears to be a bolted-together version of the JLA satellite (so we can assume Ollie and Dinah got rescued from it later), the Hall of Justice (?), Titans Tower and Superman's Fortress of Solitude. <br /><br />Earth-44: we haven't seen this one before, but a human Red Tornado building a robot JLA is a nice idea. <br /><br />"Irreplaceable mementoes were lost forever": even in the face of Armageddon, we do like our collectibles. <br /><br />Pp. 6-7:<br /><br />Hey, it's the <a href= http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=73865&zoom=4 target=_blank>giant penny</a>. Also: Batman's cowl, Dr. Fate's helmet, Hawkman's mask (foreshadowing!), Wonder Woman's tusky-mask, and... over at the right, is that the weird curvy blade that also showed up in Rip Hunter's lab in 52 #6?<br /><br />Putting the elements of the story in a very Baby Kal-El-like rocket and firing it out into the... <a href=http://sedition.com/a/1594 target=_blank>bulrushes</a>. Apparently that's a compact model of the Bat-Signal. <br /><br />Pg. 8:<br /><br />And the story Lois wrote begins (from where we left off last time).<br /><br />Pg. 10: <br /><br />"The roar of a gunshot yet to be": here's that "starter's pistol" from DCU 0 again. It's the sound of the shot that Darkseid is about to fire, going back in time. <br /><br />Pg. 11: <br /><br />Of course Superman can see fast enough to identify Barry. Note the radion bullet flying the other way, and Darkseid's smoking gun in the next panel. <br /><br />Pg. 12: <br /><br /><a href=http://the-isb.blogspot.com/2006/05/infinite-crisis-in-thirty-seconds.html target=_blank>"Also: Aquaman."</a><br /><br />"In us... in all of us..." See Orion's last words, to Turpin, in #1: "He is in you all! Fight!"<br /><br />Pg. 13: <br /><br />Cassie here, the current Wonder Girl, was created by John Byrne, and first appeared in 1996's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=58323&zoom=4 target=_blank>WONDER WOMAN #105</a>. <br /><br />Red Devil, formerly Kid Devil, was created by Dan Mishkin, Gary Cohn and Alan Kupperberg. He first appeared (in that guise) in 1985's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=40172&zoom=4 target=_blank>BLUE DEVIL #14</a>. <br /><br />Can anyone translate the first Spanish sentence? The second one seems to be "To live in a world with a man like that." (We know from #5 that he idolizes Superman.) Might "arrancar" mean something like "reboot"? A way to sneak that freighted idea in without being quite so explicit about it? <br /><br />I suspect the pipe-smoker in the bottom panel is "Doc" Magnus.<br /><br />Pg. 14:<br /><br />Ah, I see the OMACs from RESIST finally showed up. For one panel. <br /><br />"The engines canna take the strain!"<br /><br />Pg. 15:<br /><br />Ray has made the Metron-symbol to protect the whole planet, not that it seems to have been terribly well protected.<br /><br />Pg. 16:<br /><br />Lois is still narrating, but her story intersects with the one Supergirl is telling the kids. The last story, like the first ones: made to amuse children. <br /><br />The panels-seen-from-an-angle trick again--note Sonic Lightning Flash racing from one panel to another (and the motion going right-to-left, as in the climactic sequence of 52 #52). <br /><br />Bye, Mr. Terrific. Bye, Hawkman and Hawkgirl. Now we know what that panel last issue was setting up.<br /><br />Pg. 17: <br /><br />Now Renee is telling the story (to the parallel Supermen) of how she and the other people around the Checkmate Tower ended up in the "graveyard universe," #51 --post-Great Disaster, hence the sunken Statue of Liberty. Evidently that's the world this Sonny Sumo fell sideways from. <br /><br />Last we saw Overgirl, she was defying the dissection instruments in Checkmate HQ. I guess Overman's brought her outside to recapitulate the cover of <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=40485&zoom=4 target=_blank>CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS #7</a>, Nazi-style. <br /><br />Pg. 18: <br /><br />So Darkseid was the one who fired the bullet that killed Orion backwards in time after all. <br /><br />As we saw last issue, Luthor and Sivana are able to control anyone wearing a Justifier helmet.<br /><br />Pg. 19: <br /><br />"Time for bed," as we'll see on the next page = "you're about to be miniaturized and frozen." Good to see Streaky made it through too. <br /><br />Pg. 20: <br /><br />Metacommentary! Plus, as <a href=http://www.funnybookbabylon.com/2009/01/28/final-crisis-7-new-heaven-new-earth/ target=_blank>Uzumeri's invaluable-as-always notes</a> point out, the ultimate women-in-refrigerators moment! Our first narrator is now in the fridge...<br /><br />Pg. 21: <br /><br />Wonder Woman gets her "big moment," such as it is. In the words of <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=391026&zoom=4 target=_blank>DESTROY!!</a>: "Well, at least no one was hurt." I don't think the top tier of panels--of her crushing the mask--happens as part of the middle-tier flashback-to-the-big-fight sequence; I think it's happening in the same timeline as the top and bottom tiers of the previous two pages, i.e. after all the kids are snugly in their "beds." <br /><br />Pg. 22: <br /><br />"Darkseid always hated music": can this possibly be a callback to <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=24859&zoom=4 target=_blank>NEW GODS #7</a>, with the "you know, Izaya, I've never heard you sing" routine? <br /><br />Pg. 23: <br /><br />"Element X": as seen in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=25339&zoom=4 target=_blank>MISTER MIRACLE #9</a>, this was the element discovered by Himon that powers the Mother Box. "Fire of the gods": recapitulating the gift Metron gave humanity in the first issue. Can I just say how much I love the Morrison Superman's habit of detachedly narrating everything he does? <br /><br />Pg. 24: <br /><br />Mandrakk, from SUPERMAN BEYOND--not just man/Dracula, but a variation on the name of Mandrake the Magician, the first super-powered hero in American comics (!)--shows up with his vampire Ultraman in tow. The "servants of God" they've feasted on are the Spectre and the Radiant, from REVELATIONS. <br /><br />Pg. 25:<br /><br />I suspect that top panel is enormously significant--the galaxy-like spiral next to a huge hand? That's Krona's vision of the beginning of the DCU, not to mention the same image the lost-in-space crew saw at the moment of confusion/re-creation that launched their story in 52. (The shape is also close to the vision of Limbo from the outside that we saw in SUPERMAN BEYOND last week.) It's Superman-as-God saying "let there be light," and making a wish.<br /><br />The wormy things are Mandrakk's gear, I guess.<br /><br />That "look up in the sky" line never stops working, does it?<br /><br />Pp. 26-27: <br /><br />I count at least 58 Superman here, but hell, there were more than 52 Monitors in the middle of COUNTDOWN, weren't there? Sunshine Superman's in the middle of the left-hand page (and would that be Omega the Unknown above him?). Between Billy and Barack, that sure looks like Apollo: alternate-reality Ray, my ass. In the upper right-hand corner is Red Son. The rest are left as an exercise for the reader.<br /><br />And now Nix Uotan starts narrating a flashback!<br /><br />Pg. 28: <br /><br />I also love that <i>everything</i> is canon to Morrison. The animals here are Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew, who were transformed into real animals at the end of <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=381888&zoom=4 target=_blank>CAPTAIN CARROT AND THE FINAL ARK! #3</a>. (Also: the pig is Peter Porkchops, created by Otto Feuer, who first appeared in 1947's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=132918&zoom=4 target=_blank>LEADING COMICS #23</a>.) The Pax Dei are Zauriel's crew from Morrison's mid-'90s JLA. Light dispels darkness! The son slays the father! Grant Morrison reigns supreme! etc.<br /><br />Pg. 29:<br /><br />Every cavalry arrives at once, and the DC Universe is not short of cavalries. This is, for all practical purposes, a spell to get rid of vampiric thought processes in comics, I imagine. Even big money (in the person of Super-Bat) is impressed! <br /><br />"Taaru" was the word from the original FOREVER PEOPLE series that they used to change places with Infinity Man--the role that Nix/the Judge of All Evil is now filling. <br /><br />Pg. 30: <br /><br />Lois, who's now warmed up, is narrating. This has to be the <a href=http://www.newsarama.com/comics/010928-Grant-Final-Crisis.html target=_blank>"one scene"</a> included at DC's request, right? The "hey, everybody, we totally made it through and everything's fine now" scene?<br /><br />The three little inset panels are the heroes that were lost: Batman's cowl, obviously; the pyramid representing the Martian Manhunter (it was his headquarters); two feathers for Hawkman and Hawkgirl, who evidently died destroying Lord Eye back on pg. 16, as they'd expected would happen last issue.<br /><br />Pg. 31: <br /><br />So Zillo Valla and Rox Ogama were responsible for Earths 43 and 31? It <a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_DC_Multiverse_worlds target=_blank>appears</a> that 43 was the world of vampires from <a href= http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=386453&zoom=4 target=_blank>COUNTDOWN PRESENTS: THE SEARCH FOR RAY PALMER: RED RAIN</a>, etc. (which would fit for Ogama, I suppose), and 31 is more or less THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS world. Hm.<br /><br />Chaining up the earth and dragging it: yeah, that'll help. (I can't help but think of <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=28028&zoom=4 target=_blank>MARVEL TEAM-UP #28</a>, where Hercules drags Manhattan back into place--the wrong way--with a big metal chain.) <br /><br />Looks like Barry and Wally both made it back fine. <br /><br />Pg. 32:<br /><br />The first flower growing in the dead world is a much more graceful version of a plot point from <a href=http://comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=408861&zoom=4 target=_blank>COUNTDOWN #13</a>, I believe. <br /><br />Is that a now-chairless Metron hovering in the first panel? Seen from behind in the second: Mr. Miracle, Highfather, Lightray, Barda, plus a hint of some Forever People.<br /><br />Earth-51 has apparently been recast as Earth-Kirby Stuff. The <a href=http://www.funnybookbabylon.com/2008/12/17/map-appreciation-day/ target=_blank>map</a> is the one from <a href=http://comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=25510&zoom=4 target=_blank>KAMANDI #1</a>. <br /><br />And Kamandi, the Last Boy, shows up again near the end of the story, rather than at its very end, which was the original plan! Was his "vision" where he saw Anthro back in #1?<br /><br />Pp. 33-34:<br /><br />The tragic romantic ending, as the Monitors are re-absorbed into the Overvoid/lose their individuality. (The bubbly shapes recall the beginning of Monitor existence in SUPERMAN BEYOND #1.) Wishing for a happy ending is a very Superman-like thing to do, but didn't we just establish last week that these stories are always To Be Continued? <br /><br />Pg. 35: <br /><br />A recapitulation of the last page of #1; the Monitors, or at least Nix, are now on the same plane as the DCU. Wouldn't his happy ending be being together with Weeja Dell somehow? Or is that the to-be-continued part he now gets to move toward?<br /><br />Pg. 36:<br /><br />Note that the rocket has landed near Anthro, and he's paying it no mind. His job has been to spread the signs Metron gave him everywhere, and he's done it. "The shining one and the burning bush": another <a href=http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%203&version=9; target=_blank>Moses allusion</a>. <br /><br />Pg. 37: <br /><br />And it looks like the same thing happened to Batman--being thrown into the past--that happened to the original Sonny Sumo. <br /><br />***<br /><br />I'll be back later for REVELATIONS #5 notes, and later still for the last three LEGION OF THREE WORLDS. But first! Three announcements!<br /><br />1) We've got some winners for the contest we announced back in the very first post. Don Sticksel correctly guessed that the final issue of FINAL CRISIS would come out Jan. 28 (and David Uzumeri said January '09, which isn't as precise but God only knows I've cribbed enough from him); Johnny Zito guessed that there would be six additional tie-ins announced, and Simon Hacking guessed that there would be none (there were four, counting LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT, or three not counting it, so they both win). And Matt gets a prize too, since he announced that the final issue would be out Mar. 4--the latest guess that anyone offered--and the final issue of LEGION OF THREE WORLDS is currently scheduled for Mar. 25. (The same day as the fourth issue, so I think we can expect to see it considerably later.) Congratulations, gentlemen--email me at finalcrisis at-sign douglaswolk dot com, and we'll work out what your prizes will be. <br /><br />2) If you look at the Amazon links to the right, as of this writing, SEVEN SOLDIERS vol. 1 can be had for four bucks, and if you haven't read it yet, that's an excellent deal. <br /><br />3) I'll probably get to the next couple of tie-ins before this happens, but I'll be at New York Comic-Con Feb. 6-8, moderating three panels and doing a signing:<br /><br />*"Her Face Was an Open Book: The Art of Character Design" with Carla Speed McNeil, Christine Norrie and Thom Zahler, Friday at 6 PM<br /><br />*"Coming of Age in Comics" with Jeff Parker, Raina Telgemeier, Jason Little and Mariko Tamaki on Sunday at 11 AM<br /><br />*"Scott Pilgrim vs. the Panel!" with Bryan Lee O'Malley, Sunday at 1:30 PM<br /><br />I'll also be signing copies of <i>Reading Comics</i> at Table 6 in the autographing area on Saturday, noon-1 PM. Come say hi and tell me you read this blog, and I'll have a special present for you.Douglas Wolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10691167073493285913noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013594081496330946.post-48665561327397159562009-01-21T15:19:00.000-08:002009-01-22T21:25:56.718-08:00Final Crisis: Superman Beyond #2Where were we again? Oh, right! Back in August!<br /><br />Pg. 1: <br /><br />Mammon isn't actually a god--what <a href=http://bible.cc/luke/16-13.htm target=_blank>Luke 16:13</a> and Matthew 6:24 refer to is just a word for worldly riches or property. But an abstract concept that's become a living thing is just what Ultraman's talking about here. The "infinite book" might also be the collected works of the corporate entity DC Comics: work made for hire. And I'm amused by the inversion of the usual "found something greater than myself" formula.<br /><br />This monologue is rather <a href=http://judgedeath.livejournal.com/profile target=_blank>"the crime is life, the sentence is death,"</a> isn't it?<br /><br />Pg. 4:<br /><br />"52 universes": weren't there just 51 left after the death of moving part 51? <br /><br />Übermensch seems to have recuperated from having his blood drained pretty quickly. <br /><br />The boy appears to be Billy Batson, the normal-human counterpart of Captain Marvel. I think I neglected to mention last time that he was created by C.C. Beck and Bill Parker, and first appeared in 1940 in WHIZ COMICS #2. As established last issue, he's the Fawcett-world (Earth-5) Billy, not the one from universe 0. <br /><br />"I don't like Nazis telling me what to do": not least because one of Captain Marvel's enemies in the WWII era was Captain Nazi.<br /><br />Pg. 5:<br /><br />"Whiz Media": a nod both to Billy's comic-of-origin and to his earlier incarnation's radio station, WHIZ. <br /><br />"Savior or Majestic, Supremo, Guardsman, Hyperius, Icon or Principal": A loaded line of dialogue. All of those are blatant stand-ins for Superman, most with thinly disguised names (because the real ones aren't in the infinite book)--and thanks, as always, to <a href=http://www.funnybookbabylon.com/2009/01/21/final-crisis-superman-beyond-2/ target=_blank>Uzumeri</a> for catching some of these I wouldn't have: <br /><br />Savior is Samaritan from <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=289036&zoom=4>KURT BUSIEK'S ASTRO CITY</a>.<br /><br />Majestic is the Superman-analogue from the WildStorm universe, and has had his <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=291224&zoom=4 target=_blank>own title</a> a few times.<br /><br />Supremo is the Rob Liefeld-created Superman-type, <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=113617&zoom=4 target=blank>Supreme</a>.<br /><br />Uzumeri argues that Guardsman is <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=87615&zoom=4 target=_blank>the Sentry</a>, the latter-day back-in-the-day Marvel character with the power of ten thousand exploding suns. I'm not so sure, but that cover's a solid argument for it. <br /><br />Hyperius is Hyperion, the Superman-type from the <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=262860&zoom=4 target=_blank>Squadron Supreme</a>/Squadron Sinister, Marvel's stand-ins for the JLA<br /><br />Icon... well, he's now officially part of the DCU, but he was conceived of as the Milestone universe's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=55545&zoom=4 target=_blank>Superman type</a>. <br /><br />Principal is <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=53302&zoom=4 target=_blank>Prime</a>, from Malibu Comics' Ultraverse, who's actually more of a Captain Marvel type than a Superman type.<br /><br />Hey, where's Marvelman/Miracleman on this list? Or would that have been too much of a can of worms? Also notable by his absence from this list: Apollo, who was established in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=394098&zoom=4 target=_blank>COUNTDOWN PRESENTS ARENA</a> as actually being an alternate-universe Ray. (Cough.)<br /><br />And is Billy's magic word really "Shazam," still, if the old gods have been replaced with new ones? (Although that hadn't happened yet as of the moment in FC #3 where Superman disappeared.)<br /><br />Pg. 6: <br /><br />The "monitor mind" may be one of the capital-M Monitors, but--you know, who's really watching? Who sees the characters in the story as no more than a few inches tall, but maybe finds them enormously significant?<br /><br />Pg. 7:<br /><br />The Shadow Demons from Wolfman and Pérez's original Crisis are a great all-purpose scary visual. <br /><br />Pg. 8:<br /><br />I'm curious about the way that weapons for specific purposes keep coming up in the course of FC. Also about what Vintage-Football-Helmet Guy is doing with that fish skeleton.<br /><br />As Uzumeri notes, a lot of this story is making Morrison's perpetual slaying-the-father issues with Alan Moore even more explicit than usual. What else is there to say about a panel where Superman is telling a Dr. Manhattan (who's about to self-replicate) "come back to us, Allen"? <br /><br />Pg. 9:<br /><br />"Warn everyone, like Paul Revere!" Superman is so American.<br /><br />"There are no dualities"--this is one of Morrison's favorite philosophical points, and another callback to the climax of THE INVISIBLES. <br /><br />As for where the Anti-Monitor is: possibly lurking around in the consciousness of the scarred Guardian over in GREEN LANTERN?<br /><br />Pg. 10:<br /><br />And it's even funnier to see Dr. Manhattan saying "only symmetries" on a page opposite the ad for <i>Watchmen</i>, whose cover color scheme is the same as the Ultima Thule Yellow Submarine's. <br /><br />Dr. Manhattan (I can't stop calling him that) as "the endgame of the idea that spawned the likes of you"--yes, there's the good/evil vs. beyond-good-and-evil duality (or symmetry!), but there's also the idea of Dr. Manhattan-as-Captain Atom-as-Superman--the multi-leveled meta-referential games Morrison is playing here--as the endgame of the idea that started with the likes of Ultraman appearing as an alternate-world version of Superman back in 1964.<br /><br />Pg. 11:<br /><br />"A higher dimension": the third, by our standards, or fourth, by theirs. <br /><br />Pg. 12: <br /><br />This is as explicit a visual callback as you can get to two of Morrison's favorite visual motifs in the work leading up to this: the character reaching out through the fourth wall to touch the reader (Zatanna in SEVEN SOLDIERS: ZATANNA, Animal Man's "I can see you!"), and the motion from a lower dimension to a higher one represented by seeing a comic book panel from an angle (used most notably in SEVEN SOLDIERS: MISTER MIRACLE, which also revolves around a climactic shot of a tombstone). "From a direction that has no name comes a sound like breathing... as if cradled": you, the reader, are holding the comic book, and you're just beyond Superman's available directions--but now he's got 4-D vision! <br /><br />It also occurs to me that this is the ultimate <a href=http://www.comics-db.com/comic-book/1016109-Superman_ target=_blank>Superman-Red/Superman-Blue story</a>. And that the robot/armor is a fiction suit, in the sense of an outfit for navigating one's way through the blood vessels of fiction. <br /><br />Pp. 14-15:<br /><br />"Yivaroth" is an invented word, but it resonates with "sephiroth." "5555 different words for nothing": a great riff on the old <a href=http://www.derose.net/steve/guides/snowwords/ target=_blank>"words for snow"</a> canard. "Long ago": not very much time has passed in our world since FC #1, but it looks like plenty of time has passed in theirs. It's not clear from the perspective here, but the Monitors are actually much tinier than the Superman-bot. <br /><br />ETA: Weeja Dell is the Monitor of Earth-6... which, as we saw last issue, is (a stand-in for) the Marvel Universe (616)!<br /><br />Pg. 16:<br /><br />"A doomsday countdown reaches zero": more <i>Watchmen</i>-isms!<br /><br />Pg. 17:<br /><br />"A shattered jar": looks like the Orrery has been smashed, and all the moving parts are rolling around. We haven't really seen Ogama since he was doing his stage-villain thing back in FC #1, have we?<br /><br />There is certainly the open question of whether the Monitors-as-vampires are a metaphorical representation of comics' readers, and we'll see that play out on the next few pages.<br /><br />Pg. 18:<br /><br />"The <a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elixir_of_life target=_blank>elixir</a>"--that which grants eternal life and youth--is controlled by the Monitors. And if the Monitors are the readers, we have the ability to keep Superman and Lois and all the others forever young and healthy... <br /><br />Pg. 19: <br /><br />The "self-assembling hyper story" is, perhaps, the same thing as the infinite book. As Uzumeri notes, Mandrakk is very close to <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=24857&zoom=4 target=_blank>Starbreaker</a>. <br /><br />Pg. 20: <br /><br />And now we circle back around to the splash page from #1.<br /><br />Pg. 21: <br /><br />Thoughts-into-existence--which is what the Miracle Machine and power rings and other machines do--isn't the same thing as <i>belief</i> into existence. And Superman isn't just unstoppable and indestructible, so is his story; it's always to be continued. <br /><br />Pg. 24:<br /><br />It appears that the final burst of whatever is coming out of the Superman-robot's eyes takes the eyes with them.<br /><br />Pg. 26:<br /><br />ETA: Here's a question: as Ultraman pointed out last issue, only one Superman gets the prize, and that's our Kal-El. Does that mean that the other champions have failed to get what they want? Certainly, Overman doesn't get to rescue his cousin--but she was already dead (fallen out of the Bleed) by the time Zillo Valla took Superman away in FC #3. And Captain Marvel, we see here, has found his treasure--the Rock's fragment. <br /><br />Pg. 27: <br /><br />ETA: "I daren't speak": why not? Because, as commenters over at Funnybook Babylon pointed out, he's got the Bleed in his mouth. As opposed to the vampires, who have blood in their mouths but consume it instead of kissing it away.<br /><br />Pg. 29: <br /><br />We've seen a vampire Superman before--<a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=31949&zoom=4 target=_blank>WORLD'S FINEST #249</a> comes to mind. <br /><br />Pg. 30:<br /><br />Apparently Zillo Valla was as good as her word. If Batman thinks of everything, Superman can do anything. Note that Clark was even kind enough to keep the orderly's cups from falling before going in to kiss Lois awake.<br /><br />Pg. 31:<br /><br />That ending wink would have to be a... wink toward "Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow," all right. But let me see if I've got this straight: Zillo Valla zaps Superman away in FC #3, but his adventure and return happen in the space between heartbeats; then he cures Lois and leaves the hospital, the rain stops falling and the sun comes out, and straightaway he gets the Legion's summons to the 31st century in Lo3W, which is where he returns from in FC #6. That seems off somehow, story-structure-wise. <br /><br />Pg. 32:<br /><br />You can pray for a resurrection, and if the subject of your prayers is a superhero, you'll always get what you ask for. ETA: As Steven notes in the comments, all superhero stories begin "Previously," and they all end this way. <br /><br />See you next week for the Big One.Douglas Wolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10691167073493285913noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013594081496330946.post-44308420278203442182009-01-12T22:08:00.000-08:002009-01-14T21:41:34.984-08:00Final Crisis #6Only going from the Newsarama preview so far, but what the hell, there's a lot to chew over here. I'll update Wednesday or Thursday, after I have a chance to spend some time with the rest of the issue. <br /><br />Pg. 1:<br /><br />This is clearly happening after SUPERMAN BEYOND #2--not out until next week, but already previewed enticingly at Newsarama--but the relationship of this moment to Lo3W is unclear: in Lo3W #1, we saw Superman summoned to the 31st century via temporal ripcord from what looked like a nice sunny day, rather than like the end of SUPERMAN BEYOND. <br /><br />2960 would've been around the time the Legion were still making scattered guest appearances, before their run as a feature in ADVENTURE COMICS. It's been established that the Guardians' tech is in a bad way in 3009, but will-to-reality machines are what their rings were. "The ultimate technological artifact": come to think of it, isn't all technology meant to turn will into reality? <br /><br />Pg. 2:<br /><br />Note that Superman's already turning transparent in the final panel. <br /><br />Pg. 3: <br /><br />Payoff time. The Miracle Machine first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=21760&zoom=4 target=_blank>ADVENTURE COMICS #367</a>, as a <i>deus ex machina</i> device presented by the grateful Controllers to the Legion some time earlier; it later popped up in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=29295&zoom=4 target=_blank>SUPERBOY #213</a>, and--David U. pointed this out--was never shown from the front in either issue. (And what does it look like from the front? ...Why, Metron's circuit, of course!)<br /><br />Now, here's an interesting side note: the Miracle Machine has made a few other appearances. It turned up in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=68930&zoom=4 target=_blank>ALL-NEW COLLECTOR'S EDITION #C-55</a>--the 1978 tabloid in which Lightning Lad and Saturn Girl were married, and in which the Time Trapper was revealed to be a Controller (!). Then it reappeared a year later, in a story that was originally going to be a 64-page special but was re-edited into <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=33267&zoom=4 target=_blank>SUPERBOY & THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #250</a> and <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=33347&zoom=4 target=_blank>#251</a>, in which Brainiac 5 used it to create an unstoppable menace called, wait for it, Omega; the crisis was resolved when Matter-Eater Lad ate the Miracle Machine, and thereby <a href=http://www.majorspoilers.com/archives/1471.htm/ target=_blank>went insane</a>. (A story, I should note, that was written by Paul Levitz and Jim Starlin, the latter credited as "Steve Apollo." ETA: TIm notes in the comments that we never actually see the machine in the story as published) A 20th century prototype (with a much plainer, grille-type front) also appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=36717&zoom=4 target=_blank>DC COMICS PRESENTS #50</a>; maybe that one was Crisis'ed away. <br /><br />Up until this point, though, it's appeared that the Johnsverse Legion diverged from the L(I) Legion sometime during the five-year gap before LSHv4. But if the Miracle Machine remains un-<a href=http://icanhascheezburger.com/2008/01/18/funny-pictures-nom-nom-nom-nom/ target=_blank>nommed</a>, then we may be dealing with yet another variation of the Legion. Or--you know, it's a device that can remake reality; continuity is as nothing to it, most likely.<br /><br />"Just look": because the important part is the Metron sigil?<br /><br />Pg. 5:<br /><br />Korll is the home of the villainous Queen Bee, as seen in 1963's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=17976&zoom=4 target=_blank>JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #23</a>.<br /><br />I can never see Ray and Dinah together without remembering that they had a very brief fling in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=250916&zoom=4 target=_blank>THE RAY #11</a>, but they've moved past it (...more than I have). Actually, I suspect it's one of those "let us never speak of it again" things.<br /><br />I guess the Guardians' "nothing gets in or out" cordon is very permeable. Nice Star Wars-influenced ships, too.<br /><br />Pp. 6-7:<br /><br />"How you doing, honey?": This is the second Liberty Belle--Jesse Chambers, created by Len Strezewski and Mike Parobeck, who first appeared in 1992's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=51605&zoom=4 target=_blank>JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #1</a>. Formerly Jesse Quick, she became Liberty Belle after <i>Infinite Crisis</i>. The original Liberty Belle, created by Don Cameron and Chuck Winter, first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=70552&zoom=4 target=_blank>BOY COMMANDOS #1 in 1942</a> (and <i>what</i> a Kirby Kover that is--go click).<br /><br />Her husband is the second Hourman, Rick Tyler, created by Roy and Dann Thomas and Todd McFarlane; he first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=40609&zoom=4 target=_blank>INFINITY INC. #20</a>. The original Hourman, created by Ken Fitch and Bernard Baily, first appeared in 1940's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=708&zoom=4 target=_blank>ADVENTURE COMICS #48</a>. <br /><br />"What is this, Tyler...": the first Wildcat, created by Bill Finger and Irwin Hasen, who first appeared in 1942's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=1912&zoom=4 target=_blank>SENSATION COMICS #1</a>. <br /><br />The Marvel Family throwing buses at each other is very <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=45217&zoom=4 target=_blank>MIRACLEMAN #15</a>, don't you think? Not to mention the "I can never say the word again" bit later this issue. <br /><br />Pg. 8: <br /><br />"You? Calling me a slut?": I can't help but think of my least favorite moment on any DC convention panel of recent years, when somebody <a href=http://conreport.wizarduniverse.com/2008/07/27/sdcc-dcu-one-weekend-later/ target=_blank>explained</a> the changes coming up on <i>Supergirl</i>: "New creative team, the book won't suck, she won't be a slut."<br /><br />I guess everyone was right about Mary hosting Desaad.<br /><br />Pg. 10: <br /><br />And Kalibak is a... what?<br /><br />Pg. 13: <br /><br />Iman's dialogue translates roughly as "Something coming... like the sound of horses..." Note the Four Dogswomen of the Apocalypse approaching in the background. <br /><br />Pg. 14: <br /><br />I really like <a href=http://www.funnybookbabylon.com/2009/01/14/final-crisis-6-how-to-murder-the-earth/ target=_blank>the Uzumeri hypothesis</a> about this scene.<br /><br />Pg. 15: <br /><br />I don't understand why Shilo keeps getting colored as white either.<br /><br />Pp. 16-17: <br /><br />This explains what's up with Sonny, the original of whom remained back in time in Kirby's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=24851&zoom=4 target=_blank>FOREVER PEOPLE #7</a>. Although the parodic "I can't tell him how I feel about him" manga-soap-opera routine grates a little in contrast to Canary's operatic emotional moment on the next page.<br /><br />Pg. 18:<br /><br />I love all the little advertising slogans for Anti-Life.<br /><br />Pg. 20:<br /><br />Ray Palmer/The Atom, created by Gardner Fox and Gil Kane, first appeared in 1961's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=16431&zoom=4 target=_blank>SHOWCASE #34</a>. He was one of the Monitor-monitors as of the end of COUNTDOWN; so much for that role. Ryan Choi was clearly based on that version, and created by Gail Simone, Grant Morrison and... does anybody know who designed his appearance?... He first appeared in 2006's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=299921&zoom=4 target=_blank>DCU: BRAVE NEW WORLD</a>. <br /><br />The psychics in Room 90: Miss Martian and who else? It looks like she's having severe <a href=http://www.politedissent.com/index.php?s=nosebleed&submit=search target=_blank>psychic nosebleed</a> problems. <br /><br />The mystics: that's obviously Zatanna in the middle, and the guy in the top hat could be Zachary Zatara (or Ali-Ka-Zoom!). Who's the one with the headdress? <br /><br />Somebody's getting ready to do some very nasty things to Überfraulein's corpse, it looks like. Cue the great sad music.<br /><br />Pg. 21: <br /><br />As Uzumeri pointed out, the "Lord" has to be Maxwell Lord's brain-in-a-giant-globular-jar (with Omac-style eye speech balloons), and Renee's being set up as the head of the (faceless) Global Peace Agency from Kirby's OMAC. Perhaps this might be one resolution of FC: everyone who escapes ends up on an Earth that has never dealt with super-types before? (Wasn't that pretty much the premise of Morrison's abortive run on <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=317003&zoom=4 target=_blank>THE AUTHORITY</a>? And what Earth would they be going to--the one within Qwewq, perhaps?)<br /><br />Pg. 23:<br /><br />"I know there's good in you, Luthor." I note also that he's cut the Calculator down.<br /><br />Pg. 24: <br /><br />The Black Flash: see the 1998 story that reached its climax in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=62096&zoom=4 target=_blank>FLASH #141</a>. <br /><br />Pg. 25: <br /><br />"Godspeed." What a line. And we're about to hear that starter's bullet from DCU 0 again!<br /><br />Pg. 26: <br /><br />A visual callback to <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=262943&zoom=4 target=_blank>SEVEN SOLDIERS #1</a>.<br /><br />Pg. 27: <br /><br />Someone will know this--I recall a Batman story from sometime in the last couple of decades in which Batman uses his little-seen skills as a sharpshooter to do something involving... a ship in Gotham harbor? Anybody able to cite it? See also the apparently-now-out-of-continuity <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=43001&zoom=4 target=_blank>DETECTIVE COMICS #575</a>, <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=43128&zoom=4 target=_blank>576</a>, <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=43252&zoom=4 target=_blank>577</a> and <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=43371&zoom=4 target=_blank>578</a>, as well as <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=60409&zoom=4 target=_blank>#710</a>.<br /><br />This also echoes, rather strongly, the climax of <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=69482&zoom=4 target=_blank>THE INVISIBLES</a>: "a bullet in the right place..."<br /><br />"The Omega Sanction... the death that is life": as we saw in SEVEN SOLDIERS: MISTER MIRACLE, this consists of endlessly living all your possible lives. Or, in other words, something Batman already did on his way to see Turpinseid, over in BATMAN. <br /><br />One last "Hh."<br /><br />Pp. 28-29: <br /><br />And that's a classic "We haven't heard the last of him!" if ever I saw one. (Two haven't-heard-the-last-of-him situations, actually.) I'm wearing my <a href=http://batjew.ytmnd.com/ target=_blank>Batjew</a> T-shirt out of mourning today anyway. <br /><br />Pg. 30-31:<br /><br />The layout of images around Nix's head echoes the final page of last issue, where he's in the middle of the TV-set sphere. Morrison to Wizard <a href=http://www.wizarduniverse.com/011409batmandead.html target=_blank>today</a>: "<i>Final Crisis</i> #7 is almost inventing a new style. We had widescreen comics and decompression and super-compression. This is channel-zapping comics."<br /><br />Lois seems to be just fine; I assume we'll find out how next week. Streaky looks good too. <br /><br />Hawkman and Hawkgirl, created by Gardner Fox and Dennis Neville, first appeared in 1940's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=615&zoom=4 target=_blank>FLASH COMICS #1</a>. The current incarnations are Carter Hall and Kendra Saunders, and the reincarnation/frustrated-love business has been a running thread of their appearances over the past few years. <br /><br />Bulleteer puts in another one of her famous one-panel cameos. <br /><br />Guess there wasn't room for much more of the Green Lantern business this issue.<br /><br />"Germ-people": cf. Zillo Valla saying "you germs are truly worthy of our attention" in the SUPERMAN BEYOND #2 preview.<br /><br />So is the fifth world Darkseid's world, or "the age of men as gods," or both? <br /><br />Pieter Cross/Dr. Mid-Nite, created by Matt Wagner and John K. Snyder, first appeared in 1999's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=64241&zoom=4 target=_blank>DOCTOR MID-NITE #1</a>; he's strongly based on the version created by Charles Reizenstein and Stanley Josephs Aschmeier, who first appeared in 1941's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=1342&zoom=4 target=_blank>ALL-AMERICAN COMICS #25</a>. <br /><br />"Billy" was the first Captain Marvel, Billy Batson, a different version of whom is showing up over in SUPERMAN BEYOND. Does it strike anyone else as odd that the Marvel Family gets <i>so</i> much space in this issue (including the Sivana and Tawky Tawny scenes)? Especially considering that Batman's big leavetaking is four pages?<br /><br />Pg. 33: <br /><br />Well, at least Rick got back to his wife in the space of two pages. The person saying "Dad?" is Tom Bronson, the fourth (or fifth) Wildcat and Ted Grant's son; he first appeared in 2007's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=328191&zoom=4 target=_blank>JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #2</a>. <br /><br />See you next week for SUPERMAN BEYOND, although I might go ahead and put up some notes for the preview if some spare time falls into my hands unexpectedly.Douglas Wolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10691167073493285913noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013594081496330946.post-32072902003629399762009-01-02T09:53:00.000-08:002009-01-02T09:55:14.615-08:00Final Crisis: Secret FilesI've updated the FC <a href=http://finalcrisisannotations.blogspot.com/2008/09/attempt-at-final-crisis-timeline.html target=_blank>chronology</a> and the <a href=http://finalcrisisannotations.blogspot.com/2008/05/schedule-and-contest.html target=_blank>schedule</a> to reflect current information. It's maybe worth noting that of the 14 comics with "Final Crisis" in the title (plus two relevant issues of BATMAN) solicited for release between Sep. 17 and the end of 2008, exactly <i>one</i>--REVELATIONS #3--actually hit its initially announced ship date.<br /><br />Also, the contents of this issue aren't particularly close to what was solicited. For future reference: "Written by Grant Morrison and Peter J. Tomasi; Art by Frank Quitely and various; Covers by Frank Quitely and Jim Lee and Scott Williams -- Finally, the secrets of this year's most talked about event can be revealed! Witness how Darkseid's death shattered the Multiverse, creating continuity ripples throughout the DC Universe! Submit to Darkseid and read the full Anti-Life Equation! This is a book you cannot resist to buy!" ("Cannot resist to buy?")<br /><br />Pg. 1:<br /><br />Title ending in an exclamation point as the end of a line of dialogue? So EC Comics!<br /><br />Pg. 2: <br /><br />As far as I know, we haven't seen the name Justin Ballantine before. (Although this kind of puts paid to the "alien warlord" bit from JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #21.)<br /><br />Pg. 5: <br /><br />I haven't looked at my old STARMAN comics in a while, but have we ever actually seen Ted Knight teaching before? He was originally an unemployed playboy and later a more-or-less self-employed astronomer, right? And was it public knowledge that he had been Starman? <br /><br />Pp. 11-15: <br /><br />This is more or less a condensed version of <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=27280&zoom=4 target=_blank>JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #111</a>. <br /><br />Pg. 18: <br /><br />Desaad, created by Jack Kirby, first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=24137&zoom=4 target=_blank>FOREVER PEOPLE #2</a>.<br /><br />Pg. 22:<br /><br />"Good and faithful servant" is an allusion to <a href=http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%2025:23&version=9; target=_blank>Matthew 25:23</a>.<br /><br />Pg. 24:<br /><br />I suppose action figures on scales are better than <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=355843&zoom=4 target=_blank>action figure chess</a>.<br /> <br />Pg. 25: <br /><br />This is laid out to look like the pages from the Crime Bible in 52 AFTERMATH: CRIME BIBLE: THE FIVE LESSONS OF BLOOD. Until the spear weeps, huh? I wonder if the Spear of Destiny might have something to do with Bulleteer-as-"the spear that never was thrown" from SEVEN SOLDIERS. (Probably not.)<br /><br />Pg. 26: <br /><br />I love explanations of "math" that make no distinction between an equation and a proof. <br /><br />Sonny Sumo: see <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=24541&zoom=4 target=_blank>FOREVER PEOPLE #5</a>. "Billion Dollar" Bates: see <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=24999&zoom=4 target=_blank>FOREVER PEOPLE #8</a>. <br /><br />The Anti-Life Equation in humanoid form: this was Jim Starlin and Mike Mignola's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=45186&zoom=4 target=blank>COSMIC ODYSSEY</a> miniseries in 1988. <br /><br />"'Death' of the New Gods": Starlin's miniseries of the same name. <br /><br />The Shilo Norman business was the plot of SEVEN SOLDIERS: MISTER MIRACLE.<br /><br />See you in mid-January for FC #6.Douglas Wolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10691167073493285913noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013594081496330946.post-85141798276762811942008-12-22T20:22:00.000-08:002008-12-25T16:43:30.792-08:00Batman #683Pg. 1:<br /><br />This would have to be a lost moment from <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=250954&zoom=4 target=_blank>BATMAN: SON OF THE DEMON</a>. As would the fourth panel on the next spread. Oh, Bruce, you hairy-chested love god.<br /><br />Pp. 2-3: <br /><br />"What The Butler Saw" is probably best known now as the title of a Joe Orton play, but it's a commonplace phrase dating to the early 20th century--one might have seen it, for instance, in <a href=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhYInQf7p-E target=_blank>this not-suitable-for-work machine</a>. Appropriately enough for the salacious glimpse at the conception of Damian here.<br /><br />This spread, in general, is a tribute to the Neal Adams-drawn period of Batman. The shirtless swordfight is a commonplace of Batman/Ra's stories--<a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=25406&zoom=4 target=_blank>BATMAN #244</a>, for instance. The wheelchair/shark/Joker bit is from "The Joker's Five-Way Revenge," in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=26595&zoom=4 target=_blank>BATMAN #251</a>. The werewolf/Batman fight happened in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=27290&zoom=4 target=_blank>BATMAN #255</a>. <br /><br />Pg. 4: <br /><br />We're back in the Black Mercy-style fantasy from the end of last issue. That first fight with Man-Bat happened in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=23543&zoom=4 target=_blank>DETECTIVE COMICS #400</a>. Anyone able to name an early-'70s story in which something particularly horrible almost happened to Gordon? Alfred's still relatively young here... and why would milquetoast-Bruce be looking at "case files"? (Answer, as a commenter suggested: because, like his father, he's become a doctor.)<br /><br />Pg. 5:<br /><br /> <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=21832&zoom=4 target=_blank>"Unlikely tales,"</a> you say?<br /><br />"Chemical racketeers" again--this time connected to Boss Zucco from Robin's origin. Those chemicals, man, gotta watch out for them. <br /><br />"I can't seem to get it out of my head": even the Kirbytech brainwashing can't expunge something this deeply rooted in Bruce's psyche. <br /><br />Pg. 6: <br /><br />Catwoman called herself Elva Barr in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=2766&zoom=4 target=_blank>BATMAN #15</a>, in which she enters a beauty contest for beauticians (!!). (What do you mean Batman never uses a gun? Just look at that cover.) (R.I.P. <a href=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQ5VaBgXzuM target=_blank>Eartha Kitt</a>, by the way.) The glasses, as Uzumeri <a href=http://www.funnybookbabylon.com/2008/12/24/batman-683-what-the-butler-saw/ target=_blank>noted</a>, make Bruce look awfully Clark Kent-like, but since when does he need corrective lenses? Mokkari is visible in panel 3.<br /><br />Pg. 7:<br /><br />We saw Bruce's mom starting to be overprotective last issue. <br /><br />Pg. 8: <br /><br />Might as well mention that Ace, the Bat-Hound, created by Bill Finger and Sheldon Moldoff, first appeared in 1955's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=12089&zoom=4 target=_blank>BATMAN #92</a>.<br /><br />Pg. 9: <br /><br />I love the intimation that if Bruce's parents had never died, he'd have eventually become Batman anyway--!<br /><br />Pg. 10:<br /><br />Batman/Deadshot fight from <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=31758&zoom=4 target=_blank>DETECTIVE COMICS #474</a> (thanks for this and other issue references, David U.). For a good chunk of the '70s and '80s, Bruce Wayne lived in a penthouse at the top of the Wayne Foundation building, rather than at stately Wayne Manor; this was the period after Dick Grayson went off to college (and subsequently became Nightwing) and before Jason Todd became the second Robin. And that would be Jason in the final panel, from <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=42919&zoom=4 target=_blank>BATMAN #408</a>. (Created by Gerry Conway and Don Newton, he had initially appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=37185&zoom=4 target=_blank>BATMAN #357</a> and became Robin as of <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=38273&zoom=4 target=_blank>BATMAN #368</a>, but had his origin revised post-Crisis to be a tire-stealing punk.) (Wow--Morrison's really making a lot of references to "Batman Year One" and the issues immediately before and after it, isn't he?)<br /><br />Pg. 12: <br /><br />Batman and Jason fought the Scarecrow in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=42533&zoom=4 target=_blank>DETECTIVE COMICS #571</a>. The Joker killed Jason in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=45428&zoom=4 target=_blank>BATMAN #427</a>. "My watch has stopped": recalls Groucho Marx's line "either this man is dead or my watch has stopped."<br /><br />Pg. 13: <br /><br />The Batman Pieta, from <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=45491&zoom=4 target=_blank>BATMAN #428</a>. (And now we know why Batman put his outfit up in the Batcave: to hurt more.) The Joker bit is from THE KILLING JOKE. <br /><br />Pg. 15: <br /><br />Tim Drake appears as Robin in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=47220&zoom=4 target=_blank>BATMAN #442</a> in the top panel. (And apparently I was right about what tipped Batman off about Lump/Alfred.) <br /><br />I'm guessing the fight with the Mad Hatter is the one that happened right near the beginning of "Knightfall," in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=52925&zoom=4 target=_blank>BATMAN #492</a>.<br /><br />Pg. 16:<br /><br />The backbreaking bit is from <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=53372&zoom=4 target=_blank>BATMAN #497</a>; the Azrael fight is from <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=55476&zoom=4 target=_blank>BATMAN #510</a> or thereabouts. Yes, they've done the "Bruce can't be Batman any more" story before. <br /><br />Pg. 17:<br /><br />I think the first panel is just a generic image from the "No Man's Land" Bat-event of 1999; can anyone provide a specific reference? The Batman/Hush fight was from <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=203831&zoom=4 target=_blank>BATMAN #619</a>; Batman comforted Tim after Jack Drake's death in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=168948&zoom=4 target=_blank>IDENTITY CRISIS #6</a>. <br /><br />Pg. 18:<br /><br />"What do you deserve?"--a riff on <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=256147&zoom=4 target=_blank>INFINITE CRISIS #7</a>.<br /><br />Pg. 19:<br /><br />The payoff for all the chemical mentions we've seen. <br /><br />Pg. 20:<br /><br />"If you flinch" etc.: from <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=274451&zoom=4 target=_blank>52</a> #30. We saw bits of Batman's Thogal experience in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=393704&zoom=4 target=_blank>BATMAN #673</a> and elsewhere. Damian snarking is from <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=292892&zoom=4 target=_blank>BATMAN #656</a>. The "zur-en-arrh" image here is from <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=527238&zoom=4 target=_blank>BATMAN #680</a>. <br /><br />Pg. 21:<br /><br />Very shortly after the end of <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=536025&zoom=4 target=_blank>BATMAN #681</a>, and a bridge to FINAL CRISIS #1. (Bruce is cowl-less here, as he appeared when he attacked the helicopter in #681; perhaps Alfred is bringing him a backup cowl.<br /><br />"The bat-costume my father wore to the masquerade": the one that inspired Bruce's own costume, first seen in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=13081&zoom=4 target=_blank>DETECTIVE COMICS #235</a>.<br /><br />Back to Alfred's narration--although this seems to be the real one, as opposed to the fake Alfred from the beginning of last issue. Weirdly not-quite solicitations for this issue and last, compared to the actual content: #682 was described as "In his last hours, Alfred the Butler tells the life story of the Batman as you've never seen it before...," and this one was supposed to be "narrated by Sir Alfred Pennyworth." Maybe the "his" had a misplaced antecedent, but "sir"?<br /><br />Pg. 22: <br /><br />There was another scene (on pg. 16 of last issue) in which Batman put something important in his utility belt... and I am quite sure that bullet is going to turn up again.Douglas Wolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10691167073493285913noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013594081496330946.post-21206785424768984302008-12-12T08:42:00.000-08:002008-12-22T20:26:28.869-08:00Final Crisis: Revelations #4Really not a whole lot to annotate this time out--to the point where this issue feels like nearly pure time-marking. Nonetheless! Ever onward!<br /><br />Pg. 1:<br /><br />"The things I don't could fill a book": is the Crime Bible a book of unbelief? (I'd still like to see the theology here disentangled and explained a bit more.)<br /><br />Pg. 4:<br /><br />"No God who would allow this to happen": the old omnipotence problem. And Cain being "condemned to an immortality of agony": first of all, the Genesis 4 business was just about Cain being protected via threat from anyone killing him, and second, if he really was masquerading as Vandal Savage all this time (without a visible mark), he sure didn't seem to be complaining about long life.<br /><br />Pg. 6:<br /><br />White guy forcing black guy to call him "master" loses some of its impact when the latter is now a chalky-white husk without the black guy attached to him. (And it appears that the story from last issue could just as well have picked up here.)<br /><br />Pp. 12-13:<br /><br />The Huntress, who is wearing a Bat-logo on the soles of her boots, was created by Paul Levitz, Joe Staton and Bob Layton, and first appeared in <a href=http://www.comiccollectorlive.com/LiveData/Issue.aspx?id=c0d18860-2505-43e7-a800-640831461db3 target=_blank>ALL STAR COMICS #69</a> in 1977. (She was slightly revised post-Crisis.) <br /><br />Pg. 19: <br /><br />"Bat-Might": maybe she means Bat-Mite (since the character by that name got referred to as "Might" in Batman R.I.P.), but as it is this doesn't quite make sense.<br /><br />Pg. 21:<br /><br />Longinus's name came into Christian tradition via the Gospel of Nicodemus, several centuries after Christ. "Gaius Cassius" apparently got appended to that name in Louis de Wohl's 1955 novel <i>The Spear</i>. The WWII flashback here refers to incidents in ALL-STAR SQUADRON. Although, as commenter jgoldscher points out, what's the Earth-2 Superman doing here?<br /><br />Pg. 24: <br /><br />Catwoman, last spotted perching on a building last issue, has joined Cain's charnel cuddle-puddle; this all has to be happening long before they join the Female Furies seen over in FC. <br /><br />Odd visual storytelling decision to see a speaker's back in three consecutive panels (and do three consecutive 180-degree turns on Cain). A director might say "cheat out."<br /><br />Pg. 28: <br /><br />So that's where the Statue of Liberty from FC #1 went! <br /><br />See you in two weeks for BATMAN--it now appears that SECRET FILES has been bumped to Dec. 31. (Which means that REVELATIONS #3 may be the only FC-related title between, er, REVELATIONS #2 on Sep. 10 and the end of the year released on its originally announced release date--possibly RAGE OF THE RED LANTERNS too, depending on how you're counting.)Douglas Wolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10691167073493285913noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013594081496330946.post-4762229530176263762008-12-11T13:32:00.000-08:002008-12-11T13:33:05.411-08:00Final Crisis #5Well, jeez: now that Jog's done the <a href=http://joglikescomics.blogspot.com/2008/12/extravagant-dissolve.html target=_blank>very funny review</a> and David's done his usual <a href=http://www.funnybookbabylon.com/2008/12/10/final-crisis-5-into-oblivion/ target=_blank>first-rate job with the notes</a>, what's there left for me? Maybe a little bit of extra mop-up. Let's see. <br /><br />Pg. 1:<br /><br />Malet Dasim, created by Bob Toomey and Alex Saviuk, first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=34509&zoom=4 target=_blank>GREEN LANTERN #130</a>; he's a lawyerly type, and tends to switch off between prosecution and defense roles. (Athough it always strikes me as particularly odd that intergalactic justice is based on the Anglo-American trial system.) And you'd think that it'd have occurred to somebody to <i>draw</i> Hal's scar this issue.<br /><br />Infallibility by decree: <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=175340&zoom=4 target=_blank>always a tricky thing</a>. <br /><br />Pg. 2:<br /><br />Guy Gardner, created by John Broome and Gil Kane, first appeared in 1968's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=21701&zoom=4 target=_blank>GREEN LANTERN #59</a>.<br /><br />Ion/Kyle Rayner, created by Ron Marz and Darryl Banks, first appeared in 1994's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=54354&zoom=4 target=_blank>GREEN LANTERN #48</a>. <br /><br />Pg. 3: <br /><br />Poor visual storytelling: what's happening in the third panel with the green armored dude & Guy? (David's explanation that they're ring-avatars to fight Kraken's caterpillars kinda makes sense, but why wouldn't they just fight them themselves?)<br /><br />Pg. 4:<br /><br />Krona hasn't been mentioned by name in FC until now, surprisingly enough, although he's a big part of the giant-hand-holding-a-galaxy creation-story imagery referred to in DC UNIVERSE 0 that goes back to 1965's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=19506&zoom=4 target=_blank>GREEN LANTERN #40</a>. (As David pointed out, the "Krona protocol" is to protect the battery against, say, being blown up the way Krona did in TALES OF THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS.) He's also a significant part of TRINITY, of course, which might be why he's offstage here. <br /><br />The dialogue here skirts around an idea that's been a major subtext of Green Lantern stories for a while (and has been more so under Geoff Johns): the relationship of the Lanterns' power to will being made manifest in the world. If that's connected to the Krona origin-story business, it's essentially <a href=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15505a.htm target=_blank>voluntarism</a> in the philosophical sense. The "ultimate technology" that Metron gave Anthro in the first issue is fire, which is in some sense the very most primitive form of the Green Flame--"a deadly plasma that responds to the dictates of pure will," if not very conveniently...<br /><br />Pg. 5:<br /><br />A good left cross beats an evil god every time.<br /><br />Pg. 6:<br /><br />Crumpled spacetime provides a good explanation for all the timeline weirdness around the FC project; might as well throw that chronology out the window, huh? (Although I'll probably still try to update it at some point.)<br /><br />Pg. 7:<br /><br />The M in <a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M-theory target=_blank>M-theory</a> "could stand for master, mathematical, mother, mystery, membrane, magic, or matrix." Or... Morrison! "Science speculation" is a little closer than "science fact" here. <br /><br />The nu-OMACs are conveniently packaged à la <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=27707&zoom=4 target=_blank>OMAC #1</a>. Checkmate as "the last move in the human game"; interesting, if kind of pumping up its significance. (But it's worth noting that the original Checkmate started as The Agency, which was founded by Amanda Waller!)<br /><br />Do they want Renee to be part of it because of her significance within the Crime Cult, per REVELATIONS? (Which appears to be happening some time earlier than this, crumpled spacetime aside?)<br /><br />Pg. 8:<br /><br />Those scars on Wonder Woman's back: cree-py. <br /><br />Pg. 10:<br /><br />Donna Troy finally gets a speaking line, so I might as well note that she was created (as Wonder Girl) by Bob Haney and Bruno Premiani, and first appeared in 1965 in <a href= http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=19203&zoom=4 target=_blank>THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #60</a>. <br /><br />Pg. 18:<br /><br />The Spanish-speaking guy is Iman, created by Oscar Pinto, F.G. Haghenbeck and Giovanni Barberi, who first appeared in 2000's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=266942&zoom=4 target=_blank>SUPERMAN ANNUAL #12</a>. His dialogue translates roughly as "What hit me? Ah, $&#*! My armor's useless. Weighs a ton... what would Superman do...?" (I might be wrong about that last bit.)<br /><br />Frankenstein on a motorbike, sword in his right hand and gun in his right, quoting <a href=http://twitter.com/paradiselost target=_blank>Milton</a>'s Satan. This is why I read superhero comics. (The <i>Paradise Lost</i> line is followed, a few lines later, by the more familiar "The mind is its own place, and in itself/Can make a heav'n of hell, a hell of heaven.")<br /><br />"Wait for the lightning to strike": obviously this is the Marvel Family lightning, but the lightning business is also echoed by the Flash and Legion angles to FC. The solicitation for this issue included the line "Does the secret of humankind's salvation lie in a mysterious cave painting and a bolt of lightning?"<br /><br />Pg. 20: <br /><br />Mary Marvel is of course possessed by Sakker-Masokk, one of the lesser-known Kirby-created Darkseid henchmen. (And of course her dirty new power word would be an acronym for a different group of new gods, right?)<br /><br />Pg. 21:<br /><br />"You're not facing Freddie this..." --well, he's drawn like Freddie! Is someone else possessing him?<br /><br />Pg. 22: <br /><br />The mute cube-solver seems to be the version of Metron from SEVEN SOLDIERS: MISTER MIRACLE. Points to David for noting the "different... unforeseen" bit as a reference to Metron's self-description in NEW GODS #7. <br /><br />"Nobody ever did it in less than 18": well, that's a mighty poor explanation of <a href=http://www.boston.com/news/globe/health_science/articles/2007/06/25/the_search_for_gods_number_in_a_rubiks_cube/ target=_blank>God's number</a>. It's not the minimum number of moves to solve a Rubik's Cube (that would be 0), it's the minimum number of moves to solve a <i>maximally scrambled</i> Rubik's Cube. <br /><br />Pg. 23:<br /><br />"If it don't exist, think it up. Then make it real": this is as good an explanation of magic as any--you have to have a will, and inscribe it in some symbolic way, before you can turn it into reality. "Rings only work if you can think!"<br /><br />The cube image also echoes the cubes and dice that turn up all over SEVEN SOLDIERS: a two-dimensional act of imagination (like Nix's drawings, or a comic book) that becomes a three-dimensional thing (entering the world).<br /><br />Pg. 24: <br /><br />Not Mokkari, but part of the Mokkari-cult he was boasting about earlier in the issue. <br /><br />Pg. 25:<br /><br />The Calculator, created by Bob Rozakis and Mike Grell, first appeared in 1976 in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=30239&zoom=4 target=_blank>DETECTIVE COMICS #463</a>; he was obsessed with Oracle in BIRDS OF PREY. And yes, it sure looks like Luthor was the one who betrayed the villains (he wasn't too keen on knuckling under in #3). Treason to Darkseid is loyalty to humanity, and if there's one thing Luthor thinks he stands for, it's humanity--that's why he hates Superman. Although he looks uncharacteristically remorseful about having thrown the Calculator under a bus.<br /><br />"If you show willing": it's odd that a panel as closely analyzed as this one includes this grammatical error. But there's the idea of "will" again.<br /><br />Pg. 26:<br /><br />Now we know what happens in the next issue of Batman! Darkseid's crew had been begging him not to kill them earlier in the issue: BZZT all around. <br /><br /><a href=http://homepages.tesco.net/~kettlecup/amms/glycon.htm target=_blank>"The idea of a god is a god"</a>--Alan Moore<br /><br />Pg. 27:<br /><br />"Dropt from the Zenith like a falling Star": <i>Paradise Lost</i> I, 745. (The dropt one was Mulciber/Hephaestus.) I love how compassionate Supergirl is. <br /><br />Pg. 29: <br /><br />The President would have to be Jonathan Horne, per #2. <br /><br />The current population of Earth is about 6.7 billion, so what are the other 3.7 billion up to? Or have they already died for Darkseid?<br /><br />Pg. 32: <br /><br />Nix Uotan as Vykin the Black from FOREVER PEOPLE, sort of, except with Rubik's Cube surveillance headgear (the transparent images I can make out seem to be panels from this issue)--the person who's able to step outside the narrative and see it all at once.<br /><br />OK--what'd I miss?Douglas Wolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10691167073493285913noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013594081496330946.post-91110227256061439042008-12-04T08:56:00.000-08:002008-12-06T14:33:09.836-08:00Batman #682<b>[ETA: comments now enabled! Don't know what was going wrong there.]</b><br /><br />It's been a while, and the schedule keeps on slipping slipping slipping--check out the <a href=http://finalcrisisannotations.blogspot.com/2008/05/schedule-and-contest.html target=_blank>schedule post</a> for details. Fortunately, there's a tremendous issue today...<br /><br />Pg. 1:<br /><br />The "that's it" is a quote from Batman's origin as first seen in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=560&zoom=4 target=_blank>DETECTIVE COMICS #33</a> (you can see the image <a href=http://www.quickstopentertainment.com/comics101/images/2003/nov26/ishallbecomeabat.jpg target=_blank>here</a>): the bat flies in the "open window," and Bruce exclaims "A bat! That's it! It's an omen. I shall become a bat!" (He's even wearing a green jacket.) <br /><br />In this version, taking after Frank Miller's depiction of that event, the bat actually smashes the window; Bruce has been cut by flying glass, I initially thought, but then saw David Uzumeri <a href=http://www.funnybookbabylon.com/2008/12/04/batman-682-the-butler-did-it-a-final-crisis-tie-in-a-last-rites-tie-in/ target=_blank>pointing out</a> that it's after the undisguised Bruce has been beaten up in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=42449&zoom=4 target=_blank>BATMAN #404</a>. (Which is why it always pays to look at Funnybook Babylon before hitting "post.") I don't know what that thing on Bruce's arm is, though.<br /><br />Pp. 2-3: <br /><br />Bruce Wayne, sybaritic playboy, ringing a little bell to summon the butler. I love it. "The Butler Did It" is a cliché of crime fiction that <a href=http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2470/in-whodunits-its-the-butler-did-it-who-did-it-first target=_blank target=_blank>seems to have started circulating in the late '20s</a>. It also has to be a reference to the widely circulated theory that Alfred, one way or another, is the force behind everything that's been going awry in Batman's life in the Morrison run. (White gloves, Black Glove...)<br /><br />Worth mentioning, too, that Alfred was created by Bob Kane and Jerry Robinson and first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=2895&zoom=4 target=_blank>BATMAN #16</a> in 1943; it was established in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=15576&zoom=4 target=_blank>BATMAN #131</a> that he likes to write stories about what might happen to Batman and his associates in the future. Like, say... Bruce giving up being Batman and Dick taking over. <br /><br />Pg. 4:<br /><br />Yeah, nobody ever thinks about what happened to the poor bat. <br /><br />Julie Madison, created by Gardner Fox, Bill Finger and Bob Kane, was introduced in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=516&zoom=4 target=_blank>DETECTIVE COMICS #31</a> as Bruce Wayne's fiancée. She went into film acting (hence her departure for Hollywood later this issue), and called off the engagement in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=1325&zoom=4 target=_blank>DETECTIVE COMICS #49</a>, since Bruce was evidently never going to make anything of himself.<br /><br />"I need a disguise": this is the moment before the bat shows up, rendered in DETECTIVE #33 as "I am ready... but first I must have a disguise."<br /><br />Pg. 5:<br /><br />Panel 3 imagines if Bruce had chosen a much stupider Bat-outfit (whose goggles recall the Third Batman from the earlier parts of Morrison's run); panel 4... Snakeman? ETA: Commenters point out that this is a variation on a bit from BATMAN #256, which RAB has kindly reproduced <a href=http://estoreal.blogspot.com/2008/12/moth-snake-and-stingray.html target=_blank>here</a>.<br /><br />Pg. 6:<br /><br />This is Doctor Death, as seen in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=476&zoom=4 target=_blank>DETECTIVE COMICS #29</a> (and #30 and then not again until 1982, although he did turn up on Oolong Island in 52); this panel is a variation on the first panel of the Batman story in #29. <br /><br />Owlman is the evil Batman analogue of Earth-3/the antimatter Earth, although it's worth mentioning that Robin became an Owlman when he grew to adulthood in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=13449&zoom=4 target=_blank>BATMAN #107</a>. I can't <i>imagine</i> why Morrison keeps alluding to all these stories about Robin growing up and taking over a Batman-like role...<br /><br />I don't know of a Skeleton/Phantom Skeleton in any Batman stories.<br /><br />Pg. 7:<br /><br />Commissioner Gordon, created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=442&zoom=4 target=_blank>DETECTIVE COMICS #27</a>; the panel with him is in fact a slight paraphrase of a panel from that story. (In the original, Bruce is smoking a pipe and is wearing a really horrible plaid jacket.)<br /><br />Panel 3 is Generic Death-Trap #84, I think. Is there a better reference?<br /><br />Pg. 8: <br /><br />I know I recognize that top image from somewhere; anybody?<br /><br />Anybody know when it was established that Alfred had been the Waynes' butler when Bruce was a kid? Is that a post-Crisis thing exclusively?<br /><br />Pg. 9:<br /><br />Apex Chemical was the chemical corporation from DETECTIVE COMICS #27. <br /><br />Pg. 10:<br /><br />This is the Bat-Gyro, which predated the Batplane, first appearing in DETECTIVE COMICS #31. It's actually a sequence from DETECTIVE COMICS #33, "The Batman Wars Against the Dirigible of Doom."<br /><br />Oh, Bruce, you heartbreaker. ("I'll just put this with the notes from all the other jilted socialites, shall I?")<br /><br />Pg. 11:<br /><br />The fight with two big dudes is a scene from <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=724&zoom=4 target=_blank>BATMAN #1</a>. Bruce's trip to the circus is Robin's origin, from <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=754&zoom=4 target=_blank>DETECTIVE COMICS #38</a>.<br /><br /><br />Pg. 12:<br /><br />"My parents were killed by a criminal, too": slightly altered from DETECTIVE #38. <br /><br />Pg. 13:<br /><br />"Blitz of a boy": a quote from Charles Causley's poem <a href=http://oldpoetry.com/opoem/10439-Charles-Causley-Timothy-Winters target=_blank>"Timothy Winters."</a> Not previously applied to Robin, as far as I know.<br /><br />Pg. 14:<br /><br />I don't know of a vintage Batman story involving quotes from <i>Hamlet</i> (the Joker is quoting Laertes; Robin's not quoting an actual line)--this is Alfred's memories (of being a failed Shakespearean actor) bleeding into the story. And if anybody knows where the Joker-Copter appeared in this form before, please tell me. (I also don't know of a "laughing contest" story, but I wouldn't be surprised.) The thing Batman's holding in panel 4 is the Bat-Radia as it originally appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=14222&zoom=4 target=_blank>BATMAN #113</a>. <br /><br />Arkham Asylum seems like it's always been part of the Batman story, but in fact it first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=27797&zoom=4 target=_blank>BATMAN #258</a> in 1974.<br /><br />Note that we can't see Batman's chest insignia through most of this sequence--it's unclear here when it went yellow and when it changed back, exactly. <br /><br />Pg. 15:<br /><br />Ace the Bat-Hound finally makes an appearance! This is where we've veered off of continuity a bit; this isn't quite like how Batwoman's career went in her original '50s-'60s appearances.<br /><br />The giant typewriter Robin's perched on, a.k.a. the archetypal Bill Finger prop, is from <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=14330&zoom=4 target=_blank>BATMAN #115</a>. <br /><br />And the other Ace, the chemical company, is the one where the Red Hood fell into the vat of chemicals and became the Joker, per <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=8741&zoom=4 target=_blank>DETECTIVE COMICS #168</a>.<br /><br />Pg. 16:<br /><br />The Batgirl he's referring to isn't the Barbara Gordon one, but the earlier Bat-Girl who was Batwoman's niece, Betty Kane. The extraplanetary adventure with Batwoman really did happen, in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=17486&zoom=4 target=_blank>BATMAN #153</a>.<br /><br />Pg. 17:<br /><br />Ace in the background again. "I was a circus kid. I knew about Katy Kane": Kathy-with-an-H Kane was a "circus daredevil performer." A very, very rich circus daredevil performer.<br /><br />"Hugo Strange"/"Monster Men": another reference to BATMAN #1. The isolation experiment was in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=17693&zoom=4 target=_blank>BATMAN #156</a>, "Robin Dies at Dawn," another story that's been pretty significantly echoed in the Morrison run--yes, two extraplanetary adventures in three issues. Those were different times.<br /><br />Pg. 18: <br /><br />Ah, the Lump--another Jack Kirby creation, first seen in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=25170&zoom=4 target=_blank>MISTER MIRACLE #8</a>, which is discussed at length <a href=http://fourthworldfridays.blogspot.com/2008/05/mister-miracle-8-battle-of-id.html target=_blank>here</a>.<br /><br />Alfred apparently died in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=18452&zoom=4 target=_blank>DETECTIVE COMICS #328</a> (which inspired Bruce to start the "Alfred Foundation" in his memory), then became the Outsider and bedeviled Batman for a while starting in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=18830&zoom=4 target=_blank>DETECTIVE COMICS #334</a>, then came back to life in the rather Batman R.I.P.-themed <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=20449&zoom=4 target=_blank>DETECTIVE COMICS #356</a> (at which point the foundation became the Wayne Foundation we know and love).<br /><br />"Pop Criminals": love it. <br /><br />Pg. 19:<br /><br />Dick became Nightwing in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=38861&zoom=4 target=_blank>TALES OF THE TEEN TITANS #44</a> in 1984, which means we've just skipped over about 20 years' worth of stories.<br /><br />One of these things is not like the others. That would be the Eraser, from <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=20619&zoom=4 target=_blank>BATMAN #188</a>. It's almost as if Bruce's subconscious is trying to tell him something, you think?<br /><br />Pg. 21:<br /><br />I'm guessing what Bruce is looking at in the top panel is Jason Todd's costume, after Jason's death. "Say goodbye to the Batcave" recalls the cover of <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=23137&zoom=4 target=_blank>BATMAN #217</a>.<br /><br />What gave Alfred away, I suspect, was that in DETECTIVE #356 Bruce tried to make sure he'd never learn about his time as the Outsider. <br /><br />Pg. 22:<br /><br />...And the Waynes never got killed, so Bruce never did anything much with his life. Note that the beginning of this scenario is pretty much identical to his Black Mercy fantasy in the imperishable <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=39524&zoom=4 target=_blank>SUPERMAN ANNUAL #11</a>. <br /><br />The Joker threatened to poison the reservoir in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=42811&zoom=4 target=_blank>BATMAN #407</a>--that was the final scene of "Year One."<br /><br />Pg. 23: <br /><br />Thus, we loop back around to where Batman was in FC #2. And we'll pick up the threads again next week, although I should note that the phrase "Grant Morrison's recent run on Batman" from the next-issue box is oddly inconclusive.Douglas Wolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10691167073493285913noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013594081496330946.post-51353162652161755272008-11-05T22:19:00.000-08:002008-11-05T22:27:10.304-08:00Final Crisis: ResistToday it somehow feels like Darkseid has already been defeated. Although, as Matthew Perpetua <a href=http://perpetua.tumblr.com/post/58210929/one-way-to-look-at-the-prop-8-vote-is-in-light-of target=_blank>notes</a>, Prop 8 is pretty close to the Anti-Life Equation.<br /><br />Of course, this issue's story (in which events begin at Camp Oswald in the Antarctic on "day 0," or <a href=http://finalcrisisannotations.blogspot.com/2008/09/attempt-at-final-crisis-timeline.html target=_blank>day 6 of our timeline</a>, Castellan is captured immediately, and Mr. Terrific and Taleb stay at Oswald for 26 days before settling loose the OMACs) would seem to contradict FC #4, in which Mr. Terrific, Taleb and Castellan are in Switzerland holding out against the Justifiers sometime around day 20. Another one to chalk up to the fall of Darkseid, I suppose.<br /><br />Looks like somebody forgot to include the credits in this issue--and in fact there are a few pages near the end that don't look particularly Ryan Sook-like. Curious. Maybe those were pencilled by Marco Rudy? Anybody know how this issue breaks down? <br /><br />Pg. 1:<br /><br />Tommy Jagger, the son of the first Judomaster, was created by Greg Rucka and Jesus Saiz, and first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=290619&zoom=4 target=_blank>CHECKMATE #1</a> in 2006. Fire, created by E. Nelson Bridwell and Ramona Fradon, first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=33739&zoom=4 target=_blank>SUPER FRIENDS #25</a>. Ice, created by Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis and Kevin Maguire, first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=44361&zoom=4 target=_blank>JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL #12</a>. <br /><br />The "code zoo" was first mentioned in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=346399&zoom=4 target=_blank>CHECKMATE #13</a>, I believe; I don't think the "arcane locker" has been mentioned before.<br /><br />Like the idea of more Greg Rucka-written comics about government agents set in Antarctica? May I direct you toward the excellent <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=355644&zoom=4 target=_blank>WHITEOUT</a>?<br /><br />Pp. 2-3:<br /><br />Entertaining to see just how fast Rucka and Trautmann can kick their CHECKMATE sandbox over. Trautmann has <a href=http://forum.newsarama.com/archive/index.php/t-125491.html target=_blank>noted</a> that Castellan's "tailgunner" is a reference to <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=44931&zoom=4 target=_blank>TAILGUNNER JO</a>. <br /><br />Sasha Bordeaux, created by Greg Rucka and Shawn Martinbrough, first appeared in 2000's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=100045&zoom=4 target=_blank>DETECTIVE COMICS #751</a>.<br /><br />Valentina Vostok, formerly Negative Woman, was created by Paul Kupperberg and Jim Aparo, and first appeared in 1977 in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=31302&zoom=4 target=_blank>SHOWCASE #94</a>. I don't <i>think</i> she's the Negative Woman killed in the attack on Blüdhaven in FC #4. <br /><br />Maks Chazov first appeared rather recently, in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=395409&zoom=4 target=_blank>CHECKMATE #22</a>, although the Rocket Reds, created by Steve Englehart and Joe Staton, first appeared in 1987's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=42341&zoom=4 target=_blank>GREEN LANTERN CORPS #208</a>. <br /><br />Jessica Midnight, created by Greg Rucka and Steve Lieber, first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=167369&zoom=4 target=_blank>DETECTIVE COMICS #773</a>.<br /><br />Pg. 4:<br /><br />Gideon-II is <a href=http://www.gideonii.com/ target=_blank>here</a>. As for the Thinker... well, it's complicated: <a href=http://www.hyperborea.org/flash/thinker.html target=_blank>Hyperborea</a> has the whole story, but it's an AI program whose lineage goes all the way back to 1943's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=3147&zoom=4 target=_blank>ALL-FLASH #12</a>. <br /><br />Pg. 5:<br /><br />"I can't see you": Michael is invisible to technology.<br /><br />Pg. 6: <br /><br />Lucas "Snapper" Carr, created by Gardner Fox and Mike Sekowsky, first appeared in 1960's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=15487&zoom=4 target=_blank>THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #28</a>. He developed the ability to teleport by snapping his fingers in the course of <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=45702&zoom=4 target=_blank>INVASION!</a>; later, in (I think) <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=65366&zoom=4 target=_blank>HOURMAN #20</a> and <a href= http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=65367&zoom=4 target=_blank>#21</a>, he lost his hands (and his powers), then got new hands (which didn't have those powers). He was revealed to have been involved with Checkmate for a while as of <a href= http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=371715&zoom=4 target=_blank>52 AFTERMATH: THE FOUR HORSEMEN #3</a>, but does anybody happen to know how and when he got his powers back? Rucka <a href=http://www.comicbloc.org/forums/showthread.php?t=65618&page=2 target=_blank>writes</a> that "Snapper had his 'portin returned courtesy of Keith Giffen," but the only time he teleports in the course of FOUR HORSEMEN isn't under his own power, it's via a JLA transporter. Is there a story I'm forgetting? <br /><br />"War garden": not the <a href=http://www.cityfarmer.org/victgarB58.html target=_blank>plucky British kind</a>, apparently.<br /><br />Pg. 8:<br /><br />Oh, <i>now</i> he asks if he can use lethal force. Whoops. <br /><br />Pg. 9: <br /><br />Wouldn't it have been nice if everybody had gotten straight what technology works and doesn't work under the Darkseid regime? Firehawk, created by Gerry Conway and Pat Broderick, first appeared in 1982's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=36405&zoom=4 target=_blank>THE FURY OF FIRESTORM #1</a>. <br /><br />Pg. 10:<br /><br />"All the memories that brings back": Snapper was the League's mascot in the early days, but fell out with them after he was manipulated into betraying them in 1969's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=23145&zoom=4 target=_blank>JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #77</a>. <br /><br />Pg. 12: <br /><br />We saw Cheetah in passing in FC #1 (as part of the "protest march"), but I think this is the first time she's gotten a speaking role here, so I'll note now that she's an updated version of a character created by William Moulton Marston and Harry G. Peter who first appeared in 1943's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=3167&zoom=4 target=_blank>WONDER WOMAN #6</a>. (I feel compelled to link to <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=3288&zoom=4 target=_blank>the next issue's cover</a> too.)<br /><br />"A right old-fashioned gutting": the current Cheetah, Dr. Barbara Ann Minerva, is British. <br /><br />Pg. 16:<br /><br />What's up with those babies?<br /><br />Pg. 17: <br /><br />Barbara got her powers from a plant god called Urzkartaga, per the George Pérez-written <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=45970&zoom=4 target=_blank>WONDER WOMAN #28</a>. According to the Rucka-written <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=273461&zoom=4 target=_blank>WONDER WOMAN #222</a>, he's a cat god. And now he's a fertility god (or that's just a superhuman-type pickup line)... and the old gods are having a tough time of it at the dawn of the Fifth World.<br /><br />Pg. 21:<br /><br />"Bloodhound survey": I wonder if this has something to do with <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=250352&zoom=4 target=_blank>BLOODHOUND</a>? <br /><br />As of <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=246261&zoom=4 target=_blank>THE OMAC PROJECT #5</a>, there were 1,373,462 OMACs; where'd the other ten million come from? <br /><br />Pg. 22: <br /><br />"Brother Eye... has been dealt with": rather inconclusively, across various issues of <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=256143&zoom=4 target=_blank>INFINITE CRISIS</a>, its associated <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=266828&zoom=4 target=_blank>OMAC PROJECT special</a>, <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=299921&zoom=4 target=_blank>BRAVE NEW WORLD</a>, <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=299913&zoom=4 target=_blank>OMAC</a> and <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=381225&zoom=4 target=_blank>COUNTDOWN</a>. <br /><br />Pg. 30:<br /><br />Jeez, people, put on some warm clothing first, will you?<br /><br />REVELATIONS #4 and BATMAN #682 have both been bumped to December, so I'll see you in three weeks for #5, cross fingers.Douglas Wolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10691167073493285913noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013594081496330946.post-14311416054278261172008-10-29T22:43:00.000-07:002008-10-30T12:53:34.492-07:00Final Crisis: Rage of the Red LanternsSo. Everyone keeping track of the <a href=http://finalcrisisannotations.blogspot.com/2008/05/schedule-and-contest.html target=_blank>schedule goings-on</a>? Most of the FC books seem to be falling into place to conclude by the end of January, so that they can be <a href=http://www.newsarama.com/comics/100829-Dan-Didio-20-Questions.html target=_blank>"reflected in the books starting in March"</a>--hmm; there seems to still be a safety cushion built in there. LEGION OF 3 WORLDS, on the other hand, appears to have fallen off a cliff; #3 is now due out in mid-January (and #4 in late December, but I imagine that'll get fixed sometime soon), and #5 still isn't on the schedule. Although if the lightning rod is going to tie into FLASH: REBIRTH, it's going to have to be out by April, isn't it?<br /><br />If FINAL CRISIS is, as Morrison <a href=http://www.newsarama.com/comics/100829-Morrison-Superman7.html target=_blank>puts it</a>, "a doom-laden, Death Metal myth for the wonderful world of <a href=http://perpetua.tumblr.com/post/51937968/this-will-only-make-sense-if-youre-a-dc-comics-geek-as target=_blank>Fina(ncia)l Crisis</a>/Eco-breakdown/Terror Trauma we all have to live in," then RotRL is <a href=http://www.thegrimoire.com/ target=_blank>as metal as it gets</a>--although, as several people have pointed out already, it has next to nothing to do with FC proper. (Johns <a href=http://www.newsarama.com/comics/100827-Red-Lanterns-Johns.html target=_blank>made the claim</a> that "you'll see events in FINAL CRISIS have motivated the Guardians...," but any reference to that seems to have not made it into the final script.) I'm surprised, though, that after taking such pains to explain or at least cue everything about the Legion in Lo3W, Johns has basically written this issue as a slightly longer issue of GREEN LANTERN for people who've been following it already. <br /><br />Pg. 1:<br /><br />Between #1 and #2? I guess that means that the GL storyline this "prologue" cliffhangers into happens between those issues too. Which means, as the sloth mugged by a gang of vicious snails put it, it all happened so fast! Except wasn't the deal in FC #1 that the Alpha Lanterns had cordoned off the planet, no one gets in or out, etc.? So what are Hal and John doing zooming off to outer space? Or do they get the "space cop" exception? <br /><br />[ETA: As fcfanatic points out, at this point Hal's scar from FC #1 should be visible, and it's not. What's interesting is that most of the close-ups of Hal's face in this issue specifically don't show his left temple--and the ones that do almost all have some kind of patch of shading in that area. I suppose it's possible that Davis put the scar in there, and Hope didn't know it was supposed to be there... or maybe everyone just forgot/didn't know.]<br /><br />Also, I've updated the <a href=http://finalcrisisannotations.blogspot.com/2008/09/attempt-at-final-crisis-timeline.html target=_blank>timeline</a>.<br /><br />"Inversions" has to be a reference to Qull of the Five Inversions from "Tygers," the Alan Moore/Kevin O'Neill story in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=303653&zoom=4 target=_blank>TALES OF THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS ANNUAL #2</a> that keeps on giving. [ETA: This point is explicated at greater length in the recent GREEN LANTERN #33--they're the survivors of the Massacre of Sector 666.]<br /><br />Pg. 2: <br /><br />For Atrocitus and Sector 666, see notes for DC UNIVERSE 0, pp. 15-16.<br /><br />Ysmault is another throwaway thing from "Tygers." <br /><br />The Guardians' android police force was the Manhunters--the kind created by Jack Kirby that first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=28842&zoom=4 target=_blank>1ST ISSUE SPECIAL #5</a>, rather than DC's many other flavors of Manhunter. According to GREEN LANTERN #33, they went all <a href=http://mindlessones.com/2008/10/28/judge-dredd-in-one-panel/ target=_blank>"the crime isss life, the sentence isss death"</a> on Sector 666.<br /><br />Pg. 3:<br /><br />Man, that oath may scan right, but it's sure ungainly--"so freshly dead"? Wouldn't "ripped from a body freshly dead" seem more natural? (Answer: yes, but then it wouldn't be able to include the <a href=http://www.metal-archives.com/search.php?string=corpse&type=band target=_blank>extremely metal word "corpse"</a>.) Nice how the page's layout echoes the design of the Red Lantern insignia, too.<br /><br />Pg. 5: <br /><br />Jim Jordan, created by John Broome and Gil Kane, first appeared in 1961's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=16533&zoom=4 target=_blank>GREEN LANTERN #9</a>. (Note the "Kane St." in the background of the first panel; "Dooley Ave." probably refers to Kevin Dooley, who was editing the series during the "destruction of Coast City" period.) Cowgirl (Jillian Pearlman), created by Geoff Johns and Ethan van Sciver, first appeared in 2006's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=249183&zoom=4 target=_blank>GREEN LANTERN #4</a>. <br /><br />Coast City's population would make it the fourth-largest city on the U.S. of Earth-Prime, bigger than any but New York, L.A. and Chicago. Not bad for a place that was a ghost town only a couple of years ago. <br /><br />Pg. 6:<br /><br />Korugar, Sinestro's home planet, first appeared in 1961's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=16320&zoom=4 target=_blank>GREEN LANTERN #7</a>.<br /><br />Pp. 7-8: <br /><br />"The last time the Guardians thought they stopped Sinestro...": This is not quite accurate: in 1988's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=44288&zoom=4 target=_blank>THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS #223</a> and thereabouts, Sinestro was sentenced to death, and managed to survive by putting his "essence" into the Central Power Battery. (Which made it stop working.) <br /><br />Parallax, uh... Yes, right! Parallax. Next question, please?<br /><br />Pg. 9: <br /><br />This scene follows up on a plot thread from <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=409764&zoom=4 target=_blank>GREEN LANTERN #27</a>. This Guardian was burned by the Anti-Monitor in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=381880&zoom=4 target=_blank>GREEN LANTERN #25</a> (which is also where A-M got, uh, de-husked), and that sure looks like a Black Lantern/Black Hand insignia in his (or her?) eyeballs. <br /><br />Ash, created by Ron Marz and Tony Harris, first appeared in 1993's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=54084&zoom=4 target=_blank>GREEN LANTERN CORPS QUARTERLY #7</a>.<br /><br />Pg. 10: <br /><br />Zamaron is the home planet of the Violet Lanterns we saw in DC UNIVERSE 0. And... now Scardian has yellow-lantern eyes.<br /><br />Pg. 13: <br /><br />Wouldn't executing a recidivist perpetrator of genocide count as deterrence as much as punishment? <br /><br />Pg. 16: <br /><br />Bleez and Vice are both new. Ranx, the Sentient City, is yet another "Tygers" bit, although it showed up at length in the course of the Sinestro Corps War. Laira, in the bottom panel, was created by Ruben Diaz and Travis Charest, and first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=53739&zoom=4 target=_blank>GREEN LANTERN CORPS QUARTERLY #6</a>.<br /><br />Pg. 17:<br /><br />I don't think we've seen space sector 543 before, although the Vega system has been established as being in sector 2828. The Controllers, created by Jim Shooter, Mort Weisinger and Curt Swan, first appeared in 1967's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=21008&zoom=4 target=_blank>ADVENTURE COMICS #357</a>. Okaara was mentioned a bunch in Marv Wolfman and George Pérez's early NEW TEEN TITANS stories, and the Warlords of Okaara first appeared in person in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=36655&zoom=4 target=_blank>TALES OF THE NEW TEEN TITANS #4</a>. (Ah, the days when Pérez was drawing two comics a month...) And what light is it? It sure looks like orange light, representing greed, hence the "No! It's mine!"--which I believe we also saw back in DCU 0.<br /><br />Pg. 18: <br /><br />That would be Salakk, not Saalak; created by Marv Wolfman and Joe Staton, he first appeared in 1982's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=36070&zoom=4 target=_blank>GREEN LANTERN #149</a>. Kilowog, the big guy in the middle panel, was created by Steve Englehart and Joe Staton, and first appeared in 1986's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=41476&zoom=4 target=_blank>GREEN LANTERN CORPS #201</a>, but stole my heart with the cover to <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=42341&zoom=4 target=_blank>GREEN LANTERN CORPS #208</a>. I cannot for the life of me remember what the Lantern who looks like a 100-sided die is named. [ETA: Chaselon. Thank you, rwe1138!]<br /><br />Pg. 19:<br /><br />Anyone want to guess what Hal's question was going to be?<br /><br />Pg. 20: <br /><br />Arx, created by Dave Gibbons and Patrick Gleason, first appeared in 2006's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=53739&zoom=4 target=_blank>GREEN LANTERN CORPS #1</a>.<br /><br />Pg. 24:<br /><br />The Red Hairball Lantern is <a href=http://www.wizarduniverse.com/101008redlanternqanda.html target=_blank>apparently called</a> Dex-Star, although if he's named this issue I overlooked it. I thought the Sinestro of Sector 3 was Bedovian, but I don't think the hairball victim here is him. <br /><br />Pg. 30: <br /><br />Saint Walker, not to be confused with <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=393734&zoom=4 target=_blank>Christian Walker</a>, first popped up in the "War of Light" image in GREEN LANTERN #25.Douglas Wolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10691167073493285913noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013594081496330946.post-48158109289436970272008-10-23T21:51:00.000-07:002008-10-25T19:51:45.752-07:00Final Crisis: SubmitVery minimal annotations this time out. (Although the "two weeks" comment was helpful in updating the <a href=http://finalcrisisannotations.blogspot.com/2008/09/attempt-at-final-crisis-timeline.html target=_blank>FINAL CRISIS timeline</a>.)<br /><br />Pp. 2-3: <br /><br />Before he was Black Lightning, Jefferson Pierce was an Olympic decathlete, and over the course of this story we see him doing a few decathlon-type things--this, I suppose, would be one of the sprinting events...<br /><br />Pg. 4:<br /><br />...and this would be the hurdles.<br /><br />Pg. 5:<br /><br />As <a href=http://awesomedbycomics.blogspot.com/2008/10/hes-complicated-man-but-no-one.html target=_blank>Evie</a> points out, the "that's right" is a very blaxploitation gesture.<br /><br />Pg. 15: <br /><br />Jefferson's two daughters are Anissa (Thunder of the Outsiders) and Jennifer (Lightning of the JSA).<br /><br />Pg. 22:<br /><br />Here he is throwing the discus. <br /><br />Pg. 23: <br /><br />Jefferson was also a high school teacher for a while, and later the U.S. Secretary of Education under the Lex Luthor administration. <br /><br />Who was the colleague he was trying to rescue? From FC #4, it looks like there were already a bunch of his colleagues at the Hall of Justice. (But he might not have known that; information-transmission is at a premium, obviously.) ETA: commenter Smurph indicates that it was probably Oracle.<br /><br />The origin of "shoulder to the wheel" appears to be <a href=http://tomsdomain.com/aesop/id24.htm target=_blank>Aesop's fable of Hercules and the wagoner</a>.<br /><br />Pg. 26:<br /><br />Suicide Slum was first named in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=2101&zoom=4 target=_blank>STAR SPANGLED COMICS #7</a>, although Kirby relocated it from NYC to Metropolis in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=23791&zoom=4 target=_blank>JIMMY OLSEN #133</a>. (Its official name is Hobb's Bay.)<br /><br /><a href=http://www.youtube.com/v/Y-Elr5K2Vuo target=_blank>"I learned it by watching you!"</a><br /><br />Pg. 28: <br /><br />Thunder, created by Judd Winick and Tom Raney, first appeared in 2003's <a href= http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=165612&zoom=4 target=_blank>OUTSIDERS #1</a>. She seems to have gotten better after her brain injuries in recent issues of OUTSIDERS. <br /><br />Incidentally, there's a real-world <a href=http://www.omegainitiative.org/html/background.htm target=_blank>Omega Initiative</a>!<br /><br />Pg. 29: <br /><br />Not exactly subtle to be burning a copy of Darwin... but this issue is not about subtlety. I'm wondering what the "S" painted on the window and the wall means, as opposed to the Justifier "J" we see in FINAL CRISIS #4 itself. [ETA: Several commenters have pointed out that it stands for "scapegoat"--see the Kirby image about three-quarters of the way down <a href=http://fourthworldfridays.blogspot.com/2007/11/forever-people-3-life-vs-anti-life.html target=_blank>this page</a>.]<br /><br />Andrew Hickey points out that what Jefferson is saying echoes Gregory Bar Hebraeus's probably apocryphal <a href=http://www.bede.org.uk/library.htm target=_blank>account</a> of Caliph Omar's order to burn the books of the Library of Alexandria: "they will either contradict the Koran, in which case they are heresy, or they will agree with it, so they are superfluous."Douglas Wolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10691167073493285913noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013594081496330946.post-76832792345572290862008-10-23T10:42:00.000-07:002008-10-25T20:11:07.261-07:00Final Crisis #4Final Crisis #4<br /><br />Q. How metal was this issue? A. ALL THE METAL. And I am far from the only person to have noticed that the neon gauntlets Darkseid is all but audibly clanging together on the portrait cover look like they say DC.<br /><br />As usual lately, I am late to the mark. (And covering this issue before SUBMIT, although it clearly happens immediately after it. I'll try to fix up the chronology tonight or Friday.) David Uzumeri <a href=http://www.funnybookbabylon.com/2008/10/22/final-crisis-4-darkseid-says/ target=_blank>got to a bunch of stuff first</a>, of course...<br /><br />Pg. 1: <br /><br />Carol Ferris, created by John Broome and Gil Kane, first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=15200&zoom=4 target=_blank>SHOWCASE #22</a> in 1959. <br /><br />Pg. 2: <br /><br />The top panel is the London Underground. The cab is indeed probably in New York, but who's the passenger in the fedora? And should I recognize the cabbie? <br /><br />Pg. 3: <br /><br />That J might be for "Justifier" (see notes on the S-for-scapegoat in SUBMIT, above). The Ray appears to be the Ray Terrill version, who first appeared in 1992's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=50873&zoom=4 target=_blank>THE RAY #1</a>, created by Jack C. Harris and Joe Quesada (rather than the S.H.A.D.E. operative Stan Silver from UNCLE SAM AND THE FREEDOM FIGHTERS); he's a variation on a character created by the mighty Lou Fine, who first appeared in 1940's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=1018&zoom=4 target=_blank>SMASH COMICS #14</a>. <br /><br />I kind of don't understand how Ray dragged the Tattooed Man in here...<br /><br />Pp. 6-7: <br /><br />The narration is Turpin's, apparently. The slaughtered Blüdhaven force includes Negative Woman, Director Bones and Count Vertigo, all Checkmate operatives. <br /><br />Pg. 8: <br /><br />This raises the question of who the "powerful, noble spirit" of Darkseid's previous fleshly incarnation was. The quotes around "incubation phase" are very Kirby.<br /><br />Pg. 10: <br /><br />Apparently Barbara did manage to unplug the Internet after all! <br /><br />Pg. 11:<br /><br />As David points out, the Ünternet was created by Kurt Busiek and introduced in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=364091&zoom=4 target=_blank>ACTION COMICS #853</a>. But who would the "highly placed informer in Libra's secret society" be? <br /><br />Pp. 12-13: <br /><br />Hawkgirl is fighting Silver Swan (III). The grid is: Ravager, Starman, Blue Devil (M.I.A., perhaps, because of REIGN IN HELL?), Huntress, The Atom, Enchantress (when was she injured?); Uncle Sam (corrupted how?... besides the obvious, I mean), Wildcat I, Wonder Woman (who should by rights be M.I.A., as David pointed out; maybe this is Hippolyta?), Superman, Batman, Cyborg (we don't know how he went missing), Martian Manhunter; Guy Gardner, Hawkgirl, Hourman, Hal Jordan/Green Lantern, Dr. Fate (also maybe missing because of REIGN IN HELL), Power Girl, Wally West/The Flash; John Stewart (who now has a mysterious scar just like Hal did), Sandman, Black Canary, the Kingdom Come Superman (!), Robin, Red Tornado, Phantom Lady; Starfire (when'd she get captured?), Liberty Belle, Green Arrow, Black Lightning, Aquaman, Firestorm and Kyle Rayner. (Thank you, David.)<br /><br /><a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castellan target=_blank>Castellan</a> is Carl Draper's title as of 2007's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=370661&zoom=4 target=_blank>CHECKMATE #17</a>; Draper was Deathtrap, although <a href=http://www.gideonii.com/ target=_blank>here</a> he apparently claims not to have been the Master Jailer, which he was pre-Crisis.<br /><br />Pg. 14: <br /><br />There was a Warmaker who appeared alongside Sarge Steel in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=20390&zoom=4 target=_blank>SECRET AGENT #9</a> (check that Dick Giordano cover!), but this is the one from the International Ultramarine Corps, created by Grant Morrison and Howard Porter, who first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=62286&zoom=4 target=_blank>DC ONE MILLION #2</a>. Superbia is their city/HQ in the sky. And Watchtower 4 is Gorilla City; is that Freedom Beast or B'wana Beast? <br /><br />Pg. 15: <br /><br />Black Adam, created by Otto Binder and C.C. Beck, first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=4708&zoom=4 target=_blank>THE MARVEL FAMILY #1</a> in 1945. (As for where his throne room is--why, it's on the cover of <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=274466&zoom=4 target=_blank>52 #45</a>, of course.) August General-in-Iron and the rest of the Great Ten, created by Grant Morrison and I think J.G. Jones, first appeared in 52 #6. <br /><br />Pg. 16:<br /><br />This leads directly out of SUBMIT. Yes, he looks like Metron now, with the circuit, but he also looks a bit like one of the Metal Men, don't you think? Remember, in Grant Morrison comics, bald men always save the universe!<br /><br />Pg. 17: <br /><br />Wonder Woman/Bernadeth is "Wunda," Giganta/Stompa is "Gigantrix." "Flash fact," I believe, was a phrase from Silver Age FLASH comics that explained some scientific (or occasionally pseudoscientific) principle; I forget which of the writers on Wally's series retconned it to be something Barry used to say to Wally by way of education. [ETA: thanks to commenter msinger for pointing me toward Morrison's <a href=http://daveslongbox.blogspot.com/2005/10/f-yeah-files-5-flashs-escape-velocity.html target=_blank>use of "Flash Facts"</a> in JLA #3--scroll down a bit to see it.]<br /><br />"Original costume": Wally originally (briefly) wore a smaller version of Barry's costume, then switched to a predominantly yellow costume, which he was still wearing at the time of Barry's death. He's been wearing the red one ever since, but Barry obviously hasn't been around. [ETA: several commenters make the argument that this is more likely to be a reference to Barry having seen Wally's shinier '90s variation of the Flash outfit in his earlier returns--which raises the question of whether this version of Barry is younger or older than the one seen in his two previous returns.]<br /><br />Pg. 20: <br /><br />Uzumeri, you can't depend on me like that! The League were in a similar pose on the cover of <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=16186&zoom=4 target=_blank>JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #4</a>, and vaguely similar situations appeared on the covers of <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=18268&zoom=4 target=_blank>JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #26</a> and <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=31506&zoom=4 target=_blank>JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #147</a>, but none of those seem quite right. The version of J'onn in the bottle has his long head, which is doubly confusing... <br /><br />Pg. 22: <br /><br />Yes, I also want to see Morrison write Green Arrow forever.<br /><br />Pg. 25: <br /><br />For "day of holocaust," see SUPERMAN BEYOND #1. <br /><br />Pg. 27: <br /><br />I like the "speed force as life equation" idea--what happens when you plug 3X2(9YZ)4A into Self = Darkseid? "Sorry I was late": the running joke in the early days of Barry's FLASH series was that he was incapable of being on time to anything. Or maybe that's just a reference to this issue's ship date. <br /><br />Pg. 29: <br /><br />I don't get why Shilo's colored pink here (unless this particular heroic bald guy isn't actually him), but he's also gotten out of worse before--see <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=262943&zoom=4 target=_blank>SEVEN SOLDIERS OF VICTORY #1</a>. Note also the Metron circuit appearing on the heroes' faces.Douglas Wolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10691167073493285913noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013594081496330946.post-40526897944243875332008-10-16T19:20:00.000-07:002008-10-16T19:21:30.284-07:00Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds #2The big question about this series, obviously, is: when is Arm-Fall-Off Boy going to show up? I just read <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=520944&zoom=4 target=_blank>THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES IN THE 31ST CENTURY #16</a>, an entire issue devoted to his legacy; I think his non-appearance thus far here needs to be addressed.<br /><br />As for Lo3W #2 itself, both <a href=http://adventure247.blogspot.com/2008/10/annotated-legion-of-three-worlds-2.html target=_blank>Michael Grabois</a> and <a href=http://geniusboyfiremelon.blogspot.com/2008/10/final-crisis-legion-of-three-worlds-2.html target=_blank>Tim Callahan</a> have gotten to this issue already, so there may not be much left for me to do but plagiarize and synthesize. But let's see what I can add.<br /><br />Pg. 1: <br /><br />A fade-in from white, mirroring the endings of <a href=http://adventure247.blogspot.com/2006/04/dj-vu-3-fade-to-white.html target=_blank>several incarnations and sub-incarnations of the Legion series</a>.<br /><br />This is Shikari, created by Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning and Olivier Coipel, who first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=209321&zoom=4 target=_blank>LEGION LOST #1</a>--she's a variation on Dawnstar. She's an L(II)-era character. <br /><br />Pg. 2:<br /><br />The official name of Sorcerer's World is actually Zerox. Not kidding. (And it was established in 1987's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=43537&zoom=4 target=_blank>AMETHYST #1</a> that Zerox was formerly Gemworld.) <br /><br />The White Witch here, created by E. Nelson Bridwell and Curt Swan, first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=20467&zoom=4 target=_blank>ADVENTURE COMICS #350</a>; this is the L(I) version. We're seeing L(II)'s Dreamer rather than the L(I) White Witch's sister.<br /><br />In panel 4, the speaker is the L(III) version of Star Boy, whose original version, created by Otto Binder and George Papp, first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=16163&zoom=4 target=_blank>ADVENTURE COMICS #282</a>. He's with the L(III) versions of Lightning Lad and Light Lass; the statue is of the dead version of Nura Nal/Dream Girl from that incarnation. "The light of the Legion": one of those prophetic phrases Johns likes so much.<br /><br />Superboy-Prime, besides being the ultimate graf writer, is modifying the "L" of the Legion flight ring into his own S. Wow, Johns also likes stories about rings, huh? The power ring, the flight rings, the Flash costume ring... <br /><br />"Keep your hands away": the return of the hand motif from DC UNIVERSE 0? Mordru, by the way, was created by Jim Shooter and Curt Swan, and first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=21897&zoom=4 target=_blank>ADVENTURE COMICS #369</a>. <br /><br />Pg. 3: <br /><br />Blok/White Witch and Wildfire/Dawnstar were couples. Of sorts. <br /><br />Pg. 5:<br /><br />Rond Vidar, here, was created by Jim Shooter and Curt Swan, and first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=20382&zoom=4 target=_blank>ADVENTURE COMICS #349</a>, as did Universo. Rond was revealed as a Green Lantern in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=44916&zoom=4 target=_blank>LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #50</a> in 1988, but at that point Green Lanterns were banned from all United Planets territory. Too bad he doesn't mean <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=11841&zoom=4 target=_blank>this Rip Van Winkle</a>.<br /><br />Rond's power ring was destroyed by Mordru in the course of the first long storyline in the Five Years Later LEGION. (That was followed by Celeste Rockfish absorbing Lantern energies, etc.)<br /><br />It's probably also worth mentioning Xenofobe here. He was a 30th-century Green Lantern of space sector 2814 (at the same time as Rond? Who knows?), who made one appearance, in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=29441&zoom=4 target=_blank>SUPERMAN #295</a>. Which of course <a href=http://adventure247.blogspot.com/2007/03/great-disaster.html target=_blank>Michael has written about too</a>, but the short version is that it's the first comic to tie together the Time Trapper and the Great Disaster/Kamandi timeline. Which sure sounds like it'd be relevant to FINAL CRISIS. In fact, it was supposed to have been reprinted in that SHOWCASE PRESENTS THE GREAT DISASTER collection that vanished from DC's publishing schedule a while back. <br /><br />Pg. 6:<br /><br />Weird that Mordru claims he killed Glorith (who was actually killed by the Time Trapper), Dragonmage (who's from post-Five Year Gap L(I) continuity, curiously enough) and Evillo; none of those happened on-panel, anyway. I guess 31st-century reanimatees aren't as impressively scary as Black Lanterns. <br /><br />Pg. 7:<br /><br />And here he's taking credit for turning the White Witch from "that hag into a beautiful mystic," which Dream Girl actually did in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=20539&zoom=4 target=_blank>ADVENTURE COMICS #351</a>. Rond's ring isn't magic, although Alan Scott's was... curious that Rond's "knight time" joke comes out the same week as the "naptime" bit in ROGUES' REVENGE #2.<br /><br />Pg. 8: <br /><br />As Michael notes, when did Rond beat Mordru before? (And of course a magician would use a Green Lantern's entrails for a spell involving willpower. Brrr.)<br /><br />Pp. 9-10:<br /><br />I'm not going to reproduce the lists Tim and Michael compiled here (especially since Michael noted the apparent continuity glitches of this scene). But doesn't Neutrax, in the upper left corner, look a bit Metronish?<br /><br />Pg. 11:<br /><br />Flashbacks to the Sinestro Corps War. <br /><br />Pg. 12: <br /><br />Prime helped Superman fight the Anti-Monitor back in CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS. The Legion code, as you might gather, prohibits killing. <br /><br />Pg. 14:<br /><br />The Persuader, created by Jim Shooter and Curt Swan, first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=20638&zoom=4 target=_blank>ADVENTURE COMICS #352</a> (the same goes for Emerald Empress and Validus, later in this scene). I like Prime's "I read all about you"--of course he would have, in pre-Crisis comic books... <br /><br />Pg. 15:<br /><br />Yeah, I guess Rokk has indeed given up his relationships--see Night Girl's perturbed expression in the background, beneath that spectacular beehive. <br /><br />Pg. 16: <br /><br />The "lethal force enabled" thing happened in the course of the Sinestro Corps War. Lazon, created by Gerry Conway and Joe Staton, first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=33503&zoom=4 target=_blank>SUPERBOY AND THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #253</a> (ditto for Titania, seen on the next page). Storm Boy, created by Jerry Siegel and John Forte, first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=17168&zoom=4 target=_blank>ADVENTURE COMICS #301</a>. <br /><br />Pg. 17: <br /><br />Black Mace, created by Jim Shooter and Win Mortimer, first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=22286&zoom=4 target=_blank>ADVENTURE COMICS #374</a>. Beauty Blaze, created by Jim Shooter and Curt Swan, first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=20866&zoom=4 target=_blank>ADVENTURE COMICS #355</a>. Earth-Man, formerly Absorbency Boy, created by Cary Bates and Mike Grell, first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=29991&zoom=4 target=_blank>SUPERBOY #218</a>. <br /><br />Pg. 18: <br /><br />As Vidar, Universo had been a Green Lantern; <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=37026&zoom=4 target=_blank>THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #295</a> revealed that the Guardians de-ringed him when he tried to see the origin of the universe (and that ring was later passed down to Rond Vidar). As Tim points out, the "snap" bit alludes to Projectra killing Nemesis Kid in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=39372&zoom=4 target=_blank>LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #5</a> in 1984.<br /><br />Pg. 19: <br /><br />As Michael notes, Rond had a daughter with Laurel Gand, not a son.<br /><br />Pg. 21:<br /><br />Here's that lightning rod from "The Lightning Saga" again... and Chameleon Girl, created by Paul Levitz and Keith Giffen, first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=36335&zoom=4 target=_blank>THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #287</a>. <br /><br />Pg. 22:<br /><br />And now we're on Oa, where there's apparently a statuary devoted to great Lanterns of the past, as well as Guy Gardner. Ah, Mogo. Has any other throwaway six-page gag story ever had that kind of afterlife? <br /><br />Pg. 23:<br /><br />Curious that the original Happy Harbor cave headquarters of the JLA, subsequently used by the Doom Patrol among others (and apparently terraformed after that by the Martian Manhunter in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=274445&zoom=4 target=_blank>52 #24</a>) has been returned to the way the JLA had it. ("Curry, Arthur" was Aquaman).<br /><br />For more on this particular crystal ball, see notes for DC UNIVERSE 0, pg. 5, panel 9. <br /><br />"The Subs' satellite" is the former JLA satellite (now occupied by the Legion of Substitute Heroes), which I guess didn't become Brother Eye after all. <br /><br />Pg. 24: <br /><br />Hooray for the Time Institute! And it's the return of the Legion Espionage Squad, or something like that... Mon-El is of course a Daxamite, as is Sodam Yat.<br /><br />Pg. 25:<br /><br />The Tornado Twins are Barry and Iris Allen's children Don and Dawn (that must've made things fun around the house); the "three-Legion" story involving them has never been told. <br /><br /><a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=23876&zoom=4 target=_blank>FROM BEYOND THE UNKNOWN</a> was an actual DC series, reprinting earlier DC science fiction shorts. That Statue of Liberty can't catch a break.<br /><br />XS here is Jenni Ognats, the daughter of Dawn Allen from L(II); she was created by Mark Waid, Tom McCraw and Jeff Moy, and first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=233661&zoom=4 target=_blank>LEGIONNAIRES #0</a> in 1994. Gates, created by Mark Waid, Tom McCraw and Lee Moder, first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=56800&zoom=4 target=_blank>LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #66</a>. <br /><br />The "kra-KOOOM" is exactly the same sound effect we've seen for Flash-related lightning in ROGUES' REVENGE, I believe. But it's curious that the crystal ball exploded before the scene from DCU 0 in which it's intact. <br /><br />Pp. 26-27: <br /><br />L(III) on the left, L(II) on the right, other folks' annnotations have done the heavy lifting here.<br /><br />Pg. 28:<br /><br />Jazmin is Kid Quantum from L(II)--created by Tom McCraw, Tom Peyer and Lee Moder, she first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=59082&zoom=4 target=_blank>LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #82</a>, based on an earlier character from the same run, created by Tom & Mary Bierbaum and David A. Williams, who first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=51744&zoom=4 target=_blank>LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #33</a>. She also made a one-panel cameo in INFINITE CRISIS, being found by Shikari on Earth-247 (ha ha). The guy in the iron mask talking to her is Ferro from L(II), an updated version of the character created by Jim Shooter and Sheldon Moldoff who first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=20149&zoom=4 target=_blank>ADVENTURE COMICS #346</a>.<br /><br />Pg. 30:<br /><br />Beg pardon, but doesn't "S" have a minimum of four points?<br /><br />Pg. 31:<br /><br />Ooh, a black power battery, just like in DCU 0! The clear coffin Rond Vidar is in looks a lot like Lightning Lad's coffin from <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=17630&zoom=4 target=_blank>ADVENTURE COMICS #308</a>, doesn't it?<br /><br />Pg. 32:<br /><br />Ah, Sodam Yat--further proof that Alan Moore's merest whims can rattle the ground of the DCU for decades. He's a Daxamite Green Lantern, created by Moore and Kevin O'Neill, who first appeared in 1986's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=303653&zoom=4 target=_blank>GREEN LANTERN ANNUAL #2</a>; he's subsequently become a major character in GREEN LANTERN CORPS (and taken on the Ion identity). A version of the character identified as Sodal Yat beat Superman to death in Moore's never-realized "Twilight of the Superheroes" proposal.Douglas Wolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10691167073493285913noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013594081496330946.post-695799345536576852008-10-15T18:41:00.000-07:002008-10-25T20:17:59.004-07:00Final Crisis: Rogues' Revenge #3Again, there's not a lot to annotate here--as opposed to Lo3W, which I won't be able to get to for a day or two. I'll note that the whole thing appears to be happening on day 5 of the timeline below, since the <a href=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/15/technology/internet/15spam.html?scp=2&sq=spam&st=cse target=_blank>ultimate unsolicited e-mail</a> hasn't happened yet. <br /><br />Pg. 1:<br /><br />Fairly close to an accurate quote--and Twain again! The actual sentence, from Twain's <i>Autobiography</i>, is: "That idea pleased me; indeed there is more real pleasure to be gotten out of a malicious act, where your heart is in it, than out of thirty acts of a nobler sort." And yes, it was Weather Wizard's brother's observatory, as everyone but me figured out. <br /><br />Pg. 2:<br /><br />You know, describing them as "blue-collar" is pushing it, given that Mardon's brother appears to have had his very own observatory. <br /><br />Pp. 4-5: <br /><br />I'm out of the country at the moment and don't have my back issues at hand: when did the Top build Speedrebro in the observatory? <br /><br />Of what state is Central City the capital? I mean, I realize the DCU U.S. is so big it's got two presidents at any given time... <br /><br />I love Mick's "Can I burn it? Huh? Can I burn it?" routine.<br /><br />Pg. 6: <br /><br />Inertia's real name is Thaddeus Thawne, and who wouldn't turn to a life of destruction with a name like that? <br /><br />Pg. 7: <br /><br />Zoom's motivation is kind of fantastic, but it always makes me think of that routine from <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=41239&zoom=4 target=_blank> the Sacred Wars</a>: "You know what builds character, don't you? Conflict! PRAISE conflict!"<br /><br />Pg. 12: <br /><br />Mirror Master not only killed the Pied Piper's parents in (I believe) <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=104851&zoom=4 target=_blank>FLASH #174</a>, but framed him for it. Guess McCulloch is a homophobe too. <br /><br />Pg. 13: <br /><br />Why does Libra think that's blasphemy? It was established--by Desaad, I believe--in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=418682&zoom=4 target=_blank>COUNTDOWN #10</a>. <br /><br />Pg. 14:<br /><br />Wasn't Iris Allen taking care of Josh for a while? How'd he go from that to "bouncing around"? (According to <a href=http://www.hyperborea.org/flash/josh.html target=_blank>Josh's Hyperborea page</a>, Chyre had wanted to adopt him too.)<br /><br />Pg. 19: <br /><br />Persuasion doesn't quite cut it as Libra's power, especially since we've seen so many people resist him (like Luthor, for instance). It also doesn't quite make sense why Libra utters his little expository speech here about speedsters being "the breakers of the Bleed"...<br /><br />Pg. 20: <br /><br />"He won't have a gun" is a callback to <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=128233&zoom=4 target=_blank>FLASH #197</a>, I believe. Grodd growling is from the sequence where Hunter was crippled in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=128229&zoom=4 target=_blank>FLASH #193</a>. <br /><br />Pg. 21: <br /><br />"Honor among thieves": the formulation goes back to Cicero, but one of the first documented uses of something similar in English is from Peter Motteaux's early-18th-century translation of <i>Don Quixote</i>: "The old proverb still holds good, Thieves are never rogues among themselves."<br /><br />Heat Wave established last issue that he can melt the Flash's boots. What was the first story where he did that, though? [ETA: Kris Weberg points out in the comments that it was <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=32654&zoom=4 target=_blank>FLASH #266</a>.]<br /><br />Pg. 24:<br /><br />"Year": really? Let's check the chronology--specifically, the <a href=http://dcu.smartmemes.com/DCTL_6_TL.html#Yr21 target=_blank>DCU Timeline</a>. The "year" would have to begin with the death of Bart, which coincided with "The Lightning Saga," which appeared to begin around U.S. Thanksgiving time. That coincided with the first dozen or so issues of COUNTDOWN, but COUNTDOWN didn't take place over a year--more like a few months--and SALVATION RUN, which takes place over the course of about five weeks, starts midway through it. So it's been a brutal five months for them, let's say. <br /><br />Pg. 25: <br /><br />Zoom "was to be the messenger of Darkseid"? A guy with boom tubes needs messengers?<br /><br />Pg. 28:<br /><br />"The one place no speedsters will look": wait, what?Douglas Wolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10691167073493285913noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013594081496330946.post-78055996111179956572008-10-08T22:21:00.000-07:002008-10-08T22:29:20.791-07:00Final Crisis: Revelations #3And we're back! Hey, wasn't there just an issue of REVELATIONS last time? Well, yes, and according to the original schedule we were supposed to get FC #4, Lo3W #2, ROGUES' REVENGE #3 and SUBMIT between then and now. Oh well. There's very little to annotate this time out--this is a very straightforward/non-metatextual issue--but next week we get the Geoff Johns double-header, so I imagine I'll be linking up a storm.<br /><br />Pg. 1: <br /><br />"Kane, Betty" has the same hairstyle as Bette Kane, a.k.a. the Flamebird of present continuity (see, e.g., 2000's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=277927&zoom=4 target=_blank>BEAST BOY #4</a>). That character's derived from Betty Kane, the Bat-Girl who first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=16178&zoom=4 target=_blank>BATMAN #139</a> in 1961. So this might signify something, or it might just be a little Easter egg.<br /><br />The antithesis of life, in case you were wondering, is stepping on <i>multiple kinds</i> of MP3 players in a single panel. <br /><br />Pg. 2:<br /><br />"Claire Coeur" would be bad French for "clear heart."<br /><br />Pp. 10-11: <br /><br />I don't know of any DCU "Westbrook" (or town with a name along those lines) that's a suburb of Gotham City. And once again the Cain plot leaps forward substantially in time while the Montoya plot advances a few hours at most...<br /><br />Pg. 15:<br /><br />Why does Cris still think that Jake is the son of his who died?<br /><br />Pp. 16-17: <br /><br />This is a little splotchy, but I think I see Midnight, Bane, a Man-Bat, Mystek, a very tall Jawa, Commissioner Gordon, Mr. Freeze and Poison Ivy in the crowd here. (Note: I am wrong about a couple of those. But corrections/additions are welcome.)<br /><br />Pg. 18: <br /><br />Hey, is that the Crimson Avenger at the left of the third panel? Or maybe it's the Black Lantern Crimson Avenger, since he apparently died in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=35694&zoom=4 target=_blank>DC COMICS PRESENTS #38</a>. Or it's the Black Lantern Jonah Hex Purple Crimson Avenger, judging by his mouth and costume. Or there's just something I'm missing, which is the likeliest scenario. <br /><br />Pg. 19: <br /><br />Catwoman seems to be lurking in panel 4. Cool.<br /><br />Pg. 21:<br /><br />The interpretation of Genesis going on here is enough of a stretch that I'd go so far as to call it a total inversion: the mark of Cain was actually an act of <i>mercy</i>. If you don't believe me, read the <a href=http://kingjbible.com/genesis/4.htm target=_blank>actual passage</a> in the translation Claire is quoting. God passes sentence on Cain (to be "a fugitive and a vagabond," and "cursed from the earth"); Cain says "my punishment is greater than I can bear," because his life is now in danger from anyone who finds him; God responds by putting the mark on Cain, to protect him, stipulating that "whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold." (The Spectre is not mentioned in the original text.) Cain goes off, gets married, has a kid and starts a city. Hardly something he'd want to take vengeance for, even though there's been a <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=56862&zoom=4 target=_blank>perfectly good comic book</a> about getting revenge on God before.<br /><br />Pg. 22:<br /><br />Okay, when exactly was Renee at the Checkmate castle after the Big Button-Pressing? And <i>now</i> Cris worries about Malcolm... Daria was Renee's girlfriend in the GOTHAM CENTRAL days.Douglas Wolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10691167073493285913noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013594081496330946.post-26863760633797149552008-09-22T17:18:00.000-07:002008-12-27T15:11:36.441-08:00An attempt at a Final Crisis timelineI've been curious to see if the whole Final Crisis project has a consistent chronology, so I've been piecing it together. Here's a stab at a timeline, with thanks to Chris Miller (whose <a href=http://dcu.smartmemes.com/ target=_blank>Unauthorized Chronology of the DC Universe</a> is mightily entertaining, and very useful for figuring out how <i>Countdown</i> et al. fit into continuity) and David Uzumeri, both of whose helpful suggestions I have totally ignored. <b>(Last updated 12/27/08)</b><br /><br />40,000 years ago: <br /><br />In what will one day be New York City, Anthro meets Metron, who gives him fire. Vandal Savage attacks Anthro's tribe; Anthro fights back. (FC #1)<br /><br />Slightly less than 40,000 years ago:<br /><br />In the NYC of the distant past, Anthro draws the Metron diagram and has a vision of Kamandi. (FC #1)<br /><br />Sometime before Day 1, I'm guessing:<br /><br />Superman catches the "rip cord back to the 31st century" (Lo3W #1). (He seems to be in a pretty good mood when he's called in, so I assume it happens on a day before everything goes to hell.) <br /><br />Day 1:<br /><br />Turpin finds Orion in the garbage in Metropolis. John Stewart is called in to investigate. The Question meets with Turpin and gives him a Dark Side Club flyer. The Guardians seal off Earth. Dr. Light and Mirror Master retrieve Metron's chair during the "protest march against vigilante brutality." (FC #1)<br /><br />(There could be a time-gap of a day or more in here, but it doesn't seem like either John Stewart or Dan Turpin would delay their investigations if they didn't have something else really pressing going on.) <br /><br />Day 2: <br /><br />In Gotham City, the end of the BATMAN R.I.P. storyline happens on the night between Day 1 and Day 2, per BATMAN #683. Batman heads back to the cave and talks to Alfred; he's just gotten a call from the Justice League, probably about Orion. <br /><br />In Central City, Dr. Light and Effigy carry J'onn to Libra. (REQUIEM) Libra stabs the Martian Manhunter. (FC #1) Then he fights for a while longer (REQUIEM) before his heart explodes (per FC #2). Superman, Batman, Green Arrow, Black Canary, Hal Jordan and Gypsy get psychic vibes from J'onn as he's dying. This seems to be a nighttime scene, so maybe it happens after the Justice League's meeting, but I figure it might actually be very early morning. (REQUIEM) <br /><br />Turpin goes to New York City, where the Tattooed Man takes him to the Dark Side club and he meets Boss Dark Side and the sharp-toothed little kids. The Justice League meets in Washington, DC; the Alpha Lanterns arrive. In the Monitors' realm, Nix Uotan is exiled, and Zillo Valla and Weeja Dell talk. (FC #1)<br /><br />RAGE OF THE RED LANTERNS happens here--between FC #1 and 2, per its opening caption, and Hal's narration indicates that it happens the day after the Code 1011 goes out.<br /><br />In New York City, Nightwing discovers J'onn's body at the Rose Center. His body is brought to Washington, DC, where Hal and Ollie discuss the situation. Batman, Superman, Hal, Gypsy and Black Canary--who's in Happy Harbor for some reason--write down J'onn's memories. (REQUIEM) (Batman's dressed as Bruce Wayne, which would make the Black Glove's announcement in BATMAN #681 that "the next time you wear [the cape and cowl] will be your last" not literally accurate, but whatever--otherwise he'd have been in the costume for two days straight immediately after R.I.P. Let the guy have a night's sleep in his pajamas.)<br /><br />Day 3: <br /><br />In Central City--I'm guessing that's where he is, from the fact that he seems to get local news from the same town as Iris Allen in FC #3--Nix Uotan wakes up in a human body to find the death of the Martian Manhunter being reported on the morning news. (FC #1)<br /><br />(Again, it's possible that there could be a break of a day or more here, but not likely.)<br /><br />In Tokyo, Megayakuza challenges Sonny Sumo and gets what's coming to him, while Super Young Team gawk. Shilo Norman, cued by Motherboxxx, comes to Tokyo to talk to Sonny. In Central City, Nix goes to his job at Big Belly Burger and draws pictures of otherworldly super-folks. In Metropolis, the possessed Turpin beats up the Mad Hatter and buys a ticket to Blüdhaven. (FC #2)<br /><br />In Washington, the Green Lanterns arrive to transport everyone to Mars, and Superman flies J'onn's pyramid there from the Gobi Desert. You'd think if the Alpha Lanterns had quarantined the planet, the very last people they'd want leaving for a little while would be super muk muks, but oh well. (REQUIEM)<br /><br />On Mars, Superman gives J'onn's funeral oration (FC #2), which is simulcast in Metropolis (REVELATIONS #1). Then everyone stands around for a while. After the GLs fly most people home, the transcribers say their final goodbyes. (REQUIEM)<br /><br />In Central City, Libra and crew (still including Mirror Master and Weather Wizard) meet again. In Washington, the Justice League talks to Kraken; Batman suspects a bullet was involved. In Metropolis, that night, John Stewart and Opto investigate Orion's murder, and John finds the god-bullet and gets attacked. (FC #2)<br /><br />That night, in an unknown location, Dr. Light has a little party, and gets melted by the Spectre. Somewhere, Sister Clarice flatlines. In Hollywood, the Spectre melts Effigy. (REVELATIONS #1)<br /><br />We now encounter a weird little glitch, if we're going to count JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #27 as canonical to FC: the Shadow Cabinet is in the Hall of Justice and the JLA satellite stealing Dr. Light's mortal remains ("an old candle"), and they're met by a crew including John Stewart (and Superman), and Batman is Bruce. #30 appears to be the first post-FC issue; I have no idea where the story in #27 could have time to happen. <br /><br />Somewhere in here, the League has to locate and rescue the injured John Stewart, who is holding the god-bullet (FC #2). Batman collects the bullet and sticks it in his utility belt (BATMAN #683). <br /><br />Day 4:<br /><br />In Coast City, very early in the morning, the Alpha Lanterns arrest Hal. In Washington, Superman and Batman confer, Batman fights Kraken, and Kraken throws him into a Boom Tube. In Blüdhaven, Turpin finds Rev. Good, who leads him to Command D, where he sees Kamandi and the restrained Batman. In Metropolis, Clark Kent turns in some copy, and Clayface-as-Jimmy blows up the Daily Planet. (FC #2)<br /><br />The events of ROGUES' REVENGE #1 have to happen here--Luthor at least gives the Rogues the impression that he's "eating out of Libra's hand" (although he doesn't seem to have ever really gotten with Libra's program), Libra is still in the Central City club, and Barry's not back yet. The final scenes of the issue happen around 3 AM; the tingling the twins feel probably has to do with Barry's return. (ROGUES' REVENGE #1)<br /><br />That night, Wally and Jay investigate Libra's HQ in Central City and find Barry. (FC #2)<br /><br />Also that night, in New York, S.H.A.D.E. hits the Dark Side Club, where they find Montoya and Boss Dark Side's corpse. Überfraulein falls out of the sky; S.H.A.D.E. tells Montoya to come with them. (FC #3)<br /><br />Day 5:<br /><br />In Central City, Nix gets fired, and Jay brings Iris and Wally's family up to date. (FC #3). <br /><br />The Rogues find Gambi; the "new Rogues" tell them to "report back to the club." Zoom is training Inertia. The old Rogues dispense with the new; Iris is crying with happiness after getting the update from Jay. (ROGUES' REVENGE #2)<br /><br />In Portsmouth, England, Montoya fights the Bible Crew and jumps onto a boat. (Perhaps S.H.A.D.E. gave her a lift there, off-panel.) The Spectre goes to the Central City Community Center to meet up with Libra, who's conferring with the Hangmen; the Spectre kills the Hangmen and vanishes. (REVELATIONS #1) Morrison has <a href=http://www.newsarama.com/comics/090808-MorrisonFC3.html target=_blank>suggested</a> that Libra relocates because the Flashes compromised the Central City hideout, but I suspect the smoking midair corpses of the Hangmen were a much more significant compromise...<br /><br />At the Hall of Evil in Florida, Libra puts the Justifier helmet on Mike, and Luthor notes that Superman "hasn't answered a single emergency call for 18 hours." (Perhaps Libra figured that the HQ wasn't the best place to be with all those dead Hangmen there.) Libra says that the Big One is coming "in less than 24 hours." (FC #3) Libra, still at the Hall of Doom (see the establishing shot at the top of the page), confers with Grodd; his monitor board has lots of shots of what's happened to a bunch of characters and... anticipates what's going to happen to Wonder Woman. (ROGUES' REVENGE #2)<br /><br />In Central City, the Rogues head to the Observatory, then fight with the Zooms; Libra shows up with the kid. A big fight transpires, and the Rogues drop off Kid Zoom's body in Keystone City, then return to the basement of the Flash Museum. (ROGUES' REVENGE #3)<br /><br />Back off the coast of England, the Cultists find the Spear of Destiny and fight Montoya. Cris goes to his son's grave--although, actually, the grave he goes to is Jake's. Which is strange, because Jake Allen isn't dead; Malcolm is the son Cris-as-the-Spectre killed in CRISIS AFTERMATH: THE SPECTRE #3. I guess we can chalk that up to Darkseid's fall too. Anyway, the Spectre proceeds to teleport himself to where Montoya is to judge her. (REVELATIONS #1) They fight, then the Spectre teleports them away... (REVELATIONS #2) ...and the first big internal continuity hiccup of the project happens here. See Day 6 for details.<br /><br />In Metropolis, Superman is by Lois's side, and Jimmy notes that "Superman hasn't been seen since yesterday." Zillo Valla walks in and gives Clark "one ultimate chance." (FC #3) She freezes time, which apparently gets unfrozen sometime after that, and she and Superman head off for nutty parallel-Earth adventures. (SUPERMAN BEYOND #1) In Washington, Alan Scott and Wonder Woman suggest it's time to invoke Article X. (FC #3)<br /><br />Day 6: <br /><br />Oracle, Aquaman, Freddie Freeman, Supergirl, Green Arrow and Black Canary get their draft notices delivered on paper (Ollie and Dinah seem to be getting theirs in the morning). Alan Scott assembles the forces. We can assume everybody gets where they're going by some kind of fancy JLA teleportation-type device. (FC #3)<br /><br />In Tokyo, Shilo's about to leave Japan when he and Sonny are attacked, and rescued by Super Young Team in the Wonder Wagon. Wonder Woman investigates Blüdhaven and gets attacked by Mary Marvel, who gives her a disease. At 5:30 PM EST (per FC #4), also in Blüdhaven, Mokkari sends the ultimate spam message out. In Washington, Oracle tries to pull the plug on the Internet (FC #3), and actually succeeds, per FC #4. <br /><br />Here's that first continuity hiccup: we have to assume that the Spectre teleported Montoya mid-word from Day 5 to Day 6, as well as from the boat to Gotham City. The scenes with the Spectre and the Question together in REVELATIONS #1 and 2 clearly happen continuously, and occupy five or ten minutes at the very most; in the meantime, Wrack gets the Spear of Destiny back to shore, then gets the word out, summons the forces, heads to wherever Vandal Savage is located (which sure doesn't look like it's anywhere near the coast of England), stabs him and turns him into Cain. [Perhaps this is one of the "time distortions" mentioned in FC #5.]<br /><br />So. Having jumped a day into the future, Cris and Renee observe Batwoman, and then the Radiant shows up. Cris cries over the son he didn't kill, rather than the one he did. Cris, Montoya and the Radiant talk theology. The Gotham Central Anti-Life Crew attacks. The Radiant teleports Montoya away, and she's attacked by Anti-Life Batwoman. (REVELATIONS #2)<br /><br />The Spectre and the Radiant fight Anti-Life legions; Montoya fights Batwoman. Vandal Savage/Cain leads his crew along the tree-lined coastline, and... lickety-split, they're in the U.S., gazing upon the strung-up bodies in Westbrook (or whatever that suburb of Gotham is called). Maybe he's got some kind of magical teleportation powers. In Gotham City, Montoya, the Radiant and the Spectre take refuge in a cathedral, while hordes of Darkseidians attack outside (and Catwoman is hanging out outside too). Cain shows up and stabs the Spectre. (REVELATIONS #3)<br /><br />[Weirdly, Montoya asserts that "what's happened in Gotham, it's happened everywhere... I was at the Checkmate castle. I've seen it." It's hard to imagine when that might have happened; she was in S.H.A.D.E.'s custody late on Day 4 and early on Day 5, and turns up at the castle on Day 20, below, but there's no space in the story between the Ultimate E-Mail and this sequence for her to get there and back, or indeed to find out what's going on anywhere other than her immediate surroundings.]<br /><br />Cain has split the Spectre from Cris. Montoya fights Cain; then the Huntress shows up. The Radiant protects the church, and explains the Spear of Destiny to Montoya. Then she confronts Cain, who makes the Spectre recite the Anti-Life Equation and declares victory. (REVELATIONS #4)<br /><br />Meanwhile, in Antarctica, Ice shows up and attacks the Checkmate outpost; Mr. Terrific and Taleb hunker down in the bunker, and Sasha Bordeaux shuts down. (RESIST)<br /><br />Day 10:<br /><br />At S.T.A.R. Labs in California, Snapper Carr destroys the bioweapons, then returns to Antarctica. (RESIST)<br /><br />Day 11: <br /><br />Snapper goes to the Watchtower to confront Firehawk and sees the Cheetah. (RESIST)<br /><br />Days 17, 20, 25, 27, 29:<br /><br />Snapper keeps up the resistance (RESIST). <br /><br />Day 31: <br /><br />Snapper gets busy with the Cheetah, then gets attacked by Justifier-Grodd and teleports himself and the Cheetah back to Camp Oswald. (RESIST)<br /><br />Day 32: <br /><br />Mr. Terrific does something hand-wave-y involving the Code Zoo and Sasha. A zillion OMACs attack the bunker, and Mr. Terrific, the Cheetah, Taleb and Snapper head off with some OMACs. (RESIST)<br /><br />Day 36 or so:<br /><br />In Washington, DC, Black Lightning, en route to rescue somebody from the Hall of Justice and deliver some papers, runs into the Tattooed Man (who's been protecting his family for "two weeks"), and they have a brief adventure together that ends badly. (SUBMIT) (It would actually have to be longer than two weeks to fit the timeline of RESIST--Mr. Terrific has to get back to the Checkmate castle in Switzerland by this day. Call it a time distortion if you like. But where are the OMACs? Who knows?)<br /><br />Shortly thereafter, the Ray rescues the Tattooed Man and drags him into the Hall of Justice, which is under attack. Black Canary, the Flash family, the Ray and the Tattooed Man teleport to the JLA satellite, and Green Arrow gets captured. <br /><br />In Blüdhaven, the Checkmate attack force has been slaughtered, Turpin is fighting off Darkseid's influence, and Kalibak is chowing down on Opto309.<br /><br />In Switzerland, the Checkmate castle is under attack, and Amanda Waller is about to show Montoya something; then the Wonder Wagon arrives. At the Fortress of Solitude, adorable tykes and a printing press are around. Superbia is falling. Gorilla City is under attack. (FC #4)<br /><br />In Central City, the Flashes encounter the new Female Furies, then go off and rescue Iris. (FC #3-4)<br /><br />Turpin/Darkseid gives the thumbs down. (FC #4)<br /><br />In Blüdhaven, Batman is having his memories strip-mined by the Lump, Simyan and Mokkari. He fights it off. S & M's experiment fails spectacularly, and they shoot the Lump, then run away as it trashes the lab. (BATMAN #682-3)<br /><br />Hal Jordan is tried on Oa; Guy and Kyle show up and fight Kraken. There are mentions of time distortions on Earth, which would suggest that time is passing much more slowly off Earth, so this could be shortly after day 4 relative to Hal's experience. <br /><br />At the Checkmate castle, Waller and Khalid show Montoya the Biomacs. <br /><br />In Blüdhaven, the Female Furies (who've gotten back there somehow...) are suiting up. Simyan, Mokkari and Godfrey are petitioning Turpin/Darkseid, who sends the Furies out to "end it all." <br /><br />At the Castle, Hawkman, Hawkgirl, Alan Scott, etc., are fighting Justifiers. Mr. Terrific arrives where the Wonder Wagon has crashed, and Sonny Sumo shows off Motherboxxx. The Castle's "shields will fail in 15 minutes."<br /><br />In Blüdhaven, Kalibak and the Tiger-Men ride out, and the cavalry arrives at the bridge. <br /><br />Wherever Nix Uotan is, he's thrown into a holding cell with the mysterious hooded guy and the Metron-avatar who solves the Rubik's Cube; he remembers Weeja Dell. <br /><br />Somewhere, Libra is about to hang the Calculator, and has words with Luthor. <br /><br />In Blüdhaven, John's ring isn't working right. Turpin/Darkseid kills his minions. Supergirl and Mary Marvel start fighting. <br /><br />The Green Lanterns, approaching Earth, "freefall into the singularity."<br /><br />In Washington, DC, the Justifiers have found the President's bunker.<br /><br />Darkseid arrives, and so does Nix. (FC #5)<br /><br />1000 years from now: <br /><br />Prime roasts the faux Kents and busts up the Superman Museum, and the Legion of Super-Heroes does their Legiony thing. (Lo3W #1 and 2)<br /><br />The End of Time: <br /><br />The Time Trapper complains about bugs. (Lo3W #1)<br /><br />I'll be updating this as future issues come out, but comments and suggestions are very welcome.Douglas Wolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10691167073493285913noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013594081496330946.post-39719029989917267492008-09-10T23:26:00.000-07:002008-09-11T14:05:08.971-07:00Final Crisis: Revelations #2EDITED TO ADD: A brief note on the chronology of this issue: it is weird. I'm working on an overall FC chronology, but it appears that all the Montoya stuff this issue happens more or less continuously, with no breaks of more than a few minutes. In the meantime, Sister Wrack recovers herself, gets back to shore, summons every "all of our order for a thousand miles" to wherever Vandal Savage is located, and turns him into Cain. That has to take a lot more time.<br /><br />The one easy out for this is that when the Spectre teleports himself and Montoya to Gotham City, he also sends them a day into the future. That also means that the Spectre could've confronted Libra the day before Mokkari ended the Fourth World--which would explain why Libra (and the Headmen) were in the Central City strip club rather than the Hall of Doom, to which Libra relocated later that day. <br /><br />Commenter Will Staples asks how this squares up with S.H.A.D.E. picking up Montoya in New York City at the beginning of FC #3. I figure she had a conversation with them and they dropped her off in Portsmouth in time for REVELATIONS #1, which would fit the timeline.<br /><br />Pp. 2-3: <br /><br />I see Renee has picked up Charlie's old habit of wisecracking while wearing the mask. Cris was killed in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=264064&zoom=4 target=_blank>GOTHAM CENTRAL #38</a>.<br /><br />Pg. 9: <br /><br />Ah, Batwoman. First appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=274428&zoom=4 target=_blank>52 #7</a>, created by... okay, this is a tough one, since so many hands were involved, but I'm going to provisionally say Alex Ross, Greg Rucka and J.G. Jones, and open it up for corrections; she's based on a character created by Sheldon Moldoff and (possibly) Bob Kane who first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=12952&zoom=4 target=_blank>DETECTIVE COMICS #233</a>. As per S.O.P., she's fighting what I'm guessing is one of Intergang's giant lizard critters.<br /><br />Pg. 11: <br /><br />As we saw in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=274422&zoom=4 target=_blank>52 #1</a>, the Bat-Signal is within viewing range of Montoya's old apartment. <br /><br />Pg. 12: <br /><br />Gehenna is almost certainly not the character by that name who first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=246255&zoom=4 target=_blank>VILLAINS UNITED #5</a>, as entertaining as it is to consider that possibility. The Spectre appears to be using "Gehenna" to mean something like "unending horrors," but that's not quite what it signifies theologically. In Judaism it's where the wicked are punished and purified for a finite or infinite span; it's named after a dump south of Jerusalem where garbage was burned. Even when Jesus uses the term, it generally implies the fires of God's judgement. In other words, pretty much what the Spectre does already. <br /><br />Pg. 13: <br /><br />They made her their leader in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=385919&zoom=4 target=_blank>52 AFTERMATH: CRIME BIBLE: FIVE LESSONS OF BLOOD #5</a>.<br /><br />Pg. 14: <br /><br />Called it on Clarice/the Radiant as the spirit of mercy! <br /><br />Pg. 17:<br /><br />The Radiant is quoting <a href=http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%205:39;&version=9; target=_blank>Matthew 5:39</a>. Nice to know that God's agents like the King James Version best too. <br /><br />Pg. 19:<br /><br />Since basically every Biblical and quasi-Biblical name has already been used for a comics character, there's already a Lilith who first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=23220&zoom=4 target=_blank>TEEN TITANS #25</a>. The "original" Lilith, despite her reputation as Adam's first wife, doesn't quite turn up in the Bible itself, unless you count <a href=http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2034:14;&version=9; target=_blank>Isaiah 34:14</a>, which is pushing it. In <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=385916&zoom=4 target=_blank>CRIME BIBLE #2</a>, though, the sex cult affiliated with the dark faith was Lilith's Daughters, and Lilith figures prominently (as a teacher figure) in the Crime Bible and its faith; the text encoded at the beginning of each chapter of the series appears <a href=http://www.comicbloc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=58825 target=_blank>here</a>. The relevant passage is the ending: "the gods once new now old will see the sign and know the time of their reckoning is come."<br /><br />Pg. 20: <br /><br />Maybe that's what everybody's computers look like after Oracle failed to unplug the Internet. <br /><br />Pg. 22: <br /><br />"And in the days between worlds" etc.: pseudo-Biblical prophecy--I think it's not from any previously seen text, although it might be from the Crime Bible. ("Between worlds," as in after the end of the Fourth World but before the beginning of the Fifth.)<br /><br />Pg. 23:<br /><br />So...Vandal Savage is <i>Cain</i>? Not the one who first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=21991&zoom=4 target=_blank>HOUSE OF MYSTERY #175</a>, who also killed his brother Abel etc. per <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=39657&zoom=4 target=_blank>SWAMP THING #33</a>, but the marked one? And the Spectre gave him his mark? Which looks kind of like a set of scales? <br /><br />Wait a second. Consult <a href=http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%204;&version=9; target=_blank>Genesis 4</a> (no, not <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=230330&zoom=4 target=_blank>GENESIS #4</a>), in which the Lord Himself puts the mark on Cain--and does it to <i>prevent anyone from killing Cain</i>. Also, FC #1 is fairly consistent with the established history of Vandal Savage (he was a caveman from the Blood Tribe who became immortal after exposure to a meteorite); this isn't. Hmm. <br /><br />Pg. 24: <br /><br />Clarice is of course quoting from <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=201822&zoom=4 target=_blank>PICTURE STORIES FROM THE BIBLE: OLD TESTAMENT #3</a> here. I don't think I've ever previously come across the suggestion that the ram was actually Abraham's son. That's a little heterodox, theologically speaking. <br /><br />Pg. 25: <br /><br />Jonah entered the Lord's service in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=33342&zoom=4 target=_blank>JONAH HEX #24</a>. (I'm kidding. It actually happened in <a href=http://www.majorspoilers.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/00UltraBoy/Ultra3.jpg target=_blank>SUPERBOY #98</a>. Although he first appeared on the cover of <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=201820&zoom=4 target=_blank>this issue</a>.)<br /><br />Stacy, who I don't think ever got a last name, was the perma-temp in GOTHAM CENTRAL whose job was turning on the Bat-Signal; <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=216260&zoom=4 target=_blank>GOTHAM CENTRAL #11</a> focused on her, although she appeared earlier too. <br /><br />Pg. 26: <br /><br />Captain Maggie Sawyer, created by John Byrne, first appeared in 1987's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=43062&zoom=4 target=_blank>SUPERMAN #7</a>. <br /><br />Pg. 27: <br /><br />This is the formulation of the Anti-Life Equation that first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=262970&zoom=4 target=_blank>SEVEN SOLDIERS: MISTER MIRACLE #3</a>. <br /><br />Pg. 28: <br /><br />And what would "the same force that spared Libra" be? Answer: <a href=http://www.comicbloc.org/forums/showthread.php?p=1307796 target=_blank>"It's intentionally vague."</a> Although commenter Astro over there notes that, per 2002's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=128721&zoom=4 target=_blank>SPECTRE #19</a>--and that is one <i>freaky</i> cover--the Spectre's not allowed to kill Darkseid.<br /><br />No more new Final Crisis books for another four weeks, it appears--back on the first entry of this blog, I've been updating ship dates for everything. FINAL CRISIS #4, ROGUES' REVENGE #3 and LEGION OF THREE WORLDS #2 have all been bumped from Sep. 17 to Oct. 15; SUBMIT has been bumped from Oct. 1 to Oct. 8, the same day as REVELATIONS #3. So--it might be a busy mid-October! See you thenabouts.Douglas Wolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10691167073493285913noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013594081496330946.post-81679757757147688992008-09-05T21:56:00.000-07:002008-09-06T20:13:22.215-07:00Final Crisis: Rogues' Revenge #2Not a lot to say about this issue, other than "oh wow." Also, having finally gotten to read DC UNIVERSE: LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT, I'm not going to be annotating it here--it doesn't make any direct references to FINAL CRISIS proper, and it can't possibly fit anywhere in the timeline, despite the <a href=http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=156355 target=_blank>original claim</a> that it would be "in-continuity" and "positioned between issues #3 and #4 of FINAL CRISIS." C'est la vie. Let's just call it apocryphal.<br /><br />Pg. 1: <br /><br />The character in panel 3 is Black Manta, created by Bob Haney and Nick Cardy, who first appeared in 1967's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=21246&zoom=4 target=_blank>AQUAMAN #35</a>. The cold thing he did that he's referring to is killing Aquaman's infant son in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=31254&zoom=4 target=_blank>ADVENTURE COMICS #452</a>--foreshadowing the end of this issue.<br /><br />On the left of panel 5 is the Rudy Jones version of the Parasite, created by John Ostrander and Joe Brozowski, who first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=42693&zoom=4 target=_blank>THE FURY OF FIRESTORM #58</a> (in a sequence of events instigated by Darkseid!), based on a character created by Jim Shooter and Al Plastino who first appeared in 1966's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=20227&zoom=4 target=_blank>ACTION COMICS #340</a>. Not sure who the guy on the right is--is it Metallo?<br /><br />Pg. 3:<br /><br />Golden Glider first appeared in 1977's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=31089&zoom=4 target=_blank>FLASH #250</a>, and Chillblaine killed her in 1996's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=58777&zoom=4 target=_blank>FLASH #113</a>. (It's probably worth noting that he had gotten his cold weapons from her, and that she'd been giving guys cold weapons and calling them Chillblaine for a while--in fact, she killed the first one herself in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=50653&zoom=4 target=_blank>FLASH ANNUAL #5</a>. But the Rogues, as previously noted, are prone to self-deception.) <br /><br />Pg. 4:<br /><br />Paul Gambi, created by John Broome and Carmine Infantino, first appeared in 1963's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=18029&zoom=4 target=_blank>FLASH #141</a>. Chill, created by Frank Tieri and Jim Calafiore, first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=383136&zoom=4 target=_blank>GOTHAM UNDERGROUND #4</a>. <br /><br />Pg. 5:<br /><br />Also debuting in GOTHAM UNDERGROUND #4: Weather Witch, Mr. Magic, Mirror Man. Burn first turned up in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=414374&zoom=4 target=_blank>GOTHAM UNDERGROUND #8</a>. <br /><br />Pg. 7: <br /><br />The cosmic treadmill explosion was in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=128232&zoom=4 target=_blank>FLASH #196</a>. [Thanks to Kelson for the correction.]<br /><br />Pg. 9: <br /><br />The introductory dialogue here is one of the occasional signs that this was condensed from a 6x22-page story to a 3x30-page story... <br /><br />Pg. 11:<br /><br />Heat Wave actually went straight twice: once in the early '90s, once in the late '90s, apparently both times under the influence of the Top. <br /><br />Pg. 13: <br /><br />Johns always did write Weather Wizard as a little bit more brainy than the other Rogues.<br /><br />Pg. 15: <br /><br />Sam Scudder (the first Mirror Master) died in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=40941&zoom=4 target=_blank>CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS #10</a>. <br /><br />Pg. 16:<br /><br />We first saw Weather Wizard's kid, Josh Jackam, in 2001's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=104847&zoom=4 target=_blank>FLASH #170</a>. [Thanks for the correction, Kelson.] As we'll see later, he's got his father's eyes.<br /><br />Pg. 17:<br /><br />Yeah, it really wouldn't be a Geoff Johns comic without a little dismemberment, would it? <br /><br />Pg. 19: <br /><br />I wouldn't say the Pied Piper is "the only Rogue left who's on the straight-and-narrow"--what about the second Captain Boomerang and Goldface?<br /><br />Pg. 20:<br /><br />This ties directly into FC #2-3, of course.<br /><br />Pg. 20: <br /><br />For the sake of completeness (and because I don't have a lot of my back issues at hand), anybody know if the nameless Snart-dad first appeared before 2002's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=104859&zoom=4 target=_blank>FLASH #182</a>? I don't think so--and his face was never quite shown in that issue either. <br /><br />Pg. 23: <br /><br />Len did actually cry in FLASH #182. <br /><br />Pg. 27:<br /><br />Anybody know what "the observatory" is? I'm drawing a blank here. [ETA: the consensus is that it's probably Clyde Mardon's laboratory on Big Water Lake, as seen in FLASH #110, which makes sense.]<br /><br />Pg. 29: <br /><br />Can somebody please parse the phrase "they can unlock the door that our great evil has shut"? Interesting, also, that Abra Kadabra and Dr. Alchemy aren't counted among "the Rogues" proper, especially since Mr. Magic was part of the new Rogues. <br /><br />Okay, quick quiz: are Libra's eyes white (as seen in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #111)? Are they blue (as seen in DC UNIVERSE 0)? Are they red (as seen on this page)? <br /><br />Pg. 30: <br /><br />The correct answer is: purple! Or maybe it's some trick of the light that's also changed Josh's hair from brown to black.Douglas Wolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10691167073493285913noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013594081496330946.post-29164764801077961812008-09-03T23:52:00.000-07:002008-09-04T10:27:26.444-07:00Final Crisis: Superman Beyond #1Well. Good to see you all again. I'm here late, but on the other hand I got to read this issue while sitting in the shadow of <a href=http://www.flickr.com/photos/withinreason/2816937898/in/set-72157607048106706/ target=_blank>this structure</a>, so I think it was worth it. As expected, David Uzumeri and his Legion of Super-Observant Commenters <a href=http://www.funnybookbabylon.com/2008/08/28/final-crisis-superman-beyond-1/ target=_blank>got to this issue first</a>, so an awful lot of what appears below is cribbed directly from that site. I make no particular claims for originality. <br /><br />Pg. 1: <br /><br />As Jeff O'Boyle noted in the comments over at Funnybook Babylon, the Dark Monitor's pose here is based on the cover of <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=24857&zoom=4 target=_blank>JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #96</a>. Interesting! Note that Superman is wearing some kind of armor (check out the gauntlets, which are like the ones on the Monitors' "weapon" later this issue), and that his face doesn't quite look like his own, although the cape design is our Kal-El's. (We don't know who's inside the armor, of course, and Tom suggests in the comments that this might be a ZENITH-style switcheroo.)<br /><br />I could swear I've seen the line "what shall we engrave upon your tombstone?" somewhere before, but I can't think of where.<br /><br />This (and the opening of the next two-page spread) are pretty clearly a nod to the old DC splash-page tradition--the way stories would open with an image that would somehow encapsulate the central conflict of the story, then jump back to reveal how we got there. <br /><br />Pp. 2-6: <br /><br />A flashback to FC #3, of course. Scott over at Polite Dissent has <a href=http://politedissent.com/archives/2065 target=_blank>a few things to say</a> about the quasi-medicine on display here. Also, yeah, you'd think they'd have brought in the Purple Ray or some Kilowog-tech or something. <br /><br />Is it me, or is the "recruit the greatest super-champions of the multiverse" business nearly identical to the premise of COUNTDOWN: ARENA? <br /><br />Pg. 7:<br /><br />"Universe designate zero": apparently DC UNIVERSE 0 was named after the <i>place where it's set</i>! The 52 parallel universes are numbered 0 through 51, not 1 through 52... but then what's Earth-1? <br /><br />Pg. 8:<br /><br />"Ultima Thule" basically means <a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultima_Thule target=_blank>more north than north</a>. There's also a <a href=http://everything2.com/node/774704 target=_blank>Henry Wadsworth Longfellow poem</a> by that title, which may be sort of relevant here.<br /><br />The word "ultramenstruum" first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=62561&zoom=4 target=_blank>THE INVISIBLES #22</a> in 1999; until now, I'm pretty sure, it was a <a href=http://www.hapaxlegomenon.com/ target=_blank>hapax legomenon</a>. "The Bleed" was first mentioned in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=61750&zoom=4 target=_blank>STORMWATCH #7</a> in 1998. (Apparently Überfraulein's mention of the bleeding skies in FC #3 really was meant to have the implication of menstruation after all.) "The bleed" is also, of course, the space off the edge of the comics page<br /><br />The phrase "germ-worlds" probably first appeared in Zadel Barnes Gustafson's 1879 poem <a href= http://books.google.com/books?id=x8QYAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA69&dq=%22germ+worlds%22#PPA70,M1 target=_blank>"William Cullen Bryant."</a><br /><br />"4-D vision" is also a callback to THE INVISIBLES, a surprising amount of which is concerned with the question of how to represent a greater-than-three-dimensional construct on a <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=62495&zoom=4 target=_blank>two-dimensional picture plane</a> (like a comic book page); a 3-D comic book makes it easier to represent a four-dimensional construct. But <a href=http://www.english.ufl.edu/imagetext/includes/ill.shtml?1020408 target=_blank>what is the fourth dimension</a>, you ask? It's time, of course; 4-D vision allows one to perceive multiple times simultaneously, instead of a temporal cross-section. <br /><br />Pg. 9:<br /><br />"Cast off! Weigh anchor!": I'm amused by the way Morrison has alien characters speak in totally Earthly metaphors (e.g. "dust for radiation"). <br /><br />As David Uzumeri notes, Übermensch is saying "We will have to accept losses! This machine is about to explode!" We first saw the Dr. Manhattan-ish version of Captain Atom in Nix's drawings in FC #2, pg. 9. And the Captain Marvel we're seeing here is not the DCU (0) one but the one from Earth-5 (a variation on Earth-S), where all the Fawcett characters live in their original incarnations. <br /><br />Pg. 12: <br /><br />Ultraman here--whose "weapons" appear to include a version of Etrigan the Demon and a version of, maybe, Batwoman?--appeared in his initial form in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=18536&zoom=4 target=_blank>JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #29</a> in 1964. Per pg. 18, this version is the one from Morrison's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=203875&zoom=4 target=_blank>JLA: EARTH 2</a>, which was actually not about the Silver Age Earth-Two (or the one Geoff Johns used recently in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=520945&zoom=4 target=_blank>JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA ANNUAL #1</a>) but about an antimatter universe that doesn't seem to be counted among the 52 basic universes. Don't confuse him with the Ultraman from Earth-3's Crime Society of America as seen in <a href= http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=374986&zoom=4 target=_blank>COUNTDOWN PRESENTS THE SEARCH FOR RAY PALMER: CRIME SOCIETY #1</a>, although he is probably the Ultraman who turned up in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=418680&zoom=4 target=_blank>THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #11</a>. <br /><br />Pg. 13: <br /><br />Earth-6 here, first seen for real in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=394096&zoom=4 target=_blank>COUNTDOWN: ARENA #2</a>, has a very familiar kind of New York cityscape, and is going through some kind of <i>Civil War</i>/<i>Secret Invasion</i> mashup. Plus: the guy in armor is secretly a shape-changing alien!<br /><br />Pg. 14: <br /><br />I like this little transtion from the plebeian quasi-Marvel Universe cityscape to the curvy high-tech one in the more brightly-lit world. <br /><br />Earth-51 would appear to be the one from "moving part 51" that had been lost as of FC #1; its entire universe was destroyed in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=407727&zoom=4 target=_blank>COUNTDOWN #14</a>, then reinstated in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=502887&zoom=4 target=_blank>COUNTDOWN #9</a>, then turned into a Kamandi-like mess via the Morticoccus virus, and now... everything's dead again? <br /><br />Pg. 15:<br /><br />Lady Blackhawk and a character Morrison has referred to as <a href=http://www.newsarama.com/comics/080726-comiccon-dcu-guide.html target=_blank>"Doc Fate"</a> are here on Earth-20. Earth-17 appeared very briefly in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=274473&zoom=4 target=_blank>52 #52</a>; it's rather like the old Atomic Knights stories. <br /><br />Pg. 17:<br /><br />A yottabyte is one septillion bytes. The Zillo Valla/Overman scene is as weird as seductions get... <br /><br />Pg. 18: <br /><br />Overman is saying "All these universes vibrate at different frequencies."<br /><br />Captain Allen Adam, the Dr. Manhattan/Captain Atom type from Earth-4 (established in 52 #52 as the Charlton-heroes-via-<i>Watchmen</i> world), is I don't think quite the same as the Earth-4 Captain Atom seen in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=394098&zoom=4 target=_blank>COUNTDOWN: ARENA #4</a>. (There was an albino Dr. Manhattan sort, <a href=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=12229 target=_blank>Doctor Metropolis</a>, who appeared there, according to Keith Champagne.)<br /><br />Pg. 19: <br /><br />And now we get to see Grant Morrison doing his own version of <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=374758&zoom=4 target=_blank>ARCHITECTURE & MORTALITY</a>! This version of Limbo first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=48146&zoom=4 target=_blank>ANIMAL MAN #25</a>--see also the "monkey with a typewriter" business below. In the lower panel, besides Merryman (of the Inferior Five; created by E. Nelson Bridwell and Joe Orlando, first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=20030&zoom=4 target=_blank>SHOWCASE #62</a> in 1966), Chris Eckert and David Uzumeri have identified Nightblade, members of the Alliance, Ace the Bathound, Gunfire, Voiceover, Ballistic, Golem, Geist, Hardhat, Chronos and Private Eyes. <br /><br />Pg. 20: <br /><br />Overman is saying something like "What is that? I can't remember why I made this. The whole business is for the dogs." The broken-off shard from the Rock of Eternity happened in DAY OF VENGEANCE, i.e. it may not have happened to this version of Captain Marvel.<br /><br />I'm betting what the library gate should say (slightly misspelled) is "facilis descensus Averno" (or "Averni"): a line from the Aeneid, basically meaning "the road to evil is easy." <br /><br />Pg. 21: <br /><br />The monkey/infinite pages/infinite content business was referred to in ANIMAL MAN #25, but it goes back <a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infinite_monkey_theorem target=_blank>at least to 1913</a>. Before J.L. Borges wrote "The Library of Babel" in 1941, he wrote an essay called "The Total Library" in 1939 that covered similar territory; the concept also has ties to Borges' "The Aleph," from 1949, and the Book of Destiny that turned up in THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD. <br /><br />Of course, if the Library contains all possible books, it also contains infinite sets of <i>false</i> instructions for repairing the Ultima Thule... <br /><br />Pg. 22:<br /><br />"In the beginning" is how a story with a finite starting point begins; "Previously!" is how an installment in a serial begins. And this is, after all, a serialized multiverse. The "concept to contain the flaw" looks a bit like Metron's chair, doesn't it? Also, emphasizing "intricate" in the final panel is a very Kirby-ish gesture. <br /><br />Pg. 23: <br /><br />"Liiving" is not to be confused with <a href=http://www.headheritage.co.uk/unsung/thebookofseth/1540 target=_blank>Liviiing</a>. The last panel is, as David U. notes, a bit from CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS. <br /><br />Pg. 24: <br /><br />The majestic golden Superman here might be a callback to the conclusion of <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=115908&zoom=4 target=_blank>DC ONE MILLION</a>. I suspect that Superman-as-a-concept is the original "flaw" in "Monitor perfection," the thing that makes possible infinite stories; it's sealed over with the divine golden metal (it's not likely that the golden metal of the time travelers in that totally baffling, apropos-of-nothing scene in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=274448&zoom=4 target=_blank>52 #27</a>, which also involved time being frozen and space between seconds, is related, but I can always hope).<br /><br />Pg. 25:<br /><br />So wait, is the decadent doomed civilization threatened by "loathing and greed beyond measure" and <a href=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVPZzUek4Yo target=_blank>waitin' for a Superman</a> supposed to be comics readership? <br /><br />Pg. 26:<br /><br />"Who knew the day of holocaust would come again!": a callback to the <a href=http://image.milehighcomics.com/istore/images/fullsize/pages/45019795106.96.P1.GIF target=_blank>first page</a> of JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #96 (Jeff O'Boyle pointed this out). <br /><br />Pg. 27: <br /><br />More prophetic language I could swear I've seen before: "ultimate good is ultimate evil," "the thing most despised will save the most beloved." <br /><br />Pg. 29: <br /><br />Overman's cousin must've been the late Überfraulein. "Carriers, destroyers, tankers and explorers": the Carrier from THE AUTHORITY is also part of the Monitor nanotech fleet. <br /><br />Pg. 30: <br /><br />The book contains all possible stories, including, I'd imagine, ones where evil doesn't win in the end... and I would feel much better about that "coming soon" if SUPERMAN BEYOND #2 were actually on the schedule. <br /><br />Still catching up. More to follow...Douglas Wolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10691167073493285913noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013594081496330946.post-57478642523927103642008-08-20T21:03:00.000-07:002008-08-20T22:47:34.107-07:00Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds #1"I can't <i>wait</i> to see someone do annotations on the first issue"--<a href=http://www.newsarama.com/comics/080722-Legion3Worlds.html target=_blank>Geoff Johns</a><br /><br />At your service. Before I start my own annotations, I should note that Michael Grabois over at <a href=http://adventure247.blogspot.com/ target=_blank>The Legion Omnicom</a> has been gearing up to do some <i>scarily</i> complete annotations for this mini (from which I am stealing lots of information)--even before the appearance of this issue, he'd already posted lists of the first appearances and creators of every character in all three incarnations of the Legion. <br /><br />Three incarnations? Right. The Legion of Super-Heroes has three separate continuities: the first set is the stories published between 1958 and 1994, the second ran 1994-2004, and the third is 2004-present. They're sometimes called the "pre-ZH Legion" (ZH being ZERO HOUR, the miniseries that reconfigured the timestream), the "reboot" and the "threeboot." For the purposes of notes on this mini-series, I'm just going to call them L(I), L(II) and L(III) when distinctions are necessary. <br /><br />On top of that, Lo3W builds on "Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes," which ran in ACTION COMICS #858-864, and featured an older version of L(I) that nonetheless hadn't lived through the events published in the LEGION series that ran from 1989 to 1994. "Superman and the Legion," in turn, builds on several Legionnaires' appearance in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=417010&zoom=4 target=_blank>"The Lightning Saga,"</a> in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #8-10 and JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #5-6. And, in JSA #6, Superman refers to the "Legion of Three Worlds" being "one of the Legion's greatest adventures." That title is of course a riff on <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=16418&zoom=4 target=_blank>"Flash of Two Worlds"</a>, the first story to propose the existence of "Earth-Two" (and the source of Libra's headquarters). <br /><br />Confused yet? This story will allegedly be how all that stuff gets un-confused. We'll see. And, for all that, this is a fairly self-explanatory story; in the same interview linked up top, Johns claims that "[y]ou don't need to know who Superboy-Prime is when you read issue #1. You don't need to know who the Legion are, and you don't need to know anything about their world. You don't even need to know who Superman is when you pick up issue #1." Nonetheless, it's got more Easter eggs than a PAAS factory.<br /><br />Also, I'm not noting everybody in every group shot, partly because life is short, and partly because <a href=http://geniusboyfiremelon.blogspot.com/2008/08/final-crisis-legion-of-three-worlds-1.html target=_blank>Timothy Callahan's annotations</a> already did all the heavy lifting there. Also, you should read them because they're funnier than mine.<br /><br />Pg. 1: <br /><br />This is the Time Trapper, created by Edmond Hamilton and John Forte, who first appeared in <a href= http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=18252&zoom=4 target=_blank>ADVENTURE COMICS #318</a> in 1964. (He later retroactively became Time Master, who had appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=14673&zoom=4 target=_blank>WONDER WOMAN #101</a> in 1958. This sort of thing happens a lot when he's around.) "The Legion will live no longer" is a riff on the team's catchphrase, "long live the Legion."<br /><br /><a href=http://www.slate.com/id/2195019/ target=_blank>Flour beetles</a> are actually likely to survive longer than cockroaches, but the point is made. <br /><br />The Time Trapper's headquarters may well be Vanishing Point, the HQ of the Linear Men, which is also on an asteroid and also at the end of time; I don't have visual reference for that on hand, though.<br /><br />Pg. 2:<br /><br />As far as I know, none of these years (or the ones elsewhere in the issue) have specific DCU implications.<br /><br />Smallville is Superman's boyhood home, and this sequence isn't just a parodic replay of Superman's origin, it's a parodic replay of a previous Johns parodic replay--<a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=374477&zoom=4 target=_blank>ACTION COMICS #858</a>, where the hyper-xenophobic Jun (originally "Juun") and Mara first appeared. Their names, I suppose, are also 31st-century equivalents of Jonathan and Martha. Kind of amusing that cup/saucer/utensil design hasn't changed in a thousand years, I guess, but Jun and Mara seem like traditionalists anyway. "Boys and girls" may be a riff on the "Attribute Boy" Legion naming paradigm.<br /><br />Michael Grabois identifies the newscaster as Marella Tao, created by Paul Levitz and Greg LaRoque, who first appeared in 1987's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=43052&zoom=4 target=_blank>LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #36</a>.<br /><br />Pg. 4:<br /><br />Ah, Superman-Prime. (Although is this the first time Superboy has been called by that name in a new DC comic since the <a href=http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6323787.html target=_blank>Superboy lawsuit</a>?) Created by Elliot S! Maggin and Curt Swan, he first appeared--as Superboy-Prime--in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=40603&zoom=4 target=_blank>DC COMICS PRESENTS #87</a> in 1985. That 1985 is significant: Geoff Johns writes him as an <a href=http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6531531.html target=_blank>"evil fanboy"</a> who wants everything to be the way it was when he was reading comics in the mid-'80s... <br /><br />Prime was last seen, I think, in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=408861&zoom=4 target=_blank>COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS #13</a>, destroying moving part 51. Not sure how he got from there to here.<br /><br />Pg. 5: <br /><br />Prime looks rather Li'l Abner in panel 7, doesn't he?<br /><br />The "Welcome to Smallville" sign should, by rights, be in <a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Interlac_Landscape.JPG target=_blank>Interlac</a>, but it was established as being in English in ACTION #858. The sign in the final panel, though, is in Interlac: it says "Superman Museum."<br /><br />Pp. 6-7: <br /><br />The golden statue in the middle is of course a riff on the cover of <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=293&zoom=4 target=_blank>ACTION COMICS #1</a>, with exploding Krypton and the Discovery of the El Child behind it. Left, top row, we see Ma and Pa Kent with little Clark; Clark and Lois on their wedding day in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=59583&zoom=4 target=_blank>SUPERMAN: THE WEDDING ALBUM</a>; Jimmy, Perry and Clark at the Daily Planet offices; Lex Luthor being led away. The second row is an early Joe Shuster-style Superman, the DC One Million version (wait--isn't that still in the far future of this timeline?), the Kingdom Come version, and the <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=250098&zoom=4 target=_blank>TANGENT COMICS: THE SUPERMAN</a> version. Bottom row: Jonathan Kent, Martha Kent, Pete Ross and Lana Lang. Anyone know who that is in the crystal structure? <br /><br />Right, top row: Power Girl, Steel, Lori Lemaris and the seven core members of the Justice League. Middle row: Krypto, Superwoman (as seen in the pre-Crisis <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=36971&zoom=4 target=_blank>DC COMICS PRESENTS ANNUAL #2</a> and <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=39512&zoom=4 target=_blank>#4</a>), some version of Supergirl, and Connor Kent/Superboy. Bottom row: Clark Kent, Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen and Perry White. <br /><br />Pg. 8: <br /><br />"Strange visitor" is a phrase that dates back to the very early days of Superman. Apparently the Jimmy-guide speaks in 21st-century American English. <br /><br />"Hall of 1,000 Olsens" is a riff on <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=21307&zoom=4 target=_blank>JIMMY OLSEN #105</a>--"The World of 1000 Olsens!" In evidence: the Super-Brain Olsen from <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=13726&zoom=4 target=_blank>JIMMY OLSEN #22</a>, the Elastic Lad incarnation of Jimmy who first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=15078&zoom=4 target=_blank>JIMMY OLSEN #37</a>, Jupiter Jimmy from <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=14682&zoom=4 target=_blank>JIMMY OLSEN #32</a>, the Wolf-Man of Metropolis from <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=15607&zoom=4 target=_blank>JIMMY OLSEN #44</a>, the Giant Turtle Man from <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=16305&zoom=4 target=_blank>JIMMY OLSEN #53</a>, the Human Octopus from <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=15418&zoom=4 target=_blank>JIMMY OLSEN #41</a>, the Human Flame-Thrower from <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=14782&zoom=4 target=_blank>JIMMY OLSEN #33</a>, the Human Porcupine from <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=17329&zoom=4 target=_blank>JIMMY OLSEN #65</a>, the Fat Boy of Metropolis from <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=16019&zoom=4 target=_blank>JIMMY OLSEN #49</a>, Jimmy the Gorilla Reporter from <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=13851&zoom=4 target=_blank>JIMMY OLSEN #24</a> although the cover of its reprint in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=22415&zoom=4 target=_blank>JIMMY OLSEN #116</a> is funnier, and... who else? Anyone recognize the chicken-footed one or the tornado-like one?<br /><br />Pg. 9: <br /><br />The caped figures are Nightwing and Flamebird, from <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=17443&zoom=4 target=_blank>SUPERMAN #158</a> and many times thereafter, although, as Jimmy indicates, that's now out of continuity. Ow. <br /><br />Interlac in Panel 2: "Olsen Photo..." In panel 8, the portrait gallery says "Portrait Ga...," and below the Supermans in the case: "...ster," "Boring," "Swan," "Garcia-Lopez," "...ne," and "L...feld." Those Supermans are drawn in approximations of the styles of Joe Shuster, Wayne Boring, Curt Swan, Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez, John Byrne--although mostly obscured--and... could the one where almost all you can see is feet be dedicated to <a href=http://clamnuts.com/rants/general/rob-liefeld-cant-draw-feet/ target=blank>Rob Liefeld</a>? [ETA: I misread it: it's actually "H... feld," a tribute to <a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Hirschfeld target=_blank>Al Hirschfeld</a>, apparently inserted by inker Scott Koblish: there is a "Nina" on each foot. Thanks to Michael for catching it...] Below the left figure, "Bu..."; below the right figure, "Pérez."<br /><br />Pg. 10:<br /><br />Panel 2: the Interlac does indeed say "...hantom Zone" and "on loan."<br /><br />Panel 3: L(I), in the incarnation that appeared in "Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes." <br /><br />R.J. Brande first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=20467&zoom=4 target=_blank>ADVENTURE COMICS #350</a>, by E. Nelson Bridwell and Curt Swan, referred to only as "the richest man in the universe"; the story of his attempted assassination (and the beginning of the Legion) appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=21920&zoom=4 target=_blank>SUPERBOY #147</a>, a few years later. Leland McCauley (only two Cs!) first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=22286&zoom=4 target=_blank>ADVENTURE COMICS #374</a>.<br /><br />Panel 7: This is the Legion as they appeared in the late '80s, before the "five years later" period. Which segues nicely into reader Joe G.'s question: "Is 'five years later' no longer in continuity? When in Legion continuity (by which I mean assuming 5YL is tossed out) does 'The Lightning Saga' start? When are these Legionnaires from? I guess the Levitz Baxter-paper run?" Glad you asked, Joe G.! I have no idea what the answer is. In <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=524135&zoom=4 target=_blank>ACTION COMICS #864</a>, Batman notes that this Lightning Lad was the one he'd met in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=31609&zoom=4 target=_blank>JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #148</a>--as opposed to the L(II) version from THE FINAL NIGHT and the L(III) version from Waid/Pérez's THE BRAVE & THE BOLD. On the other hand, supposedly "every Legionnaire to have ever existed" is going to appear in this story. Which means that once we see, e.g., Kent Shakespeare and Laurel Gand, things may become clearer. See also the note on Karate Kid II, pg. 22 below.<br /><br />My best guess right now is that the three Legions are from parallel universes, but the Johnsverse version, the 5YL version, and the original Jim Shooter "Adult Legion" story from <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=20776&zoom=4 target=_blank>ADVENTURE COMICS #354</a> (which incidentally includes an offhanded reference to Dr. Light!) and <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=20866&zoom=4 target=_blank>#355</a> are all alternate timelines from a single universe. But who knows? Any speculation is welcome.<br /><br />Pg. 11: <br /><br />Panel 1: Steel's hammer, Superboy's jacket, the Guardian's shield, various varieties of Kryptonite.<br /><br />Panel 2: Gaston Dominguez-Letelier co-owns Meltdown Comics in Hollywood. Interlac: "...olitude." The exhibit is the key to the Fortress of Solitude, and I think that's Dubbilex in the lower left-hand corner.<br /><br />Panel 7: He's looking past the Cyborg, Toyman, and... is that the Psycho-Pirate?<br /><br />Pg. 12: <br /><br />That "parallel Earth long dead" is <a href=http://www.longstoryshortpier.com/2008/07/07/always-already target=_blank><i>our</i> world</a>! <br /><br />The fight with the Titans happened in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=277962&zoom=4 target=_blank>TEEN TITANS #32</a> in 2006; he actually killed Connor Kent in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=256146&zoom=4 target=_blank>INFINITE CRISIS #6</a>; the fight with Sodam Yat happened in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=374994&zoom=4 target=_blank>GREEN LANTERN CORPS #18</a>. Prime is considerably tougher than Jimmy is letting on here. And Neutron is, really, fairly minor, although I'll take this opportunity to link to the cover of his first appearance, <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=35770&zoom=4 target=_blank>ACTION COMICS #525</a>, by Marv Wolfman and Joe Staton.<br /><br />Pg. 13: <br /><br />The diorama is Connor/Superboy out in front of the Titans. <br /><br />Pg. 14: <br /><br />Helmets: "SPD." Vests: "Police." Since when is freezing-breath one of Prime's powers?<br /><br />Pg. 15: <br /><br />Panel 3 includes insets of Comet the Super-Horse, Mary Marvel or Captain Marvel's cape, and some stuff I don't recognize. <br /><br />Pg. 16: <br /><br />Lightning Lad, Cosmic Boy and Saturn Girl were all created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino, and debuted in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=14358&zoom=4 target=_blank>ADVENTURE COMICS #247</a>. <br /><br />Pg. 17: <br /><br />Interlac in panel 9: "Saturn." <br /><br />Pg. 18: <br /><br />This sequence, with Mon-El being yanked out of the Phantom Zone, is sort of a recurring motif in Legion comics. In current continuity, he first went into the Phantom Zone in <a href= http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=337941&zoom=4 target=_blank>ACTION COMICS ANNUAL #10</a>, and has spent a lot of time in there; as of "Superman and the Legion," he's been re-banished to the Phantom Zone by the Justice League of Earth. <br /><br />Phantom Girl, created by Jerry Siegel and Jim Mooney, first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=16220&zoom=4 target=_blank>ACTION COMICS #276</a>. Lightning Lass, created by Edmond Hamilton and John Forte, first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=17630&zoom=4 target=_blank>ADVENTURE COMICS #308</a>. Shadow Lass, created by Jim Shooter and Curt Swan, first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=21624&zoom=4 target=_blank>ADVENTURE COMICS #365</a>. <br /><br />General Zod, created by Robert Bernstein and George Papp, first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=16207&zoom=4 target=_blank>ADVENTURE COMICS #283</a>. Ursa first appeared in the 1978 SUPERMAN movie, although she didn't appear in comics until <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=301487&zoom=4 target=_blank>ACTION COMICS #845</a> in 2006. <br /><br />Pg. 19:<br /><br />Mon-El, created by Robert Bernstein and George Papp, first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=16286&zoom=4 target=_blank>SUPERBOY #89</a>. Brainiac 5, created by Jerry Siegel and Jim Mooney, also first appeared in ACTION COMICS #276. <br /><br />Pg. 21: <br /><br />Sun Boy, created by Jerry Siegel and Jim Mooney, was yet another ACTION COMICS #276 debut. Polar Boy, created by Edmond Hamilton, Buddy La Vigne and John Forte, first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=17531&zoom=4 target=_blank>ADVENTURE COMICS #306</a>. <br /><br />The structure in panel 6 is a building, loosely based on the Legion's original "clubhouse," that appeared in "Superman and the Legion."<br /><br />Pg. 22:<br /><br />Panel 3: Karate Kid II, here, was created by Paul Levitz and Steve Lightle, and first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=40287&zoom=4 target=_blank>LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #13</a>. But he didn't actually join the Legion until the Five-Year Gap period, which indicates that the Lo3W history diverges sometime after that. <br /><br />Panel 7: Ah, Dr. Gym'll. Created by Paul Levitz and Pat Broderick, he first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=36074&zoom=4 target=_blank>LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #284</a> in 1980.<br /><br />Panel 8: Taltar is the home world of Spider-Girl (!), although I don't know if Taltarians have previously been established as having green skin. (The Taltarian in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=21827&zoom=4 target=_blank>ADVENTURE COMICS #368</a> doesn't, anyway, which is not to say that others don't.)<br /><br />Panel 11: Nullport appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=36166&zoom=4 target=_blank>LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #285</a>.<br /><br />Panel 12: Kaffar appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=19937&zoom=4 target=_blank>ADVENTURE COMICS #343</a>. Durla is a can of worms, as we'll see. <br /><br />Pg. 24: <br /><br />Takron-Galtos first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=21160&zoom=4 target=_blank>ADVENTURE COMICS #359</a>; it was destroyed in 1986's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=40951&zoom=4 target=_blank>LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #18</a>. Hence, it's been rebuilt.<br /><br /><br />Pg. 26: <br /><br />Lightning Lord, Saturn Queen and Cosmic King, created by Jerry Siegel and Curt Swan, first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=16384&zoom=4 target=_blank>SUPERMAN #147</a> in 1961. They all turned up relatively recently in an alternate-future-history story in SUPERMAN/BATMAN #14-18.<br /><br />Just as Superboy inspired the LSH, Prime inspired the LSV...<br /><br />"A dark being whose name was never spoken": Interesting. Cain? Darkseid? <br /><br />Pg. 27: <br /><br />Uh, Earthgov has kind of made "the American way" as a phrase obsolete, hasn't it? <br /><br />Pg. 29: <br /><br />As we all know, when you kill a Skrull, they turn back to their--Durlan. Durlan, sorry. R.J. Brande, by the way, was initially revealed as a Durlan in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=35171&zoom=4 target=_blank>SECRETS OF THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #3</a>, back in 1981. (Which also revealed that he was indeed Chameleon Boy's father.)<br /><br />Pg. 31: <br /><br />It's time for a big round of the "begats." Colossal Boy, created by Otto Binder and Wayne Boring, first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=15750&zoom=4 target=_blank>ACTION COMICS #267</a>, and the same goes for Chameleon Boy. Night Girl, created by Edmond Hamilton and John Forte, first appeared in ADVENTURE COMICS #306; Hamilton and Forte also created Element Lad (<a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=17582&zoom=4 target=_blank>ADVENTURE COMICS #307</a>), Dream Girl (<a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=18203&zoom=4 target=_blank>ADVENTURE COMICS #317</a>) and Timber Wolf (<a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=18771&zoom=4 target=_blank>ADVENTURE COMICS #327</a>). Shrinking Violet: Siegel, Mooney, ACTION #276 again. Invisible Kid II, created by Paul Levitz and Keith Giffen, first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=35936&zoom=4 target=_blank>LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES ANNUAL #1</a>. Ultra Boy, created by Jerry Siegel and Curt Swan, first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=17030&zoom=4 target=_blank>SUPERBOY #98</a>. Blok, created by Gerry Conway and Joe Staton, first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=33503&zoom=4 target=_blank>SUPERBOY #253</a>. Dawnstar, created by Paul Levitz and Mike Grell, first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=30919&zoom=4 target=_blank>SUPERBOY #226</a>. Wildfire, created by Cary Bates and Dave Cockrum, first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=26291&zoom=4 target=_blank>SUPERBOY #195</a>. <br /><br />Also on the screen in the last couple of panels: the White Witch, Duo Damsel, Bouncing Boy... is that Rond Vidar?... Quislet... Sensor Girl/Projectra?... Tellus and Tyroc. <br /><br />Pg. 33: <br /><br />Superman got the "ripcord" ring in ACTION #864.<br /><br />Pg. 34: <br /><br />Prime killed one of the Guardians in <a href= http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=381880&zoom=4 target=_blank>GREEN LANTERN #25</a>. <br /><br />Pp. 35-36: <br /><br />The Legion on the left is L(II); the one on the right is L(III). And no, I'm not going to name all the characters this time. I note, though, that L(III) includes Supergirl in the same outfit she's wearing on pg. 7. And the proposed redemption of Prime is an interesting parallel to the proposed redemption of Inertia over in ROGUES' REVENGE. <br /><br />Then there's the matter of "a long time ago" (perhaps that was the first "Legion of Three Worlds" adventure), and "the first Crisis." Wasn't Psycho-Pirate the only one who remembered CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS? I'm sure this has been tweaked over the years; can anybody explain it? In "The Lightning Saga," Superman also notes "the last time I saw [the Legion] was after the first Crisis, and they never came back." Maybe he means 1987's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=43196&zoom=4 target=_blank>SUPERMAN #8</a>?<br /><br />*****<br /><br />Bits of Non-Legionnaire Business: There are three, count 'em, three Final Crisis-related titles being published next week: ROGUES' REVENGE #2, SUPERMAN BEYOND #1 (there is still no sign of a #2 in the solicitations for November; perhaps it's been abridged back to a one-shot?) and DC UNIVERSE: LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT. Unfortunately, I'm not going to be able to post anything here until the following week (when there are <i>no</i> FC-related titles scheduled--and here I was hoping for a roughly one-a-week pace), since I will be on my <a href=http://www.burningman.com/ target=_blank>annual vacation</a>, very far away from the Internet (and comic book stores). In the meantime, I bet David Uzumeri over at <a href=http://www.funnybookbabylon.com/ target=_blank>Funnybook Babylon</a> will have something interesting to say about SUPERMAN BEYOND, at least. See you in September.Douglas Wolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10691167073493285913noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013594081496330946.post-55303396613883162802008-08-13T16:28:00.000-07:002008-08-16T18:52:59.333-07:00Final Crisis: Revelations #1By way of transition, let's start out with a <a href=https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK1gYhyphenhyphen9WxDJZD_VvbVPkiG4I0K9s5mLsUuLgVgnXxl2jRO7cHpZdEh3mTRY4Iq05I3qf94YAmOuTv2HUw_lgJjtvjd-fXkyq2tCI03SujsQHkiNVI0ZZCCszT6EvE7GmX4xbzuGVhFXg/s1600-h/IMG_0002.jpg target=_blank>quote from Darkseid</a> in FOREVER PEOPLE #3, the source of the original Justifiers: "I like you, Glorious Godfrey! You're a shallow, precious child--the Revelationist, happy with the sweeping sound of words! But I am the Revelation! The tiger-force at the core of all things! When you cry out in your dreams--it is Darkseid that you see!"<br /><br />I have to confess I'm disappointed that the Powers That Be ended up going with "Revelations" instead of "Revelation" for this--what people <i>think</i> the book of the New Testament is called, rather than what it actually <i>is</i> called. And now it shares a foreboding subhead with <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=278331&zoom=4 target=_blank>THE PHOENIX RESURRECTION: REVELATIONS</a>, <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=375173&zoom=4 target=_blank>SOLAR, MAN OF THE ATOM: REVELATIONS</a> and the uncomfortably recent <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=404219&zoom=4 target=_blank>WILDSTORM: REVELATIONS</a>. (The only American comic that's ever gotten it right, as far as I can tell, is <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=89805&zoom=4 target=_blank>WOLVERINE/THE PUNISHER: REVELATION</a>.) <br /><br />Pg. 1:<br /><br />Great opening line. The scene here is the memorial statues of Superman and Superboy in Metropolis that were unveiled in 52 #1; what's being broadcast is Superman's funeral oration for J'onn J'onzz from FC #2. "Homicide: we work for God" is probably most familiar as a line from a 1993 episode of <i>Homicide: Life on the Street</i>. <br /><br />Pp. 2-3:<br /><br />We seem to have moved away from Metropolis, since the rain raineth <a href=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C01E1DD1039F930A35750C0A963948260 target=_blank>chiefly on the just</a>. Arthur is, of course, revising his involvement upwards. And he has more specific tastes in his victims than we ever knew: check out the oversized bracelets on "Donna."<br /><br />The implication is that Light's party is happening at the same time as, or immediately after, the memorial service, but Light is still around in Libra's entourage as of the scene after the funeral in FC #2. Maybe he's just gone on a multi-day bender. (ETA: The solicitation for #4 mentions "a Justifier siege," so that issue apparently happens after FC #3.)<br /><br />It's worth mentioning that Dr. Light hasn't always been Mr. Rapey-Rape--I don't think that was part of his profile until IDENTITY CRISIS, actually. For a long time, the deal with him was that he had no particular arch-enemy: he got his ass handed to him by everybody in turn, first by the <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=16970&zoom=4 target=_blank>Justice League</a>, then <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=17803&zoom=4 target=_blank>the Atom</a>, then <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=18795&zoom=4 target=_blank>Green Lantern</a> (although now I have to wonder if a "Missouri mule" would be some kind of sicko sexual reference), then <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=21027&zoom=4 target=_blank>the Flash</a> (on one of those famously wide Central City sidewalks), and eventually <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=24624&zoom=4 target=_blank>Superman and Batman together</a>, <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=31282&zoom=4 target=_blank>Superman on his own</a>, <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=33099&zoom=4 target=_blank>Batman with Supergirl</a>, <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=34598&zoom=4 target=_blank>Aquaman</a>, Teen Titans both <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=30397&zoom=4 target=_blank>old</a> and <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=35019&zoom=4 target=_blank>new</a> (he's totally checking out Starfire's butt there, the bastard)... the punch line to all this was a story I still remember from <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=44400&zoom=4 target=_blank>FLASH #12</a> in 1988, in which he gets taken down by the children of Little Boy Blue & the Blue Boys. <br /><br />Pp. 4-5: <br /><br />Well, this one's been a long time coming. (And, of course, now Arthur's revising his involvement downwards. Weasel.) The out-out-brief-candle bit is another example of the Spectre's fondness for <a href=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49paDT5sbmw target=_blank>punishments that fit crimes</a>; Dr. Light has been given the same weakness that J'onn had... <br /><br />But, if you'll forgive a bit more Dr. Light biography: he is well familiar with the DCU afterlife's revolving door, because this is in fact the <i>fourth</i> time he's died. A Parademon killed him in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=47158&zoom=4 target=_blank>SUICIDE SQUAD #36</a>, which you'd think would have taught him not to mess with Apokolips; having gone to Hell, he was resurrected three times (and killed twice more) in the course of <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=49459&zoom=4 target=_blank>SUICIDE SQUAD #52</a>.<br /><br />Pg. 7: <br /><br />St. Faustino (and his friend St. Giovita) are the patron saints of Brescia, Italy; Faustino was a 15th century martyr who's often considered the patron saint of singles, too. <br /><br />I don't think Dr. Tochioka has appeared before. <br /><br />Pg. 8: <br /><br />I also couldn't tell you who Sister Clarice is (or, uh, was). But one important Clarice in the Spectre's life was Jim Corrigan's fiancée Clarice Winston; the Spectre had been keeping her alive for a long time, and severed her lifeline in 1995's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=77979&zoom=4 target=_blank>SPECTRE #30</a>. Also, thinking of "Clarice" and "Spectre" together led me to think of the author <a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarice_Lispector target=_blank>Clarice Lispector</a>. <br /><br />Pg. 9: <br /><br />Martyn Van Wyck was Effigy, the flame-based villain who helped kill the Martian Manhunter in FC #1. First Cris snuffs the candle, then he snuffs the wick...<br /><br />Pg. 10: <br /><br />I really wish Cris would avoid <a href=http://52-pickup.blogspot.com/2006/10/week-25-sudden-return-of-unreliable.html target=_blank>conflating the concepts of crime and sin</a>. (Crimes are committed against secular laws, sins against divine laws. Jaywalking is a crime; violating the Sabbath is a sin; murder is both.)<br /><br />Effigy burned the "Hollywood" sign in, I think, 1999's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=62773&zoom=4 target=_blank>GREEN LANTERN #113</a>.<br /><br />Pg. 11: <br /><br />Montoya became the leader of the Order of the Stone at the end of what I prefer to think of as THE QUESTION: FIVE LESSONS OF BLOOD (a.k.a. the CRIME BIBLE miniseries, which led out of the "crime religion" plot of 52). <br /><br />Pg. 17: <br /><br />The Hangmen--Killshot, Shock Trauma, Provoke, Stranglehold and Breathtaker--were created by Jay Faerber and Paul Pelletier, and first appeared in 2000's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=88512&zoom=4 target=_blank>THE TITANS #21</a>. They were <a href=http://absorbascon.blogspot.com/2005/07/character-donations-39-43.html target=_blank>roundly mocked</a> by Scipio in 2005, and apparently killed by an angry mob under the direction of Dr. Psycho in 2006's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=290827&zoom=4 target=_blank>MANHUNTER #21</a>.<br /><br />Pg. 19: <br /><br />How many mortal shells <i>has</i> the Spectre worn? Was there anyone before Jim Corrigan? Anyone know? <br /><br />Pg. 20: <br /><br />You know, killing off characters loses something of its dramatic impact when they were already dead last time we saw them. <br /><br />Pg. 23:<br /><br />I know I've been crying wolf about this particular artifact a lot in the course of these notes, but I'm going to guess once again that what we're seeing here is the <a href=http://ourworld.cs.com/argentprime/spear.htm target=_blank>Spear of Destiny</a>, which was introduced to the DC Universe in 1977's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=30645&zoom=4 target=_blank>WEIRD WAR TALES #50</a>, by Steve Englehart, Dick Ayers and Alfredo Alcala. "In the ocean off the coast of England" isn't something I'd previously imagined as a likely spot for the Spear, seeing as how the last time it popped up it had been hurled into the sun; is there a story I missed? [ETA: Yes there is. Commenter narm00 points out that the Spear ended up in the ocean in JSA CLASSIFIED #8-9.]<br /><br />The business with the "First" etc. is the standard invocations of the Crime Cult. The First is Cain (although more the Biblical Cain than the keeper-of-the-House-of-Mystery Cain, although that house appeared in 52); the Red Rock is not actually named in <a href=http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%204&version=9; target=_blank>Genesis 4</a>, although it's semi-traditional that Cain killed Abel with a rock. Commenter Ragtime points out that red + rage could be cues toward "Rage of the Red Lanterns."<br /><br />Pg. 26:<br /><br />Cris, as the Spectre, killed his son (who had killed the crooked cop, coincidentally named Jim Corrigan, who had killed <i>him</i>) in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=295103&zoom=4 target=_blank>CRISIS AFTERMATH: THE SPECTRE #3</a>--a story that, as Rucka has <a href=http://www.vicsage.com/wp/interviews/conversation-with-greg-rucka-part-4-of-5/ target=_blank>noted</a>, doesn't exactly echo <a href=http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2022;&version=9; target=_blank>Genesis 22</a>. Which leads Cris to echo <a href=http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2027&version=9; target=_blank>Matthew 27:46</a> here. <br /><br />The "mercy/vengeance" thing that's being batted around this issue, in combination with the reference to the "Angel of Mercy" in that interview and Rucka's mentioning a <a href=http://www.newsarama.com/comics/080721-RevelationsA.html target=_blank>new character</a> who'll show up in #2, makes me wonder if the mysterious Clarice might not turn out to be a Spirit of Mercy of some kind. <br /><br />(ETA: The solicitation for #4 mentions a character called Radiant; the light-vs.-shadow implications of that name w/r/t "Spectre" makes me think such a character might be something along those lines, too. DC already has a <a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Radiant target=_blank>different character called the Radiant</a>, but that's never stopped anyone before.)<br /><br />The DCU's Hell, of course, has its own problems right now--cf. REIGN IN HELL. <br /><br />Pg. 30: <br /><br />Hey, it's the old GOTHAM CENTRAL team back together!Douglas Wolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10691167073493285913noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013594081496330946.post-81847801150717200162008-08-06T18:13:00.000-07:002008-08-16T10:21:13.792-07:00Final Crisis #3Pg. 1: <br /><br />Frankenstein! This incarnation of the character first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=262964&zoom=4 target=_blank>SEVEN SOLDIERS: FRANKENSTEIN #1</a>, created by Grant Morrison and Doug Mahnke; besides the obvious Mary Shelley source, the first version of the Frankenstein monster to appear in a DC comic was in <a href= http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=6736&zoom=4 target=_blank>DETECTIVE COMICS #135</a>, back in 1948.<br /><br />S.H.A.D.E., the Super Human Advanced Defence Executive, first appeared in <a href= http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=262966&zoom=4 target=_blank>SEVEN SOLDIERS: FRANKENSTEIN #3</a>. <br /><br />Apparently Darkseid has managed to burn out Puff Daddy's body.<br /><br />Pg. 2:<br /><br />In keeping with DCU New York's being full of planned-but-not-yet-executed architectural projects from our world, the building Überfraulein is crashing through here is <a href=http://www.wtc.com/media/images/s/tower2-new-renderings target=_blank>200 Greenwich Street</a>.<br /><br />Pg. 3:<br /><br />"Know evil": the bit with the <a href=http://www.worldprayers.org/frameit.cgi?/archive/prayers/meditations/the_moving_finger_writes.html target=_blank>moving finger writing</a> is similar to the way the mysterious hand used to write messages on the Source Wall. This time, though, the digit in question is more... digital. (In the comments, Renegade Photography also notes the should've-been-obvious <a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_writing_on_the_wall target=_blank>Biblical allusion</a>.)<br /><br />Father Time here is the version we saw in FRANKENSTEIN (who had his face ripped off by Black Adam during World War III II), not the reborn version(s) we saw in UNCLE SAM AND THE FREEDOM FIGHTERS. Curious. <br /><br />Taleb is Taleb Beni Khalid, the Black King of Checkmate, created by Greg Rucka and Jesus Saiz; he first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=290619&zoom=4 target=_blank>CHECKMATE #1</a> in 2006. <br /><br />I'm guessing what they found is the Spear of Destiny, not the Ark of the Covenant, but that doesn't stop Taleb from making a "Raiders of the Lost Ark" joke. (You know, that movie <a href=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=17413 target=_blank>Philip Tan thinks is nothing special</a>... amusingly, an actor named Philip Tan appeared in "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom"...)<br /><br />Down in the comments, Matt/Kyle makes the excellent point that the Question's involvement with S.H.A.D.E. could be a nod toward the faceless Global Peace Agency operatives from Jack Kirby's OMAC.<br /><br />Pg. 4: <br /><br />You'd think, given the extra week this issue took for production stuff, somebody could've fixed the computer-font problems here. Which is to say: this isn't "berfraulein," it's gotta be "Überfraulein"--the Nazi Supergirl. What she's saying, translated from German, is "No. It's the... the bleeding heavens. Hell... is... is here." Which is probably a reference to the red skies as the Bleed from THE AUTHORITY, if that <a href=http://www.newsarama.com/comics/080721-MorrisonFC02.html target=_blank>recent Morrison interview</a> is any indication. Also, Chris Eckert unpacks the run-up to "Nazi superheroes from Earth-10" <a href=http://www.funnybookbabylon.com/2008/08/08/downcounting-backwards-overman/#more-1027 target=_blank>over at Funnybook Babylon</a>.<br /><br />Pg. 5: <br /><br />Calvin "Cave" Carson and his team (Bulldozer Smith, Christie Madison and Johnny Blake), created by France Herron and Bruno Premiani, first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=15755&zoom=4 target=_blank>THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #31</a> in 1960. The "cave art" is the Metron design/sigil, and doesn't it look like the scales of justice too? In fact, since the "director's cut" of FC #1 notes that the Anthro sequence happens in what is now New York (so the Statue of Liberty bit is a time fluctuation, not time-and-space), this might well be the version of it we saw Anthro drawing near the end of #1.<br /><br />Nix is about to get recruited by Zillo Valla, one of his old Monitor comrades; we'll see her again on pg. 13.<br /><br />Pg. 6: <br /><br />The woman with gray hair is Jay's wife Joan Garrick, created by Gardner Fox and Harry Lampert, who first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=615&zoom=4 target=_blank>FLASH COMICS #1</a> in 1940. <br /><br />Pp. 8-9:<br /><br />"Red-shifting toward the speed of light": This is almost certainly a reference to the relativistic Doppler effect and an allusion to the red/black color scheme, but wouldn't it be great if it had something to do with the Khunds from <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=93316&zoom=4 target=_blank>SUPERBOY AND THE RAVERS</a>?<br /><br />I totally love the line "it's a little-known fact that death can't travel faster than the speed of light."<br /><br />Pg. 10: <br /><br />Oh hey, it's the <a href=http://en.dcdatabaseproject.com/Hall_of_Doom target=_blank>Hall of Doom</a>! (But why have Libra and crew relocated here from the community center/strip club? Per Dwayne McDuffie's Injustice League storyline in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA, the Hall is located in Florida swampland, which is quite a commute from Central/Keystone City.)<br /><br />The helmet is a variation on the one that Glorious Godfrey's Justifiers wore in <a href= http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=24273&zoom=4 target=_blank>FOREVER PEOPLE #3</a>. The Justifiers aren't named here until the flyer on the last page, but it's clear that's what they are.<br /><br />One of Luthor's bodyguards may be Mercy Graves (created by Bruce Timm and Paul Dini for <i>Superman: The Animated Series</i>; first appeared in comics in <a href= http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=63556&zoom=4 target=_blank>CATWOMAN #74</a> in 1999). (Or maybe not; E points out in the comments that they've had a falling out in INFINITY INC.) Anyone recognize the other one?<br /><br />Pg. 11:<br /><br />See Glorious Godfrey's banner in FOREVER PEOPLE #3: "Judge others! Enslave others! Kill others! Anti-Life will give you the right!"<br /><br />I'm still wondering where ROGUES' REVENGE fits into this timeline: when does Luthor start "eating out of [Libra's] hand"? There's only a sub-24-hour window when that might have happened before the transformation of the world, and you'd think that telling Luthor to "renounce science" would be the very best way to tick him off.<br /><br />Pg. 12: <br /><br />I'm pretty sure a Metropolis Memorial Hospital has only previously appeared in fan-fiction. <br /><br />Dirk Armstrong is a conservative opinion columnist for the Daily Planet, who first appeared in 1996 in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=59301&zoom=4 target=_blank>SUPERMAN: THE MAN OF TOMORROW #6</a>. <br /><br />Jimmy knew that Clark is Superman as of a few issues into COUNTDOWN, right? Has anything reversed that?<br /><br />Pg. 14: <br /><br />The Celestials, created by Jack Kirby, first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=30016&zoom=4 target=_blank>THE ETERNALS #1</a>--no, wait. <br /><br />Pg. 15:<br /><br />Hey, Black Lightning finally gets a speaking part! So now I get to mention that he was created by Tony Isabella and Trevor Von Eeden, and first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=30904&zoom=4 target=_blank>BLACK LIGHTNING #1</a> in 1977. <br /><br />The All-Star Squadron first appeared in 1981's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=35536&zoom=4 target=_blank>JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #193</a>, but I'm pretty sure this is the first we've heard of Article X. I thought FDR assembled the A-SS the way all subsequent super-teams have been assembled: by <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=35606&zoom=4 target=_blank>spreading out a bunch of photographs on a tabletop</a>.<br /><br />Pg. 16: <br /><br />Oracle, as Barbara Gordon/Batgirl, was created by Gardner Fox and Carmine Infantino, and first appeared in 1967's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=20693&zoom=4 target=_blank>DETECTIVE COMICS #359</a>. She became Oracle in 1989's <a href= http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=45712&zoom=4 target=_blank>SUICIDE SQUAD #23</a>, by John Ostrander and Luke McDonnell. As for the mysterious new Aquaman... he's mysterious. But perhaps he's the one who turned up in REQUIEM. (The original version, created by Mort Weisinger and Paul Norris, first appeared in 1941 in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=1751&zoom=4 target=_blank>MORE FUN COMICS #73</a>.) Is the seahorse he's riding Storm?<br /><br />Ah, <i>here's</i> Mr. Tawky Tawny, created by Otto Binder and C.C. Beck, who first appeared in 1947's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=6327&zoom=4 target=_blank>CAPTAIN MARVEL ADVENTURES #79</a>. I know of no Marvel Family story involving "tiger tea"; maybe he's thinking of <a href=http://home.earthlink.net/~copaceticcomicsco/KrazyKatTigerTea.html target=_blank>this</a>? (And can someone please document his jet pack? That would make me happy.)<br /><br />Freddy used to be Captain Marvel Jr. (created by Ed Herron and Mac Raboy; first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=1825&zoom=4 targe=_blank>WHIZ COMICS #25</a> in 1941) and is now going by Shazam (thanks to DCUboy for the correction). "Billy's gone": well, actually Billy Batson, the original Captain Marvel, is occupying the old job of the wizard Shazam now, per THE TRIALS OF SHAZAM! The "change to somebody stronger than me... and never come back" routine really is amazingly reminiscent of the Kid Miracleman business, isn't it? And is his magic word "Shazam" or "Captain Marvel" these days? (If it's the latter, would that be Mary's lips in the inset?)<br /><br />Pg. 17:<br /><br />Wait, so they need to round up all the superheroes they can in a hurry... so they send a <i>printed</i> draft notice? In the <i>mail</i>? Nightwing got practically every superhero in the DCU off-planet in about 20 minutes in THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD two weeks ago... <br /><br />There have been a... whole lot of variations on Supergirl over the years--the <a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supergirl target=_blank>Wikipedia page on her</a> does a decent job of untangling the Kara Zor-El - Matrix - Linda Danvers - oh whoops we meant Kara Zor-El after all mess. For brevity's sake, let's just say that she was created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino and first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=14999&zoom=4 target=_blank>ACTION COMICS #252</a> in 1969, and that this version of the character first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=209296&zoom=4 target=_blank>SUPERMAN/BATMAN #8</a> in 2004. (The Linda Danvers version turned up in <a href= http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=535996&zoom=4 target=_blank>REIGN IN HELL #1</a> last week.)<br /><br />Morrison has mentioned that his take on Supergirl was inspired by Jessica Abel and Dylan Horrocks' Supergirl story, "The Clubhouse of Solitude," in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=355001&zoom=4 target=_blank>BIZARRO COMICS</a>, which features Mary Marvel in a very different sort of role from the one she has this issue. <br /><br />Streaky the Supercat, created by Otto Binder and Jim Mooney, first appeared in 1960's <a href= http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=15483&zoom=4 target=_blank>ACTION COMICS #261</a>, and also popped up in our old friend <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=48003&zoom=4 target=_blank>ANIMAL MAN #24</a>. This version of Streaky first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=310485&zoom=4 target=_blank>SUPERGIRL #10</a>. I don't think she's super yet.<br /><br />Pg. 18:<br /><br />I suppose event comics aren't really event comics without crowd scenes, huh? Let's see:<br /><br />Top corner: dunno, Bombshell (who, as E points out in the comments, was evil, de-powered <i>and</i> throat-slit the last time we saw her).<br />First full row: Cyclone, Firestorm, Raven, Blue Beetle, Starfire, Batgirl, Metamorpho, Geo-Force, Blue Devil.<br />Second row: Red Devil, Amazing-Man, Zatanna, Mysterious New Aquaman, Red Arrow, Supergirl, Thunderbolt.<br />Third row: Wildcat (Jr.), Green Arrow, Liberty Belle, Hourman, Black Lightning, Vixen, Mr. Terrific, Animal Man--hey, I guess Morrison wasn't quite done with him after all!--Enchantress, Ragman. <br />Fourth row, by which point my definition of "row" is getting a little ragged: Black Canary, Wildcat, Sasha Bordeaux, Dr. Mid-Nite, Katana, Hawkgirl.<br />Fifth row: Steel, Damage, Nightwing, Wonder Girl, Red Tornado.<br />Sixth row: The Atom, Robin, Stargirl, The Flash/Jay Garrick, Power Girl, somebody who looks an awful lot like Jade who was still dead last I checked (kevings suggests this might be Argent)<br />Front row: Donna Troy (shouldn't she be off monitoring the Monitors?), Huntress, Captain Marvel, Hawkman, Detective Chimp, and of course Green Lantern/Alan Scott out front<br /><br />(Thanks to Blogenheimer, Jmizz505 and kevings for the assist!)<br /><br />Pg. 19: <br /><br />"I crawled out of my own grave": see the end of <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=262943&zoom=4 target=_blank>SEVEN SOLDIERS #1</a>. <br /><br />Pg. 21: <br /><br />The Wonder Wagon: yes! Guess that's the upgraded version of the Whiz Wagon from <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=23791&zoom=4 target=_blank>JIMMY OLSEN #133</a> etc.<br /><br />Pg. 22: <br /><br />Renfield is also the name of the bug-eating freak from Bram Stoker's <i>Dracula</i>--a good name for a street in Blüdhaven.<br /><br />Sgt. Grayle has to be Gardner Grayle from the original Atomic Knights stories. <br /><br />Pg. 23: <br /><br />Marene Herald appeared in those stories too, along with her brother Douglas, who we'll see in a few pages. <br /><br />Pg. 24:<br /><br />Duncan, commenting over at Funnybook Babylon, points out that Replika appeared in SEVEN SOLDIERS: FRANKENSTEIN #3; Strange Visitor, in the same comments, notes that Wonder Woman did indeed see someone turned inside out in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=32587&zoom=4 target=_blank>WONDER WOMAN #247</a>.<br /><br />And speaking of Otto Binder creations, Mary Marvel was created by Binder and Mark Swayze, and first appeared in 1942's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=2555&zoom=4 target=_blank>CAPTAIN MARVEL ADVENTURES #18</a>. Her story has been a mess for the last few years, but as far as I can tell, she was de-powered thanks to the death of Shazam in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=246274&zoom=4 target=_blank>DAY OF VENGEANCE #6</a>, although for some reason Black Adam wasn't; he gave her his powers, and she turned all bad and stuff and started wearing a black costume. She lost <i>those</i> powers in a fight with Eclipso, then turned all good and stuff again, got back her original set of powers and a gray costume, then met Darkseid, got Black Adam's powers, got the black costume again... this would mean, by the way, that her current set of powers come from Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles, Mercury, Shu, Heru, Amon, Zehuti, Aten, Mehen and Isis. Her outfit here takes her costume's evolution to its logical conclusion <i>and</i> riffs on Jack Kirby's designs for the Female Furies; not bad! (Although this scene does make me wonder where all those "she's never really killed anyone, not reaaally" conversations during COUNTDOWN were meant to go.) <br /><br />Pg. 28: <br /><br />By "the world," does Mokkari mean "the Fourth World"? And does this make him the King of All Spammers?<br /><br />Mr. Terrific here was created by John Ostrander and Tom Mandrake, and first appeared in 1997's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=60370&zoom=4 target=_blank>SPECTRE #54</a>. He's got ties to the first Mr. Terrific, created by Charles Resizenstein and Hal Sharpe, who first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=1912&zoom=4 target=_blank>SENSATION COMICS #1</a> in 1942.<br /><br />Pg. 29:<br /><br />David Uzumeri <a href=http://www.funnybookbabylon.com/2008/08/07/final-crisis-3-know-evil/#more-1105 target=_blank>points out</a> the visual resonance with the opening of CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS here.<br /><br />Pg. 30:<br /><br />So we've got the Four Dogswomen of Apokolips here, in the roles of the original Female Furies from <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=25703&zoom=4 target=_blank>MISTER MIRACLE #6</a>. Catwoman's obviously in the Lashina role, Giganta (I guess) is Stompa (compare the skull-and-crossbones motif on their foreheads), Wonder Woman is Bernadeth, and... would that be Batwoman as Mad Harriet? Looks like a similar bat motif on her chest, and long red hair. (The original Mad Harriet was killed in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=414366&zoom=4 target=_blank>COUNTDOWN #11</a>.)<br /><br />Anybody recognize that vehicle up in the sky?<br /><br />Okay, what'd I miss?Douglas Wolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10691167073493285913noreply@blogger.com64tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013594081496330946.post-71858621870914619382008-07-16T20:24:00.000-07:002008-07-17T16:56:34.651-07:00Final Crisis: Rogues' Revenge 1Cover: The sliver cover is based on, or at least inspired by, George Pérez's image of the dying Barry Allen in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=40601&zoom=4 target=_blank>CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS #8</a>. The portrait cover bears some resemblance to <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=23140&zoom=4 target=_blank>FLASH #193</a> from 1969, which Johns has <a href=http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=142840 target=_blank>noted</a> was the first Flash comic he ever read.<br /><br />Pg. 1:<br /><br />Here's that lightning again! <br /><br />The Flash they killed was Bart Allen, in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=360742&zoom=4 target=_blank>THE FLASH: THE FASTEST MAN ALIVE #13</a>. <br /><br />Pg. 2: <br /><br />"Uh" isn't really a Scots-accent way of saying "a," is it? It just reminds me of <a href=http://www.beefheart.com/walker/lyrics/tmr/orangeclawhammer.htm target=_blank>Captain Beefheart</a>. <br /><br />Pg. 3: <br /><br />"Lex Luthor eatin' outta his hand": guess Luthor was impressed by the explosion in FC #2 after all, so this scene dates this issue to some time after that one. "You better not be dealing again": in Johns-written comics, Captain Cold is vehement about his no-drugs rule for the Rogues (and he beats up Mirror Master for doing cocaine in FLASH #213). So the Rogues' coke scene COUNTDOWN #50 provoked a <a href=http://www.comicbloc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50970 target=_blank>reaction</a> from him...<br /><br />Pp. 4-5: <br /><br />It's maybe not quite correct to say that they "murdered Kid Flash"--Bart was the full-on Flash at that point, and had only gone under the name Kid Flash briefly--but the general cadence of the descriptive blurb is very much like the top-of-page-1 blurbs that used to run in Marvel comics in the late '70s and early '80s. The "Gaspar" on the Daily Planet clipping has to be a reference to <a href=http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/08/22/365-reasons-to-love-comics-234/ target=_blank>Gaspar Saladino</a>, the longtime DC letterer who for a few years did the lettering on every DC splash page... and "I hate running"--of course they would. <br /><br />Pg. 6:<br /><br />"Climate is what we expect...": this is often attributed to Mark Twain, but I've yet to see an identified source. (As "Climate is what you expect...," it was used by Robert A. Heinlein in <i>Time Enough for Love</i> in 1973. It's also sometimes attributed to meteorologist Edward Lorenz.) <br /><br />Pg. 9:<br /><br />The first Trickster, James Jesse, was created by John Broome and Carmine Infantino, and first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=15666&zoom=4 target=_blank>FLASH #113</a> in 1960. The one we're seeing here, Axel Walker, was created by Johns and Kolins, and first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=104860&zoom=4 target=_blank>FLASH #183</a> in 2002. <br /><br />Pg. 10: <br /><br />James Jesse was killed by Deadshot in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=393701&zoom=4 target=_blank>COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS #22</a>. Tar Pit was a Johns/Kolins creation who hasn't appeared in a while. Zoom turned up in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=346192&zoom=4 target=_blank>FLASH: THE FASTEST MAN ALIVE #10</a>, hired by Iris to attack Bart in order to protect him from Inertia. Not sure how the Flash Museum enters into that scenario. Computron, I'm guessing, is <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=35849&zoom=4 target=_blank>Colonel Computron</a> (now <i>there's</i> a name I haven't heard in a while); the Rogues were indeed banished to the "war planet" in SALVATION RUN. Double Down is another Johns/Kolins creation; Bart was tight with the Titans, so of course their enemies would assume that the Titans would take some kind of revenge.<br /><br />ETA: Commenters point out that a new floating-head Computron was introduced in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=216429&zoom=4 target=_blank>FLASH #217</a>... and was killed in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=337779&zoom=4 target=_blank>CHECKMATE #11</a>. <br /><br />Pg. 12: <br /><br />"Gambi" is Paul Gambi, the Crime Tailor, who's made occasional appearances since 1963. But what would he do with a bunch of heavily used villain suits? <br /><br />As David Uzumeri points out in the comments, that's really not how Bart's death happened. Although, of course, the Rogues have tremendous capacity for self-deception--and the Pied Piper noted in that issue that he had his own agenda.<br /><br />Pg. 13: <br /><br />Jared Morillo and Fred Chyre, created by Johns and Kolins, first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=104848&zoom=4 target=_blank>FLASH #171</a> in 2001. The Pied Piper, created by John Broome and Carmine Infantino, first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=14961&zoom=4 target=_blank>FLASH #106</a> in 1959. He had reformed as of <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=45437&zoom=4 target=_blank>FLASH #20</a> in 1988.<br /><br />Pg. 17: <br /><br />Iris Allen was married to the second Flash, Barry Allen, as of 1966's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=20482&zoom=4 target=_blank>FLASH #165</a>; created by Robert Kanigher, Carmine Infantino and Joe Kubert, she first appeared in good ol' <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=13042&zoom=4 target=_blank>SHOWCASE #4</a> in 1956. She was born in the future, died, came back to life, etc. ... long story. As good an explanation as you're going to get is <a href=http://www.hyperborea.org/flash/iris-detail.html target=_blank>here</a>.<br /><br />Pg. 19: <br /><br /><a href=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYFfOJPMnsw target=_blank>"This is a rock."</a> The rock-as-first-murder-weapon is one of the central symbols of the Religion of Crime--see 52 and CRIME BIBLE: THE FIVE LESSONS OF BLOOD. And see David Uzumeri's comment for who some of the folks Libra is talking to are. "Evil's skin is the tool of murder": Squashua notes that Darkseid's skin is rocklike. <br /><br />Pg. 20:<br /><br />"One of my... shaving mirrors" would be funnier if Light hadn't vehemently refused Mirror Master's offer of "Peruvian flake" in FC #1 ("No, no! Do I look like some junkie?").<br /><br />Pg. 21: <br /><br />Inertia, created by Todd DeZago, Grant Morrison, Mike Wieringo and Ethan Van Sciver, first appeared in 1999 in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=69531&zoom=4 target=_blank>IMPULSE #50</a>. He was frozen into statue form in last year's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=365395&zoom=4 target=_blank>ALL-FLASH #1</a>. <br /><br />This, sadly, creates some difficulties with the timeline, as David U. points out. The Flash Museum was badly damaged by a fire in FLASH #241, so Wally retrieved Inertia from it; by then, though, Iris West was no longer in the condition she's in on pg. 28.<br /><br />Pg. 22: <br /><br />Gregory Wolfe (the warden of Iron Heights), created by Johns and Van Sciver, first appeared in 2001's <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=127396&zoom=4 target=_blank>THE FLASH: IRON HEIGHTS</a>. Apparently he didn't actually die in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=353171&zoom=4 target=_blank>OUTSIDERS ANNUAL #1</a> after all. <br /><br />Pg. 25:<br /><br />The patented Geoff Johns Gross-Out! Yeah, that's quite a myth: the intestine's unstretched length is usually between 20 and 28 feet, and it might be able to stretch a few feet beyond that, but it's really not all that elastic.<br /><br />Pg. 26: <br /><br />The Pied Piper's real name is Hartley Rathaway, so he's in the family estate here. (His father paid for Will Magnus to cure his childhood deafness, according to <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=115239&zoom=4 target=_blank>FLASH #190</a>.) <br /><br />Pg. 27:<br /><br />The "I'm not a murderer" speech here reprises Cold's dialogue in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=104859&zoom=4 target=_blank>FLASH #182</a>.<br /><br />Pg. 28:<br /><br />Jai and Iris first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=249199&zoom=4 target=_blank>FLASH #225</a> (although we didn't learn their names until ALL-FLASH #1). Their mom is Linda Park-West, created by William Messner-Loebs and Greg LaRoque, who first appeared in <a href=http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=46436&zoom=4 target=_blank>FLASH #28</a>. <br /><br />Pg. 30:<br /><br />Zoom showed up in DC UNIVERSE ZERO, so I'm sort of wondering what took him this long. His deal is that he "challenges" heroes to make them better... although he tends to be pretty homicidal about it. <br /><br />*****<br /><br />Looks like, thanks to the FC #3 delay, I probably won't be posting here again until August 6 or so. In the meantime, if you happen to be in San Diego for Comic-Con International, why not come by one of my panels? I'll be moderating six of 'em:<br /><br />July 24: <br />1-2: The Future of the Comics Pamphlet, Room 32AB (with Joe Keatinge, <i>DCU 0</i> namesake Carr D'Angelo, and other luminaries to be announced)<br />6-7: The Comics Blogosphere, Room 32AB (with David Brothers, Jeff Lester, Laura Hudson and Tim Robins)<br /><br />July 25:<br />5-6--Teaching Comics--Room 4 (with Phil Jimenez, Matt Silady, James Sturm and Steve Lieber)<br /><br />July 26:<br />11:30-12:30: Image Comics/Tori Amos--Room 6B (with Tori herself and a cast of thousands)<br />2:00-3:00: Lettering Roundtable--Room 8 (with Todd Klein, John Roshell, Tom Orzechowski and Jared K. Fletcher)<br />4:30-5:30: The Story of an Image--Room 4 (with Kim Deitch, Jim Woodring, Jim Ottaviani and Kyle Baker)<br /><br />And, on Friday the 25th at 11:30, I'll be giving a talk called "Against a Canon of Comics" as part of the Comic Arts Conference in Room 30AB, and probably signing <i>Reading Comics</i> somewhere afterward.Douglas Wolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10691167073493285913noreply@blogger.com10