DC Comics' Next Big Event after Identity Crisis

[Kurt Angle Mark 0]

Not much is know at this time, however the next issue of Wizard will cover the event in great detail.

 

 

This is what Jim Lee had to say about the cover

 

"Soooooooo I guess the image is out. Been having to keep this under my hat for some time now. Yep, the second cover that I collaborated on with Mr. Alex Ross and once again, he delivers the goodies. I already like how the fans are speculating who Batman is holding...but good luck.

 

This puppy has a million things built-in to throw you off. (Can't make it that obvious =duh=). Unfortunately the original was GIGANTIC and had to scan it in two parts. Our studio scanner was on the fritz so the lower half did not capture the gray tones for some reason (= D).

 

Still, was fun to draw so many DC heroes assembled on one piece and of course, Alex shines an incredible light onto it all. Very ethereal. I like how he improved upon Green Lantern and Hawkman the best."

[Renegade 0]

I hope this isn't another crisis, issues do not need rebooting. The cover looks great though, and seeing how the green Lantern there is Hal, maybe bats is holding Kyle? I don't buy that being nightwing.

[Guest JMA]

I'd actually like to see another Crisis type event. There's a good chance of that happening since the twenty-year anniversary of the original is coming up soon. There have also been references to a “coming Crisis” in several DC books. Still, I’ll remain skeptical until something is officially announced.

 

In any case, the cover looks absolutely fantastic. Here’s hoping that this project is as successful as Identity Crisis.

[starvenger 0]

I hope this isn't another crisis, issues do not need rebooting.

I agree with you, but since Power Girl's in the corner there, here's to hoping that her continuity gets sorted out...

[tbondrage99 0]

Am I the only one that thinks Alex Ross is always over rated unless he collaborates with Jim Lee?

[Steviekick 0]

Am I the only one that thinks Alex Ross is always over rated unless he collaborates with Jim Lee?

Alex Ross is never overrated.

[SuperJerk 0]

Jim Lee is overrated.

[ZGangsta 0]

Here's an interesting article on the subject from Chud

 

Op-Ed: Does DC Have Another Crisis in Store for Us?

 

By Devon Sanders and Scipio Garling with more than significant input from Chris Green and James Kurtz

 

Luthor was right: a Crisis IS coming.

 

Let’s start with just the little things. Things that suggest that in 2005, the writers and editors are either taking characters into forbidden territory because they know it will all soon be fixed or simply stalling, waiting for…something.

 

Batman’s “urban legend” exposed on TV and a total breakdown of relations between the Bat-Family and The GCPD.

 

Dick Grayson’s gradual mental unraveling across several titles.

 

The impending return of Hal Jordan.

 

The “Birthright” revision of Superman/Luthor’s origins, penned by Mark Waid, to be more in sync with television’s “Smallville”.

 

The new “any era goes” format of the Justice League book.

 

But those are just changes in atmosphere. For months now, there’ve been actual clues of MAJOR changes in regards to DC Comics’ superhero universe. Staring us in the face (slapping us, even!) are clues pointing toward a revamp that will allow:

 

Total redemption for mass murderer Hal Jordan, and his return as Green Lantern.

 

A revivified Legion that is both more in tune with its origins and more new reader-friendly.

 

A DCU more like the animated JLU with the icons at the center and every other character still “on the board”.

 

The perfect opportunity for an event of Crisis-like proportions, only this time keeping what works and fixing what doesn’t.

 

Mark my words…it’s all prefaced and foreshadowed in 1999’s Kingdom #2 and brought together by the events of by The Teen Titans/Legion Special. (Both written by one Mark Waid.)

 

The final page of The Kingdom # 2 shows a pre-Crisis Golden Age Superman searching for a door between the universes. The Golden Age Superman wants his world back, be careful what he wishes for he just may get it…someday.

 

“For all he’d done, he deserved Heaven…not prison. But now, at long last, he knows this isn’t the jail he once believed it to be. Now he knows that there’s a DOOR. There’s a door, even if he’s not going to use it. Not TODAY, anyway.”

 

Meanwhile, 1000 years in the future (Teen Titans/Legion #1), the LSH are dislodged from reality when they confront “some other force out there…something that’s POUNDING against reality.” When all’s said and done, the Teen Titans are returned a decade after they first left where we find the former Superboy is now Superman ten years on and wearing a very Kingdom Come Superman-ish costume. Could that “pounding against reality” be the Golden Age Superman wanting in to our reality? If that pounding has effected the 31st Century, could the editors have it headed for the 21st Century as well? (…we all know that as The Legion goes, so does The DC Universe i.e. Crisis or Zero Hour, anyone?)

 

Speaking of the “Kingdom Come Superman”, think about his ‘return’ (Superman/Batman #2) with a warning for “our” Superman, “I’m you. Years from now. I’ve come to STOP you. I know you’ll THINK you’re doing the right thing --- but you’ll be WRONG. You’ll only wind up killing them all. And you’ll be all alone.” Throw-away comment by Loeb or something else?

 

Another “omen of the apocalypse”: the appearance of the Crime Syndicate (originally of Earth III), amongst the first victims of the Crisis. In JLA Secret Files 2004, the Crime Syndicate’s Johnny Quick is shunted a year or more into the future only to be jettisoned back, proclaiming, “It’s gone! All of it---IT”S ALL GONE! …there was NOTHING THERE! The WHOLE UNIVERSE---GONE, DESTROYED! There’s NO FUTURE---NO FUTURE AT ALL!

 

If you can’t believe a wild-eyed Luthor or juiced-up Johnny, how about Mr. Mxyzptlk’s visit to Superman in July’s Adventures of Superman # 630 to warn him of the upcoming events of 2005? He’s stopped from telling Superman everything by “the rules”; what kind of rules could restrain Mxyzptlk from doing ANYthing? Editorial ones, I’ll wager…. In Mxyzptlk’s own words:

 

“HUSH! The ZERO HOUR approaches! There will be a CRISIS on Earth! Time will need Ritalin, it’s gonna be so HYPER! And a WAR, Ohhh, there will be a WAR, so SECRET that YEARS will pass before it CONCLUDES! A DARK age is coming, my friend, that shall CAST you into a NO MAN’S LAND of DESPAIR!”

 

Could this be the beginning of a new reality? An “entry-verse” similar to Marvel’s Ultimate Universe? One where classic characters and stories are re-imagined for new readers with little to no knowledge of DC’s vast continuity, more in the spirit of Cartoon Network’s Justice League Unlimited cartoon? One where The Legion Of Superheroes could actually make sense and be popular? Could the new Legion of Super-Heroes title be our first glimpse into this new continuity?

 

Am I on to something or… am I on something?

 

I think the part in Superman/Batman #2 where the future Superman comes back to warn them about someting was about the Kryptonite meteor and not some giant Crisis. Altough, a couple issues later when Captain Atom jumps forward and sees him sitting in the ruins of Kansas, did anyone else notice Apokalypse in the sky? That doesn't make sense.

[Guest PlatinumBoy]

Here's an interesting article on the subject from Chud

 

Op-Ed: Does DC Have Another Crisis in Store for Us?

 

By Devon Sanders and Scipio Garling with more than significant input from Chris Green and James Kurtz

 

Luthor was right: a Crisis IS coming.

 

Let’s start with just the little things. Things that suggest that in 2005, the writers and editors are either taking characters into forbidden territory because they know it will all soon be fixed or simply stalling, waiting for…something.

 

Batman’s “urban legend” exposed on TV and a total breakdown of relations between the Bat-Family and The GCPD.

 

Dick Grayson’s gradual mental unraveling across several titles.

 

The impending return of Hal Jordan.

 

The “Birthright” revision of Superman/Luthor’s origins, penned by Mark Waid, to be more in sync with television’s “Smallville”.

 

The new “any era goes” format of the Justice League book.

 

But those are just changes in atmosphere. For months now, there’ve been actual clues of MAJOR changes in regards to DC Comics’ superhero universe. Staring us in the face (slapping us, even!) are clues pointing toward a revamp that will allow:

 

Total redemption for mass murderer Hal Jordan, and his return as Green Lantern.

 

A revivified Legion that is both more in tune with its origins and more new reader-friendly.

 

A DCU more like the animated JLU with the icons at the center and every other character still “on the board”.

 

The perfect opportunity for an event of Crisis-like proportions, only this time keeping what works and fixing what doesn’t.

 

Mark my words…it’s all prefaced and foreshadowed in 1999’s Kingdom #2 and brought together by the events of by The Teen Titans/Legion Special. (Both written by one Mark Waid.)

 

The final page of The Kingdom # 2 shows a pre-Crisis Golden Age Superman searching for a door between the universes. The Golden Age Superman wants his world back, be careful what he wishes for he just may get it…someday.

 

“For all he’d done, he deserved Heaven…not prison. But now, at long last, he knows this isn’t the jail he once believed it to be. Now he knows that there’s a DOOR. There’s a door, even if he’s not going to use it. Not TODAY, anyway.”

 

Meanwhile, 1000 years in the future (Teen Titans/Legion #1), the LSH are dislodged from reality when they confront “some other force out there…something that’s POUNDING against reality.” When all’s said and done, the Teen Titans are returned a decade after they first left where we find the former Superboy is now Superman ten years on and wearing a very Kingdom Come Superman-ish costume. Could that “pounding against reality” be the Golden Age Superman wanting in to our reality? If that pounding has effected the 31st Century, could the editors have it headed for the 21st Century as well? (…we all know that as The Legion goes, so does The DC Universe i.e. Crisis or Zero Hour, anyone?)

 

Speaking of the “Kingdom Come Superman”, think about his ‘return’ (Superman/Batman #2) with a warning for “our” Superman, “I’m you. Years from now. I’ve come to STOP you. I know you’ll THINK you’re doing the right thing --- but you’ll be WRONG. You’ll only wind up killing them all. And you’ll be all alone.” Throw-away comment by Loeb or something else?

 

Another “omen of the apocalypse”: the appearance of the Crime Syndicate (originally of Earth III), amongst the first victims of the Crisis. In JLA Secret Files 2004, the Crime Syndicate’s Johnny Quick is shunted a year or more into the future only to be jettisoned back, proclaiming, “It’s gone! All of it---IT”S ALL GONE! …there was NOTHING THERE! The WHOLE UNIVERSE---GONE, DESTROYED! There’s NO FUTURE---NO FUTURE AT ALL!

 

If you can’t believe a wild-eyed Luthor or juiced-up Johnny, how about Mr. Mxyzptlk’s visit to Superman in July’s Adventures of Superman # 630 to warn him of the upcoming events of 2005? He’s stopped from telling Superman everything by “the rules”; what kind of rules could restrain Mxyzptlk from doing ANYthing? Editorial ones, I’ll wager…. In Mxyzptlk’s own words:

 

“HUSH! The ZERO HOUR approaches! There will be a CRISIS on Earth! Time will need Ritalin, it’s gonna be so HYPER! And a WAR, Ohhh, there will be a WAR, so SECRET that YEARS will pass before it CONCLUDES! A DARK age is coming, my friend, that shall CAST you into a NO MAN’S LAND of DESPAIR!”

 

Could this be the beginning of a new reality? An “entry-verse” similar to Marvel’s Ultimate Universe? One where classic characters and stories are re-imagined for new readers with little to no knowledge of DC’s vast continuity, more in the spirit of Cartoon Network’s Justice League Unlimited cartoon? One where The Legion Of Superheroes could actually make sense and be popular? Could the new Legion of Super-Heroes title be our first glimpse into this new continuity?

 

Am I on to something or… am I on something?

 

I think the part in Superman/Batman #2 where the future Superman comes back to warn them about someting was about the Kryptonite meteor and not some giant Crisis. Altough, a couple issues later when Captain Atom jumps forward and sees him sitting in the ruins of Kansas, did anyone else notice Apokalypse in the sky? That doesn't make sense.

I cringed when I saw the theory that DC might make this into an Ultimate like line. Personally, I think the Ultimate titles have been overhyped and not that impressive--besides Ultimate Spiderman. Haven't read much of The Ultimates yet, but it seems like Ultimate X-Men is "Throw in 10 characters a book so we can go through 40 years of continuity in a year!!!!" Plus... the characterization in Ultimate X-Men isn't good, and there are so many HUGE plot holes.

[starvenger 0]

Am I the only one that thinks Alex Ross is always over rated unless he collaborates with Jim Lee?

Actually I think that this is one of the weaker paint-over-pencils pieces that Ross has done. The Crisis TPB cover where he painted over Perez, now that's a thing of beauty.

[tbondrage99 0]

I guess Im just not a fan of Alex Ross, I think there are alot of better painters out there.

[starvenger 0]

I guess Im just not a fan of Alex Ross, I think there are alot of better painters out there.

Yeah, that Van Gogh guy seems to have some pretty good work out there. It's even in museums and stuff!!

[tbondrage99 0]

I guess Im just not a fan of Alex Ross, I think there are alot of better painters out there.

Yeah, that Van Gogh guy seems to have some pretty good work out there. It's even in museums and stuff!!

For some reason when I posted that I thought someone would make a joke about that, though obvioulsy I mean in comics. Greg Horn is great though I have only seen covers I dont know if he has done anything aside from that yet, but that guy whos doing Marvels Secret War is great too, whats his name Gerbrille Del Otto or something?

[converge241 0]

The KC Superman is back in Superman/Batman in the absolute power story

 

ive been DYING for some type of story about alexander luthor and Earth 2 Superman and Earth 2 Lois (well not really her but she went with them as well)

[Vyce 0]

Total redemption for mass murderer Hal Jordan, and his return as Green Lantern.

 

This seems to be where they're going with "Green Lantern: Rebirth", and if so, I fucking HATE it.

[Steviekick 0]

At least it's interesting.

 

The whole thing has potential, but I am a litte weary of the whole thing.

[Guest JMA]

I'm loving Green Lantern: Rebirth myself. Geoff Johns is a great writer and I can't wait to see what he has planned.

[Vyce 0]

I'm loving Green Lantern: Rebirth myself. Geoff Johns is a great writer and I can't wait to see what he has planned.

If he absolves Jordan like I think he's going to, I'm officially dubbing him the new Jeph Loeb.

[Guest JMA]

I'm loving Green Lantern: Rebirth myself. Geoff Johns is a great writer and I can't wait to see what he has planned.

If he absolves Jordan like I think he's going to, I'm officially dubbing him the new Jeph Loeb.

A lot of people like Jeph Loeb, so that's not really an insult. He's been doing some great work over in Superman/Batman, IMO.

 

And I'm pretty sure Johns WILL be absolving Hal Jordan. It's already been confirmed that Hal will be starring in the new GL title, and I don't see Hal being written as "the hero searching for redemption." For that to happen he pretty much HAS to be absolved of his crimes.

[Steviekick 0]

I think the absolving will work, especially since they seem to be making Batman, the biggest Hal hater, seem like he's on the outs in the DC heroes circuit.

[Vyce 0]

I'm loving Green Lantern: Rebirth myself. Geoff Johns is a great writer and I can't wait to see what he has planned.

If he absolves Jordan like I think he's going to, I'm officially dubbing him the new Jeph Loeb.

A lot of people like Jeph Loeb, so that's not really an insult. He's been doing some great work over in Superman/Batman, IMO.

 

And I'm pretty sure Johns WILL be absolving Hal Jordan. It's already been confirmed that Hal will be starring in the new GL title, and I don't see Hal being written as "the hero searching for redemption." For that to happen he pretty much HAS to be absolved of his crimes.

Popularity does not = good.

 

I don't care if a lot of people like that hack or not.

 

I think the absolving will work, especially since they seem to be making Batman, the biggest Hal hater, seem like he's on the outs in the DC heroes circuit.

 

Which is what's distressing to me, seeing as Bruce gets mind-raped by the JLA, and yet HE is the one starting to be written as the outsider.

 

This is why I'm very frustrated with the shit going down with Marvel comics. The alternative to Marvel is D.C., and they've got their OWN entirely ridiculous fucking issues with their comic properties.

[Ravenbomb 0]

what was Identity Crisis?

[Guest JMA]

Popularity does not = good.

 

I don't care if a lot of people like that hack or not.

I wasn't really trying to suggest that popularity automatically makes him talented. All I was saying was that calling someone "the next Jeph Loeb" isn't a very good insult when not everyone sees him as a hack. I find him to be a good writer because he entertains me with the excellent stories he writes, not because other people like him.

 

I suppose we'll have to agree to disagree on this situation.

 

As for Batman, I like the fact that he’s being written as the “bad guy” in Rebirth. Usually it’s Batman versus the “evil meta-human,” so it’s nice to see a change there. I wonder if John or Hal will bring up Bruce’s involvement in the Tower of Babel storyline.

[Guest JMA]

what was Identity Crisis?

Identity Crisis is a seven-issue mini-series written by Brad Meltzer. It's a murder mystery story that takes place in the DCU. The series is one of DC's best selling titles as well as being critically acclaimed. The final issue came out today.

[Ravenbomb 0]

Oooooh. So its safe to say that it won't be in TPB for a while?

[Special K 0]

Probably not, but a second run was ordered on the first couple issues, so I bet you can find the whole series. You may be able to buy the complete run on eBay, as well. Good series.

[Vyce 0]

what was Identity Crisis?

Identity Crisis is a seven-issue mini-series written by Brad Meltzer. It's a murder mystery story that takes place in the DCU. The series is one of DC's best selling titles as well as being critically acclaimed.

Too bad the finale was so lame.

[algrim 0]

Meltzer did indeed pull a Loeb.

[Vyce 0]

Meltzer did indeed pull a Loeb.

I'm sort of torn about it.

 

Don't get me wrong - the ending was LAME.

 

But if it's revealed that this whole series was written specifically as a set-up for ANOTHER "big event" miniseries, then I'm going to feel REALLY gyped and more than a little pissed off.

[Sass 0]

DC is going to retcon itself into oblivion. Comic publishers have become the George Lucas of comics. They want to re-do every original thing they've done. No one ever seems satisfied until they put their own mark on Superman's relationship with Lois Lane or take Joe Chill out of Batman's origin.