Current mood:	pleased
Current music:	The Wiseguys: Start the Commotion

Oh, "IT'S ON", NOW!
This week was a great week for both Marvel AND DC's summer crossovers, in my mind. Yes, I did just say that. Why? Because, before the game got out of hand, DC has got Grant Morrison off the bench. Of course, Bendis isn't exactly taking any plays off on Marvel's end. Enough sports metaphors... let's get to the recap.



Avengers: The Initiative #12-

Most of this issue involves the hearings on the KIA situation at Camp Hammond, hearings that cause Henry Peter Gyrich to be dismissed. Also, it seems that the old New Warriors: Slapstick, Rage, Justice, Ultra Girl, and Debrii, are leaving the Initiative, to form their own vigilante team that will work to keep things truly just, from outside the government's influence. And Tony Stark lets them go, giving them a day's head start to hide. (The softer side of Iron Man comes out.) Oh yeah, Baron von Blitzschlag lived.

Let's see, most of the Initiative graduates to take gigs at different states' superteams, and before they all go, they attend the wake for Trauma, who just sits up, alive again, like only a comic book Lazarus would. He opts to stay at the Initiative as a counselor for awhile. Cloud 9 ends up with a terrible outfit, and on the Montana Initiative, Triathalon becomes the new 3-D Man and goes to Hawaii, Thor Girl and Ultra Girl go to Georgia, Komodo gets Arizona, and Hardball is going to Nevada and Sin City (they're one state apart, so they won't quite be breaking up).

And... the only part that matters for Secret Invasion? Well, the Crusader gets his hand reattached, and the new medic, Physique, didn't seem to realize why the hand was green before it got reattached. Crusader claimed to be a shapeshifter, but didn't go into it further. Instead, he made sure to use fragments from the Cosmic Cube he has to change himself from human to Skrull on the molecular level to fool their sensors. (Could this be a clue about the other Skrull Sleeper agents? Hm?)

And, that's all I have on this issue. But the next one... oh... is it full of Skrullishness.


New Avengers #40-

An intense issue that doesn't follow around the heroes... it lets us into the mindset of... the Skrulls. BUM-BUM-BUM!!!!!!

King Dorrek, of the Skrull Empire, sits on his throne, in the wake of the escape of Marvel's Illuminati. Having them for a moment, though, was worth it. He orders his "priests of the sciences" to get to work with what they "got from them" (them being the Illuminati). To not be cryptic, Dorrek has genetic samples from all the Illuminati, and he wants to clone, experiment upson, and reverse-bio-engineer the Illuminati so the Skrulls can use their powers, and better replicate them, like they did once upon the time when they created the Super-Skrull.

However, Dorrek's throne is quickly challenged by a Princess Veranke, of another Skrull province, who chides him for ignoring the words of the Skrull prophets. As the empire falls apart around them, she has scriptures that claim a devourer of worlds will come (Galactus, to the unitiated), and a wave of destruction with him.

Dorrek declares her a zealot, and a traitor, and has his guard seize her and exile Veranke to a barren moon to live alone for years.

Cutting ahead, we see Reed Richards waking up in a bed, with the Fantastic Four at his side. They try asking him everything he knows about Galactus, when suddenly, the nurse pulls out a ray gun and blows his head off. Everyone in the room was a Skrull, save for the Reed Richards (who was a clone made by the Skrulls whom they were interrogating for more information). Dorrek's made because they turned a member of his family into a cow (ah, classic Silver Age Fantastic Four references...). Of course, because it was a clone... it didn't have the knowledge anyway. Which, would turn out to be a shame, because Galactus would show up to eat the Skrull Throneworld years later, and eat everything, including Dorrek! (We get a nice two page spread of the World Devourer, with Nova (Frankie Raye) to boot).

Years pass, the Skrulls go to the planet that they exiled Princess Veranke on, and tell her the scriptures were correct. The throneworld was destroyed, and the Skrull armada is decimated. The Skrulls who seek her out refer to her as their QUEEN, now. Since the scriptures said, that tragedy would happen, Veranke heads to the Skrull world of Satriani (a reference to guitarist Joe Satriani?) and points out that the scriptures were correct... and that they also say that the Skrulls are destined to take Earth...

We find out that the Priest of the Sciences survived the attack on the Skrull homeworld, having moved the center of his research to planet Tarnax X. He reveals the fruit borne of his research, a new Super-Skrull, the first of an army, engineered with the powers of all the Illuminati.

But that's not all... he's also developed a way to keep the Skrulls undetectable. The gathered Queen Veranke and her council want to know if the method has been tested, and they meet... Warrior Siri... aka SKRULLEKTRA! She walks in, and tells them all she accomplished on Earth (before she was found out). The Priest of the Sciences recommends they continue to replace living humans for a bigger impact. Warrior Siri has a list of candidates for replacement. As she reviews it, Queen Veranke proclaims that she would like to be among those who go to Earth on infiltration assignment. Despite her councils protests, she insists. She wants to replace someone on Earth who will do the most damage. The war advisor opens a file... and a hologram of Spider-Woman shows up.

Whoa, whoa... is Spider-Woman a Skrull? Was this a reveal? Ironically, a lot of people are claiming it's a red herring, and aren't buying it yet. People are just going to wait until Veranke's visage appears in place of Jessica Drew's in Secret Invasion, I guess. And, the other question is, if she did replace Spider-Woman... when? Latveria? When she showed up with Skrullektra? (which would be weird, for her to tell Stark and warn him.) It's just created more speculation from what I've seen.

And more hype. Well played reveal, Bendis. Did we find something out, or are you just teasing? People will buy and read to find out the truth...


But talk about well played... to the DCU!

DC Universe #0-

(Note, every narration box in this issue has a pattern. It starts as black, with yellow lettering. As the issue goes on, red coloring starts bleeding into the black from the right to the left...)

A voice narrates, "This is everything. This is me." as we look out upon the cosmos. It goes on to explain, "The are my protectors, the Justice League. The champions of a new heroic age. Earth. The foundation stone of a monumental cosmic mega-structure made of parallel universes and parallel worlds, all vibrating at different frequencies." (Note, there's a reason this voice knows the worlds vibrate on different frequencies...)

"... a Multiverse. And when the Multiverse is on the verge of destruction, when the skies drip red as the barriers between parallel universes bleed... when Earth's greatest heroes rise up together, willing to sacrifice everything they have in defense of all they hold dear... that war is called a crisis. The first crisis brought death to nearly all of creation. One lone universe was spared. (Crisis on Infinite Earths). "

"A second crisis (Infinite Crisis) witnessed the violent resurrection of 52 universes. And so begins the final chapter in the saga of the multiple Earths. The Final Crisis."

***************WBE INTERLUDE*****************************

Okay, this is a really solid, and well rendered recap of everything you needed to know going into this story. From here, the book seems to go in acts that will tie in to the Final Crisis crossover stories.
*************END FIRST INTERLUDE*************************


ACT ONE: SUPERMAN AND THE LEGION-

Narrator:
"Even a thousand years from now, they will gaze into the sky to see him. The last son of the planet Krypton. Sent to Earth to escape its Annihilation. He always told me (someone who knows Superman?) to call him Clark... didn't he? When the dawn came across existence, there was light. But as soon as there was light... there was shadow."

What's going on while he says this... well... Superman battles the Legion villain Tyr in the 30th/31st century, and keeps calling in to Brainiac 5 for help, as the rest of the Legion seems to be holding a seance to get help. Superman flies off... to meet up with other Legion members... who are (in an awesome two page spread illustrated by George Perez, I'd say) battling the Shadow Demons, the same who were controlled by the Anti-Monitor during Crisis on Infinite Earths, and were last seen being summoned by Darkseid during "Death of the New Gods".

*****************SECOND INTERLUDE*********************
And I say... wow. Whatever threat is in the future, it's got to be big to call those things in. That's some Anti-Life Equation wielding, right there.
******************************************************

ACT TWO: Batman- R.I.P.

"There was good. And evil. "

Batman's trying to interrogate the Joker, who's oddly quiet in his cell in Arkham. Batman's trying to find out about "the Black Grove", whom he suspects might be gunning for him. The Joker just says, "Scary, isn't it? When you can't see what's coming?"

Well, Batman does see some of it. The Joker's got three cards down, and Batman realizes it's of a Dead Man's Hand that he's dealing. (aces, eights, and of course... a Joker). But whoever's gunning for him, Bruce says, "Bring it on."

**********************INTERLUDE THREE*******************************

He is the goddamn Batman, after all.

*******************************************************************

Act Three: Wonder Woman- Whom the Gods Forsake

"She is peace and she is war. She is still beautiful."

Wonder Woman battles a minotaur, while elsewhere in the world... in places of genocide and great death, she has enemies plotting her demise. Dr. Ivo and Amazo are in Auschwitz, collecting soil samples. Dr. Poison does the same in Croatia. And in Darfur... an unknown foe does the same.

But if that wasn't enough to have on Diana's plate... two shadowed figures (one is Apollo, and the other is likely Zeus) decide that the changing world and crisis is not a place for women--(implied that he means the Amazons) it's a job for men. And we see a legion of warriors who look like they're straight out of 300.

*************FOURTH INTERLUDE************************************

Okay, Wonder Woman has typically been the weakest of characters' storylines to follow during DC crossovers. I mean, Amazons Attack was awful, but during the OMAC Projact leading into Infinite Crisis, and IC... dull. So dull.

Well, let me tell you, there are three reasons why this time I think it'll be different.

One: those villains are going to take that soil, and just as the original Wonder Woman was made from clay... I bet they're going to make a death themed Wonder Woman. Oh yeah. Built from the earth of atrocity, war, and hate. Hell, the gloved mystery person in Darfur might be Eris, the goddess of strife, or Ares, for all I know. But still, a good new villain for Wonder Woman will be borne of this.

Two: The Greek Pantheon forsaking Wonder Woman and the Amazons and sending in some bad*ss male warriors? Interesting.

Three: Most importantly, this whole Wonder Woman storyline is written by none other than Gail Simone, who, while I might not linger in Comic Book Resources' YABS forum, that Gail hosts... I still think she's absolutely as cool as the bees' knees as a writer. Perfect fit for this book, and the groundwork she's got gives me all confidence that it will be a memorable book for the forseeable future.

*************END FOURTH INTERLUDE*********************************

Act Four: Green Lantern, Blackest Night Prelude-

"Test pilot Hal Jordan was chosen by a dying alien to represent his space sector in a cosmic police force called the Green Lantern Corps. He once told me (someone who knows Hal?) had he not received his power ring he would have gotten himself killed several times over. I always wondered if he was bragging... or confessing? I... know Hal Jordan. I am no longer everything. I am a shaft of light split through a prism."

Hal Jordan and John Stewart investiage a "Code Eight" in Northern California. An unknown explosion to a truck that was transporting any inmate with extraterrestrial ties. Hector Hammond, the Shark, Evil Star, and... Black Hand. The Black Hand's body lies on the ground, with a smoking hand print on his chest.

Hal asks the ring to analyze the unknown energy and locate Black Hand. It tells him "Error. Unable to process request." Uh-oh. That's not good.

We see what looks like the Black Hand on a distant barren planet or moon, coughing, and vomiting as he goes. He walks forward, as the scene cuts to a Red Lantern slaughtering someone. An Orange Lantern claiming possession of something. A yellow Lantern (Mongul?) proclaiming that others follow him. The two Earth Green Lanterns. Ganthet, gathering Blue Lanterns beneath a power battery. An Indigo lantern. The Purple Lanterns, borne of the star sapphire. And then... we see the Black Hand approaching a Black Lantern.

Not good.

*******************FIFTH INTERLUDE******************************
Take Sinestro War, and multiply how awesome it was by seven, is my feeling. Seriously, it was the only good crossover DC has had since 52 ended, in my opinion, and it looks like more great epic stuff is on the horizon.
****************************************************************

Act Five: The Spectre- Show No Mercy

"As I enter into a world of immense primary energies, I witness the eternal spirit of vengeance itself. God's wrath. The Spectre. Bound to a human soul, it will battle the forces of chaos for all eternity. But today that soul is blind. That sould believes the Spectre to be suited to petty vindication. It has been only judgement and execution. One sinner at a time. Detective Crispus Allen needs to understand there's much more to his existence than twisted punishment. In times of crisis, he is capable of much more. No one looks up to see him in the sky... because he has yet to rise up into the sky. He has not found the good within what he has become. So I pray that someone does. And I hope to God someone answers my prayers. My prayers. I am... somebody."

We see a solemn Spectre, creep up on a serial killer who's burying bodies in a field. Because his victims are beneath the wet dirt, eaten by festering swarms of maggotts... he makes the killer experience the same feeling.

***************SIXTH INTERLUDE**************************************

The picture on the promo for the Spectre's Final Crisis story has a picture of Dr. Light. Huh. That... could get interesting, given his history.
*********************************************************************

Act Six: THE DAY EVIL WON-

"The Light. The Shadow. I'm the only one who can see the shadow. The gigantic shadow cast across the multiverse. Falling over everything. I'm the only one who knows there was a war in Heaven. And evil won. The Multiverse takes a single breath, like a runner poised on the line (interesting reference...) and it's my breath. There is a sound like the crack of doom. Like a starter's pistol... and this is me. And NOW I remember."

Deep in space, a figure wreathed in flame drifts... and it begins to become aware, clenching its fist. Is it Darkseid back from the dead already, or the Living Flame?

Meanwhile, on Earth, the Secret Society of Evil sits, trying to decide if a new Society is the answer to their problems. Flash's Rogues are particularly skeptical. But, calling the meeting to order is a man calling himself Libra. He fought the JLA back in... well, the book was published in 1960. Is this the same guy? Who knows...

But Libra's speech, goes a little like this..."Gentlemen, please... I didn't ask you here to waste your precious time. You can call me Libra. I'm here to balance the books. Let's face it, the Secret Society's a toothless shadow of its former glory. You boys have been through Hell! You've been demoralized and humiliated... but I'm here to help you change all that. Because make no mistake, there is a God! There is a New God (as in Fourth/Fifth World?) in whose name bad men can offer up their prayers and he will answer! And here is his book! (is it the Crime Bible?) And I am the prophet of a new age! Here is the great news! All who follow me in his name will be granted their heart's desire! You want a hero killed? We can do it! You want better powers? Sign on the dotted line, they're yours! Believe in him, that's all he asks! And that, my friends, is only the beginning of my bid for the leadership for the Secret Society of Super-Villains! DO I HEAR A HALLELUJAH!"

************************LAST INTERLUDE***********************
Infinite Crisis #1 had the shock last page of Superman of Earth-Two reappearing from his Heaven to help save Earth's heroes from the darkness they've come to know as normalcy. A guy we hadn't seen since Crisis on Infinite Earths. But what about the start of Final Crisis?
***************************************************************
In Central City, lightning crashes... and that last quote from our narrator, "And now I remember." is all in red... with a yellow lightning bolt. No tease readers... Barry Allen. Yes, THE Barry Allen... is back for Final Crisis. Let me change my pants now.


So what have we learned this week? Well, we learned that Batman counts cards. We found out that Queen Veranke of the Skrulls is a tad bit of a micro-manager. A little hands on, you know? We also learned that having Thor Girl stand over a guy will get him to pop up, thanks to Trauma. We found out that Libra would make a great member of the 700 club, with his speech to the Society. And finally, we learned that whatever Grant Morrison's been cooking up with Geoff Johns, it will ABSOLUTELY deliver on the hype. DC Universe #0 washed the foul taste of Countdown out of my mouth, and has me convinced. I can't believe he did it that fast... but he did it. That's all for now, until next time, this remains the WORST...BLOG...EVER.