As the sun sets on existence itself, Mandrakk, the dark Monitor, is awakening! Can Superman prevail against the ultimate enemy of life and find his way home before utter darkness falls across the cosmos?
Written by Grant Morrison Art by Doug Mahnke & Christian Alamy
Synopsis : Ultraman seems to have read the end of the Infinite book and according to him Mandrakk is building a bridge from the void to the Multiverse and in the end all life shall kneel before Mandrakk and die.
Superman is not intimidated. An invasion of reality begins. Huge machines, which are Monitor nanotechnology invade Limbo. Merryman and his people fight with whatever they have.The Circle of Monitors have fallen. Nazi Superman and Billy exchange words about Zillo being evil, every monster has a story. Billy smells a love story (In this series , which is about stories, a Love story is the Ultimate Story. Note that Final Crisis is a Love story. Surprised ? More on that in later blog posts). Zillo is impressed by Billy and tells him to repeat the two words and then the lightning (SHAZAM !)
The Machines of Mandrakk are attacking Limbo, Superman asks Allen to help (He seems to be in another plane of thinking because of his ultimate power). Ultraman seems to have lost it, he wants to take the Ultima Thule ship and spread the word of the end to the Multiverse. Superman tries to stop him . If Superman and Ultraman touch each other, they annihilate.
Captain Marvel stops them from even trying, He realizes that everyone has role to play in this story and they remember that weapon from the Monitor Story. Allen returns by letting go of restriction and limits. He uses Quantum Super-position and attacks the enemy. He also realizes that there are no dualities and only symmetries. Superman tells Captain Marvel to take the Ultima Thule and tell everyone to prepare for Ultimate battle. Allen is the endgame of the Superman idea and is beyond conflict, he is unaffected by Ultraman's words and actions. He fuses the essences of Superman and Ultraman and transmits them to a receiver in The Monitor world ! Confused ? Don't be, do remember that nothing is formed nor destroyed at Limbo and hence the pure energy by their annihilation is sent to the Monitors. Does that make sense ? I hope so.
Superman is in the Monitor plane and is given (or is he ?) the thought robot capable of saving existence against Ultimate Evil. Weeja Dell meets him and she sighs at how life is ending on their existential plane. The Monitors of Nil realize their mistake of expelling Nix Uaton. It seems that when Ultimate good makes its presence (Superman), so will its counterpart.
Ogama has betrayed the Monitors and has awaken the Master, His Brother, MANDRAKK. You have to see Mandrakk to believe it. He is badass.
Vampires Control Existence.
Their fight is epic in scale, scope and art. Amazing work here.Zillo Villa tries to tell Mandrakk that there is a better story of a "child sent from a doomed planet....... Superman's story". Mandrakk, enraged kills her. He realises his mistake. Zillo Villa and Mandrakk are lovers, it seems
Superman realizes Mandrakk is Dax Novu who got corrupted wrestling the angel of contamination. He realizes that his part in the story is only to match Mandrakk and he does so until the Overoid, Mind of Monitor engulfs Mandrakk. He is given the vial of Bleed which will save Lois and he also writes something on the tomb which Mandrakk wanted to inscribe his name on.
Superman falls back into the Multiverse and using International sign language they destroy the enemy ships.Ultraman falls somewhere else where the rogue Monitor Ogama gives him a choice to join Mandrakk, which he accepts. Mandrakk promises that the next time they meet, it will be with millions. Ominous huh......
Clark saves Lois.Lois seems to have seen all of this in her dream and says that she was sure of a happy ending after seeing what was written on the tomb. Clark smiles and leaves. We end seeing what was written on the tomb - To Be Continued. Wow !
Note that this takes place before the Anti Life Equation Hits.
Review : OK, I'll be honest. Superman Beyond was very hard for me to review. I have never been a Fan and have actually hated Big Blue. But after reading this story i have just fallen in love with Superman. Grant has accomplished a lot with this story, as a standalone and as a tie in. Its metaphysical style and its concept is one of a kind. The Superman vs Mandrakk is a personification of how Superman is aware of story and his role and as the clarity hits him , the outcome does not matter because he knows what to do . That idea has a huge impact at the end. For people who did not read this and just read the core series, they would be very confused and disoriented.
This Book Is Very Much Recommended ! Please Read This Book To Understand The Final Crisis !
DC, why did you not promote this book as critical ? Why Why Why ? Yeah, its a mini-rant. I apologize, its just that i think most of Final Crisis criticism is crap, thats all
Thankfully it was included in the trade
Doug Manhke's artwork was awesome. His rendering of the monitors and Mandrakk's vampire like appearance was very well rendered. Doug is suited for these Alien/Horror Genre. No wonder why he is on the Green Lantern monthly now..
Story : 9.7
Art : 9.5
Last Thoughts : Very Good Series.Essential and well written. Has a huge impact at the end of the story.
Pure Beauty
Doug's psychedelic cover for this one is just beyond coolness! I had been only picking up the sliver covers for anything FINAL CRISIS-related. But this cover just blew my mind! It's really insane, in a way, like the issue.
ReplyDeleteAgain, your analysis of the issue has given me more to think about on my next re-reading in a few days (reading the new Dan Brown book right now!).
Rock a little,
Mike