Solicitation :The dramatic finale to the epic, seven-part saga of the DC multiverse concludes with an apocalyptic battle for the soul of humanity that must be seen to be believed! Can the heroes of 52 Earths save the multiverse? And is the only way to save it, to change it forever?
Written by Grant Morrison Art by Doug Manhke & Christian Alamy
Synopsis : I have decided not to write a synopsis for Final Crisis Issue 7 for now. I feel that if I do so, Ill end up putting in more words than the Issue. I'll put a mixed Synopsis-Review below. Sorry ! For anyone who has read the story they will get where I'm coming from
Review : After 6 Issues Of The Core Series and 5 Tie Ins, We Enter The Last Issue of what has so far been an Epic Event in Scale and Scope Of The Multiverse. The linearity is lost in this issue, there are scenes which are happening in random order which is meant not only to disorientate the reader but to show that The Time and Space Of The DCU is broken down. Supergirl and various other characters even mention this. Its not as if Grant was high on weed, its just a style which i think suited this Issue well.
To be a little linear to those who don't get The Last Issue, Superman confronts Darkseid in a very well written confrontation. No Punches and those over-the-top action. A Dark God vs a Sun God. Darkseid is foiled by the Black Racer, who is lured there by Barry Allen and Wally West, and taken out, Turpin is traumatised. Luthor and Superman team up to take out Libra's army. Wonder Woman is freed of The Anti-Life Equation by Frankenstein. The last scraps of Heroes leave to an amalgamation Of The Titans Tower, JLA Satellite, Fortress Of Solitude. At Checkmate, Lord Eye fails and Hawman and Hawkgirl sacrifice their lives as Mr.Miracle secures a Boom-Tube and takes them to safety.
Everything in space and time is Darkseid, the heroes battle some random parallel universe Metal men and get to work on The Miracle Machine (All The Humans are in Icetrays frozen and shrunk). Lois writes the "last" paper of the Daily Planet and how Earth Endured and Batman, just one man sacrificed himself to take Darkseid out.
Renee along with others recruit The Supermen Of The Multiverse together (All The guys from Superman Beyond are with Renee). As Soon as the Miracle Machine is nearly ready, Superman sees that Metron's chair has element X which he adds to The Machine. Mandrakk with his army return (Ultraman has The Spectre, Supergirl and The Radiant knocked out.), Superman is not scared nor surprised. The Superman Of The Multiverse are here, The Green Lantern Corps come in , every DC Hero is here along with Captain Carrot and his crew, Nix Uaton in his role as a Multiversal Monitor coordinated this. Nix is Mandrakk's son. They battle and The Green Lantern Corps and The Multiversal Supermen defeat Mandrakk.
The Earth is rebuilt slowly over time, with Metron's symbol over the Earth. Everyone is reunited and happy. All the Earths are put back into position. The New Gods are reborn on Earth-51.
Nix is back as a Monitor but he tells them that a Monitor interference is un-needed. He resigns and they all are wiped out, It is The Final Crisis Of The Monitors. Nix and Weeja are reunited as they are finished as Monitors. Superman's wish was that of a happy ending. Nix wakes on Earth, the radio is playing and now Earth has awareness of The Multiverse.
Earth Is Heaven.
We close with a rocket ship crashing somewhere during Anthro's time. Anthro draws those symbols and dies. A Certain man puts his utility belt on him and draws a Bat on The Cave Wall.
I really wanted to do a detailed review, but its something i might do and edit later on.
The art was top notch and Im very happy to see Manhke end as this issue has heavy themes from Superman Beyond and Manhke was the artists there, Its a good transistion.
Story : 10 Art : 9.6
He will live in memory forever.
Next In Final Crisis : The Definition Of a Crisis ?
Solicitation :As the entire world turns against them, the last of Earth's Super Heroes must face the unstoppable power of the Gods of Apokolips for the final time. Supergirl vs. Mary Marvel! Superman vs. Darkseid! The fate of the Flash! And the incredible return of the New Gods! The End of Days has come and the ultimate war between good and evil will at last be decided on the battlefield of a broken world!
Written by Grant Morrison Art by J.G. Jones, Carlos Pacheco, Doug Manhke, Christian Alamy, Marco Rudy & Jesus Merino
Synopsis : We start with Superman and Braniac at the Legion Headquarters in The 31st Century. Before you start scratching your heads, this is what you need to know. Superman, after battling Mandrakk and saving his wife just before The Anti-Life Equation hits Earth, is called by The Legion and is pulled to The 31st Century where "The Legion Of Three Worlds" arc takes place. OK, on to the story.
Braniac asks Superman to hurry as there is only 72.4 seconds before everything becomes meaningless. He says that the Legion cant sent him back to the time he was pulled from because of the magnitude of The Crisis happening due to Darkseid. Braniac opens up the weapons arsenal Of the Legion and tells him about a machine The Controllers created refining The Guardian Will-Power technology known as The Final Machine in 2960. This machine turns thought into things. This cant be used now because Legion turned it off permanently after realizing how much damage a stray thought could do. Braniac shows him the machine, Superman is being pulled back to his time (This is mentioned in The Hardcover). The Machine is The Geh-Jedollah-The Absolute or The Miracle Machine. Suoerman begins to fade as he gets closer. Braniac urges him just to look at it and memorize it ts parts.
We go back to the JLA headquarters where The Ray transported Canary, The Flash Widow Club and Tattooed Man. Tattooed man, at the end of everything, is becoming appreciative of his powers and aware of the beauty around him. Black Canary, as chairman of the JLA makes him an honorary member with full privileges and responsibilities. He's flattered. The plan is to get The Flash Widow Club to safety and transport The Ray with T-Man to earth to spread Metron's symbol. The Flash Club find some weapons and are astonished as The Justifiers attempt to break into the satellite. Canary orders Ray to leave as Tattooed Man laments the life of a hero.......
Back to Bludhaven, where we see Supergirl and Mary Marvel have an epic battle on the ruins of the city, they smash each other with buses, light posts and whatever is left. The Buses have Submit written all over it. Supergirl doesn't like to be called a slut and impresses that upon Mary. Adman cant hear his gods and feels the voice of The New Gods shreiking and snickering in Mary's head. He demands as to what is Desaad ! Ah, its Desaad inside Mary. Desaad and his fetishes, he cant get enough. Freddie comes up with an ingenious idea where he has to use the last of his magical energy. But before that, Kalibak orders Tawny to explain what he is as to which tawny tells him not to be deceived by his cultured tones and That Tawky can Bite ! Rawr ! Tiger vs Tiger ! Where else but In Final Crisis would you see such absurd but amazing Battles ?
Supergirl gets the upper hand on Mary but suddenly all the civilians pick up sticks and attempt to attack her (They are all under The Darkseid's control). Freddie bursts in, catches Mary and screams "Shazam !", Kalibak tells them to have no fear as Darkseid owns the lightning to which Tawky Tawny differs by killing and disemboweling him On-Panel ! Kalibak begs The Tiger men to help to which they reply "Strong is Only" as Kalibak dies. Freddie's idea converts both him and Mary to their human form as Desaad is removed as Mary says that she will never use her word again after all "she" has done. The Heroes seem to have fought back as they have secured Bludhaven bridge and are calling in The Second Wave. Tawny feels his end is near as Kalibak's Tiger Men surround him. Instead Of attacking, they bow down before him. Strong Is Only Indeed !
We go back to Checkmate castle where it seems that The Justifiers are just about to break in. Mister Terrific explains that it seems to be the end. Shilo tells him that the symbol on his face has to be painted by everyone to be immune to The Anti-Life Equation. The same symbol which appeared on Crop Circles and other places before the Crisis. The Universe's way to stop Darkseid maybe ? The symbol signifies "Freedom From Restriction". The shields have been destroyed and Mister Terrific is about to tell Mister Miracle about Checkmate's Endgame if all hope ran out (which he thinks has) - The Black Gambit. The Furies have joined The Final battle in Bludhaven. Miracle tells Sonny that motherboxxx says he is from a lateral universe. Seems that Sonny Sumo died in feudal Japan and this Sonny Sumo fell into a hole into Sonny's life with the end of thw world at his heels. The Super Young Team has their love story intertwined at this hour. Atomic Lantern boy is in love with Aquazon who is in love with Lightning Lad who doesn't seem to feel the same for her. Imagine at the end of the world and these kids having teenage love. Love it. Shilo asks Superbat what his powers are and in typical style as what a spoiled Bruce Wayne would say, I'm so rich i can do anything. Indeed !
We cut to the JLA Satellite where The Justifiers have broken in and have the heroes on their knees except Ray who has escaped. Ollie and Jefferson try and make Tattooed man and Canary Justifers or promise to gut the kids. Canary begs Ollie not too, whereas T-Man tries to convince Jefferson he is a hero. T-Man uses his Circuit Tattoo and attacks them, Canary does what every wife wants to do- Beat The Shit out of her husband and asks him to fight the Anti-Life, in the background we start to see the Earths emerging from The Bleed!
At Checkmate:Omega, the scientists exclaim that the castle is breached. Renne is still on tour of the facilities where she is told that Ryan Choi and Ray Palmer (both named The Atom) are about to ride a Graviton Superhighway to another Universe. Psychics are trying to purge humans of The Anti-Life Equation. Mystics are trying to contact the Spectre in the afterworlds, a note about Final Crisis: Revelations is made. Another private room is shown where scientists are performing experiments On The Nazi Supergirl who died early in the story, Waller does not comment about that room.They enter a room with a massive orb around which there are OMAC's. Waller wants Montoya to meet Lord Eye.Montoya says its all over for Earth and there is nothing worth to fight for. There is a brain in The Orb (I'm guessing its Maxwell Lord) who starts to speak say that we all live in a Multiverse of possibilities and choices they make decide the fates of worlds. She is told that she has an unprecedented level of law-enforcement and she is the template for the new. A Target Eartg has been identified and she is told that she will lead a Global peace Agency that will establish the bulk on a parallel universe if Ryan and Palmer are successful, Epicness ! (That's the first time I've used that word .)
We cut back to Luthor and Sivana who are plotting to overthrow Libra. They are teaming up, Sivana says the Helmets are medieval in design as they were done by Mad Hatter. His watch is a short-range Signal Jammer. Luthor's suit is powered up in anticipation for The Day's Battle. Libra sneaks up and says that calculator will be begging for forgiveness forever but he knows that It was Luthor. He feels cheated after he gave Lex a chance to lead The Super-villains against The Last of The Superheroes, he will never choose again. Sivana activates the jammer and Luthor blasts Libra with energy calling him a "Glove Puppet Of the Gods". Libra disappears. Luthor believes this is a war against and life, and despite life's up and downs he still favors life.Sivana tells him to speak into his device and Justifiers will hear Luthor's voice as Darkseid's.
Jay, Wally, Barry and Iris are together. Barry says he knows what he has to do to stop Darkseid this time and he will need their help. Jay says that he ran from Watchtower to Watchtower until they all fell to The Equation.He was on the trail of his wife and the kids. Barry says that incase he goes down, its all upto Wally to save them. Wally makes a comment as to have outraced The Black Racer before, when he was called The Black Flash! To get to Darkseid they will have to run faster than ever before, he is at the center of a Singularity beyond that of light. The Black Racer comes after them and they race off !
Darkseid asks Batman to stop skulking in the shadows and to come out and embrace Anti-Life to be whole. A weary and weak Batman comes in saying that Darkseid shouldn't have shot Orion. Darkseid says it was fate anyway, Batman comments it did damage to Darkseid beyond repair, A Rotten Carcass Of A God crawling into the sewer to die is Orion. Batman has the soul killing gun with which the Lump was shot at in Batman 683 and says that he has a solemn vow about firearms but he is making a once in a Lifetime decision, A Gun and a Bullet. Batman has loaded the bullet with which Darkseid shot Orion, which he had in his belt. Darkseid is genuinely for a fraction of a second fearful, The Infamous "But". Darkseid taunts Bruce asking if he thinks he can outrace The Omega Sanction, the death that is life ? Batman is confident asking him to try. Batman shoots him with a "Hh" , Darkseid Omega Sanctions Batman who is destroyed as soon as he goes down himself.
The Sacrifice Of Bruce Wayne.
Back In Bludhaven, Lois asks Jimmy to activate the watch, Superman will come. The Green Lanterns are trying to get to Earth but no matter how far they go, they cant get close. Hal promises not to abandon Earth like that ! Hawkman and Hawkgirl share a beautful moment knowing they could die the next moment. Alan Scott is fading saying that the world is broken, his flame is waning. The Heroes are losing their powers and dying due to Wonder Woman's infection. Supergirl comments how quiet it is. The Black Gambit is initiated. Nix Uaton and Metron (that guy was Metron!, obviously.) discuss how Nix's arrival has inaugurated a New Age Of Man - The Age Of Men as Gods. If they breach the bleed wall, a greater menace will be faced (MANDRAKK !). Wonder Woman exclaims "Look ! Up in the sky......", Supergirl screams "Look there !"
Guess Who's Back ! Superman ! My God ! Kal-El destroys everything in his path,his eyes are blasting energy like never before, he is in absolute rage ! He takes the furies out in just 1 Panel !He blasts right into the bunker. I have never seen Superman pissed like this. The Heroes exclaim that they are powerless and this is the end of the world. There is no way to stop this. Suddenly, we see Kal-El come out of the singularity with a Corpse- The Corpse Of Batman !
He's Back !
Review : OK, Wow that was an ultimate Game Changer issue huh ? I think Final Crisis Issue 6 had everything you can expect in The Comic Book Genre. Action, Mystery, Love, Heroics, Sci-Fi, Epicness, Emotion and more. The writing has hit a huge high. The art was outstanding. Yes, there might have been 6 Artists but this was an amazing looking book. The end which was done by Doug was outstanding and mind-boggling. Who says Superman is a cry baby ? Looks like he's gonna break his Kryptonian foot on Darksied's ass ! Love the emotions between Green Arrow and Canary. The Green Lanterns will to never give up was very well shown. Libra was disappointing, i guess he really had no other role and this was a fitting sendoff for however long he is gone. Luthor was amazing, loved his role. Metron is the key to the resistance and we finally see the symbol being used. Loving The Super Young team.
Did anyone else see Man-Of-Bats in the end scene where all the heroes ae losing their powers. Nice to see him after his appearance in Grant's Batman Run. How can I review this without The Batman vs Darkseid showdown. DC's ultimate badass and greatest human superhero against The God Of All Evil. The Ultimate "Man vs God moment" after the "Man Meets God" between Metron and Anthro. You will see something interesting from this in Issue 7. Batman started with a gun when his parents were gunned down and now at the end of everything, Batman is intelligent enough to know that the end justifies the means and takes The God down without fear. I loved this.
Story : 9.7 Art : 9.5
Last Thoughts : This Issue was my favorite Issue 2009 and still is. It covered everything I loved in Comics. It had DC's and comicbook-dom's best writer along with a superstar cast of artists. I saw my favorite hero make the ultimate sacrifice. I saw The Greatest hero of all time destroy everything to get to the manifestation of evil. How can you top what happened in this book ?
The Earth is Murdered..............
Next In Final Crisis : Batman gave his life to give the heroes a glimpse to victory, will it be enough ? Is Darkseid gone ? Even if he is, Mandrakk is coming to devour existence. Can Superman along with the last of heroes take on The Justifiers, Furies and Villains. Watch Reality take its side against Ultimate Darkness. This is It !
Solicitation :Humanity enslaved! Time shattered and bleeding! Anti-Life triumphant! Can Earth's demoralized, beaten heroes rally their scattered forces for the ultimate super-battle against the nightmare armies of Apokolips when the forces of good meet the forces of evil on the bridge to Blüdhaven? As Darkseid's presence causes reality itself to sicken and the lights to go out across the universe, as even the Guardians fall, the true power of the evil gods finally reveals itself, and a major character returns for a shocking conclusion.
Written by Grant Morrison Art by J.G. Jones, Carlos Pacheco, Marco Rudy & Jesus Merino
Synopsis : Finally we get back to what has been happening with Hal Jordan and The Green Lantern Corps. Hal Jordan has been taken to Oa for trial for the murder of Orion and the attempted murder of John Stewart (Hal , you racist ! Kidding). He is accused by Alpha Lantern Kraken (Granny Goodness has possessed her). Hal says that there is nothing called infallibility in the Universe, when told about The Infallibility of the Alpha Lanterns. Kraken claims that the scar of Hal's face is where Orion struck him before death. She also says that Hal was easily possessed by Parallax, so he could easily be taken over by The Evil Gods Of Apokolips.
The Guardians say that all must be examined as Hal is a valued officer, Honor Lanterns Kyle and Guy pop out of nowhere and say that it is Kraken who plays host to The Evil Gods. The Scar on Hal's face has a suppressor field chip inserted and hence its hiding her from detection. Guardians are shocked that an Alpha is compromised. Granny says its folly to underestimate The Darkseid. She attacks Guy while the other Green Lanterns attack her and smack her against the Central Power Battery. Granny wants to be Darkseid's favorite again and picks the Power battery wondering this was the Ultimate Technology that Metron had pointed them towards. The Guardians cut power from her ring and internal battery. Hal does his usual 1-2 Punch and takes her down ! Pure Hal. Grant, I Bow down to Thee. An Immortal is injured by Granny. The Guardians initiate the Krona Protocol which hides the Central Battery until the all-clear. Kraken is sent to a Sciencell, Kyle explains to Hal that Spacetime around The Earth has crumbled with weeks squashed into days and they couldn't get close to the gravity sink without being sucked in. The impact of Darkseid's fall and emanations have caused problems in space time across all the sectors of The Universe and Earth is the center of The Doomsday Singularity. John is still on earth and Hal asks all the Green Lantern who want to, to journey to Earth to stop the Crisis. The Guardians say that Hal has 24 hours to save the Universe. Go Jordan !
We get back to Earth, Checkmate Castle, where Montoya, Khalid and Renee discuss and try and explain the Multiverse and its aspects to Renee, she is going to have a major role there it seems. The Generation-Zero Biomacs which will act when the Superheroes fail bear an obvious similarity in Tribute to Jack Kirby's "OMAC".
At Bludhaven, we see dead warriors lying around.Wonder Woman's back seems to have faced a lot of lashes ? Self-punishment ? Something else? I guess its upto your interpretation. Wonder Woman's shield has the Omega on it. Simyan, Mokkari and Godfrey beg Darkseid to keep them alive and not let them die. Lots of kissup here. The Furies are getting ready for the battle, we finally get a shot of Darkseid, wow he looks amazing ! The Hour of Apokolips is here. He asks the Furied to end it all, Note that Wonder Woman's Dog has the The Symbol Of Evil as its Tag (The Inverse Of The Symbol Of Good, look at The FC Sketchbook.)
Big Battle outside Checkmate Castle. Tempest tries to save Hawkgirl, who is told to save Alan, who is being Made a Justifier by Donna Troy, who is smacked to Hell by Hawkman, who tells Bulleteer, Condor and Starman to cover him. (I did the who thing on purpose , It Feels like Bang-Bang-Bang-Bang-Bang)
Inside The Castle again, The Super Young Team is pissed at Mister Terrific and the rest for thoughtlessly gunning down International Megastar- Shilo Norman aka Mister Miracle. Emotions are running high. Terrific asks everyone to calm down saying a doctor is on his way and how he can be traced as he is invisible to machines. Shilo says that Motherboxxx is more than a machine and is way beyond than what would happen if The Gods made I-Pods that were alive! Miracle is stirring and talking about how the Motherboxxx set up a Boom Tube which brought them to the castle. Miracle was wearing a Impact-proof vest, obviously and he seems fine. The time of change is here and everyone has o take sides before The Darkseid takes them all down. Terrific decides to take his help as they have stayed clear of The Anti Life Equation. Castle falls in 15 minutes, they are taking fire so that the heroes can attack Darkseid at the root. The War has broken time and space.he tells Mister Terrific and the others to paint the pattern The Team has on their faces.
Kalibak has formed his Tiger-Legion and is moving around waiting for the heroes so that they can slaughter whatever is left of them. Kalibak promises that this will be the slaughterhouse of man and they see the last of the heroes arrive in force:
The Last Of The Heroes ? Don't Like Their Chances.
Epic Battle ensues ! Someone is screaming something in Spanish. Frankenstein is quoting Milton's "Paradise Lost" (which seems right for some reason). John Stewart is proceeding towards Command-D bunker , that is where Darkseid's base is.Kalinak tells his Tiger-men to wait for the lightning to strike. Maru Marvel arrives and is reading to sneak attack Supergirl but she is taken by suprprise by Black Adam who starts to beat her to a pulp. Freddie Freeman (Captain Marvel) asks him to stop. Adam sees an old man in her eyes.She's possessed. Freddie pleads with her but is beaten up by Mary Marvel who taunts him.She does the infamous crotch rub on him (Yech !). Tawky Tawny appears and tries to stop her but is taken by surprise by Kalibak who is about to kill him. Tiger vs Tiger. Sweet.
Nix Uaton is captured by the Justifiers and thrown into a cell. Everyone unaffected by the Ani-Life Equation is kept there. Nix has lost hope saying that there are no Gods but Darkseid, A Man in the wheelchair starts talking about the minimum moves in which a Rubix Cube can be solved saying no one has done it in less than 18, which is The Number Of God. He starts solving the Cube. The Time Of The Gods is over, he gives him a piece of paper which has Meton's sumbol to Anthro on it.
A Man with hairy hands, who I Think is Himon hands him pieces of paper of his sketches and tells him to think of things that can help, and says that it has to be a word, a face, a voice a magical word, a name. Nix realizes that and finally gains memory ........ WEEJA DELL ?
Clones of Mokkari along with Justifiers come in to take them to burn in The Forever Pit. They realize something is different, The man in the wheelchair says "17." and a blast of energy destroys the Justifiers. Metron is Back. Look at his eyes. Yeah !
Libra is doing his French Revolution/ Russian Revolution style hanging and killing and hangs Calculator for betraying them to the Heroes so that they could attack the birthplace of Darkseid. Libra tells Luthor he wants him to lead the charge against the heroes at Bludhaven Bridge. Libra hits a joke about letting him be first in line with Supergirl.........
Supergirl and John Stewart are teaming up and cant find a weak spot, John wonder where Superman is. Where is he indeed. Simyan, Mokkari and Godfrey try and save themselves. Godfrey tells Darkseid about Simyan & Mokkari's failure about The Batman-Psycho Merge. Darkseid says that nothing living can resist him now. All Flesh is part of Darkseid's body. He absorbs their energies as they die. Humanity has only faced an idea of a God before, Now God has come incarnate among them! All Is One In Darkseid !
Supergirl tells John that she can see a massive energy source inside like a brain sending signals to a gigantic nervous system, however he can't hear as he does not have super-hearing. Light and energy crashes into Darkseid's bunker. He is becoming reality. Frankenstein's quote is great "Dropp'd from the Zenith like a falling star.....beware". Supergirl is attacked by Mary Marvel, she begs Marvel to stop and that there is still time. John demands for backup saying that everything is becoming a hell which is Darkseid. Guardians say that help is on the way, another one says that he cant hear them (Whats with the John cant hear Grant ? Very funny though). Hal, Kyle, Guy and the rest of The Green Lanterns are losing their energies and stop flying and plunge straight into the singularity Of the Darkseid, get ready for time distortions.
Father time is with The President Of The US,he tells him the country is no longer his, the Earth is no longer ours. The Justifiers have found the bunker (Anyone guessed what this is the reversal of ? The Soviets finding Hitlers bunked in World War 2, notice the President has a gun in his hand, which he will probably use on himself). Power Levels On John's ring in down to 2%. Libra celebrates as The Fifth World Of Darkseid has begun. The Night Of Anguish that lasts forever.
Darkseid makes his presence known to The Earth. You have to read this to believe it. Its mind-blowing.. I.Am.The.New.God. Check out the rest below.
Darkseid's Brightest (Or should I say Darkest) Moment ?
We close with Nix Uaton who is restored to his role as The Multiversal Monitor with all his drawings and sketches scattered around.
Review : This has to be the longest review I have done to date and that is because so much happened in this issue, its great to see multiple storylines tying into one another, I wish that they would have mentioned Batman's whereabouts a little clearly in this issue for those who did not read the Two-Part crossover in The Batman Monthly. The Green Lantern characterization was very well done by Grant. Johns-esque or greater in my view. He has a strong hold on Checkmate and All Kirby characters. I was impressed by Supergirl in this issue. He seems to really enjoy writing all the Super-characters. Darkseid's speech to close the Issue was probably the most Powerful I have ever seen the villain. Nix's return was very well done. The whole issue was well structured. I wish I could see more of Wonder Woman though.
The art has greatly improved in this issue, the artists are gelling together well now and I was very impressed by The Opening sequence Of The Guardians On Oa, The Splashes were beautiful. I'm glad that it looks better after the last issue which greatly disappointed.
The Judge Of All Evil is here indeed
Story : 9.6 Art : 9.2
Last Thoughts : The Battle has begun ! Most Of the stories are tying into one, clarity arrives. Characters have never looked or felt better. This Story is The Ultimate Compression story unlike some other overly decompressed stories. Each issue has felt better than the previous and they all read very well at one sitting.
Next In Final Crisis : Darkseid has made his presence to Earth, who has the power to even stand before him, yet alone defeat him? Don't Miss The Fate Of Batman as he prowls around Command-D. Watch the congregation of Earth's heroes on the fields of a broken and dying world. Do Not Miss It !
Solicitation : The epic voyage beyond reality concludes in this heart-stopping finale as the multiverse-spanning quest for the elixir of the supergods reaches its end on the shores of a battlefield beyond imagination! But first, the Supermen of five worlds must lay bare the darkest secret of the multiverse, expose the shocking origin of the Monitors and come face to face with a seemingly unstoppable evil fuelled by the power of 52 living universes!
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
Next In Final Crisis : The Anti Life Equation has hi Earth. How do heroes and "villains: react ? Will they fight together against evil ? Or will they fall............ Do you SUBMIT ?
Solicitations : To save the woman he loves, the greatest hero of all time becomes the pawn of ultra-dimensional forces when a wounded emissary from a world of doomed super gods comes to Earth on the eve of the Final Crisis. His mission: To recruit Superman’s help against an epic, reality-spanning menace that originated in the Crisis on Infinite Earths!
Join the Man of Steel and his alternate-earth counterparts for a mind-blowing voyage to the edge of the DC Universe " and beyond! Can these super champions overcome their differences to beat the clock, find the ultimate treasure and save all existence from extinction?
Written by Grant Morrison Art by Doug Mahnke & Christian Alamy
Synopsis : We start of with Kal-El getting blasted by energy beams and being told that he does not have a chance to save his wife. He is also told that he cannot match the eternal power this being possesses. We start where we left off at Final Crisis Issue 3 with Superman sitting with Lois. The Monitor who asks him to leave immediately is Zillo Villa (we saw her in the first issue of Final Crisis consoling Weeja Dell after the expulsion of Nix Uaton). Zillo has invented a "Chrono Paralyzer" which freezes time on Universe-0. Superman joins her on the quest to recruit the greatest heroes of the Multiverse in a bid to save the Monitors because if they fall , they take existence with them.
The only way that Kal-El can save Lois is by the possession of "Bleed", which according to Villa can only be possessed by The Monitors of Nil and nonbody else. I'm sure Superman likes his chances. He is also told to upgrade to 4-D Vision. Yikes !
We are introduced to Captain Marvel Of Earth-5 (Billy Batson) , Quantum Superman Of Earth-4 (Captain Allen), Nazi Superman of Earth-X.Allen seems to be controlling the navigational system. Ultraman is on an unneeded rampage (He is from the Anti-Matter Universe). Their ship is falling onto Earth-20 which has a population of over 2.3 Billion. They drop of the ship on Universe-51 which is The Graveyard Universe (Nix was the Monitor of this Universe before his expulsion).
Ultraman seems to like pissing everyone off, which he does effectively. Villa tells Herr Superman that there is only one way to replenish the beating engine at which he is shocked..Ultraman says that it is all a scheme and "Ultimate" means one treasure and they will all have to fight to achieve this treasure.The Nazi Superman notes that the symphony and the Music is gone at which Allen notes that they are outside the Universe in a little place Mr.Morrison loves - Limbo !
They are welcomed by Merry Man, who is the King Of Limbo. Everyone in Limbo are the people who are forgotten, Merryman was a hero once but he was forgotten. Note that Ace The Bat Hound is here too.Superman wonders if this is what happens when "we" (Is this Morrison being Meta-Physical and sating that Superman knows that he is in a story and "death" means an end of need in a story. It is a very interesting choice of words to use for Superman.) die.
Captain Marvel has found the Shard of Eternity but everyone is starting to forget their purpose here as they are being forgotten due to their presence in Limbo. Merryman tells them about a Library which has just one book and is written by a Monkey, with no start nor end (Does anyone remember that Animal Man #24 by Grant had a cover of a monkey typing stuff. So the Monkey is a personification Of a Writer ?). Superman and Captain Marvel deduce that the book must contain everything and The Memory of their ship can download it and read it, hence getting instructions for its repair so that can get back into the Multiverse.
Previously, There was Monitor Only! And Then ! Then is a flaw found at the heart of Monitor Perfection!
OK , according to me the concept of "then" being a flaw says that time was a flaw in Monitor perfection (which is also noted by the Monitors at the end of Final Crisis issue 1, time has crept into the Monitor world from the germ worlds.)
Monitor makes a concept to contain this flaw (is that continuity ?) , Monitor examination reveals within terrifying, unforeseen complexities and contradictions (Lack of continuity and mix up ?). Magnification reveals a structure of infinitesimal rippling manifolds upon whose surface intricate germ like processes thrive and multiply (The Germ World, the people of the multiverse i think), Superman and Captain marvel are having trouble comprehending something inside which the whole Multiverse grows, they guess that it is an Abstract Infinite Intelligence
Monitor extends a probe... designed to blend with the surroundings, the probe secures contact !... With something monitor has never before encountered ! Inside the flaw- A Chaotic Froth of Events ! Lives.Deaths.Heroes.Villains.Lovers. (So is Existence and Life a Flaw ? Interesting. Doesn't Blackest Night deal with this. Seeds on a grander scale are sown here it seems.) Stories.
With no precedent for the Concept "Story"!... No understanding of the damage "Story" might do to an Immense awareness without limits or definition.... ... Monitor has Zero Defenses (This is exactly how the Monitors seem to be behaving). Blinded in two, The Probe Withdraws! The flaw is sealed, scabbed over with divine metals (scabbed over with Bleed ?)
Made Safe. Until all that remains of that Ill-Fated First Contact is a vast,uncanny form. The mystery of the silent sentinel (I have a theory of what this sentinel is , I'll explain in Issue 2) haunts Monitor, infects the immaculate intelligence with questions, speculations, pestilential, crawling narratives. Legend takes Root. and story, like contagion, spreads unchecked !
Becomes this history of a once-might Race Of Hyper Gods, direct descendants of the first immense and unknowable Monitor! This Epic elegy for a doomed civilization, declining from splendor to squalor (This seems to be the fall of the Monitors) This Final Crisis. This last ditch attempt to save creation itself from a loathing and greed beyond measure ! But First. Eons pass of peace and plenty while the haunting relic of first contact rusts, neglected. It has always been, it will always be. Yet its shadow shadow grows ever longer, ever colder in a deepening twilight. After extensive study, the circle of Monitors make its evaluation (So the Sentinel is a weapon that will be used against the Greed as Monitor did not have defenses against it ?)
Dread Of The Thing Grows. Rumor Spreads. Only on the last day will it yield up its secrets, it is said.Only then will the gift of Novu's final Gift be understood. Dax Novu, The Radiant one, The First son of Monitor and bravest of the science gods. Novu, whose brilliant, rebel intellect first probed the flaw and mapped its horrors. Who wrestled the Angel of Contamination! Who brought knowledge of the riches to the bleed! He who gave his life to chain the beast in darkness! Who knew the day of holocaust would come again! Deep within the Sepulchre Of Mandrakk there is a restless stirring. In the plague pit, The Prime eater of life senses its freedom.
Suddenly they fall and the story closes, Billy has forgotten his word and he is a little boy and Merryman tells them that nothing makes sense. Superman says he will be back for the Book.Merryman wants to come back saying that he has a talent for Gritty Drama no one has ever used. Allen's drugs are wearing off , his intelligence is going towards the infinite. Superman's wits are failing. Superman demands information from Zillo and is shocked to see that she is using Nazi Superman's blood to power the ship (or is she drinking it ?). It seems that the good end did not happen. Mandrakk is rising. The sky shatters and Ultraman holds the book saying that he has proof that Evil wins in the end, thats what the end says.
To Be Continued........
Review : This is really those sort of things i just can't explain in words. Its something you have to read to understand. Just Mind-blowing folks. The story is complex and yet simplistic. This is Grant at his Ultimate best. I know nearly everyone, including myself were confused and disoriented at the start but reading this along with Issue 2 really helps the experience and I Wish DC had gone with the route of releasing this wholly as a One Shot in the skip Month (80 Page Story would have been an amazing add.). I can review this better while finishing off Issue 2. To Those who read it, I salute you. This is Outstanding
Story : 9.6 Art : 9.3
Superman does not Care !
Next In Final Crisis : The amazing conclusion to Superman Beyond after which we go back to Earth where The Anti-Life Equation has broken everything.
