Final Crisis #2

Solicitation : Meet Japan's number one pop culture heroes, the Super Young Team and their languid leader, Most Excellent Superbat! Join legendary wrestler Sonny Sumo and super escape artist Mister Miracle as they team to face the offspring of the Anti-Life Equation! See Earth's superheroes mourn one of their oldest allies! Witness costumed criminals sinking to new depths of cowardice and depravity as Libra takes things too far! Uncover the doomsday secrets of the poisoned city of Bludhaven! Learn the shocking identity of the prime suspect in the murder of a god! And read on if you dare as Batman becomes the first of Earth's champions to face the Fallen of Apokolips. All this and a spectacular return from the dead...


Written by Grant Morrison Art by JG Jones

Synopsis : "Stop ! You Must Be Supercool To Proceed. Your Life Depends on It !" How ridiculous does that sound ? Only Grant Morrison can pull it off. We open at a Japanese Nightclub (notice lots of subtle DC Universe references with The Killing Joke Cover etc). We are introduced to the Super Young team which is probably at first glance a young and fun take on the modern Superhero mixed with modern Branding and marketing.

Sonny Sumo shows up, seeing him after a long time (During the Kirby days he was omega Beamed into living his life in feudal Japan, lot of foreshadowing on a major plot point which we still face the repercussions of today). Some loser called Megayakuza challenges him. Two seconds later the fight is over and so is Mega-Loser.

The Super Young team are these who want to be heroes for the fame and glamor which they openly say, Lantern Boy goes to get his autograph. We cut to International Megastar and Escapist Shilo Norman who has walked into the club. Sonny tells Lantern to buzz off (his backs scalded by Megayakuza), Shilo Norman gets in and tells him about the Powers Of Evil having won and the Motherboxxx (Love The XXX ) led him to Sonny.Sonny remembers the device which is cool with all the Kirby references. Its a huge Kirby Love Letter.

Nix Uaton, who has been sent to Earth after his fall as a Monitor is working at a Burger story and reading words in a dictionary (Not to improve his vocabulary, more on that in Issue 5), He is also talking to himself about The Multiversal Orrey, his co-workers obviously think he's mad. Nix starts drawing some sketches on beings in Parallel earths and our first glimpse of Ultimate Evil. (More on that in another post).

Dan Turpin beats the shit out of Mad Hatter and finds out that the "mind control hats" were designed by him. We hear Reverend Good talking about Bludhaven. Mad Hatter stammers about the kids and the others being at Bludhaven. Turpin starts feeling sick, some awesome build up is going to take place soon.He takes a one way to Bludhaven, All roads lead to Hell indeed.

We see a beautiful one page of The DC Superheroes around Martian Manhunter with Superman saying that they will pray for a resurrection (which is an obvious Grant reference at Manhunter's return in The Blackest Night.)

Libra seems to have won support after his awesome showing previously, Luthor is hesitant and says that he is not a low life with small ambitions. Libra promises to hurt Superman so that Luthor can take him more seriously. Later on outside, Luthor tries to get Vandal Savage's support to overthrow Libra, Vandal declines saying that he is bored and will do anything for excitement and change. Libra has plans for The Human Flame and takes him away.

The Big Three Of The DC are here discussing Orion and Martian Manhunter. Batman believes that Manhunter's death was because he impersonated Blockbuster recently. The Alpha Lantern Kraken comes inand puts Hal down for spending too much time on Earth which he does for obvious reasons.Kraken says that it is not possible to deduce the cause of death and which Batman firmly states that Orion was shot. Tension in the Air with Bruce unhappy at the interference and Jordan tries to mend things. Disarray everywhere.

Opto and John are at The Crime Scene of Orion's death. John finds a Theotoxic trace material containing bullet containing radion which was buried in 50 years giving us a major clue of the circumstance of Orion's death. John's ring starts to falter and someone tries to take him out, he tries to block the killing blow with his hands.

Hal is awoken from his sleep and is charged with the death of Orion and the attempted murder of John Stewart. His ring and badge has been suspended and he is taken away.

Batman and Superman discuss the situation. They both believe Hal is innocent. Superman leaves to submit a report and tells Bruce he will be back in an Hour or two. Wonder Woman and Doctor Midnite are besides John administering Purple Ray Technology. Batman and Kraken discuss the situation at which suddenly Kraken's demeanour changes and she begs him to say that the machines don't work at which Bruce realises that she is possessed. Batman tries to stop Kraken but she takes him out and puts him through the Boom Tube for her Master's Dark Desires.

Turpin hides and makes his way into the Command D Block of Bludhaven (noticed that Kamandi sounds like Command D). Reverend Good tells him that the kids were already seen at The Dark Side Club. He rejoices that The Dark Master is returning and they are all being reincarnated in their bleak majesty to bring along the Final Crisis of Man. Kamandi and others who aren't affected and different are being locked away to feed "The Forever Pit". Turpin starts to feel that there is someone in his head and he sees Batman locked away in a Chamber/Device (More on that in coming posts.)

Superman is at The Daily Planet where he submits the obituary of The Martian Manhunter, He sees Jimmy go and get something for Lois. He realises that Jimmy was in the cafeteria. Jimmy turns out to be Clayface and he destroys The Daily Planet.

Wally and Jay Garrick, The Flashes are looking around to the site where Martian Manhunter was killed. Flash talks about Batman's theory that the bullet was shot from a higher dimensional gun from the future causing Orion to be hit in the present and the bullet is buried in the past . Jay is uncomfortable as he does not like things related to time. Suddenly The Bullet goes past them and in all the shock, they see the shining beacon of Hope and sacrifice running towards them shouting "Run !" Did i Say that the embodiment of death was running behind him, The Black Racer ? Yeah..............

Review : Solid writing. The thing with this Crisis is that there are many Storylines happening. The Dan Turpin story, Nix's story, Libra doing his thing, The Super Young Team, The Flashes, The Alpha Lanterns and we have not even got to Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman. Its a very straight forward story with more and more insight into the players of the battle, lots of hints and clues. The Mystery builds into what will be a major turning point in Issue 3. There was criticism during the release for lack of action. Now it seems to be jam packed.

I noticed the interesting way Grant got lot of players off the board, blow after blow nearly. First John got attacked, Hal got arrested, Batman got abducted, Superman has to be with his wife,The Flashes nearly get killed. Its amazing ! The Super Young Team is a very rich addition to Grant's list of creations and to the Rich DC Universe

The Art has been amazing , not as good as the last one though but the layouts have been top notch and all the characters are well rendered and realistic, Now its street level. Wait for The Heavenly Battles.

Writing: 9.2
Art: 9.2

Last Thoughts : The players are nearly set and the mad Battle is to begin. The Street Level story is set to be Cosmic, Its already Cosmic in scale, Watch out.

 Barry Allen is Back !

Next In Final Crisis : More Of The Heroes Fall, Libra reveals his plans and The Earth is taken over in a sweep . See you next Time.

Discussion is Welcome.