Final Crisis : Submit

Solicitation : In a world overrun by Darkseid’s Anti-Life Equation and his relentless storm troopers, do you choose to SUBMIT? As the lines between Super Hero and Super-Villain become blurred, the ultimate odd couple of Black Lightning and Tattoo Man, in what could be their final adventure, battle against the odds to save a family from the great darkness.
 
Written by Grant Morrison Art by Matthew Clark & Norm Rapmund

Synopsis : We start off with a shot of The Earth from above (The Green Lantern Energy fields are around Earth). Tattooed Man's wife attempts to use the Internet to try and communicate a S.O.S in these dire times.
Black Lightning is fleeing from the Dogs Of Apokolips and the Justifiers. He Electrifies the water to take the pooches out of commission. Tattooed Man and his son are nearby. Tattooed Man thinks the Justifiers are after them. Lots of Father-Son tension.

Black Lightning is cornered and about to be Justified when Tattooed Man makes the save with his , you guessed it, Tattoos ! T-Man takes Lightning home. He seems to have a huge grudge against heroes in general. Lightning asks him not to burn books, the last remnants of civilization. Lots of back and forth bickering, very well done.  He was supposed to go to the Hall Of Justice to help some friends but he diverted here when he heard a distress call (The SOS). He asks them to leave with him so they can be protected by SHADE. T-Man argues but his family is packed and ready. They seem to be hiding in a school so Lightning asks if there is a bus with which they can make their escape.

The Justifiers have found them. T-Man accuses the obvious. However his Wife says that it was her fault. They make a run for it. This is good and well done action. Fun! They reach the SHADE extraction point. The family runs for it. T-Man and Lightning hold line but see the Large forces gathering towards them. Lightning sees the situation and gives T-Man a Circuit (more on that in Final Crisis Issue 4) and tells him to go. Mark's son shoots Lightning, he wanted to prove himself , talk about the worst time ever kid.
mark and his family make a run for it, whereas Lightning is overrun by the Justifiers and short-circuited. Lightning's kids want to help but are stopped as they are needed for the Omega Offensive. Mark Richards leaves to complete Black Lightnings wishes and is now a hero and part of The Ultimate Resistance to save reality. We end this issue with a being destroying books and things of value to humanity and its a Justifier Black Lightning.

Anti Life Is The Answer ! Hell Yeah !

Review : The issue serves well if you understand its the calm before the Final Conflict. Its a very simple story of showing good and "bad" teaming up against EVIL. I think the art was fine, not Jones or Manhke. The story was also well written, maybe not Grant standard though. People can argue that this is an unnecessary tie-in to the story. The only salvaging thing is that it gives us a street view on how people are being affected under Darkseid's takeover of Earth after the Anti-Life Equation. Its not amazing like the rest, its not bad either. I would have liked to see something more dense. This was a bit like Morrison decompressing to fit in 30 Pages of story from what he could in 10 by his standards.


Story : 8.8
Art : 8.5

Next In Final Crisis : Earth is Darkseid, The Big Seven are gone and The New Gods are dead. What chance does Earth have? Whats happening with Dan Turpin? You do not want to miss this !