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The story of the Kryptonian Nightwing and Flamebird seems to be almost over. It's been an interesting experiment, putting a couple of untested characters in the lead of what should be the premiere superhero comics. It's hard to say whether or not it worked; it's easy to say that it was never intended to be permanent.
The question then becomes: what happens to the two of them? I imagine they'll survive their scuffle with "Rao" and go on to play a part in War of the Supermen. Whether they make it out of that alive is hard to say. Chris is going to have to face his birth father at some point. That's a given. The confrontation has been brewing for a while and it's bound to be messy.
Thara is going to have to deal with Alura, too. After all, Supergirl's mother blames Thara for her Zor-El's murder. So that won't go well either. Still, both of these encounters will almost certainly happen.
But after War of the Supermen? It's hard to say where things will end up. It's distinctly possible that Kandor stays in the bottle. It's distinctly possible that it has to stay in the bottle for whatever reason. Really, I think when this is all over most things are going back to the status quo: Zod and his goons go back to the Phantom Zone, Alura and everyone else (save Supergirl) get stuck in the bottle, and Nightwing and Flamebird become the heroes of Kandor.
Still, I'd like to be wrong. I'd love for their to be a real shake up in the way things play out. But how often does something so radical -- not to mention permanent -- actually happen in comics?
I think it's safe to say that I really enjoyed the first issue of Last Stand of New Krypton. Though I've more or less been interested in the whole "New Krypton" thing, I was starting to get tired of "Commander El" and all that. What I wanted was Superman.
Well, I got Superman. In a big way. One of the through lines of the entire "New Krypton" saga seems to have been that there may be many Kryptonians... But there is only one Superman. Last Stand of New Krypton reinforces that. We see the how super-powers do not a superman make.
This whole saga has been flailing, but I think that Last Stand on New Krypton has given it the shot in the arm it needed. Not only have we gotten the real Superman... But we're getting real villains again. The last page of the issue could not have made me happier.
The strangest thing about this all is that I do not know how it's going to end. At the beginning I thought they were going to stick the Kandorians back in the bottle and be done with it. They still might. But I'm not entirely sure. Something big is going to happen here, and even though Superman's status quo may go back to normal... It won't be the same.
World of New Krypton ends this week, and I for one am glad. That maxi-series ending means that in a few months Superman will be back where he belongs.
That said, it has been an interesting tale they've told over the past year. Indeed, for the greater story that DC is trying to tell (I'll leave you to decide whether or not it's one worth telling) World of New Krypton was probably necessary. Without Superman in the midst of those other Kryptonians we would never have been able to see exactly why Superman is so special.
The entire point of the story (besides giving us a glimpse at the technological marvels and alien flora/fauna of Krypton) has been to show why Superman is one of a kind. If nothing else, the story has managed that. We see a host of Kryptonians who think that their powers make them, well, powerful.
But even with the raw physical power to move planets they lack the real power that Superman has always had. This story may have tried to take that away (with the "World Against Superman" malarkey) but that is not something so easily destroyed. For the people of Earth Superman is someone special. And even twelve months away from the planet can't change that.
Have I mentioned how weary I am of all the New Krypton stuff?
I was sort of digging it at the start. But now I'm just sick and tired of all these jerks from Krypton. Honestly, I'm beginning to feel relieved that the planet was destroyed when it was. The Kryptonians remain the "assholes of space" even after all this time.
I want Superman back in his own books again. As much as I dig Mon-El (and I do dig Mon-El) it's just not the same. Superman needs to be back where he belongs. I know that that's most likely the endgame for this whole story arc, but I'm tired of waiting.
My hope is that we'll get back to a more normal status quo one of these days soon. I'm hoping we won't end up with many Kryptonians running around after this is all over. I like Flamebird and Nightwing well enough, but I still miss the simple gravity of Superman as "The Last Son of Krypton."
Where is Clark Kent?
Now, I know that the answer to that is actually "he's on New Krypton." Because you and I both know that Clark Kent, Kal-El, and Superman are one and the same. But a lot of people don't know that. Perry White, Clark Kent's boss is one of those people.
Isn't anyone asking where Clark Kent has gone? Isn't anyone curious? As far as I know (and I'll admit I may have missed it) this issue hasn't arisen. No one is asking Lois Lane where her husband has disappeared to. Nobody seems to be paying attention.
Now, I know Clark Kent is supposed to be a guy who fades into the background, but this is the sort of thing I'd like to see at least mentioned. Even if it's a simple question from Perry to Lois asking her "how's Clark doing taking care of his mother after his father died during this year long sabbatical I've given him?" Something like that would work.
I neither feel like posting nor have much to say today. It's just been... Well, it's been one of those days. I'm sure I don't have to explain to y'all what I'm talking about.
Still, World of New Krypton was fun this week, wasn't it? I was especially keen on that last page. I'm not entirely sure where the whole New Krypton mess is going to end up... But things just seem to be getting worse and worse for those Kryptonians.
But then, as the "assholes of space" some of them do deserve it...
Oh, you know it's time for solicitations!
What, pray tell, do we have in store for the month of December?
BLACKEST NIGHT #6
Written by Geoff Johns
Art and cover by Ivan Reis & Oclair Albert
Variant cover by Rodolfo Migliari
Sketch variant cover by Ivan Reis
The secrets of Nekron are revealed as darkness consumes the DC Universe.
Everything else: TOP SECRET.
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with three covers. For every 25 copies of the Standard Edition (with a cover by Ivan Reis & Oclair Albert), retailers may order one copy of the Variant Edition (with a cover by Rodolfo Migliari). For every 100 copies of the Standard Edition, retailers may order one copy of the Sketch Variant Edition (with a cover by Ivan Reis). Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
On sale December 23 • 6 of 8 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US
Well, Blackest Night will be hitting the home stretch. But what will we see? Wait, TOP SECRET? I suppose that means we're going to get some sort of continuity altering event? Maybe, maybe not. Regardless, I'm sure we'll get more super-powered zombies ripping out peoples' hearts...
SUPERMAN: WORLD OF NEW KRYPTON #10
Written by Greg Rucka & James Robinson
Art by Pete Woods
Cover by Gary Frank
Variant cover by Dustin Nguyen
New Krypton is a planet so fresh, s experiencing countless things for the first time. Its first spring. Its first blooms. Its first birth of a child. And now its first homicide. When an important figure in Kandor is murdered, the suspect seems obvious to everyone but Superman. But can he make Zod or the Council believe this is more than an open-and-shut case? And can he uncover the real killer in time to save the life of the accused? s a dark mystery, but R.E.B.E.L.S. star Adam Strange arrives in time to help find answers& even though the truth may blow apart the civilized trappings of Kandorian society in the process.
This action-packed arc leads all the way to the series final issue, which itself sets the stage for huge happenings in the DC Universe next summer!
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. For every 25 copies of the Standard Edition (with a cover by Gary Frank), retailers may order one copy of the Variant Edition (with a cover by Dustin Nguyen). Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
On sale December 2 • 10 of 12 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
It sounds like something big is brewing for next summer with the Superman books. I'm actually looking forward to that even more than I'm looking forward to the post-Blackest Night status quo.
Oh, and my prediction is this: the "murderer" is Superman's New Krypton "pal."
JSA ALL-STARS #1
Written by Matthew Sturges
Art and cover by Freddie Williams II
Variant cover by Ryan Sook
An all-new ongoing series! The Justice Society spin off group struggles to pull itself toward some semblance of order after the s devastating split! New home base, new training methods, new villains all bringing the JSA All-Stars face-to- face with one of their greatest villains again for the first time! Join writer Matthew Sturges (JUSTICE SOCIETY, JACK OF FABLES) and artist Freddie Williams II (ROBIN) for a new chapter in the JSA legacy.
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. For every 25 copies of the Standard Edition (with a cover by Freddie Williams II), retailers may order one copy of the Variant Edition (with a cover by Ryan Sook). Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
On sale December 2 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US
The big JSA split happens this month, and I'm still not sure what I want to do. I have favorites on both teams as well as characters I don't like on both teams. Also, I don't have infinite money. What's a guy to do? I'll probably at least try out the first issue of All-Stars. But who knows if I'll stick with it. I mean, it's got Magog.
POWER GIRL #7
Written by Jimmy Palmiotti & Justin Gray
Art and cover by Amanda Conner
A blast from the past! The alien Vartox has come to Earth to claim a wife and her name is Power Girl! PG may have wanted a boyfriend, but not quite like this! The fan-favorite team of Palmiotti, Gray and Conner craft another winner!
On sale December 16 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
VARTOX! VARTOX! VARTOX! I'm so glad I didn't drop this book.
What are you looking forward to in December?
For tonight's Thursday Night Thinking: a blast from the past!
Really, did you think "New Krypton" was the first time someone had thought about taking Kandor out of the bottle?
After last night's post I've been thinking about the whole "New Krypton" thing. I'm believe that loyal commenter Jake is right -- it's not going to tie into anything else and it will wrap up around the time that World of New Krypton comes to a close.
The big question is this: how is this all going to be resolved? We know a few things. For instance, we know that Mon-El will end up back in the Phantom Zone eventually. He needs to be there so that the Legion can pull him out in a thousand years. And I think it's safe to say that eventually New Krypton is going to go away. That situatio is not sustainable. We can't have a planet full of Kryptonians in the Sol system indefinitely. It just won't work.
So what's going to happen? I honestly don't know. There's been so much new ground broken with this storyline that I don't know what to expect. There's nothing to say that Zod has to go back in the Phantom Zone or Kandor has to go back in the bottle. Heck, maybe I'm wrong and New Krypton doesn't even have to go away!
But in one sense it does. The tension between Earth and New Krypton can't last forever. Something is going to break. Somebody will cause that spark. And something will happen.
How do you think the New Krypton story will end?
I'm a bit concerned about what's going on with the whole "New Krypton" thing. Specifically, I'm worried that it's becoming a bit too Marvellike.
In what way, you ask? Well, my biggest concern comes from how the "average" person on the street seems to be reacting to this whole thing. They're starting to get a wee bit too close to the way Marvel civilians react to superheroes. By that, I mean they're being easily fooled and stupid.
Now, to be fair the people trying to trick them are a lot more powerful and intelligent than any of the so-called masterminds of the Marvel Universe. And I can understand people being wary of Supergirl, considering that she's done a whole heap of stupid things up to and including recently.
But I never thought I'd see the day that the people of Metropolis lost their faith in Superman. Sure, we've seen similar stories where something like that happens. But never to this degree. People believe in Superman. They always have. And I thought they always would.
So. I think I've figured out what the hell is going on in the Superman books right now.
Rather, I figured it out quite a while ago and now I'm going to share it with you in case anybody out there is still confused.
Here's the deal: as we all know General Lane (wasn't he of considerably lower rank before) faked his death. He did this to get involved with the ridiculously named "Project 7734." Now maybe he started it and maybe he didn't. That doesn't matter.
What does matter is that somebody in the United States government (and specifically the military) managed to gain access to the Multiverse. In the process they undoubtedly came upon the drifting, comatose Captain Atom in the Bleed which separates the universes (as you may recall, we last saw Captain Atom a Monarch during Countdown).
Project 7734 accessed multiple worlds, mostly magical in nature. Remember the satellite "doors" that blasted Superman and Krypto during Robinson's initial Atlas arc? Those were obviously gateways to various magical worlds. Why else would they be called doors?
Speaking of Atlas, Lane and the rest got him from one of the other Multiversal worlds. He's working with them now for his own purposes, possibly to get home or find a new world to conquer.
Where do the mysterious tattoo-faced sorceress and the thuggish green monsters come in? Simple: Project 7734 eventually came upon a world where the established government and military were having troubles with uprisings. Problem was, their world was magic-based and they needed something with raw power. Convenient, considering in our world General Lane and Project 7734 were up against raw power (Kryptonians) and needed some magic to fight them.
And so, as nations have many times done a swap was agreed to. Mirabi (the above mentioned sorceress and apparently a princess of her world) was loaned out to the U. S. Military to deal with the Kryptonians. And Project 7734 was more than happy to loan a brainwashed Captain Atom (how much more powerful can you get?) to Mirabi's people.
That, of course, leads up to where we are now. We've got dangerous military organizations on both sides of the Bleed. On our side, Superman is going to have to clean things up. And it looks like Captain Atom is going to take point (having divested himself of mental control) on the other side.
Should be fun all around.
It was quite a week for comics, what with Battle for the Cowl and Supergirl. I may talk about Battle for the Cowl tomorrow, but I want to talk about Supergirl right now.
The whole of New Krypton has been a bit unexpected to me. I didn't really expect any of it to work. Surprisingly, it does seem to be working. Even more shockingly, Supergirl is managing to keep pace with the quality of the other Super-books. After all the missteps and false starts for the book and character over the past few years, it's a breath of fresh air.
Even more refreshing is the fact that Supergirl has managed to shock me. Precious few comics are able to shock me these days. Battle for the Cowl had some interesting revelations, but nothing particularly shocking. But the last few pages of this week's Supergirl had me staring at the book with my jaw dropped. Characters die in comics all the time. But rarely do we see deaths that play out like that.
The events of the Superwoman storyline will undoubtedly have far reaching consequences for Supergirl. Fortunately, I have absolutely no idea what those will be. And that's a nice change of pace...
As you probably already know Greg Rucka and Eddy Barrows are taking over Action Comics this month. The star of the book will not be Superman, but rather Nightwing and Flamebird. No, not that Nightwing.
At the moment we don't really know who the characters are. We've got little more than a few hints and a some speculation. But as I am wont to do here this night I shall make my own predictions as to who the characters are.
First up is Nightwing. This Nightwing is a young male with black hair, clearly possessing both the powers of super-strength and flight. He's also got something he calls "tactile telekinesis." So it's pretty obvious to me that it is Superboy.
The tactile telekinesis gives it away, but you've also got the fact that both Nightwing and Flamebird seemed to know exactly how "New Krypton" would end. And if you're reading Legion of Three Worlds it's pretty obvious that that is where Superboy will be returning to life. And if he came from the future, he already knew what would happen.
The other member of the duo is Flamebird. She's a little trickier to pin down -- we haven't actually seen her fly under her own power and clues to her identity are sparse. Still, if the preview of next week's issue is accurate she has brown hair. It's not much to go on, but I still believe that Flamebird is Linda Danvers, former Supergirl.
That seems like a bit of a longshot, yes? After all, she hasn't been seen in years. But there are a few things that lead me to that conclusion. First, her new codename is Flamebird -- and as Supergirl she sported a pair of flaming wings (if you don't know what I'm talking about it's needlessly complicated and I won't explain it here).
Secondly, with her on the team that would mean that Nightwing and Flamebird are both heroes who are partially human and have worn the "S". Who better to protect the Earth from evil Kryptonians?
