Mar 23
I liked him
seen from China
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I liked him
Close-up from the two-page spread depicting Duo Damsel’s and Bouncing Boy’s wedding, from Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #200 (Feb. 1974). Art by Dave Cockrum.
It was DC’s refusal to return these two pages to Dave Cockrum that led him to leave the company and go to work for Marvel. Some at DC editorial whined that Cockrum was acting like a spoiled kid and they didn’t need him.
Meanwhile, Cockrum helped revitalize the X-Men, which became the most popular and best selling comic book for several years thereafter.
Crisis On Infinite Earths #3
Warning, Spoilers Ahead…
The Monitor conducts tests on the child of Earth-3 Alexander Luthor and Lois Lane Luthor. He discovers the child consists of positive and negative matter consisting in one form: “For you somehow bridge this universe and the universe which threatens to swallow us all.”
Harbinger and Psycho-Pirate meet with their mysterious master. He orders the death of the Luthor child.
Earth-1, the future: I’m guessing it’s the 25th or 3oth century. I can’t remember which one Iris was born in. Yes, Iris Allen was from the future. The Tornado Twins (Barry & Iris’s children) fought with the Legion of Super-Heroes (30th century) but I have the 25th century stuck in my head. Flash (Barry) is racing around the massive destruction of Central City due to fierce storms and volcanic activity. Flash notes he’s lived in the future for “a moth” so it has been a month since his mysterious disappearance in the 20th century. Barry attempts to escape the incoming anti-matter wave.
Earth-1, New York City, July 1985: The Teen Titans and the Outsiders are assisting in search and rescue efforts. Superman saves Donna Troy from a collapsing building. Batman also arrives on the scene. Katana wonders why she’s even here: “What use is my sword against a threat like this?” Nightwing’s response: “Maybe none, Katana…but we need you!” Katana’s thoughts are what every low-powered hero thinks in situations like these.
Starfire wants an all-out offense: “We attack! We fight…do whatever we can…and we destroy whoever’s doing this to us! My world was conquered…I’ll not let that happen to this planet, too. You can’t understand. I won’t let this planet die!”
Superman sympathizes: “Believe me, Starfire, I understand all too well.”
Flash appears before the assembled heroes: “Oh my god…my god…I tried warning you…Help me…Hel…” Flash vanishes again. At this point in the series, readers should have realized this Crisis was not going to end well for Barry.
Old-school Brainiac in the classic robot-head tentacle ship! Location: Space, far beyond our solar system. Brainiac observes the expanding anti-matter destruction and comes to a startling observation: “To save myself is my Prime Directive. But to do that, I must also save the universe. I need assistance…on Earth! Only the one who calls himself Luthor can help me now!”
Help me, Lex Luthor, you’re my only hope?!
Late Spring 1994, Markovia, Europe: DC’s war heroes are battling the Nazis for control of the Monitor’s machine. Roll Call: Jeb Stuart and the Haunted Tank, the Losers, Sgt. Rock and the Easy Company.
General Stuart’s ghost warns Jeb: “The world is filled with winners and losers, but often time even losers win. This day, however, small Losers lose and never be seen again.
The World War II era of Pre-Crisis DC was packed to the brim with characters. You had, among others, the Justice Society, the Freedom Fighters, the Seven Soldiers of Victory, the All-Star Squadron, the Blackhawks, the Losers, the Haunted Tank, the Easy Company, the Losers, O.S.S., Madame Marie, the corresponding villains, etc. A very fun era for DC.
Geo-Force, Dr. Polaris, and Blue Beetle arrive on the scene. Blue Beetle is focused on the mission while Geo-Force and Dr. Polaris are determined to massacre the Nazis. In Geo- Force’s defense, Markovia is his home country. Dr. Polaris simply thinks it’s fun.
“My home country lies below. The Nazis slaughtered my people. Perhaps now I can pay them back!” – Go Brion, go!
Shadow Demon attack!
The Losers and most of Easy Company become victims of the Shadow Demons. Rest in peace, guys.
Blue Beetle discovers that the Scarab given to him by Dan Garrett destroys the shadow demons. Unfortunately, Ted nearly falls to his death before being sent home by the Monitor. A wounded Solovar is also sent home. Not quite sure about the Monitor’s logic. You discover that the Scarab can destroy the shadow demons but Ted falls so you bench him? Are you sure you’re trying to win?
1879: Coyote, Texas. The Wild West. DC’s Western heroes are investigating the Monitor’s Machine. Roll Call: Bat Lash, Scalphunter, Jonah Hex, Johnny Thunder, and Nighthawk. Is this an all-boys club? Where’s Cinnamon?
Cyborg, Psimon, Firebrand, and Green Lantern (John Stewart). Needless to say, the heroes’ appearance freaks the cowboys out. Jonah Hex calms the group down as he has met Hal Jordan: “Don’t ya remember the green costume on that hombre? It’s the same one we saw on another guy who called himself a Lantern or something.”
Bat Lash waits all of five seconds before hitting on Firebrand. He has no chance as Firebrand is more into knights than cowboys. Shadow Demon attack! John’s power ring mysteriously fails. Nighthawk and Coyote, Texas, are wiped out in an anti-matter wave.
Metropolis, the 30th Century. Cosmic Boy, Wildfire, Lightning Lass, and Sun Boy fail to stop the spread of the anti-matter wave.
Dream Girl is puzzled about why she had no premonitions about this crisis: “What I don’t understand is why didn’t I dream of it’s coming? How did this happen without my knowing about it?”
Element Lad, Mon-El, and Kid Psycho are evacuating England. Kid Psycho dies due to a combination of a collapsing building and the spreading wave of anti-matter wave.
The Monitor wails: “Instead of days only hours remain. The Earths are doomed!”
Harbinger confronts the Monitor: “It is time for you to die!”
The art of George Perez is gorgeous, as usual. Marv Wolman continues to juggle a huge cast and nails it every time.
Three issues in and the deaths have begun in earnest:
The Crime Syndicate
Earth-3 Alexander and Lois Luthor
The Losers
Easy Company
Nighthawk
Kid Psycho
Crisis on Infinite Earths #3 - "Oblivion Upon Us" (1985)
written by Marv Wolfman art by George Perez, Dick Giordano, Mike DeCarlo, & Anthony Tollin
I don’t know
All Star Legion #1 - Rich Buckler
Kid Psycho, Lady memory, & Lamprey info page