Similar to yesterday's post, I was considering stories with similarities to Final Crisis, since I know many people complained they couldn't understand what was going on there, or what it was all about. It may be a moot point, since I'm not seeing as many of those complaints right now. Maybe Final Crisis is starting to look pretty good compared to Secret Invasion. Or perhaps the people that were complaining have just given up (people on the Internet ceasing to complain about something? Preposterous!), or they're doing so somewhere I haven't seen them (more likely). Useless or not, I already spent a good five minutes thinking about it, so now you can read it. You know, if you feel like it.
So the tag for Final Crisis has been "the day evil won". Well, this is a mainstream superhero comic, so we can be reasonably assured that evil won't still be winning at the end of the story*. So what it made me think of was watching all the Star Wars movies, from Episode 1 to Return of the Jedi, when you've already watched them once. or at least have heard what happens. So you know ahead of time the Jedi Council's efforts to halt the Dark Side will fail, but that eventually the Emperor will fall.
Right now, I think Final Crisis is somewhere around A New Hope. The first 3 issues seem to have been largely about Darkseid's forces getting everything set up, while the heroes are only dimly aware that anything is even wrong. And when they are aware, they don't seem to realize just how bad things are. Case in point: Even as he's lead away by the Alpha Lanterns, Hal Jordan reassures his friends that from now on, only Green Lanterns will be able to get on or off Earth. Whoever killed Orion and attacked John Stewart won't be able to escape. Which is all well and good, except Hal doesn't realize that one of the Alpha Lanterns is one of Darkseid's minions, which makes the blockade somewhat less effective. It's like watching the Jedis try and use Anankin to spy on Palpatine, not realizing the Chancellor will turn that around and convince Skywalker that the Jedis are a threat to peace, and that's he's Annie's friend and confidant, not any of them, so where should the boy's loyalties really lie? The Flashes try to save Orion from getting shot, but apparently couldn't pull it off. The Antil-Life equation is sent out across the world, and the heroes can only protect a few people.
A couple of other thoughts, based on that: If Final Crisis were following a similar story arc, then we can expect this assault by the heroes (assuming that happens in #5) to be a success, but to be followed up by a series of setback (Empire Strikes Back), before the final victory (which based on what I've heard about the novels that come after Return of the Jedi, will be temporary at best).
Other thought: The Trinity haven't accomplished much for the do-gooders thus far. Wonder Woman is one of those human/animal hybrids, Superman is off doing something that needs doing in a Yellow Submarine, and the Evil Alpha Lantern took Bats off the board early on. Is their absence comparable to Star Wars 4-6 with no Leia, Luke, or Han, or does their absence actually mirror the circumstances of those movies? A princess leading some rag-tag rebels, a farm boy fresh off the turnip truck, and a swashbuckling smuggler wouldn't necessarily be the people I'd entrust the overthrow of a Galactic Empire to. But they were what was available. The Jedis were basically wiped out, except for Obi-Wan, who spent his time keeping an eye on Luke, and Yoda who went and hid on a swamp world. The military was essentially under Palpatine's control, and the droids had been deactivated, so no getting them into the fray. So is the lack of Trinity, thus forcing other heroes (like Black Lightning, The Ray, Tattooed Man) to step up, a similar circumstance? I guess we won't really know until the story ends, though a part of me hopes what Superman's involved in keeps him occupied. I'm kind of tired of watching Darkseid play the Kryptonian's punching bag.
Still considering the comparisons: Darkseid is Palpatine, the massive dark power, looking to establish his will over everything. Palpatine uses the Force, Darkseid has the Anti-Life. I think Turpin would wind up being the "Vader" in all this. He's currently sharing a body with Darkseid, so if he could exert control at just the right moment, he could really turn the tide. Plus, you'd have to figure Darkseid wouldn't see it coming, figuring this small human can't override the will of Darkseid, within the shared body. I've read some speculation that Sonny Sumo is Orion, which I think makes him Luke. Since Mr. Miracle sought him out, that would paint him as Obi-Wan, but I'm more inclined to view him as Han. I think it's because he's an escape artist, and that seems to fit with Mr. Fly-By-The-Seat-Of-His Trousers. Then again, Shilo appears to have been shot in #4, so maybe he is Obi-Wan. Who gets to play Han then? The entire Super Young Team, or whatever those kids are called?
This is the second time in 2 months I've done something like this. I just find it highly entertaining for some reason.
* Though I could be very wrong about that. Morrison might just say "Screw it", and go for a major overhaul. It'd be like every hero in the DCU was the post-Civil War New Avengers, hunted and outnumbered.
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2 comments:
I'm liking Final Crises, and I'm also liking the fact that I can read it without it affecting the rest of the books, which is kind've weird, and the complete opposite of Secret Invasion.
I also rather like the fact that Batman was taken out so easily and so early. It's about time!
sallyp: I read somewhere online that the regular titles aren't going to react to FC until after its over. or until after they've completed their current story arcs. One of the two. Which would be kind of interesting, if true. I wonder if it'll be like One Year Later, where the books all deal with the aftermath of what happened?
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