Tuesday, April 26, 2016

If it makes you feel better, like 90% of these guys came back.


It's like the expression, "It's all over but the crying," in that we're just in time for the crying. The conclusion to 2001's Our Worlds at War, World's Finest: Our Worlds at War #1, "Finale" Written by Jeph Loeb, art by Mike Wieringo, Doug Mahnke, Phil Jimenez, Mark Buckingham, Bill Sienkiewicz, Yvel Guichet, Pascual Ferry, Todd Nauck, Duncan Rouleau, Ed McGuinness, and more.

The captions this issue are mostly from General Douglas MacArthur's farewell address on April 19, 1951. It may seem an odd choice, but figure it was intended to give weight to the sacrifices of those lost in the storyline. Superman tries to get Batman to come to the memorials, but he was still searching for the missing Young Justice team. At the chasm in the ocean where Atlantis had been, a statue of Aquaman is erected as memorial, warning sign, and beacon all in one. Both Aquaman and Atlantis were officially M.I.A. but hopes were not high. In mourning, Flash asks Tempest if he's going to be the new Aquaman (since Wally had himself moved up when his mentor died) and Wonder Woman implies Aquaman could get lucky if he somehow returns.

The surviving old-timers of the Justice Society miss their lost Wonder Woman, Hippolyta. In Arlington Cemetery, Amanda Waller quietly buries the fallen Frank Rock. (Maybe, unless she doesn't.) On WarWorld, Supes and Wonder Woman honor Maxima and the Others, while grousing over Maxima's people now following Mongal. (That's not a typo.)

At the memorial for Strange Visitor, the lone turnout angrily accuses them of not knowing how he feels, since they've never lost anyone: Superman and Wonder Woman roll their eyes so hard I can still hear it. On the moon, Red Tornado is giving Batman the bad news: Young Justice ended up on Apokolips, but the kids are back shortly thereafter, dirty and looking beat. An unshaven Batman just looks glad he won't have to put another Robin uniform case in the Batcave.

At the funeral for General Sam Lane, President Luthor gives Lois a completely unwanted kiss on the cheek; and Clark Kent ducks out so Superman can make an appearance. Later, Supes and Lois visit the ruined remains of the Kent family farm, where the Kents are presumed dead? As well as Topeka, KA, apparently. The Kents would be back, although I'm not sure Topeka would, or Pluto, which disappeared early on in the crossover. DC does this sometimes: Coast City or Metropolis might get destroyed and then rebuilt and it's a big deal; but a real city like Montevideo, Uruguay gets it for shock value and is never mentioned again!

I had thought Superman had started wearing the black-replacing-yellow emblem after this, but hadn't by this issue.

1 comment:

Mr. Morbid's House Of Fun said...

Still better than the majority of the Phew52 storylines.