Takion #1 (1996)

Takion #1 (June, 1996)
"Birth Pains"
Writer - Paul Kupperberg
Artist - Aaron Lopresti
Inker - Gary Martin
Letterer - Willie Schubert
Colorist - Lee Loughridge
Assistant Editor - Alisande Morales
Editor - Dan Thorsland
Cover Price: $1.75

Today we're going to meet Takion!  You remember him, right?  We last bumped into him when we discussed the Genesis debacle at some point last year.  I wondered just who in the hell he was then... and so, when I happened across nearly a full run of his title in the cheap-o bins (just missing #7), I excitedly snapped it up.  What can I say, I'm a stupid, stupid man.

Anyhoo... if you've been Takion-curious... read on, I promise you won't be for long!

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We open with a blind man seemingly being struck dead on the sidewalk.  He claims that since he's a psychologist, he should be able to "detach himself from pain and fear"... I've been taking psychology for six years now, and I gotta say... that class hasn't yet popped up on my schedule.  He collapses, and begins to smolder with energy as a crowd forms around him... and then...

Next thing we know, our blind shrink (Joshua Sanders) is ripped from his body and sent soaring through the cosmos, before winding up stood before... the Highfather!  This is notable because... having been blind since birth, this is the first time Joshua has ever been able to see anything... and now, he can see everything, not just what is front of him.

Highfather explains that he has chosen Sanders to be the "Takion of the Source", a Source Elemental... with the ability to manipulate the, wait for it, Source.  Sanders is the perfect pick because, according to Highfather, he's a "man without destiny", and therefore wouldn't be sorely missed.  There's a "compliment sandwich" if I ever heard one.  Anyhoo... as if I haven't typed "Source" enough yet... Takion's gig will be cleaning the taint of the Source... which, ya know... kinda sounds gross.  Profane, even!

We hop into a flashback, where we're seeing through Josh's eyes... kinda, because, ya know... blind.  He's behind his desk and chatting up a lady friend named Nancy.  It looks like they might have a romantic relationship.

The flashback is interrupted by Takion's own Cosmic Awareness kicking in.  He finds himself overcome by... everything.  Past, present, future... sights, sounds, smells... all'a dat stuff... including seeing a battle, seemingly with himself, perhaps a physical representation/manifestation of his Joshua Sanders self being at odds with his new Takion of the New Gods self?  Or, maybe just a sign of things to come... yeah, that's probably more like it.

After this, he returns to the scene of his own apparent demise... the crowd is still there.  He knows everyone's names... and introduces himself as "Takion"... which, gets a confused narration caption.  Overhead, Kyle Rayner soars by... however, upon passing over Takion, his ring briefly powers down.  He'll be back later.

Takion then flashes back to a time where he, in his blind fella form, almost wandered into the path of a truck.  Dude must've been deaf too... that was a big damn truck!  He then heads over to the hospital to chat up his lady friend, Nancy.  It doesn't take him as long as you might imagine to convince her that the flaming golden god standing in front of her is actually the blind psychologist from down the hall.

Since Josh isn't in control of his new cosmic awareness, his thoughts bleed into her brain.  She can hear so much of what he's worried about... for example, a solar flare erupting on the Sun at that very moment.  Their reunion and chat is cut short by the arrival of the Highfather... which Takion ain't at all happy about.

Takion takes off, and finds himself facing off with... Kyle Rayner!  Toldja he'd be back.  They spend the next several pages doin' that thing where superheroes fight one another.  It looks like Takion's got Kyle's number... and is even able to shut down his ring a time or two.  The fight continues until Takion is able to break through one of Kyle's constructs.

Takion and Kyle slam down onto the rooftop where Nancy is (still) standing.  Suddenly, the Highfather's voice comes from her body... telling Takion to accept his powers.

Highfather keeps riding Takion to "open himself up" to these powers... because the Source needs a scrubbin'.  To his credit, he also apologizes for the position he put Josh in.  Highfather then senses that his presence is known... and so, he bugs out back to New Genesis.  By this point, however, Takion's powers are sorta-kinda going out of control... and he's actually lifted an entire aircraft carrier out of the nearby drink!

We wrap up this opening chapter with that Takion's power seemingly shutting down, and that aircraft carrier slamming down onto a row of New York City high-rises!

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Well, this wasn't all that great, was it?

Let's start with some praise... this book moves along at a decent clip.  Had this book come out in "current year", it'd take about six issues to get where we are.  Hell, today we'd probably get an eight-page scene of blind Joshua feeding his cat in his darkened apartment or something.

Also, the Takion design is pretty cool.  Getting big-time Silver Surfer vibes (in look, power set, and angst), but I suppose that isn't the worst thing in the world.  Gotta wonder if this design was pitched as "Silver Surfer, but gold... with a sash", because that's kinda what it is.

Now, the story we get here... I'm sorry, just isn't terribly interesting.  It's well-written, and has all of the "nuts and bolts" a first issue ought to have... it's just really dull.  We have no reason to really care about Joshua Sanders... and no reason to empathize with the plight of Highfather, who comes across here as a selfish, callous jerk-ass.

Also, I didn't care for the way the fight with Kyle Rayner went down.  This is a staple of comics-character-introductions... you create a new character, and s/he must immediately best another character in battle.  My "go-to" example of this is usually new-monster-on-the-block Doomsday beating the hell out of Darkseid.  It feels forced, and I feel it doesn't do any of the characters involved any favors.

Overall... ehh, if you're down for a short-lived 1990's oddity, I suppose you could do worse.  I didn't find this interesting in the slightest... though, in fairness... I'm not the biggest New Gods guy to begin with.  The art is solid, it looks as though Lopresti was having a lot of fun with the malleability of the Takion character.  Might be worth a flip through, though I wouldn't recommend paying near cover price for it.

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(Not the) Letters Page:

 

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Justice League: Generation Lost #5 (2010)

Justice League: Generation Lost #5 (Early September, 2010)
"The Gang's All Here"
Script - Judd Winick
Breakdowns - Keith Giffen
Penciller - Aaron Lopresti
Inker - Matt Ryan
Colors - Hi-Fi
Letterer - Steve Wands
Editors - Rex Ogle & Michael Siglain
Cover Price: $2.99

The power of a great cliffhanger... wasn't planning on doing two issues of Generation Lost in a row, but after the way last issue ended, I just couldn't help myself!

The Day... and May are still Bright.  Now that we're just a couple days shy of the halfway point of the month, I'm wondering if it's time that we started skipping around the "crossovent"... or just stick it out with these early issues.  If anyone has any thoughts... or is even still reading, lemme know!

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We open with a flashback... to the future?!  We meet up with a "just threw the big game" Michael Jon Carter as he's being persuaded to help the authorities track down the big bad bookie.  They promise him immunity if he hands over some names... and, of course once he does, they renege.  This is a "once bitten, twice shy" moment for Booster in the ol' getting screwed over arena... and takes us to the present... in the past... relatively speaking, where the Gen Lost League is chatting up a holographic Maxwell Lord.

Max shares with them that... yeah, he's been working in the background in hopes that the Justice League International would reform, because he thinks the world needs them now more than ever.

He describes his own mission as one with a "saving the world" sort of scale.  He'd like the JLI to work together... but more "alongside" him than "with" him, if that makes any sense.  They're all going to be working to the same ends, just not "together"... ya dig?  This baffles and annoys Booster, who just a few days ago was nearly beaten to death with a pipe by this very man.  Max figures since he didn't actually kill him, it's "no harm, no foul".

They argue a bit, with Max talking to them kind of like they were children.  Like he knows what's best for them.  He tells them not to pursue him anymore... not like they could.  After all, Max is so much "better at this" than any of them.  He turns his attention to Skeets and tells the little bot to stop trying to trace his signal... then, just as he triggers the Rocket Red armor he's emanating from to self-destruct... he ends the transmission.

The Gen Lost League frantically attempt to figure out how to disarm the bomb... since, ya know... there's an innocent human inside that Rocket Red armor.  It gets to the point where the "big boom" is eminent... and so, Captain Atom takes the Red into his arms and flies him a safe distance away from the League.

On the ground, the Gen Lost League look on at the, err... Rocket's Red Glare.  Then... Jaime informs Booster that he, ya know... managed to trace Max's signal.

We jump ahead to the New York Branch of the Justice League International where Booster and Beetle run the coordinates through the computer system.  Gotta imagine that Max might still be tapped into these computers since they are, ya know... his.  Maybe we're thinking too hard.

Off to the side Captain Atom and Ice have a fairly contentious and uncomfortable conversation about death and dying.  They compare their circumstances... and both seem to come to the conclusion that... death kinda sucks.

Off to another side, Gavril and Bea are having an awkward... and only sorta contentious chat about hypocrisy.  Gavril espouses all of these Communist beliefs... hates everything western... but still thinks it's awfully cool to be a part of the Justice League.

Booster and Beetle are finally able to triangulate Max's location... and wouldn'tcha know it... he's at Checkmate!  Weren't we like just there?

Booster has another flashback... and this one's really from the past.  He's remembering the first time he ever met Maxwell Lord... how arrogant and cocky he... well, they were.  Max offers him membership into the Justice League... because, well Max can do whatever he wants.

We wrap up with the Gen Lost League vowing to go after Max.

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Okay, maybe not exactly the follow-up I was hoping for... but still a good time.

Let's get Max out of the way.  There's this weird charismatic charm about him here... not unlike the way Lex Luthor was depicted in the early parts of The Final Night.  It's almost like there's part of me that... wants him to win!  I swear, all Max needed to do was call Booster "kemo sabe", and I'd have been done!

What I don't really get is the purpose of exploding the Rocket Red armor.  I mean, he reassembled the Gen Lost League because he feels like they're the "right heroes" for the time, right?  So, why would he trigger a bomb around them?  He'd have to assume that these heroes might risk their own lives in order to save the innocent Russian inside the armor, no?  Wouldn't that just undo all of his prior machinations?  Am I thinking too hard?  Probably.

Feel like a better way to do it would just have Skeets try and trace the signal... and short-circuit, with Max all "Tsk, tsk, tsk... that's what you get for trying to track me."  I feel like that would've made more sense.

Outside of that one bit though... really dug this.  There was some very strong characterization... and we get the feeling that we're actually "working through this" with the members of the team.  The scene between Captain Atom and Ice was definitely an unexpected treat.

Aaron Lopresti provides pencils this time around, and he's just as great as ever.  I wanna say that it was with this series that I finally started to notice when his name would pop up in the credits.  Super clean, super dynamic work.  Really like it!

Overall... sort of a "roundabout" issue.  Ends exactly where we knew it would.  We open with the League wanting to track down Max... and we end the very same way.  Still, there were some fun character interactions... and some neat "motivational" flashbacks.  Worth a look.

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DC Universe #0 (2008)

DC Universe #0 (June, 2008)
"Let There Be Lightning"
Writers - Grant Morrison & Geoff Johns
Pencils - George Perez, Doug Mahnke, Tony S. Daniel, Ivan Reis, Aaron Lopresti, Philip Tan, Ed Benes, Carlos Pacheco & JG Jones
Inks - Scott Koblish, Christian Alamy, Tony S. Daniel, Oclair Albert, Matt Ryan, Jeff De Los Santos, Ed Benes, Jesus Merino & J.G. Jones
Colors - Alex Sinclair, Tom Smith & David Baron
Letters - Nick J. Napolitano
Assistant Editor - Adam Schlagman
Editor - Dan Didio
Cover Price: $0.50

Had a whole big "thing" planned for today.  Seeing as though this is my 616th post, I was thinking of doing a DC/Marvel crossover.  Said it before... and unfortunately, I'll likely say it again... moving house stinks, and many of my rooms look like they've been hit by a four-color explosion.

I think most of my DC/Marvel stuff is in Longbox #33... just haven't the foggiest which room Longbox #33 might be in!

Soooo.... we'll read and discuss something else.

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We open with what appears to be the Universe (or perhaps a being who is "one with" the Universe)... monologuing.  It's a long shot of the universe... and it claims to be "everything".  It continues to speak of its defenders, the Justice League of America... and it's the original seven (the real original seven).  We can also see several early recruits.  The narration continues... speaking of a Multiverse, and a pair of Crises... one that nearly destroyed everything, and another that brought with it multiversal resurrection... and threats of a third, and Final Crisis.

We shift ahead to the 31st Century, where Superman (wearing a Legion flight ring) is battling a baddie called Tyr.  Superman requests back-up from his teammates... and so, we see Legionnaires Brainiac-5 and the White Witch having a sort of seance.  Brainy says he's attempting to drum up some help for the Man of Steel... however, the next page shows the entire Legion embroiled in battle with those Shadow Demons from Crisis on Infinite Earths!

Next up, we head to Arkham Asylum, presumably the "present day".  Batman is visiting with the Joker, who seems to be using regular playing cards as a crazy sort of tarot.  Folks really had some fun trying to decipher this scene back in the day.  The first couple of cards dealt are the Ace of Clubs and the Eight of Diamonds... which if metasymbology.com is to be believed, the ACE is the card of "desire"... and the CLUB means many things, Education among them... so, it might symbolize Batman's desire for information.  Or, it might just be a reference to the "Club of Heroes" or "Club of Villains".  The EIGHT means "power" and "control"... DIAMOND means many things, among them Security.  Lookit me, pretending to understand this stuff!  (I don't by the way, just so we're clear).

Batman asks the Joker if he's heard of an organization (or person) known as The Black Glove.  The next card dealt is the EIGHT of HEARTS.  Hearts, among other things, means vulnerability... which is pretty apt at this juncture.

The Joker is kinda tickled by Batman not knowing what's to come.  He tells him that there are people who are looking to... and are capable of hurting him in a way that he won't recover.  Next card is the ACE of SPADES.  Which could mean Acceptance... as the Joker follows up by pretending to blow his brains out with a finger-gun.  Also worth noting, and more likely the "symbolism" of this scene than any of the nonsense I just researched... H is the eighth letter of the alphabet... soooo, the 8A8A card layout spells... HAHA.

Batman insists that he isn't afraid... after all, if he were, he'd no longer be Batman.  The Joker shows the final card of this "dead man's hand" (Aces and Eights)... and, well, wouldja lookit that... the "wild card" is a JOKER card... didn't see that coming!

Next we check in on Wonder Woman, who is battling a Minotaur.  Meanwhile, Zeus and Apollo appear to be plotting against her... assembling an army of men to take down the Amazons.

In Northern California, Green Lanterns Hal Jordan and John Stewart are investigating a scene where the villain Black Hand (not to be confused with Black Glove... though, I've heard one fits perfectly into the other) exploded while being transported to a federal prison.  They see a burnt corpse... with a handprint on its chest... a handprint we're about to become very familiar with.

We next follow Black Hand... and also take a tour of the emotional spectrum... as he is summoned by a... black lantern?!  Uh-oh.

Next up, we see a scene of the Spectre fighting off the Anti-Monitor from Crisis on Infinite Earths... however, this isn't the green ghoul we're going to be reading about today.  There's a new Spirit of God's Wrath/Vengeance/whatever around, and it's former Gotham City cop Crispus Allen.  Our narrator is hopeful that, in the coming Crisis, he'll learn that there's more to his role than just vengeance.

We shift to somewhere between shadow and light, where a figure falls... a flaming figure, perhaps Darkseid?  Perhaps our narrator?

Next up, a meeting of a reformed Secret Society of Super-Villains... this time led by Libra... and the Crime Bible from 52?  Sure, why not?

We wrap up with our narrator's caption becoming clear... it's no longer shaded at one end... now, it features a... lightning bolt?!  Now "he" remembers!

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Now, if I were to tell you that we were going to discuss an issue by Geoff Johns with "DC Universe" in the title, that was secretly narrated by the Flash... this probably isn't the first one you'd pick out.

Lemme be honest here... this whole era took place during my unemployment-fueled exile from comics.  I did grab this one though... seeing as it only cost fifty pennies.  I recall hating it.  Not so much for the story, but for the fact that I'd only been away for about six months... and I was completely lost!  I think as a primer for new/lapsed readers... this book kinda fails.

If you were ensconced in 2008 DC, however, I think there's a ton to like/love here.  This serves as a pretty decent bridge from (whatever the hell) Countdown (was) to Final Crisis.  I've tried several times over to read through Countdown... and never make it past the second (of four) trade collection.  I think if you were so inclined, you could probably skip that... and just read this.  If you're a new reader, you're going to be lost either way!

It's even tough to discuss the individual scenes, as they all play out in different titles.  I suppose if you were following those books that would be one thing... I dunno... it's really hard for me to put this one in a "vacuum"... it's predicated on too many stories, and leads to too many more!  I really feel like the "introductory" price is a bit deceiving... as this isn't new-reader (or even briefly-lapsed reader) friendly in the slightest.  Maybe if this was Countdown to Final Crisis #0... or Final Crisis #0 I'd think differently, but as a stand-alone... it disappoints.

And, no... we're not going to get into Final Crisis today.  That's a whole 'nother kettle of wax, ball of fish... whatever... which is on the agenda (likely to be followed up with Reggie and I digging our way through a Weird Comics History episode), but that's for another day.

This is a toughie to recommend, as it brings a whole lotta baggage with it.  If you wanna read this as a snapshot of post-Infinite Crisis/pre-Final Crisis DC, I'm sure you could.  You might not get much out of it... but, then again you may!  On the other hand, if you are doing a mid-aughts DC reading project, than this is a must.  How's that for riding the fence?

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DC Nation:

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