Brightest Day #0 (June, 2010)
"Carpe Diem"
Writers - Geoff Johns & Peter J. Tomasi
Penciller - Fernando Pasarin
Inkers - John Dell, Cam Smith, Prentis Rollins, Dexter Vines & Art Thibert
Colors - Aspen MLT's Peter Steigerwald w/Beth Sotelo
Letterer - Nick J. Napolitano
Assistant Editor - Rex Ogle
Associate Editor - Adam Schlagman
Editor - Eddie Berganza
Cover Price: $3.99
Welcome everyone to... Brightest May! Where we're going to spend the month revisiting the last time I felt positive and excited about DC Comics' direction!
Now, I'm planning for this to go all the way through May... but, ya know... things happen. I might get burned out on the concept a week or two in. It's unlikely that'll happen... but worth mentioning. We'll just play it by ear.
Brightest Day was when I made my "grand return" to DC Comics fandom after a little while away. I've mentioned it before, but in 2008 I lost my job... and the Christate was anything but "Palatial". I actually lost the damn thing! Needless to say, comics weren't anywhere near a priority at the time.
When things began to turn around, DC Comics was just wrapping up something called Blackest Night. I gave it one look, figured it would cost me an arm and a leg to get caught up... and turned my attention back to Marvel. Well, it wasn't too terribly long before the siren song of DC Comics brought me back over.
This... I dunno, "initiative" (I guess?) felt fresh, after years of darkening the DC Universe... there was finally some light. Heroes were hopeful... and it felt as though we were actually headed somewhere. Ya know, because DC told us as much.
That's another thing we'll be looking at as we work through the month. Brightest Day led to the grand cosmic toilet flush of 2011. Of course DC will tell you that was the plan all along... I think as we re-familiarize ourselves with Brightest Day we'll be able to mythbust the hell out of that.
Anyhoo... I hope you'll join me this month for our trek through an odd, wonderful, and frustrating time in semi-recent DC Comics history.
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Don't you dare be sour... we open on a new day. The kind of day where a baby bird might make their first overtures toward leaving the nest... a day where it might be too soon for such a thing. The poor bird plummets from the tree, and bonks its tiny head against a tombstone. Not just any tombstone, however... the tombstone of Boston Brand, the not-so Deadman.
Brand lets loose with a sledgehammer, destroying his tombstone... and questioning his new lot in "life". Since the white ring found him, he's feeling all those "human" things that the rest of us mere mortals find ourselves putting up with every day... achy legs, hunger... stuff like that. He kneels down and picks up the baby bird... and in a flash of light, it comes back to life!
Then... the white ring speaks. It asks Deadman for help, while bathing him in white. Brand's original death would occur in his first-appearance, Strange Adventures #205 (October, 1967).
We shift scenes to the Amnesty Bay Lighthouse, where Mera has begun to stir from her slumber. She heads outside to find the recently revivified Aquaman watching the sunrise. Aquaman had died sometime during the Infinite Crisis/One Year Later deal. He wonders why he was chosen... when Garth and Tula remained dead. I mean, the easy answer is "those characters couldn't support their own feature, much less title"... but, I get what he means.
Mera attempts to entice him into into going for a swim... but Arthur just can't shake an ominous feeling. As he sits down on the dock, Deadman appears.
Next stop, Iron Heights Penitentiary, where Deadman materializes before the cell of Eobard Thawne, who had also been brought back to life. Thawne was killed way back in Flash #325 (September, 1983) in the story that would send that title into the never-ending Trial of the Flash. Brand considers what this could mean. Why would the ring choose a psychopath?
At that very moment, the Flash arrives at Iron Heights to check in with yet another returning villain... Captain Boomerang (Digger Harkness). This Captain died during Identity Crisis. Barry's not completely sure how to approach him. Digger ensures him that he won't waste this opportunity.
We shift over to St. Roch, Louisiana where Hawkman and Hawkgirl look at some tchotchkes. The Hawks were killed not too long ago during Blackest Night. At that moment, a strange expedition is taking place in the Andes.
Deadman arrives just in time to see the Hawks start "goin' at it"... and so, he shields his face. After a moment, Carter pulls away... suddenly the room is full of the ghosts of their past lives.
Shiera attempts to comfort him, when an odd crystal shard given to them by a Star Sapphire bursts from his utility belt, and bonds to his gauntlet. It appears to want to lead them somewhere.
As they follow the mitt, we see just what that expedition has uncovered... the bones belonging to Hawkman and Hawkgirl's first bodies!
We next shift over to our old pal Max Lord. He's hooked up to IVs and stood before an ice-bath. Yep, we've discussed this bit before. Anyhoo, Max was killed by Wonder Woman in Wonder Woman (vol.2) #219 (September, 2005). He is, of course, putting his "powers of suggestion" into overload in order to make the entire planet forget that he ever existed... and, as we've seen in the pages of Justice League: Generation Lost, it almost works! Deadman arrives just as he takes the plunge.
Next stop, Mars... where Green Lanterns Hal Jordan and Guy Gardner are visiting their pal the Martian Manhunter. J'onn was killed in Final Crisis #1 (July, 2008). It's a cordial (jovial, even!) and hopeful reunion between the three friends. J'onn informs the fellas that he will remain on Mars for now... and do whatever he can to "bring it back".
Speaking of Lanterns, we next shove off to Oa... where the recently returned Jade is being run through some training exercises. Jenny died in Infinite Crisis Special: Rann-Thanagar War #1 (April, 2006). She thinks she's being put through this intense regimen in order to keep her from reconnecting with Kyle. Kyle eventually shows up, and they chat a bit before splitting off. This scene closes with Jade being frightened by the White Lantern logo? Well, that's not entirely clear...
Back to Earth, and New York City to be specific. We're at the funeral for Gehenna, former girlfriend/partner-of-sorts to Jason Rusch, that other Firestorm. Gehenna was killed in Blackest Night #3 (November, 2009) by Black Lantern Firestorm (Ronnie Raymond). Well, now Ronnie's back... courtesy of the White Lantern. Ronnie had died years earlier during Identity Crisis.
It's not the greatest of meetings between Ronnie and Jason... as you might imagine. Ronnie sheepishly apologizes for turning Jason's girlfriend into a pillar of salt, or whatever... and gets a punch in the face for his troubles. This results in the two boys combining into an all new Firestorm matrix!
Next stop, Kahndaq, where Amon Tomaz... Osiris has also returned. He is the brother of Isis, and former student of Black Adam. He died in 52 #43 (February, 2007). He "Marvels up" by shouting out the name "Black Adam"... and takes the statues of his sister and mentor for a proper burial.
We head back stateside, to Arlington, Virginia where the revived Hawk (Hank Hall) is teaming up with the still-alive Dove (Dawn Granger) to take out some smugglers. Hawk died, as Extant... I think (it gets pretty gnarly)... back in JSA #15 (October, 2000). He's still the same ol' "might makes right" Hawk. Yadda yadda.
Deadman's final stop (for now) is the decimated Star City. A great big chunk of Star City was destroyed by Prometheus during Justice League: Cry for Justice... leaving the city severely scarred.
The ring begins to speak again... it's worth mentioning that of all of the folks brought back to life, Boston Brand is the only one still wearing the White Lantern Ring. The ring cries out for Brand to "Help Them"... while giving us a flash of what's to come.
The ground begins to shake, and Brand falls to the ground. Suddenly trees begin to sprout, filling in the Star City scar with a lush forest. Deadman panics and attempts to remove the ring from his finger, but it unsuccessful.
We wrap up in Silver City, New Mexico, where the actual White Lantern Power Battery sits in a crater. The locals don't know quite what to make of it... however, they don't get the luxury of thinking about it all that long, because... Sinestro is on the scene!
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Well, that was a whole lot of travelling wasn't it? I gotta tell ya, I'm exhausted.
This was a great "world building" issue... and really made you feel like you got your money's worth. It's a $3.99 book, but... we really get a lot here. I mean, this was supposed to be setting the stage for the DC Universe going forward... if not for, well... you know.
It was cool having Deadman as our "tour guide"... this really was my first time "warming up to" the character, as he never really did all that much for me beforehand. I mean, I thought he had a cool look and gimmick, but never felt the need to go out of my way to read his adventures.
I suppose that could be said for a few of our heroes here. Back in 2010 I was far less acquainted with the DC Universe than I am now. Didn't really follow many of these characters. So, this odd assortment of revived folks proved to be a better than expected "education" for me.
Firestorm was one of those characters, like Deadman... that I thought looked really cool, but could never really get into his book. I suppose we could lump Hawk and Dove and the Hawk-family into that pile too!
I will say that I did get a bit tired of the "Why me?" reactions. I mean, I get it... the more heroic among the revived have those pangs of altruism and whatnot... but it did get a bit old.
I mentioned it in the preamble, but this really was the last time I felt optimistic about DC Comics as a whole. Even with the recent Rebirth initiative, I was only really excited for 3-4 books. Hell, even two years into Rebirth, I'm still not sure which continuity we're using! I feel like DC Comics has a pretty big problem "sticking the landing"... or just plain "committing" to an idea.
With Brightest Day, it seemed as though DC had a clear vision for the entire line. This was all "leading somewhere"... and these "neo-seminal" stories were going to actually matter. They were going to lay the foundation for the DC Universe moving forward. When I read this in 2010, I actually felt as though I was on the "ground floor" of something. I didn't need a cosmic reset... or toilet flush... this felt new enough for it to be a novelty, yet familiar enough to keep me comfortable.
Over this month, I hope to shine a light (ha!) on this weird hiccup of a time in DC Comics history. I'd like to kinda "comb" through this to see if we can deduce exactly when DC Comics "threw in the towel"... and lost interest in the initiative in favor of tossing the babies out with the bath-water. I haven't reread any Brightest Day books (outside of the handful we've already discussed) since 2010/2011.
Hopefully at this point we are far enough removed from this for me to shove aside those feelings of... well, almost betrayal. I felt like such a jerk buying up all of these Brightest Day books (at cover price, even!)... with the promise that it was leading somewhere, only to be told on Memorial Day, 2011 that we'd been pranked. I'm sure we'll brush up against these feelings throughout our journey. If anyone reading has any stories they'd like to share, please feel free!
Overall, as an issue... thought it was great! The writing was solid and engaging, and Pasarin's art was wonderful. I'd definitely recommend revisiting (or just plain visiting) this era.
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Justice Society of America (vol.3) #5 (June, 2007)
"The Lightning Saga, Chapter Two: Dreams and Fire"
Writer - Geoff Johns
Aritst - Fernando Pasarin
Colorist - Jeromy Cox
Letterer - Rob Leigh
Assistant Editor - Adam Schlagman
Editor - Eddie Berganza
Cover Price: $2.99
Moving right along with The Lightning Saga! If you're interested in checking out Chapter One, be sure to check out yesterday's discussion of Justice League of America (vol.2) #8.
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We open at Arkham Asylum where Commissioner Gordon and the GCPD have the gates surrounded. It's feared (ha!) that the Scarecrow has done his toxin-thang... however, a certain caped crusader believes differently. Having traced the Valorium in a Legion Flight Ring, Batman and an amalgamated Justice-crew (including Geo-Force, Sandman and Starman) have just arrived on the scene. Batman deduces that this is likely not the Scarecrow's handiwork, as his gas creates illusions... and these folks are being affected by temporary physical manifestations of their worst fears.
Starman begins to panic, claiming that a "doctor... with no face" is inside and behind all the hoopla. Also, Dream Girl. The faceless Doctor is Dr. Destiny... but we already knew that. Sandman is a bit incredulous, knowing that the Dr. D's Dreamstone had been destroyed... Batman suggests that he must've found another. Fair enough...
We go "off subject" for a moment to a bit to illustrate that Geo-Force has similar powers as Starman and Sandman combined, by Geo-Force bragging that he has similar powers as Starman and Sandman combined... which really feels out of place. I mean, are we trying to make him look like a jackass here? Sure feels like it. Anyhoo, Batman pulls the team in to discuss strategy, but doesn't notice that Thom has wandered away.
Inside, Thom has found a bank of monitors... all of which features his gal-pal Nura. There's a sizzle, and the monitors blink off. Batman approaches to clue him in on Dr. Destiny's standard operating procedure, before suggesting that ol' John Dee might be about to tap into the worst fear of the Arkham inmates and use it against them... wouldntcha know it, their worst fear is Batman! Not quite as impressive as Man of Steel #37, but it'll do.
While his partners fight off the colony of Batmen, Starman makes like a cartoon character and proceeds to burst through walls on his way to Dream Girl's cell. Dr. Destiny wastes no time tapping into Thom's worst fears... which include his murder (in self-defense) of Kenz Nuhor.
While the manifestation of Kenz pummels poor Thom, he is able to utter something in Interlac... which, thanks to our handy-dandy Interlac translator (see below) we know to be "L-i-g-h-t-n-i-n-g-L-a-d"... which, I dunno... there's a symbol specifically for Lightning Lad (sorta looks like Captain Marvel's "thunderbolt"), so why not just use that? Oh well. Either way, this is what snaps Nura back to wakey-ness. She slams Dr. D into a wall, revealing him to be... just some bald dude, not scary in the slightest. She and Thom embrace.
Meanwhile Superman, Red Tornado, Stargirl and Cyclone arrive at the Fortress of Solitude. Courtney comments to Maxine that she hasn't been her normal fangirly self... which can be attributed to being around the "new" (as in non-Hunkel) Red Tornado. Court suggests she chat him up... ya know, legacy and what-not... Hal and Alan get along fine, right?
Superman leads the crew into a room labelled... (thanks to our handy-dandy Kryptonian Translator) "Trophy Room and Museum". Inside, he procures his Legion flight ring, and begins telling the story of how he met the kids from the future. Among his exhibits is one featuring dozens of Legionnaires! It's really quite the scene.
While Superman continues the Secret Origin of the Legion of Super-Heroes, Maxine notices that there's a dupe in the exhibit... there are two Wildfires! Superman immediately realizes that one ain't a statue... and is, in fact the real deal. And so, he Interlacs some "L-i-g-h-t-n-i-n-g-L-a-d" to bring Drake to his senses.
Wildfire collapses to the floor warning of a great storm... before ejecting Batman's Utility Belt from his chest? Ehh??
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Okay, we're two parts in and we've already found four out of seven Legionnaires! Moving right along...
I enjoyed this issue a heckuva lot more than the first chapter... but that could just be me digging Johns' more than Meltzer. I might be projecting (okay, I'm almost certainly projecting), but this feels like a much more "personal" story to Geoff. Like, this is a story he needed to tell... whereas, perhaps not as much for Brad.
Johns was always the guy who could stuff his stories full of nods to the past, while still making things appear to be moving forward. It's not terribly often I get a Legion reference (without a visit to the DC Wikia, anyway), so when I do get a nod to the past, boy... it's sort of a rush.
For the Legionnaire "awakenings", I gotta say, it feels pretty samey and convenient. I'm not sure why I'd expect more... especially since we're going to need the sevensome awake and assembled before we find out and deal with the actual threat of the Saga... but, it still feels like things are moving a bit too fast. I mean, you ever play an RPG where you collect party members along the way? It's like... if I'm only playing for an hour or two, and already have my entire team... it's kind of a let-down. I like meeting and aligning with new team members deeper into the story... but, maybe that's just me.
Overall, I thought this was pretty good. Having no real tether to the Legion, I can't say for certain how "right" this all feels. If I were a bigger fan of the franchise I suppose I might really love (or really hate) this story/take. As a relative neophyte, however... I guess I can say that I'm having a pretty good time with it.
As a post-Crisis kind of guy, I am a bit "iffy" on the whole Superman was Superboy thing... and while that isn't said outright, the allusions were definitely there. I mean, unless they're saying that young Clark Kent hung out in the future instead of Superboy... which, I suppose could be the direction. For all I know, it's been made clear elsewhere... and I'm just talking out my backside.
As with the previous chapter, this issue has been collected several times over, and is available digitally.
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Interlac Assistance:
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Justice Society of America (vol.3) #17 (August, 2008)
"One World, Under Gog - Part II: Wish Fulfillment"
Story - Geoff Johns & Alex Ross
Penciller - Fernando Pasarin
Inkers - Prentis Rollins & John Stanisci
Colorist - Hi-Fi
Letterer - Rob Leigh
Assistant Editor - Harvey Richards
Editor - Michael Siglain
Cover Price: $2.99
Due to our Green Lantern: Rebirth series, we missed out on this weekend's visit with the Justice Society. Well, better late than never.
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We open with Maxine's monkey running amok throughout the Justice Society brownstone. There's a sentence I never thought I'd type. Anyhoo, if you recall, the monkey came through Gog's (that is, the little Gog's) portal. He's wearing some cute little duds with wings on his back as though he's from The Wizard of Oz. Turns out Maxine's a big Oz fan... even named the little beastie Frankie after L. Frank Baum. Anyhoo (again), she runs into the newly-pretty Damage and homnina homminas at his dreaminess for a bit. He'd rather chat up Judomaster though.
We hop over to Africa to check in with Gog... big Gog. Looks like he's still up to all-good! He's healing the lands, cleaning the water, bringing about peace... doesn't seem like a half bad God-dude. The Justice League have arrived to assist the JSA with the Gog-following. Looks like they're doing it in shifts to ensure nothing horrible goes down. Wonder Woman introduces herself to the big purple fella... but he already knows who she is. He thanks her for protecting the Earth, and says that he is now there to protect her.
We shift over to a church in Portsmouth where Dr. Mid-Nite is taking in a service. He is joined by a conflicted and concerned Mr. Terrific. They talk about faith, and we get some reasoning as to why Michael can't allow himself to believe. He confesses that he'd like nothing more than to believe... and in light of everything he's seen while Mr. Terrific, has little reason not to. There's just something inside him that keeps him from embracing it though. He mentions how great it would be to believe, as then he would know that he would eventually be reunited with his late wife... but again, he just can't. Excellent scene... respectful of both points of view. I wouldn't expect anything less from Mr. Johns.
Bounce over to St. Roch briefly to join Hawkman and Hawkwoman as they discuss Lance, and a pending invitation to rejoin the Justice League. Hawkman ain't all that keen on being on a team with an Arrow... be they Green or Red. Speaking of Lance, he and Flash are at the Tuzla Air Base in Bosnia-Herzegovia... and they're talkin' Gog. Lance says if Gog is who (and what) he says he is... this could be the greatest day in the history of our great sport the world!
Back in Africa, Gog continues... flanked by the natives and locals he has aided. Mr. Terrific and Power Girl discuss the logistical problems this is causing worldwide... as, folks all over the place want to stand in Gog's presence. Superman-22 hovers silently... emotionless. Stargirl also hovers nearby... but she's not so silent. She talks about how useless she feels in the shadow of Gog. Gog turns and smiles... telling Courtney she's anything but useless. Suddenly, Sandman slumps to the ground. Gog informs the Society that he granted him the ability to sleep... and dream!
He next turns toward Dr. Mid-Nite. He thanks him for his undying faith... and restores his eyesight!
Citizen Steel gets excited... if Gog's handing out "blessings" maybe he can be given the ability to feel again! His pleas toward Gog go... ignored? Maybe Gog just didn't hear him? Either way, Gog next turns to Starman... poor brain-addled Starman... and makes his mind "good again". Thom pulls off his mask... and is coherent! Power Girl insists Gog stop... despite poor Citizen Steel not having yet been blessed.
Gog looks at Power Girl... and instantly knows that she wants to go home... and so, he opens a portal sending her to be with her friends?!
Superman-22 confronts Gog... and is asked if he wants to "go home" too. Superman-22 informs him that he has no home to return to. Before Gog can explain... he senses violence! Ain't gonna have none'a that on his watch! We wrap up with Gog stomping through the jungle preparing to "eradicate war". Oh yeah, and Kara arrives on... Earth-2???
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Gog giveth... and man oh man, the air is thick with "the sinister". Such a great foreboding tension throughout this story. Gog is a terrifying character... and the idea that he might be "on our side" somehow makes him even more so!
Let's start unpacking...
I've said it a couple of times already, but Johns' handling of the potentially sensitive subject of faith/non-faith was handled wonderfully here. His work on the friendship/mutual admiration between Dr. Mid-Nite and Mr. Terrific is particularly spectacular.
Michael's apprehension and envy of his pals faith are wonderfully human. I've several friends with deal with similar struggles. They've "seen some stuff" in their lives where it makes it difficult to imagine there being a divine (or any) afterlife. They'd like to believe... because, faith does make things easier for many. It helps folks with acceptance, and gives them hope that there is "something better"... that, like Michael says, they will be reunited with the people they'd loved... and lost. It's a subject that it's hard not to see both sides of... and by now I've written more words about it than Geoff did... and somehow said so much less!
Let's talk blessings. Dr. Mid-Nite can see again... Starman can think... Sandman can sleep... Damage is handsome... Power Girl went... home?! It's been so long since I've read this that I've forgotten how "monkey's pawish" these will turn out to be. I do love how this plays into our everyday cynicism... used to be that when someone did something to help, you'd thank them... nowadays you just either wonder what their angle is... or when that other shoe is finally gonna drop! Excellently done.
Not sure where we're gonna go from here... haven't decided if we'll discuss Kara's "homecoming" in the Justice Society Annual (featuring the awesome Jerry Ordway having a bituva "homecoming" of his own!)... or just move along to our next Goggy issue. Either way, it's sure to be a good time.
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