Justice League #5 (September, 1987) "Gray Life Gray Dreams" Plot & Breakdowns - Keith Giffen Script - J.M. DeMatteis Pencils - Kevin Maguire Inks - Al Gordon Letters - Bob Lappan Colors - Gene D'Angelo Edits - Andy Helfer Cover Price: $0.75 Hey, hey, ho, ho... today marks our FIFTEEN-HUNDREDTH DAILY DISCUSSION here at Chris is on Infinite Earths! To celebrate, I'm going to be covering an issue that will hopefully allow me to cast a wide net and share this milestone with as many interested folks as possible. I wanna give y'all a peek behind the curtain. I've said it time and again (though, I do try to curb my frustrations best I can), that blogging can be an incredibly lonely endeavor. Terms like "shouting into the void" come to mind. Heck, I've even recently started a podcast series called "Blogging into the Void" that's available in the Chris and Reggie Archives if you're interested in checking it out. The reason we're looking at Justice League #5 in particular today is... well, kinda silly. It's kind of an "inside joke" shared among some comics content creators. Ya see, anytime any of us get a bit discouraged regarding our engagement (which certainly happens from time to time... and, there's nothing wrong with that), someone will pipe in with "Hey, you can be the tenth person today to post that scene... and you'll get loads of free likes!". Now, "that scene", if you haven't already figured it out, concerns Batman, Guy Gardner, and a single punch... err, I mean hashtag-OnePunch. If you're more of a Marvel content creator, that "cheap heat tweet" usually accompanies an image of Spider-Man cradling Gwen Stacy's dead body. Hope you're takin' notes, these are very good leads if you're in the biz of internet karma farmin'! Unfortunately for me, I'm not in that biz... though, I'd probably be far more satisfied with the "reach" of my work if I were! If you've been a reader of this humble blog for any amount of time, you'll know that, for the most part, I'm a little bit more "off the beaten path" here. Basically, I write the sort of blog that I'd like to read. Weird stuff, novel stuff, stuff that isn't "makin' the rounds" on social media morning, noon, and night. Nothin' against the popular stuff, but... I feel like there are so many books and scenes that get more than enough in the way of online advocacy. Now I say all of that, so that I might say this. I hope the folks who've stuck with me have enjoyed these looks at the, for the most part, lesser-discussed books and stories from DC Comics (and DC-adjacent) publishing history. After today's brush with hopeful social-media-friendliness, we'll be returning to the normal silliness we usually attend to here. Still got a lot cooking, including, but not limited to:
New Talent Showdays
A chapter-by-chapter look at New Talent Showcase (1984)
Action-Plus
A look at some of the unsung and forgotten pieces of DC Comics history... the back-ups!
DC Near-Misses
Checking out story and character pitches that DC Comics passed on, while considering some various "what if...?" situations
Bizarro Breaks
Short bursts from the Bizarro World collection
and of course, Wasteland Chapters
A chapter-by-chapter look at John Ostrander & Del Close's horror/satire anthology, Wasteland (1988)
And, of course, there are the Archives... which, at this point is fifteen-hundred pieces deep! If you have a free afternoon or two, and wanna read an idiot's hot-take on comic books... please feel free to dig in! I'll save the thank yous and gushing for the end of the post... but, it's probably about time to get into our spoilery-synopsis. Now, if you're only here to see "that scene"... well, uh, it's coming... but, I hope you decide to come back and see me some day! --
We open in Stone Ridge, Vermont... and oh my goodness, is the lettering tiny! I hope it doesn't stay this way throughout the issue. Anyhoo, it's here that the Gray Man is stealing "dream energy". Ya see, he's supposed to siphon the stuff from the deceased, however, he's decided to just start nyoinking it from whoever. This draws the attention of... Dr. Fate!
We shift scenes to the set of Jack Ryder's Hot Seat. Here, Jack is really trying to spin the narrative that the Justice League can't be trusted... and really, just need to be stopped.
After the show wraps up, some Joe Piscopo-looking dude pulls Jack aside to fill him in on some League-related info. It's, well, the stuff we just read about going down in Stone Ridge... folks have reported seeing League Member, Dr. Fate on the scene. Ryder offers the mullethead a c-note to keep this between them, then arranges to head on up with a camera man.
Back in Vermont, we're now at an old Rialto Theater... where Dr. Fate and the Gray Man are facing off. It's here the Gray Man gives us the quick and dirty on his situation. We learn that wayyy back in the long ago, he was a Sorcerer whose magic revealed to him the Lords of Order. For his "hubris" in doing so, he was punished... and made something of a lapdog for them. Collecting all that "dream energy", he's even given the ability to create doppelgangers of himself as a means of expediting the task. What's the deal with DC characters trying to look "too deep" into something and getting their comeuppance. Gray Man should start up a support group with Pariah and Krona.
Anyhoo, that was a long time ago... and by this point he tires of the Lords of Order and doing their bidding, and so he's decided that he's going to do whatever he can to become more powerful than the big guys themselves. He's going to use the siphoned Dream Energy (or, Manna) for himself (now, as mentioned, from the living... as in everyone on the planet) and break free of their control... or something along those lines.
We now shift scenes to... Justice League Headquarters. Uh-oh, it's that scene. Guy Gardner is in Batman's face... demanding that he be made Team Leader. Batman nonchalantly just stands there, and remarks that he'd sooner hand over control to Captain Marvel. Wow, low blow Bats...
Gardner's just about had it... and decides it's going to have to come to blows between he and the Bat. He yanks off his ring, to do this thing "mano y mano" and pushes toward Batman. Just then, Captain Marvel steps in and attempts to remind Batman that, as leader, he should do whatever he can to set an example for the rest of the team. Batman brushes him off, and more or less tells him that "adults are talking".
Then, Guy reels back...
And, well... hashtag-OnePunch. Batman kayos Gardner with a single right hand. Guy hits the ground, presumably, like a ton of bricks, as the rest of the League looks on.
J'onn and Dinah enter the room to see what's happ'nin', and get the skinny on the scene. The team, overall, is like really happy that Batman knocked Guy on his butt. Which, I guess I understand.
From here, we move into the Monitor Room, where Oberon informs Batman that the computer screen has a message for him. Batman immediately assumes this is nothing more than a dumb prank (and snaps at poor Obie), but comes around to the idea pretty quick when he realizes it's Dr. Fate attempting to communicate with the team. Fate reveals that he's out of power, and stuck in Stone Ridge... where there's some bad hoo-doo goin' down with the Gray Man.
J'onn runs a projection on how long it might take for this Gray Man to take over the world... and, get this, it'll be done in Fifty-Two Hours! Fifty-Two? Man, that fetishized number just pops up everywhere, don't it?
Batman commands Blue Beetle to ready The Bug, and sends Captain Marvel ahead to check out the scene... but tells him not to engage if he can avoid it. Billy claps back with some passive-aggressiveness, and takes to the air. As he approaches Vermont, he worries that he might've made Batman mad. Dude, Batman's a colossal a-hole here, don't go worrying about that.
Arriving in Vermont, Cap finds Jack Ryder's Hot Seat Van. Outside it, lays (I'm going to assume) Jack's cameraman. He begs Marvel for help, and insists that the world's gone plum-loco.
Some time later, the rest of the League arrives in The Bug. J'onn feels a strange presence which prompts him to wanna explore some nearby woods. Deep within the trees, the team stumbles upon... The Creeper!
Creeper cackles that Captain Marvel headed into the town proper... and suggests that wasn't the wisest move. Ya see, it seems ya gotta have the right mind-set to fully, uh, appreciate Stone Ridge, Vermont.
We wrap up, finally getting a good look at the town... and well, it's a weird and wacky-looking place indeed!
-- I hate this issue. No, that's not true at all. I hate that scene. No, no... that's not true either. I hate that "that scene" has become something of a short-hand as a way to describe this era of the League, because I feel to do so... sells short so much of what made this era spectacular! I might just be projecting a bit... or maybe I'm just burned out on the oversharification of "that scene", but I feel there is so much more to this League than "hashtag-OnePunch". Depth, tragedy, awesome characterization... it's really a very special run. The likes of which we'll probably never see again. Keith Giffen himself apparently has similar feelings regarding the scene! In a piece written for CBR on November 20, 2008, he would write the following:
Amen
Oh, and while I'm here kvetching about over-simplification, there's more to Angel Love than hashtag-COCAINE?!!... believe it, or not. Now, there's certainly an argument to be made that that scene between Batman and Gardner is indicative of the dysfunction of this new-League... and, as a piece of a whole, it works marvelously to illustrate that. These are a couple of hard-headed heroes who both see themselves as the "alpha". It's when we remove the context... and look at this scene as nothing more than a hashtaggable "funny, ha ha" that I feel it loses its "oomph". What's more... in revisiting this issue, and that scene in particular. I dunno, I kinda find myself sympathizing more with Guy than cheering on Batman! Now, hear me out. Guy Gardner is a prick. That much is for sure. But, he's just a brash, loudmouth sort of prick. Someone you should be able to dismiss, or tune-out if not flat-out ignore. Batman, on the other hand, comes across as a completely unlikable a-hole here. He's cutting down members of the team, snipping at his peers... acting aloof and "above" everyone else. I think he might be the team's problem here... not Guy! As Team Leader, Batman comes across as dismissive and, almost abusive to those under him. Really, I don't know how anyone can like this character, the way he's written. We're not getting much in the way of "reluctant leader" here... it feels more, I dunno, hateful than that. Really not a good look, in my opinion. I get that Batman's on a whole nother level than most/all of this team, but... I dunno, I don't like him "knowing it", ya dig? Let's talk a bit about the story... because, believe it or not, Justice League #5 isn't a two-page long "one-punch" pamphlet! The Gray Man/Dr. Fate/LordzzzzZZZZzzz of Order bit? Eh. If you've been reading this blog for any amount of time, you'll know that Superman and I share a weakness... mermaidsmagic. It just bores me to tears, and this instance was sadly no different. Couldn't care less about the Doc or the Lords, regardless of who's writing the story. These bits, though relatively brief, were kind of a slog for me. Overall... despite my whining and whinging, this was fine issue. Despite my being overly burnt out on hashtag-OnePunch, I still dig the non-Batman team interactions and dialogue. It's just weird to me that, now when I read it... I'm actually pulling for Guy to knock Bruce on his butt! Is this a sign that I'm growing up? Or am I just a jerk now? Don't answer that. With all that said... I want to a) apologize if anything I said today sounded, I dunno, bitter/jaded/cynical... that really wasn't my intent. It's all in fun. And, b) I absolutely want to thank anyone and everyone who's stopped by at any point over the course of the past one-thousand five-hundred consecutive days in which this humble blog has been "a thing" that I do. As mentioned in the pre-ramble, blogging can be a very solitary experience... and, honestly, without the occasional "attaboy" I get, I'd almost certainly have stopped doing this ages ago. It means the world to me anytime I get a new comment here, or even anytime somebody bothers to click the little heart-icon under one of my tweets. It's the engagement that really makes my day... and makes doing this worthwhile... even if what I do here isn't always the most engaging. As always, I'm hesitant to name-names, or do any "personalized shout outs"... because I hate to accidentally leave anybody out. As a dude who is usually "left out" of the circle, I know how that might leave you feeling. Just rest assured, if you've ever visited... commented... and/or shared my stuff, you have my sincerest appreciation. This little blog ain't much... but, it's home, and I thank you all for being a part of it. -- Letters Page:
New Titans #86 (May, 1992) "If This Be Chaos!" Writer - Marv Wolfman Pencils - Tom Grummett, Curt Swan & Kevin Maguire Inks - Jerome Moore & Al Vey Colors - Adrienne Roy Letters - Bob Pinaha, Pat Brosseau & John Costanza Editor - Jonathan Peterson Cover Price: $1.75 It's been a few months since we discussed Titan's Hunt... figure I might've shaken enough of the burn-out off so we can pop back in on the post-Titans Hunt/pre-Total Chaos era. Here's a question: What's better than an epilogue to an overlong story? How 'bout a whole bunch of epilogues?! --
We open during an ordinary day inside an ordinary office building. New has spread throughout the company that a mysterious fellow walked in, talked to the C.E.O., and within a matter of minutes... talked himself into the top gig! For those of us who read Total Chaos, we already know who this dude is. Anyhoo, he calls the entirety of his new staff into his new office... and fires 'em all! Once they're gone, he takes on his more "godly" form, and promises to kill Donna Troy.
Speaking of whom, we shift scenes and join Donna and the rest of the Titans as they stand bamboozled around the Baby Wildebeest they rescued from the Society at the end of Titans Hunt. Pantha is keen on just gutting the little bastard... which is certainly one way to go. The rest of the Titans (and the Beestie itself) put a stop to her homicidal urges.
The Baby begins to wail, and the Titans haven't the foggiest idea what to do with it. Thankfully, Steve Dayton wanders into the scene, carrying a tremendous (like comically large) jug of milk... this, conveniently, winds up being the ticket to getting the Beestie to quit kvetching.
Pantha still wants to kill it. If you recall, the Wildebeest Society conducted experiments on her... gotta figure, the last thing she wants to look at is yet another 'Beest. Donna suggests that the Baby is just as much a victim of the Society as Pantha was... after all, the thing was created to be the vessel for Azarath, or whatever-the-hell. Pantha's all "screw you guys, I'm going home", and reminds the Titans that they're going to have to start buying diapers. Our man, Terry realizes that she's right.
We rejoin "the C.E.O." (we're just going to call him "Lord Chaos", is that cool?), as he vows to kill Donna Troy... again. Talk about a one-track-mind. Anyhoo, he recoils in pain... and at that very same moment, Donna is in the middle of some "flu-like symptoms", including puking her guts up. Terry knocks on the bathroom door to check on her, which... probably doesn't help to settle her stomach.
Back at Dayton's, Gar and Steve are having a bit of a heart-to-heart about Vic's condition. If you recall, he was 'sploded and put back together during Titan's Hunt... and, when he was reassembled, they left out his personality. We can see that this chat is being observed... by Terra!
We shift scenes to Dick watching Kory stand by a stream. He thinks to himself how much he loves her... but, of late, she views his "love" as smothering... coddling, even. He goes to approach her, and gets a rather frosty reception. This little back-n-forth is being observed... by Mirage!
We jump ahead to Donna, Terry, and Red Star visiting S.T.A.R. Labs to check in on Victor. As they approach his room, Donna doubles over... more "flu-like symptoms". Oh, and at the very same time, Lord Chaos also doubles over... so, there's that.
Dr. Sarah Whatsherface plops Donna onto a gurney and wheels her off to take a look at her most-definitely-not "flu-like symptoms". This leaves Red Star alone to check on Cyborg. He learns that Vic is stronger than ever, but fears that his new cybernetic parts might actually be killing him. This visit is being observed... by Redwing!
From here, we jump into a trio of epilogues... that's an awful lot of epilogues for an epilogue issue itself! Anyhoo, during the first, we get more of Gar and Steve's chat. After they part company, Terra decides that the time is right to reveal herself. Gar, as you might imagine, is beside himself with disbelief.
In our second epilogue, we follow Dick Grayson... as he follows Starfire. He hops off his motorcycle and, distracted by a bemulleted Terry Long, bumps into an individual wearing a full-on flasher outfit... ya know, trenchcoat and hat.
After a few confusing panels (which will make sense down the line), Dick both leaves Kory's apartment... and knocks on her door. Veddy interesting. Or not.
Then, in our third (and final epilogue)... Dick Grayson is stood at the wreckage of Titans Tower. He is joined by Deathstroke the Terminator... and they exchange pleasantries. Dick's upset that Slade didn't even attend his son's funeral. We know he was there, but Dick doesn't.
What's more, Dick really lays into Slade for the whole "murdering his own Son" thing. I mean, someone had to, right?
Dick and Slade fight for a bit... well, actually... Dick fights, Slade really only defends himself. After swatting Dick into some wreckage, he reminds him that after everything that happened... and everything he did, he still lost a(nother) Son. Dick wonders aloud how and why people like Slade (and Bruce) keep things bottled up inside of them. One of those rare moments where we're reminded that Slade knows "the" secret.
Deathstroke reveals to Dick that he must constantly tell himself he didn't kill Joey... but instead, he freed him. Otherwise, he'd go crazy. All he wants now, is to go home... which is something Dick isn't even sure he has anymore.
-- Ya know, when we cover an issue like that, it shines a light on one of the weaknesses of this blog's format. It's hard to feign ignorance or surprise, when we've already discussed how all of this is going to wind up during Total Chaos! So, let's just cover a few bits and pieces here... I mean, we know what Donna's "flu-like symptoms" are going to wind up being... though, even without hindsight, anytime a woman gets "stomach sick" in media, there's like a 99% chance that she's pregnant. The addition of Baby Wildebeest to the cast... ehh, whatayagonnado, right? Seems like another instance of adding an a "Cousin Oliver" (oddly enough, not too far removed from the last time... when they added pretty much the embodiment of "Cousin Oliver"). Unfortunately Baby-Beest, like Danny before, suffers from... a rather unpleasant to look at design. It's not like this could be the Titans "cute" mascot, when it isn't terribly cute to begin with. The Team Titans lurking on the sidelines was pretty neat... kinda made me flashback to a time when subplots would bubble alongside the primary narrative... though, it's pretty clear here that the Teamers will be the focus before long. If you ask me, Terra revealing herself to Gar (minds outta the guttah), probably should have been the last page of the issue. I feel like ending on a cliffhanger rather than a maudlin Dick muttering on about "home" would have been more satisfying. Actually... I probably could have done without the Dick 'n Deathstroke scene at all. Felt like a way to justify the cover... which was misleading at best. "--And Only One Shall Lead!" sayeth our cover copy... though, leadership of the team was never even in question. Oh well, ya gotta sell copies, and Dick 'n Deathstroke on the cover would probably more more units than anything else going on in this book! Overall... a pretty decent issue, which I gotta figure fans of the day found a welcome change from the seemingly never-ending Titans Hunt story. There is a real feeling of progression here... something that I feel was seriously lacking during the second-half of "Hunt". This issue is available digitally. -- Interesting Ads:
Team Titans #3 (November, 1992) "Total Chaos, Part 9: Out of Chaos!" Writer - Marv Wolfman Penciller - Kevin Maguire Inks - Will Blyberg & Jose Marzan, Jr. Letterer - John Costanza Colorist - Adrienne Roy Assistant Editor - Frank Pittarese Editor - Jonathan Peterson Cover Price: $1.75 Finally time to put Total Chaos to bed! For your convenience, or my own compulsivity (perhaps both!), I'm going to add our Total Chaos discussions to the Collected Editions Page!
--
We open with... Battalion! Hey, remember him?! Made a big deal outta him a few chapters back. Well, he's back, and really seems to like using the word "cheese" as an insult. He wanders into the path of a truck... and stops it with his fist!
Our final Totally Chaotic chapter begins... "Out of Chaos!", but... waitasec, the cover said...
Oh well. There are only two editors listed here... usually something like that gets missed by a panel of 5 or 6! Anyhoo... back on Titans Island, Troia infiltrates Lord Chaos' Temple to get her baby back.
The Titans follow soon after... and before we know it, a battle is raging between they and Chaos' army. Troia eventually loses her damned mind and goes to incinerate Lord Chaos... just bathing him in this nasty pink energy bolt.'
Terry, who also followed along, pops up and tries to reason with his wife... tries to talk her down from the precipice, but she just ain't hearin' none of it. Chaos lifts his hand as if to fire back, however... gets popped by the arriving Battalion before he can.
Teamer Mirage ain't exactly pleased to be seeing him... it does lead to an absolutely delightful full-page introduction for the man though. And yeah, he calls someone a "piece of cheese". Moments later, he'd introduce himself as the "drill sergeant from hell".
Meanwhile, Lord Chaos done healed up... and starts spouting off about protecting the future he created. Troia has a different opinion... also, the Titan Gods have decided to chime in with their pretty blue word balloons to blink the entire lot of 'em off Earth.
Then, in a page that... I swear is out of order, because it feels so out of place, Josh... you remember Josh, he was Charlie Killowat's pal in the future. Yeah, him! Anyhoo, he's here... and he's lookin' to kill his Chaos-traitor buddy. Only, Lord Chaos tells him to lower his weapon?! Well, duh, it's actually Miri. Also, Charlie's got it badddd for her.
On the very next page, everybody's been deposited at the Home of the Gods. See what I mean about that last page feeling "out of order"? Anyhoo, it's time to, in the words of Battalion, "kick some Chaos butt".
Chaos' army looks kinda weird... some of them look like they're wearing a spiked version of Lashina's helmet. Speaking of weird, Redwing suddenly has a huge gun! Not sure where she was carrying it, but whattayagonnado?
We then take a look at Donna... and she's starting to get a bit of clarity. She thinks back to the events of "Who is Wonder Girl?" and considers what being given all of her Godly powers all at once might do to her mind... like, ya know... drive her mad f'rinstance. She thinks about what her future might be like... and the divergence she currently stands at. In one strand, she and Terry raise the child... the other, he becomes Lord Chaos.
She then makes the ultimate decision... she embraces Lord Chaos, and sends him to be "with the Gods" before relinquishing her own Godly powers.
And everything is suddenly... all right.
-- All's well that ends... well?! Gotta say, you guys... this wasn't nearly as bad as I feared. Actually, strike that... this wasn't bad, period. Sure, Total Chaos dragged in parts (like ya know, nearly every comic book crossovent) and there were some silly moments (again... like most every event), but there's actually a pretty decent story here. I mentioned during our senses-shattering finger-cramping deep-dive into Team Titans #1 that I am a sucker for "world building"... and it feels like the creative team put a lot of effort into building the "Chaos Future"... and gave us plenty of reason to root against it coming to pass. Upon first glance, the Teamers look... generic, ya know? Like what you'd see in a brand-ecch "Heroes" RPG sourcebook in the late 1980's. But, I gotta say... Marv and the gang made them their "own" people here. It's almost enough to bum you out when you realize what they're fated to become. Having them stand alongside the actual Titans here was a pretty good coronation... and maybe even, endorsement? I know I'm not totally against following up with their own book now. I'm not exactly chomping at the bit... but, it beats my previous mix of indifference and disdain. I've been saving this for a bit... but, how in all hells do people willingly follow someone named "Lord Chaos"? Like, people are lining up to join his side... and actually view him as a sorta benevolent force. I mean, dude's name. is. CHAOS. I think we can get away with a "Doctor Doom" created in the early 1960's... but, a Lord Chaos in the early 1990's? That might be a hair too silly. Let's get some of the issue-centric stuff outta the way before taking a look at Total Chaos as on great big thing. This issue feels... kinda disjointed. I pointed out some things like the book having two titles... the Josh scene just "happening" when the Titans were supposed to be in the midst of being swept away... hell, even things like Redwing having a great big rifle and Battalion somehow jumping from the middle of a desolate road to Titans Island in no time flat. It's as though, at the last moment... Marv and the gang realized "oh crap, we've gotta lotta loose ends to tie off here... and only one issue to do it!" Also, I feel like their attention might be focused on the next Titans event (Titans $ell-Out, which starts eeeeeeemmediately after this issue) and this might've been an afterthought/"going through the motions". So... as a single chapter... it's kinda weak and clunky, but gets us where we need to be. Which is to say, it gets us to a depowered new mommy in Donna Troy. Was this intended to be Donna Troy's swansong in the long-term sense? Hard to say. Seems to tie off her loose ends, however, at the end of the day... this is still comics. For the short-term, it works as a way to parlay her (and the fam) over to New Jersey so she can be something of a "den mother" to the time-lost Teamers... which, if I were a betting man (and it's probably a good thing I'm not), I'd suggest that was likely the ultimate goal here. So... where do we go from here? Well, as mentioned Titans $ell-Out begins literally seconds after this... so, that might be in our future. I actually just reread it yesterday... and it's... something. As for Total Chaos... if you're a Titans fan (or even Titans-curious), trust me when I say... it's not as bad as you think/not as bad as you might've heard. I'd give this a pretty solid recommendation due to the world building, strong first "Act", and decisive (actually status-quo shaking) ending. Just understand that the Deathstroke chapters will drag (and be barely relevant) and the third Act feels a bit like spaghetti being thrown at the wall. This entire magilla is available digitally... and, has been collected in trade. -- Interesting Ads:
