CONVERGENCE, Week 2

CONVERGENCE #2: After a recap of how Dick Grayson watched his wife die and had to leave his son in order to try and fight for the survival of Earth 2, we see how the Wonders from Earth 2 are forced to watch the heroes from the Just Imagine timeline battle the Future’s End cyborgs for survival at Telos’ command. Superman breaks free, Green Lantern, learning that Telos IS the planet, turns his power upon Telos, and he crumbles. Dick sees Batman injecting himself with Miraclo so he can aid in the fight. Telos quickly returns and then disappears into the surface of the planet, leading Green lantern to conclude that Telos is in fear of something beneath the surface. Batman and Dick head to a nearby version of Gotham where they see Brainiac's drones patrolling the area. Going underground, they find a Batcave. As Batman goes off searching for this version of Batman, Dick meets Pre-Flashpoint Barbara Gordon and Alfred Pennyworth and explains that this Batman is Dr. Thomas Wayne. Meanwhile, The Flash comes back from a scouting mission to tell Green Lantern there are many cities engaged in war across the planet. The team leaves the area, only to come across the bodies of the Justice Riders, who have been executed by the Flashpoint Hawkman. They encounter a man running from the drones who tells them he is called Deimos and he can get them off the planet.
Back at the Batcave, Bruce gives Thomas permission to borrow the Batmobile.

Jeff King and Carlo Pagulayan provide this next chapter and it is a bit of a dud. It feels like this main series is going to be all about the Wonders as they try to survive the Convergence which means you almost HAVE to read the 40 mini-series to get the full picture of who will be left standing when it is done. And have we noticed that the NEW 52 Universe apparently no longer exists at all, as it hasn’t been mentioned once. While I am curious to see how this will all shake out come June, I don’t know if all this drama is going to be worth it in the end.

CONVERGENCE: AQUAMAN #1: Since the dome has come down, crime in Metropolis has come down too. That still hasn’t made Aquaman a welcome addition to their city. Dr. Dane Dorrance tells Aquaman he is concerned about his mental state since he can no longer communicate with the fish in the sea since the dome came down. He also has been separated from his wife Mera for almost a year. Later, a voice tells everyone in the city that the dome will be removed and that champions from all of the cities must fight for the survival of their cities. The dome falls and Aquaman's powers begin to return. Outside, other metahumans, including Parallax, begin to get their powers back, which is a worry to the DEO. But they are soon attacked by Deathblow, who hacks into their system in search of metahumans. And he finds one in the form of his next target: Aquaman.

Tony Bedard and Cliff Richards brings us the further adventures of the Pre-Zero Hour Aquaman-you know: the guy with the hook for a hand! While we don’t get a lot of information, except that he is sad and being comforted by his personal therapist in the form of the former Sea Devil, we do get to see that the Wildstorm Universe is preparing to fight for their world against this one. If I had to place odds, I would say that Metropolis falls so that the wealth of Wildstorm heroes can live on. And besides: do we REALLY need THIS version of Aquaman?

CONVERGENCE: BATMAN SHADOW OF THE BAT #1: In Pre Zero Hour Metropolis, Bruce Wayne is offering his fortune to help Tobias Whale but Whale sends Jean-Paul Valley to rough Bruce up. Bruce tells Valley that he came here after hearing about Hal Jordan becoming Parallax and was trapped here. Although they are on the same team, Valley beats Bruce to convince Whale before bringing him to Whale. He insists that Bruce use his influence to discover the truck routes for the city’s food supplies. Wayne and Valley visit to councilman Erasmus Hall, with Jean-Paul’s tactics, get the route, and deliver it to Whale, who now wants Bruce to kill Hall. He explains it is only a joke as he has already had Hall killed and made it look like a suicide. Later, both “Batmen” are waiting for the hijacking to occur when Whale uses a rocket launcher to take out the armored cars escorting the truck. One of Whale’s cohorts kills the truck driver so it can be attached to a tow truck while Jean-Paul hijacks the second truck to keep it safe. Nikkia, the cohort, attempts to shoot Batman as he grapples with Whale. Just then, a voice tells everyone in the city that the dome will be removed and that champions from all of the cities must fight for the survival of their cities. The dome opens and the elevated rail system collapses onto Nikka's vehicle. Jean-Paul knocks out the Whale as Bruce and the Wetworks team that has just arrived feels a shift in reality occurs.

Larry Hama, well known for his work with G.I. JOE over the years, teams up with Philip Tan to give us a well-written yet equally confusing tale. I am guessing that this is how these titles will go. We are going to get a back story that really doesn’t do a darn thing but set up the last few pages when the invading team comes in, setting up the concluding issue. As I have said previously, I am guessing that the Pre-Zero Hour heroes die allowing Wildstorm to continue. After all, I don’t see Jim Lee being responsible for taking out his baby.

CONVERGENCE: CATWOMAN #1: It’s a year after the dome has dropped on Metropolis and Catwoman is protecting Suicide Slums. Bruno Mannheim has taken control of a lot of Metropolis but has also kidnapped a friend of Catwoman's and she has come to Intergang to take her back. Just as she is about to break in, a voice tells everyone in the city that the dome will be removed and that champions from all of the cities must fight for the survival of their cities. That’s when Batman arrives to challenge her. Unfortunately, it’s the Kingdom Come Batman.

If you think that summary is short, you’re right. That’s because that pretty much sums up the issue. Catwoman is stuck in Metropolis, her friend Sally has been kidnapped, the dome rises, and Kingdom Come Batman appears. I was really disappointed by Justin Gray’s story but was jacked to see Ron Randall’s art after what seemed to be forever. So, with three titles from this batch already under my belt, I find myself yawning and wondering if the rest will be this lame.

CONVERGENCE: GREEN ARROW #1: Green Arrow is just another of the heroes stuck in Metropolis when the dome came down a year ago. Among the people there is Connor Hawke, who saves a family from the Brothers of Purity and allows them to join him at the sanctuary known as Ashram. Inside, he finds a green arrow and realizes that Green Arrow must me in the city somewhere. The Brothers of Purity arrive at Ashram, so Connor fires off flare arrows in the shape of a green arrow in the sky. Oliver arrives to lend a hand and Connor reveals he is the son of Moonday Hawke and Oliver. Just then, a voice tells everyone in the city that the dome will be removed and that champions from all of the cities must fight for the survival of their cities. As the dome disappears, Oliver realizes they are not on Earth. The pair wanders the empty streets, as many of the people have left the city. They come face to face with the Kingdom Come Dinah Lance and her daughter Olivia.

It is nice to see Rags Morales here, as I have always been a huge fan of his art. Christy Marx’ story is okay, although I must be a little confused. I thought by the time that Zero Hour came about, Connor and Oliver had met. I must be wrong. Either way, the story is okay and overshadowed by the amazing art.

CONVERGENCE: GREEN LANTERN/PARALLAX #1: Since the dome has fallen on Metropolis, Kyle Rayner has spent a great deal of time visiting Hal Jordan in prison. Hal had been a Green Lantern but had become Parallax and killed the Green Lantern Corps. As Kyle leaves Hal, a voice tells everyone in the city that the dome will be removed and that champions from all of the cities must fight for the survival of their cities. As the dome comes down, Kyle gains his powers back and once again becomes as Green Lantern. But Hal has also gotten his power back too and, as Parallax, breaks out of jail. He gets attacked by Princess Fern from Earth-Six and quickly retaliates. While Supergirl battles Volt and Quark in her own title, Parallax heads to Electropolis to destroy it.

One of the best looking images in this book is a bedraggled Hal, sitting in his jail cell and looking like he is a million years old. Well, not really a million, but he looks AWFUL! Great looking stuff from Ron Wagner that just goes sideways from there. Wagner’s work is very angular and you either love it or you don’t and I have never been a huge fan of his style. Not that he’s not good, I just don’t like his style on this character. Tony Bedard writes a decent story. And Hal? I think he’ll win the battle of Electropolis, but I don’t expect him to keep Parallax. After all, Sinestro currently has that creature within him.

CONVERGENCE: JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL #1: Metallo is attacking when the Justice League International intervenes, defeating Metallo and his metal army, but not before Blue Beetle ends up with a broken arm. Later, there is a meeting to go over the mission results and Fire invites Ted to bed. Instead, Ted and J’onn discuss how they need to keep trying to get Metropolis out of the dome when a voice tells everyone in the city that the dome will be removed and that champions from all of the cities must fight for the survival of their cities. With their powers returned, the JLI prepare to battle the Kingdom Come Justice League.

Ron Marz and Mike Manley give us the Justice League B team versus the Kingdom Come Justice League in a battle to the death for one world. The story is okay and probably would have been more entertaining if Keith Giffen had written it. It would have had funnier moments in it anyway. But I DID like the fact that Fire invited Ted into the sack and he turns it down to tinker with his bug. Yeah-that’s a problem! Manley’s art is nice, but not his sharpest work. Of course, that could be that I’m not used to seeing Manley ink Manley. 

CONVERGENCE: SUICIDE SQUAD #1: The book begins with Amanda Waller dying with the Kingdom Come Green Lantern standing over her. But she diesn’t blame him, she blames the traitor who pulls the trigger on somebody. This brings us back to 48 hours earlier where Toyman, Boomerang, and Deadshot are having dinner. Before dinner is done, a voice tells everyone in the city that the dome will be removed and that champions from all of the cities must fight for the survival of their cities. Powers come back, the Atomic Skull comes out of hiding, and Deadshot kills Toyman. General Lane contacts Waller and tells her to get the Suicide Squad back in business, as he wants them to take out the heroes from Kingdom Come. Specifically, Lane wants the Squad to attack Green Lantern on New Oa. The team comes back together, with Waller insisting on going along, Star Sapphire added to the mix and the addition of the Cyborg Superman. Meanwhile, Barbara ‘Oracle’ Gordon has contacted the Kingdom Come Lex Luthor to see if he is willing to sell out his world.

It was so great to see the classic Suicide Squad get ready to rock this book and, with the addition of Star Sapphire AND the Cyborg Superman, the second issue has the potential to be awesome. Frank Tieri’s story is good, but I really would have liked to see John Ostrander come back to the team he wrote so many great tales about. And Tom Mandrake’s art is so great! I missed his work so much. Can we get him back on a regular book, say a NEW SPECTRE title perhaps? I know-a Fanboy dream!

CONVERGENCE: SUPERBOY #1: During the last year under the dome, Dubbilex and Serling have been running tests to try and get Superboy’s powers back to new success. Kon is pretty discouraged by it all when a voice tells everyone in the city that the dome will be removed and that champions from all of the cities must fight for the survival of their cities. Superboy gets his powers back and as quick as that, he even has his costume back on. He spies The Flash and gives chase. Only this Flash is the Kingdom Come Flash and he leads Superboy to  the Kingdom Come Robin, who hits him with Kryptonite gas. He dispels the gas and takes down The Flash and Robin when Superman arrives. And not the Pre-Zero Hour one either.

Fabian Nicieza and Karl Moline gives us a new adventure of one of the lamest versions Superboy in the DC Mythos(that version would be the multiple NEW 52 versions, but this one is a close second). That having been said, the book could have been worse. I mean, Nicieza writes a good Nineties style story and Moline art doesn’t offend, but it doesn’t make me jump up and down either. Could we just have BOTH worlds go away? Or just Superboy? Yeah…the clone needs to go.

CONVERGENCE: SUPERGIRL MATRIX #1: After a title page filled with annotations, 
Supergirl/Matrix meets up with Lex Luthor in the park. It’s been a year since the dome covered Metropolis and suddenly a voice tells everyone in the city that the dome will be removed and that champions from all of the cities must fight for the survival of their cities. With her powers returned, Luthor has her fly him back to his lab where he gives her a device designed to track down the energy signature of whatever transported Metropolis to Telos. Lady Quark and Lord Volt arrive, as they need to fight for the survival of their city, but they seem to be spending too much time bickering among themselves to battle Supergirl. When they finally get around to it, Supergirl takes Volt out with one punch before doing the same to Quark. She begins to finally follow the energy signature and that takes her straight to…Ambush Bug?

So, direct from CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS, here comes Volt and Quark from Earth-6. Actually, this must be PRE-CRISIS as Volt and their daughter died DURING the Crisis. If you don’t remember, she ended up becoming a member of L.E.G.I.O.N.-a book I could hardly stand to read. And this Supergirl is the John Byrne created Matrix and this Lex Luthor is the one with the flowing red hair. Yeah…THAT ERA of DC! Timothy Green II does some nice looking drawings and Keith Giffen fills it up with some clever, silly dialogue, as usual. The highlight? AMBUSH BUG!!!

CONVERGENCE: SUPERMAN MAN OF STEEL #1:  With Superman trapped outside of the dome when it came down on Pre Zero Hour Metropolis, John Henry has taken up the mantle of being the sole Man of Steel, along with his niece and nephew, who have their own steel outfits. They go to assist Steel at Bibbo’s Bar where he is battling ex-Lexcorp renegades when a voice tells everyone in the city that the dome will be removed and that champions from all of the cities must fight for the survival of their cities. The dome disappears and super powers return including those of the Parasite. Steel has Natasha take Jem back to Professor Hamilton’s so he can stop Parasite, but Gen 13 arrive as they are here to save their universe. Seeing them gang up on Steel, Natasha heads back to help him. Steel jumps in front of a blast meant for her and it shatters his armor and badly burns him. Natasha takes him back to professor Hamilton’s while Gen 13 battles Parasite, who is draining their powers.

Well, I can say it certainly is great to see Louise Simonson AND June Brigman working on a book together. UNFORTUNATELY, it’s THIS BOOK! This issue is so mired in 80’s cliches that it’s incredible. What is MORE INCREDIBLE is that ZERO HOUR happened in 1994 and the characters of Steel and Gen 13 didn’t show up until 1993. So, this book is SO RETRO it’s gone back to BEFORE it should be. Does that make sense? I mean, it feels like an 80’s book although the universe in question is from the 90’s. Either way, I’m seeing Steel losing like the rest of this universe. And the sooner the better!