DCU Comic Book Reviews

Rann-Thanagar War INFINITE CRISIS SPECIAL

Hands Of Fate

April 2006

Written by Dave Gibbons

Pencils by Ivan Reis & Joe Prado

Inks by Marc Campos, Oclair Albert, & Michael Bair

Cover by Dave Gibbons & Michael Bair

Synopsis

In Sector 2682, everyone are unsure what to make of a large pair of hands that have appeared in the middle of space.  Rann leader Sardath finds evidence that when Rann was teleported into the Polaris system did not destabilize Thanagar has they had originally thought.  In fact, something else was responsible.  Elsewhere, Queen Komand’r of Tamaran convinces the Thanagar Grand Mor that the hands are due to Rannian technology.  He orders the attack.  As the battle begins, a burst of energy from the hands sends everyone reeling and destroys spaceships.  The Grand Mor and Sardath both order a retreat.  Meanwhile, the Guardians on Oa order Kilowog to Thanagar.  Kyle Rayner remains behind to help Donna Troy and others deal with the hands. Elsewhere, Tigorr of the Omega Men shows Adam Strange and Hawkman and Hawkgirl data from a crash Thangarian ship evidence of Thanagar getting pushed out of its orbit by Superboy.  They forward it to Sardath.  Komand’r intercepts the transmission and refuses to show it to the Grand Mor.  Tamaraneans attack Adam Strange and destroy the evidence, but Adam has a plan.  Meanwhile, Kyle and Jade try to attack the hands, but Jade is fatally injured in the attempt.  Before she dies, she passes back her power to Kyle, who then becomes Ion once more.  On Oa, the Guardians debate the return of Ion, but they say they will continue to monitor him.  On Thanagar, winged warriors land and tell Kilowog they want peace.  Also on Thanagar, Adam Strange and Sardath find giant handprints on the surface, confirming that Superboy gave the push.  With this evidence, the Grand Mor and Sardath agree to join forces to battle the mysterious hands, a battle led by Donna Troy and Ion!

Review

Once again I must express my confusion as to why these specials could not have been part of the original mini-series.  Now, I realize that the revelation of Superboy’s activities could not be made well into the middle of the infinite crisis, but Sardath’s initial findings of Thanagar being moved could have been the catalyst for peace.  Essentially that is the end that was needed for the RTW series.  Would it have been too much to ask to have the beginning scenes of this special be included in the main series.  The ending with the space anomaly could have been kept, but if the war is ended at least there would have been some resolution.  Then this special could have revealed the cause behind Thanagar’s shift could have been Superboy.

Am I the only one that thinks Jade could be brought back at any time?  I realize that if you follow the DC rule that if there is a body, then they are dead for good, but Ion mentioned that her energy, her spirit lives on.  Sounds like a loophole to me.  And I must add that the space mask opr whatever it is just looks plain stupid.  It did not look bad with Donna’s hair since her hair was black, but Ion’s face just looks stupid.  I like the new outfit, but the face is just plain dumb.

And, again, I really liked the looks on Sardath’s face as he records the hands on Thanagar.  He looked like the cat that ate the canary.  A similar drawing appeared in issue #6.

Overall, this issue flew right past.  With so much going, it was the proverbial page turner and I always like that in any story.  More importantly, it was very focused on what started the war and what eventually will end it.  As such, this focus made for a much better read the beginning of the mini-series.  Either that or I have gotten used to all the different characters and thus it was easier to follow, but I think it was just more focused since there was no Throneworld or other planets to contend with.-- MRB