DCU Comic Book Reviews

FINAL CRISIS #1

D.O.A.: The God OF War

July 2008

Written by Grant Morrison

Pencils by J. G. Jones

Inks by J. G. Jones

Covers by J. G. Jones

Synopsis

In the distant past, Metron passes along the knowledge of fire to Anthro, who takes it back to his tribe.  Now, Detective Turpin investigates the death of New God Orion.  Green Lanterns of Sector 2814, John Stewart and hal Jordan, are also ordered to investigate by the Guardians.  Meanwhile, Turpin meets with Renee Montoya (aka Question), who provides information on missing children and the Dark Side Club.  On Oa, the Guardian decide to send the Alpha Lantern Unit to investigate Orion’s death.  Elsewhere, Dr. Light and Mirror Master track down and capture members of the League of Titans. Elsewhere, Libra tells assembled villains he will balance the scales of evil and good and if they help him he will give them their heart’s desire.  To prove it, he grants the Human Flame’s desire and kills the Martian Manhunter.  Meanwhile, Turpin questions Boss Dark Side about the missing children.  Dark Side tells him children are the hope for the future; they will be the new model human.  At the Hall of Justice, the Justice League begins the search for the Evil Gods on Earth.  At the Multiversal Orrery, the Monitors punish Nix Uotan for allowing Earth-51 to be destroyed.  Nix Uotan punishment is become human.  Elsewhere, Anthro is drawing Metron’s costume design in the dirt when he suddenly leaps to future and encounters Kamandi, the last boy on Earth.  Meanwhile, Nix Uotan awakens and realizes what has happened to him. 

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

Oh, man, expectations for this issue may cause many, many readers to stop after reading this issue.  Those who opened the pages expecting a big blockbuster full of action or BIG moments will be sorely disappointed.  Morrison has played this story in a very, very low-key manner; events and moments are downplayed to such a degree, I wasn’t even sure J’onn had died.  Morrison is building the story, allowing the characters and events to gather momentum before unleashing whatever he has planned.  I don’t mind and I certainly liked what Morrison has done here in this issue, but I can certainly understand if anyone was confused after reading this issue.  This is the big summer event that DC says is the finale to a five year plan?  This is the FINAL crisis?  You would think that the last act would be full of pop and some expecting that will be disappointed.  Personally, I wasn’t.  Actually, I prefer a slow beginning that builds to a BIG end.  It is the opposite of most big summer blockbusters (Identity Crisis?) in which all the shots are fired early in the story leaving a big pffft at the end.  With such a low-key beginning (at least compared to other blockbuster series’ first issue) I am hoping that it ends with a bang. 

Where is the Crisis?  Yeah, we have Libra running around collecting villains and promising to change the world’s moral center from good to bad.  Is that supposed to be the crisis?  Is that the bang that I am hoping for or is Morrison leading to something else entirely?  And speaking of Libra, it looks as if he has in his possession Metron’s chair, the Crime Bible, and the Spear of Destiny (used to kill J’onn).  I wonder what else he may have collected. 

It struck me odd that Hal and John would act so freaky about the death of Orion.  I mean, in the final issue of Countdown to Final Crisis, weren’t they standing there when Darkseid and Orion beat each other death?  And if not, weren’t they around when Lightray bit the dust?  And didn’t they investigate Big Barda’s death?  I guess what I am saying, is that the death of the New Gods should not be a surprise to anyone in the DC universe at this point.  In fact, Hal and John’s reaction should’ve been something to the effect, “oh, that is where Orion fell after he killed his father.”

I should also mention that the dialogue about the young Titans and the need for ED drugs between Mirror Master and Dr. Light took me right out of the story.  I understand that Morrison is keeping in step with Dr. Light’s new characterization from Identity Crisis, but it seems oddly out of place with the rest of the issue.  What does rape or dating or sex have to do with this story? 

The breaded Cro-Magnon in the middle of page 5 wearing what looks to be scarf but is probably the hide of some animal is supposed to be Vandal Savage.  He first appeared in the original Green Lantern series (issue #10).  Check out this storyline for more about the history of Vandal Savage, who is immortal and has been around for a looooong time. 

On page 14, the top panel, there is a poster or billboard on the building of Mister Miracle, the Shilo Norman version that appeared in Morrison’s Seven Soldiers:  Mister Miracle mini-series.  It is interesting to note that that series also featured the first appearance of the Dark Side Club that is referred to here and shown in other DC comics in the past few weeks. 

 

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