DCU Comic Book Reviews

FINAL CRISIS #2

Ticket To Blüdhaven

August 2008

Written by Grant Morrison

Pencils by J. G. Jones

Inks by J. G. Jones

Covers by J. G. Jones

Synopsis

In Japan, Sonny Sumo is approached by Shilo Norman (aka Mister Miracle) who tells him that there was a cosmic war and evil won.  But Norman is putting together a team and wants Sonny Sumo on that team.  Elsewhere, former Monitor recalls his past, but only as a dream.  He searches for the magic word that will take him word, but with little success.  Meanwhile, Detective Turpin continues to search for the missing children, which leads him to Blüdhaven.  After the heroes pay final respects to the Martian Manhunter, the investigation into his death as well as Orion continues.  John Stewart finds something at the place of Orion’s death, a bullet imbedded in the concrete for over 50 years.  When he digs it out, he is suddenly attacked.  Later, Hal Jordan is arrested for the attempted murder of John Stewart.  At the Hall of Justice, Alpha Lantern Kraken is about to take back Orion’s body when she suddenly attacks Batman, telling him his life is over.  In Blüdhaven, Turpin finds Command D, where Reverend Good has opened the Evil Factory.  At the Daily Planet, a bomb explodes.  Superman’s fears for Lois’ life.  In Central City, Jay Garrick and Wally West follow a lead on the death of the Martian Manhunter.  It leads to Libra’s hideout, which was also the place where Jay and Barry first met.  Suddenly, an explosion rocks the place and Barry Allen appears, followed closely by the Black Racer. 

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

Over the years I have noticed a particular pattern for some comic book writers, one in which thankfully Morrison doesn’t seem to fall into in this issue.  Writers will take an issue or two to slowly introduce concepts and ideas, rolling out the plot and the story at a leisurely pace before kicking it into high gear.  The problem is this:  writers will often take so long with the set-up that they then find themselves forced to rush the rest of the story, creating often a cluttered mess to get to the end.  This is a problem with stories that have definitive page counts (22 per issue) in a limited number of issues (6 or 7).  Morrison avoids that problem, however.  Yes, there is more set up here, but things are starting to pick up; it may be slow, but there is plot and story movement.  We were introduced to the deaths and the New Gods roaming the earth last month; now we get a little more, especially with the New Gods taking over bodies, time-traveling bodies, Norman’s potential team, and Libra and the society of villains.  There is something bad coming down soon and Morrison is able to generate a sense of foreboding and fear without actually coming right out and saying, this is what is happening.  But at the same token, I get the sense that things are worse than they were in the previous issue and that things are going to continually get worse.  It is a good set-up with definite forward motion.  Let’s just hope Morrison can get to the finish without rushing it. 

It is interesting to note that the mobius chair Libra had been sitting and the crime bible he was usually resting his one hand are fakes.  I am not sure what it means or what it supposed to signify, but since Morrison mentioned it, I assume it has to mean something. 

I think DC shot themselves in the foot.  In the eagerness to reveal that Barry Allen was back in the DC Universe 0 special, the impact the ending to this issue is lessened.  Hell, not even lessened, completely blown apart.  Having seen Libra in the night club before, we knew the moment Jay and Wally stepped close to it that something with Barry would happen.  Granted, I thought that perhaps Libra was Barry, but let’s face it my track record on guessing things like that are small, so I fully didn’t expect it.  Regardless, even if Barry’s appearance is a trick of time and Barry still is Libra, the effectiveness of the ending was robbed by DC’s marketing campaign. 

In the sketches that the fallen monitor is drawing, one picture looks like Dr. Manhattan from Watchmen.  I am not sure about the others, although the one woman with the big “s” or lightning like chest piece seems to be identified in the drawing as “Overgirl.”  Never heard of the character before. 

In the Final Crisis Sketchbook, the old Japanese team (in the top panel) was mentioned by name:  Boss Bosozuko, Rising Sun, Junior Waveman, Hammersuit Zero-X, Ultimon (flying), the monster Fushikuraje, and Cosmo Racer.  As for the younger team (in the layout panel that resembles the Hapanese flag), they are:  Shiny Happy Aquazon, Shy Crazy Lolita Canary, Most Excellent Super Bat, Big Atomic Lantern Boy and Well-Spoken Sonic Lightning Flash.  All of these are new characters, except for Rising Sun who first appeared in Super Friends, issue #8 (1977).

The first line of the issue:  “Stop!” 

The last line of the issue:  “Run!”

 

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