DCU Comic Book Reviews

FINAL CRISIS #4

Darkseid Says

November 2008

Written by Grant Morrison

Pencils by J. G. Jones and Carlos Pacheco

Inks by J. G. Jones and Jesus Merino

Covers by J. G. Jones and Carlos Pacheco & Jesus Merino

Synopsis

With the anti-life equation, Darkseid has taken control of the inhabitants of Earth.  At the Hall of Justice, the Ray Terrill arrives along with Mark Richards (aka Tattoo Man), who brings a message from Black Lightning for the Resistance.  Blüdhaven lies in ruins.  At the Evil Factory, Ban Turpin has been strapped down as he fights the incubation phase of the Fifth World.  Meanwhile, Oracle and the resistance prepare via satellite hook-up to other locations around the world where heroes are massing together.  Alan Scott gives a impassioned plea for everyone to help.  Captain Marvel asks Black Adam to help in the fight.  At the Hall of Justice, Tattoo Man shows the message from Black Lightning, a tattoo all over his body that looks like the symbol of Metron.  Suddenly, the Justifiers break into the Hall of Justice.  While Green Arrow delays the Justifiers, The Ray teleports the heroes away.  Elsewhere, the reunion between the Flashes Wally West and Barry Allen is cut short by the Furies.  At her apartment, Iris Allen is affected by the anti-life equation, but a kiss from Barry brings her back to normal.  Outside the Checkmate Castle, the heroes fight as the skies begin to rain blood.  Mister Miracle and the Japanese heroes arrive.  Mister Miracle claims he can save the world.  He is then shot through the heart.  The Spirit of Freedom dies with him.   At the Evil Factory, Darkseid’s helmet is placed on Dan Turpin’s head.  Godfrey wants to know:  has the spirit of Turpin or Darkseid triumphed.  The verdict:  Darkseid is the master of all.

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

In a single word: damn good.  I love this series.  I think this is much better than Batman R.I.P. and I can’t wait to find out what happens next. 

This is a different type of story being told here than in the first three issues of this mini-series.  This is neither a good thing nor a bad thing, per se, I am just pointing it out.  The first three issues were haphazard, stream-of-consciousness mind trips with plot and story that bounced around with the glee of a mad scientist wringing his hands together with evil laughter.  And it was enjoyable for the sheer audacity of the story Morrison was putting together.  Then we get this issue in which the narrative and structure is presented in a relatively normal, straightforward manner, which is at odds to what had come before.  Morrison is not without some strangeness located within the panels but ultimately this is the typical “gather the troops” issue. 

The marketing slogan is simple:  Evil wins.  Indeed, at the end of issue #3, evil has indeed won.  Not that we saw it.  The anti-life equation was spread throughout the internet and cable and other electronic devises and whoever did not get caught before Oracle pulled the plug (which is a silly thought if you take the visual literally) are hunted by Justifiers.  On giant dogs.  Yet, all of this happened off panel.  What we get in this issue is the emergence of Darkseid as ruler while the heroes assemble to fight back.  We don’t see what happens when someone is taken over by the anti-life equation.  We don’t see evil taking over.  It has already happened and now all we are seeing the ramifications of evil winning.  I would’ve liked to have seen it. 

I am willing to bet that it wasn’t Mister Miracle at the end of the issue.  Either that or the coloring is way off for that page.  Mister Miracle doesn’t quite look right.  Even if it is him, one can only assume that the world’s greatest escape artist would be able to escape from a bullet through the chest. 

How did Iris Allen get separated from the rest of the Flash family?  Weren’t they all together in the last issue.  When the Wests and Joan Garrick are making their way to the hall of Justice, Iris decides to go back to her apartment.  Man, she deserves to become Darkseid’s slave for that boneheaded move, even if Barry arrives to save her. 

A kiss is the answer to the anti-life equation?  Really?  Why not just have Barry and Wally run around the world and kiss everyone?  With super speed they can certainly planet a few wet ones every second or so.  Actually, I kid.  What I think Morrison is going for is that love is the answer to the anti-life equation. 

The Ünternet was created by Kurt Busiek and introduced in Action Comics, issue #853. 

 

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