Hero of the Week #4: Captain America

CAPTAIN AMERICA (Marvel)
Real Name: Steve Rogers
First Appearance: Captain America Comics #1 (March, 1941)
Group Affiliation: Avengers, Secret Avengers, Invaders, SHIELD
Gaming Credentials: Spider-man & Captain America in Dr. Doom's Revenge (1989); Captain America and the Avengers (1991); Maximum Carnage (1994); Marvel Super Heroes (1995); Marvel Super Heroes: War of the Gems (1996); Marvel vs Capcom 2 (2000); Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects (2005); Marvel Ultimate Alliance (2006); Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 (TBA)
Infinite Wars Cumulative Ranking: #7

I've blogged about it before and I'll definitely blog about it again: comics and video games have a lot in common, both as artforms, and as industries. In many respects, I believe the relatively young medium of gaming could learn a lot from it's sequential senior. Where gaming has a leg up, however, is justification for levity towards death.

If you were following the news at all last week, you probably heard all about Marvel's big announcement for Captain America #600 -- the return of Steve Rogers! If you bought into the hype and actually picked up the hefty $4.99 issue, then allow me to apologise on behalf of the entire industry. Chances are you would've been left a little bemused by the so-called major issue, given that it was a lead-in to the actual series and event of Captain America: Reborn.

Unlike last week's hero (Flash); Captain America's death did not come with a grandious sense of self-sacrifice; did not benefit all of mankind; and hadn't really even been put to paper all that long!
It was only back in April of 2007, in Captain America #25, that the big A bit the big 1 when he was shot Lee Harvey Oswald-style on the steps of the courthouse he was to be tried in for unlawful activity as an unregistered superhero. The proverbial gunman-on-the-grassy knoll was Cap's arch-nemesis and rooftop assassin, Crossbones, who was working on behalf of the Red Skull. The actual culprit amidst the chaos, however, was the Captain's own straight shooting ex-girlfriend, and agent of SHIELD, Sharon Carter!... Or so it seemed...

Reborn reexamines the events of the fateful shooting, starting with Sharon Carter, the superspy who had been brainwashed to shoot Cap in the gut at point blank and will now find a way to bring him back.

For Marvel Comics, who owe their most significant history to the Stan Lee era of the 1960's; Captain America is one of the few enduring characters that connects them to the Golden Age of comics. Revived as part of Lee's super-group, the Avengers, the Captain reentered the "modern" world as a man not quite in sync with the time around him. That otherworldy distance the WWII hero possessed has allowed him to become a cypher for many discussions about the American political landscape, and the ideals of an idealistic nation.
To this day, the character largely represents the incorruptable good that America has failed to achieve, but always strived for. He is a character larger than life, important around the world not for the jingoistic flagwaving his red, white, and blue costume represents, but for the larger-than-life superheroic truth and justice he stands for.

The subtlties and unique intrigue of 1940s superheroes, even in their updated incarnations, hasn't always connected directly with gamers, but many will fondly remember the character for his iconic flinging of the shield in games like Captain America and the Avengers and the vs Capcom series. Off the back of his significance in the modern Marvel Universe, however, Cap has enjoyed a more substantial role in the Ultimate Alliance game, which, for now, represents the most thorough venture into the entire Marvel universe, rather than just one brand.

Cap returns in the Ultimate Alliance sequel, Fusion, packing a punch as one of the key figures in a storyline adapted from 2006's Civil War. The story, centred around the registration and exposure of superheroes to the government, pitted two factions of heroes against one and other in a clash of ideals, asking readers to choose between Captain America and Iron Man. As if to bring events full circle, it was the Civil War that indirectly led to the assassination of Captain America!

Cap also returns later in the year in the [delayed] digital reissuing of Marvel vs Capcom 2! Captain America: Reborn #1 hits comic stores July 1st. The much talked about feature film, Captain America: The First Avenger, is currently slated for a July 2011 release.

Secret Wars on Infinite Earths: The Comic Book Fight Club is updated with varying consistency, promising a feature fight for every Friday on the calendar (even if sometimes they're late). The site acts as an information resource, discussion site, review blog, and an All-American good time.

<< Hero of the Week 06/29: Green Lantern       [Home]       Hero of the Week 06/15: Flash >>

Originally posted: http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=8995755

COVER 2 COVER: MARVEL 2009 MID-YEAR SPOTLIGHT!
If you want to talk about the out-put of the two major companies in terms of mid-year assessments, then it's hard not to shower kudos upon the efforts of DC comics [which is exactly what we did, in last week's entry].

If DC were lurking somewhere in the realm of an A, then Marvel are probably maintaining at least a B average, even if it isn't across all subjects.

2009 has been, by Marvel standards, a year of experimentation, particularly where tackling annual company crossover events is concerned.
For a while there "crossovers" were credited with nearly destroying mainstream comics, but for better or worse, they're a thriving fact of reading corporate comics. In an effort to ease tensions between readers and events, however, Marvel have spread their "event" thinly to sell a concept rather than any storyline directed into a central titular mini-series.

The type of bannered omnipresence Dark Reign has had is traditionally what upsets readers, implying that each issue baring the logo is necessary to appreciate the full picture. This has arguably always been a fallacy, but particularly so with Dark Reign, and it seems to be generally doing okay. Of course, there are still a whole heap of Dark Reign mini-series, and one-shot specials that actually are quite significant to the core tale. Oh yeah, and not to be outdone by DC's core events, they've also put together The Marvels Project and Captain America: Reborn.

It's difficult not to feel cynical about the contrived 70th Anniversary celebrations of a company that has struggled to acknowledge it's pre-Stan Lee era origins. The whole concept rings hollow, much like the unsurprising return of Captain America, which feels like part of a ham-fisted juggling act when measured against the editorial superiority of DC's always well considered writing and concept. That's not to say there aren't a lot of positives, however. You don't just get a B grade for showing up, after all!

Ironically, it's many of Marvel's B-list titles that have found something special to tap in to.
As you will see in the following list, some of the best comics in the first half of the year (that have been reviewed in the Infinite Wars), have overlapped with the Dark Reign banner, but each has done so to some advantage. Many have added to the legacy of Norman Osborn and The Hood, who have been the most commonly featured central figures that define a Dark Reign story.

The following five issues are just a small sample of cover-dated 2009 issues that have been featured in the Infinite Wars this year. You can find more titles by navigating through tag links, or by scowering the famous Secret Archives. We've got plenty more big action coming in our posts dated 2009, including issues from the eagerly anticipated events discussed!

Amazing Spider-man #585 (April 2009)
"Menace Over Manhattan" Guggenheim/Romita Jr
In a world where Peter Parker's secret identity has been restored; the web-swinging bachelor finds his alter-ego the prime suspect in a spate of serial killings. Connected to the murders by the presence of his custom homing devices -- spider-tracers -- Spidey becomes a wanted man like never before, all the while trying to fight to protect the city.

The New York mayoral race provides the stage for Spider-man to face-off against the latest in a long line of legacy inheritants of Green Goblin tech! Having troubled Spider-man for months, the self-described "Menace" takes the opportunity to challenge a mortally wounded Spider-man to a rematch by attacking a rally for candidate, Bill Hollister!

Suffering a gunshot wound to the shoulder, and extreme fatigue as result of his recent adventures, Spider-man enters the fray at a distinct disadvantage - something Menace is ready to take full advantage of!

Daredevil #116 (May 2009)
"On The Costa Da Morte" Brubaker/Aja
In New York City, Wilson Fisk was once the all-powerful Kingpin of crime, but when a plot to take down his arch-nemesis resulted in his own incarceration alongside his enemy, everything changed. Amidst the crumbling of his empire, the Kingpin grasped at his fading connections, whilst watching Daredevil leave prison, only to unwittingly battle his beloved wife.

An embittered Vanessa Fisk had orchestrated events to pit her husband and his nemesis against one another in mortal combat, but when the pair failed to kill each other, Daredevil was able unravel her schemes, following clues to Spain. Face to face with his Vanessa on her deathbed, Daredevil was forced out of moral obligation to use his skills as a lawyer to free her husband from prison.

Murdock arranged freedom for his nemesis on the condition that he relinquish his criminal empire and leave the country for good. Though this final act of peace was to honor Vanessa Fisk's memory, it was inevitably short lived. Wilson Fisk found for himself a new life in Spain, where he and Vanessa had shared fond memories, but the sins of the past are not so easily forgotten for a Kingpin.

Discovered in Spain by Lady Bullseye and the Hand, Fisk returns to the humble abode of a new surrogate family, only to find them dead. Unsurprised by their grim fate, he meets his enemies with an accepting fury, and powerful fist.

Marvel Zombies 4 #2 (July 2009)
"Night Shift" Van Lente/Walker
When zombie infected heroes from parallel Earth-2149 find their way through the Nexus of Realities hidden in the Florida Everglades, an unprepared group of C-list heroes assigned by the Fifty States Initiative find themselves under attack! Wundarr, the Conquistador, Siege, and Jennifer Kale, (known collectively as The Command), are easily devoured by the nightmarish zombies. Only Kale survives, but before his self-destruction, Siege was able to inform secretive alternate-universe unit, ARMOR.

Having played a pivotal role in containing the threat and defeating the zombie invaders; Dr. Michael Morbius emerges as a new leading operative with ARMOR. He recruits the traumatized Jennifer Kale, along with familiar occult allies, Son of Satan and Werewolf by Night, into a new taskforce assigned the job of seeking and containing infection spread by an escaped zombie head (Deadpool).

Unbeknownst to Morbius and his team, the Deadpool head was retrieved by a very different type of zombie (Simon Garth) - occult in nature - who carries the plague infected head into the hands of Black Talon. When Talon attempts to sell the head as a bioweapon to The Hood, he is advised by Dormammu to accept, leading the Kingpin of Super-villains to lead Night Shift to the island of Taino, where they will intercepted the Midnight Sons and the zombie plague.

Deadpool: Suicide Kings #2 (July 2009)
Benson/Barberi
Deadpool: Superpowered former test subject of the Weapon X project turned rogue mercenary. Armed with an arsenal of hi-tech weaponry, standard munitions, and a sense of humor, he fights for truth, justice, and the American Express way. Cash is preferable.

By accepting a million dollar contract from a gambler wanting his bookie killed to avoid paying his debts, Deadpool walks blindly in to a trap. Instead of killing his intended target, the DP accidentally triggered an explosion that destroyed an apartment building, and killed several innocents.

With his presence caught on tape and broadcast across news networks, Deadpool becomes the unwitting player in a double-or-nothing bet between his client, and local New York mobster, Tombstone. The wager: Can Deadpool survive in the heat for twenty-four hours? With the Punisher entering the picture after seeing the news, the odds just got a lot steeper for the 'Poolman.

Punisher #5 (July 2009)
"Living in Darkness" Remender/Opena
When opportunity presented itself, Norman Osborn branded former Director of SHIELD and man in whom the people put their trust, Tony Stark, a traitor and coward. A conspiracy of events, including the secret invasion of disguised Skrull aliens, created the circumstances through which the former Green Goblin was able to elevate himself from directorial position within the Thunderbolts, to the head of a newly formed intelligence agency replacing the corrupted SHIELD.

Recognising Osborn for the man he truly is -- (rather than the man records show was once wrongly accused of being a super-villain) -- the Punisher sets out to do the thing he knows best: wage a bloody war on the bad guys!

Standing in Frank Castle's way is a network of allies Osborn has formed both on the right and wrong sides of the law. After clashing with membership of Osborn's Avengers, he now faces the ire of card carrying powers from Osborn's secret Cabal, forcing him into a much less public fight with the self-proclaimed "Kingpin of super-villains," Parker Robinson, aka; The Hood. Joined by whiz hacker "Henry," Punisher attempts to turn the tables on his pursuer, but the Hood's demonic powers will provide a twist Frank Castle could not possibly have a contingency for, bringing him face-to-face with an old friend and new enemy...

Z-POOL versus MAN-THING
Marvel Zombies 4: Midnight Sons Part 3 (Marvel)
Where: Marvel Zombies 4 #3 When: August 2009
Why: Fred Van Lente How: Kev Walker

The Story So Far...
When zombie infected heroes from parallel Earth-2149 find their way through the Nexus of Realities hidden in the Florida Everglades, an unprepared group of C-list heroes assigned by the Fifty States Initiative find themselves under attack! Alternate universe monitors, ARMOR, succeed in preventing mass invasion from the parallel universe, but are forced to deploy a team to eradicate infected Men-Fish.

Having played a pivotal role in containing the threat and defeating the zombie invaders; Dr. Michael Morbius emerges as a new leading operative with ARMOR. He recruits traumatized survivor Jennifer Kale, along with familiar occult allies, Son of Satan and Werewolf by Night, into a new taskforce dubbed the Midnight Sons. The group succeed in destroying the Men-Fish, but fail to recognise the threat of "Z-Pool" (Zombie Deadpool's decapitated head) and Simon Dark, the latter of whom falls under the spell of Black Talon -- a voodoo mystic capable of enslaving the zombie.

Black Talon offers the interdimensional zombie plague as a weapon to Kingpin of Super-Villains, The Hood. Through a series of blunders on the island of Taino, the plague is unleashed through Black Talon's minions, ultimately mutating into a gaseous airborne form. With the plague spreading to remote populated areas, the Midnight Sons battle against the clock to contain the threat, or condemn the area to destruction by an ARMOR nuclear assault.

Jennifer Kale summons Man-Thing to pursue the threat, while Z-Pool develops a mild psychic link with the plague as it becomes rain and raises corpse pieces of super-powered Roxxon security agents to create a super-powered composite being. Thus, the monstrous Man-Thing fights for the fate of humanity!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Man-Thing 5 (Superhuman)
Intelligence: Draw 2 (Average)
Speed: Man-Thing 2 (Average)
Stamina: Man-Thing 6 (Generator)
Agility: Man-Thing 2 (Average)
Fighting: Man-Thing 3 (Street Wise)
Energy: Man-Thing 2 (Projectile)


- The exact details of Wade Wilson's early life remain a mystery, perhaps even to him. During his adult life he became a mercenary who, upon learning he had developed cancer, gave up on his life to submit himself to experimentation with the top secret remnants of the Weapon X program. The project experimented with altering Wilson on a genetic level, attempting to treat him with a healing factor developed from the genome of former subject, Wolverine. However, Wilson's cancer interacted with the process in unforseen ways, reducing the effectiveness of his healing powers, and rendering him hideously disfigured.

Skilled in hand-to-hand and weapons based combat, Wilson becomes Deadpool.
In the alternate universe of Earth-2149, Deadpool is among the countless heroes and villains who are infected by a zombie plague. He crosses through the Nexus of Reality into Earth-616, where he engages members of The Command. He is sliced into a pieces by a skiff propeller during the fight, by Wundarr and Jennifer Kale, continuing life as a decapitated head. He is nicknamed Z-Pool.

- Project Gladiator was an experiment to recreate the effects of the "Super-Soldier Serum" developed during the Second World War by assassinated German scientist, Dr. Abraham Erskine, and used to create Captain America.

Stationed in the Florida Everglades; a team of biochemists including Dr. Theodore Sallis work on Project Gladiator in secret in close proximity to agents of AIM. The science terrorist network infiltrate the project through Sallis, who defies protocol to sneak his wife into the base. Though Sallis was able to destroy his research, his escape was impeded when he injected himself with the serum, and crashed his vehicle into the neighbouring swamp. When he reemerged, it was as the marshy muck-monster, created by science and mysticism, called Man-Thing!

As Man-Thing; Sallis possesses a primitive mind rarely capable of recalling more than glimpses of the knowledge he held as a biochemist. He does possess an instinctive psychic empathy capable of sensing emotional disturbances. Via a secretion triggered by this shift, those who know fear burn at the Man-Thing's touch. The marshy composition of his form is also highly durable, capable of recovering from significant wounds and adapting significant malleability, while also producing form strong enough to deal superhuman strength.

Man-Thing also possesses mystic sensitivities and serves as the guardian of the Nexus of Reality -- an interdimensional crossroads located deep within the swamps of the Florida Everglades from which he arose.

Math: Man-Thing Ranking: Z-Pool (#449)

What Went Down...
Carried by a zombie of a very different kind, the decapitated head of Deadpool spies the looming silhouette of Man-Thing as it stalks through a red rain of gore and infection. Man-Thing, though not immune to the effects of the rain, shows considerable resilience as he is replenished by mother nature so long as he remains connected to the Earth.

Z-Pool [and Simon] takes the weather with him, and upon encountering a team of super-human security guards for a Roxxon Blackridge resort, gains the means to fight back against his stalker. The rain devours the guards, only to reassemble them as a composite revenant possessing their combined powers.

Receiving psychic direction from Z-Pool, the creature unleashes a bolt of electricity, taken from Lightning Fist, that severs Man-Thing's right arm.
Wielding the toothed whip of Razor Wire, the revenant throws the jagged saw into Man-Thing's body, slicing down through the shoulder deep into it's torso.

Feeding from the Earth, Man-Thing reconstructs it's vegetative limb and swings it with superhuman strength at the patchwork revenant!

The blow sends the creature hurtling into a nearby resort light, snapping the post with the impact. Gaining strength from the limbs of Ogre, the revenant creature proves strong enough to wield the lamp post as a weapon, which it again uses to bisect Man-Thing's form!

The swamp monster snaps the post and heals around the impalement, fighting on with a wild slash to the revenant's race. It is then, however, that the zombie creature makes a horrific deduction. Gaining understanding through the rain, the revenant clutches at the snapped-off post protruding from Man-Thing's chest, and denies him his connection with the Earth!

Robbed of the replenishment of nature, the Man-Thing begins to wilt in the rain, and gradually, he succumbs to decay as the burning zombie rain destroys his form completely. Held skyward by the composite revenant, Man-Thing dies.

The Hammer...
Infinite Wars stat counters will appreciate that it's incredibly difficult to make a call on exactly who or what gained victory in this exchange. For the implication that it was he pulling the strings, I'm going to make the easy call and say it was Z-Pool, but there's an argument the Marvel Zombies plague (as rain) has gained a degree of sentience. It should also be reiterated that the revenant was created from characters called Razor Wire, Lightning Fist, and Ogre.

After skipping MZ3, it's become apparent to me that Fred Van Lente has really been a revelation as writer of these series. We've documented in the past the origins of the high concept as a Mark Millar UFF storyarc [Crossover], and it's devolution as a thinly developed mini-series under Robert Kirkman, and a well beaten dead horse for marketting gimmicks like line-wide gimmick covers.

Even with those historic shortcomings; Marvel Zombies 4 has managed to rise above the past to be one of the very best Marvel comics published in 2009!

By utilizing a cast once popular, but now overlooked Marvel characters, Van Lente has transformed the brand into something slightly more conventional, but much more realised in it's design as a superhero-horror comic. With MZ4 in particular, he's drawn from the horror comic boom of the seventies, to create a grounding of character in the story that recalls that time period and embellishes it.

[Mark] Millar's original creation of the zombie heroes of Earth-2149, (in Ultimate Fantastic Four), played extensively with horror elements which Van Lente appears to have bifurcated between MZ3 and MZ4. The latter contains the conventional zombie horror of visualized gore and unsettling images of disfigured humans, while MZ3 inherently plays with the psychological horror of mistrust in characters who might not be themselves. This appears in MZ3 through the plot of Z-Morbius posing as our Morbius, but also through the threat of infection, ala; Jennifer Kale's turning teammates, and even Jack Russel in the cliffhanger for MZ4 [#3].

Of course, in developing the depth of plot further, Van Lente runs afoul some of the difficulties posed by Kirkman's thinly considered backstory.
The chief difficulty stems from the issue of immunity. It's a vital part of Man-Thing's almost checklist-like appearance in this issue (as another seventies horror icon), but rubs awkwardly against the list of characters who've been established as turned in the past [see; Marvel Zombies Defense Strategum].

I'm happy to not think about it too much, particularly if we assume there was never any grand plan for Marvel Zombies to explode the way they have. It's a great concept and I can't blame Marvel for wanting to expand upon it! It's just a shame there couldn't have been a greater awareness at the beginning, to allow for a more thorough design of this weird and wonderful world of undead heroes.

Kev Walker deserves a lot of credit for realising this and every other issue!
Zombie clouds, zombie rain, and all the other wonderfully wacky things going on in this issue could've made for a visual nightmare, but he pulls it off superbly. There's a suitable rough edge, but as I've mentioned before, the treatment feels a little bit more superhero friendly than the previous series. I like that it isn't quite as heavy-handed with the darkness, and not nearly as motley looking.

There are so many threads up in the air that I'm really looking forward to the fourth issue! I anticipate what might come next for this collaboration of brand and creators, because they really do seem to have a wonderful grasp of it all.
As if to go above-and-beyond the call of duty, there are also some really interesting developments in The Hood's story that will almost certainly be of interested to readers of Dark Reign and New Avengers! There's nothing as specific as references to events in other series, but the relationship between Parker Robbins and his (Dormammu) powers is explored in interesting ways.

The Fight: 4.5 The Issue: 5

Marvel Zombies 4 is a four-issue mini-series that concludes next month! You can pre-order it in collected form, or pick up one of the various previous Marvel Zombies mini-series, via Amazon! MZ3 in particular comes with recommendation for planting the seeds that gave us MZ4! You'll also find other tales in our Amazonian Gift Shop which features editions of most stories reviewed in the Secret Archives. By using any purchase links provided on the site, you help sponsor future entries in the Infinite Wars! Every referred buy is much appreciated and helps spread the Infinite Wars infection! Mmm, brains!

QUICK FIX: SCAR vs LYSSA DRAK
Emerald Eclipse: Part Five (DC)
Where: Green Lantern Corps #37 When: August 2009 Why: Peter J. Tomasi How: Patrick Gleason

THE TAPE...
Strength: Scar 7 (Omnipotent)
Intelligence: Scar 7 (Infinite Wisdom)
Speed: Draw 3 (Athlete)
Stamina: Scar 7 (Unstoppable)
Agility: Lyssa Drak 3 (Acrobat)
Fighting: Lyssa Drak 3 (Street Wise)
Energy: Scar 7 (Cosmic)

Math: Scar
Ranking: Scar (#441)

THE FIX...
At this point, we're so far behind on updates, we might as well just enjoy the content for what it is. This was the issue originally selected for what's become a weekly instalment of the Quick Fix, but at the time of updating, I felt I could not overlook Flash: Rebirth #3. The week of June 10 really served up a solid week of comics from both Marvel and DC, but GLC #37 takes pride of place for a moment that can be described as the unofficial beginning of Blackest Night!

I don't want to spend too much time on this, so you can consider it the first time the Quick Fix has actually lived up to the name. Fortunately for us, the moment key to our post took place over a mere three pages -- but what long anticipated and exciting pages they were!

Those new to the website might like clarification -- around here, we do things a little different to other review sites. "Secret Wars on Infinite Earths" not only refers to the two definitive comics crossovers of the mid-eighties, but also the endless battles undertaken by characters from different companies, mediums, and internal universes. It is a literal description of our "fight league" format that both ranks and records combatants and their battles in various comics.

While the prophecized "War of Light" spills over into the prison system of Oa's Sciencell holding facilities; one of the prisoners representing the Yellow Corps of fear slinks away to retrieve their sacred text -- The Book of Parallax.

Lyssa Drak, keeper of the book, uses her ring to tap into the unique energies of the scripts. It leads her deep beneath the planet Oa, into cavernous darkness not lit by the light of the Guardians or their Green Lantern Corps. There she discovers not the Book of Parallax, but rather, a black text brimming with the dark powers of death. This is the Book of the Black Lanterns, written with the oozing black tears spilled from the eyes of a fallen Guardian.
"She" is Scar -- tainted by the burning touch of the Anti-Monitor [Green Lantern #25], which left her both physically disfigured and emotionally unhinged.

As you might have gathered, the "fight" is brief.
Scar ambushes Lyssa Drak and forces her into the book, to a fate that we can only imagine at this point. Perhaps she is merely imprisoned, or perhaps she will rise at a later date, to join the army of Black Lanterns that will spread across the universe. Maybe hers is a fate even more esoteric in it's cosmic nature.

While the Green Lanterns fight to maintain order on Oa, Scar initiates the beginning of the Blackest Night from beneath the planet's surface. Spewing black energy that threatens to destroy the Central Power Battery and Oa itself!

When you consider that the first teaser for Blackest Night ran as an epilogue to Green Lantern #25 [in 2007], you can appreciate how such a seemingly small gesture can take on such huge significance! Scar has been influencing the course of the War of Light and the fate of the Guardians for the better part of twelve months, if not longer, culminating in this first specific act of defiance.

Blackest Night won't technically begin until July with the release of the first issue of the Geoff Johns/Ivan Reis mini-series. The Prelude, however, has been running for quite some time, both in Johns' Green Lantern, and the surpassing companion work of Peter Tomasi in this series, Green Lantern Corps. With Johns so heavily bogged down by the introduction of an entire spectrum of Lantern Corps, it's been an unremarkable surprise to see Tomasi and the secondary book take first place.

Multiple plot-lines have meant this is a book of both great quality, and also quantity, delivered beautifully with pencils from Patrick Gleason and complimentary inks and colours, in this issue, by the split duos of Rebecca Buchman & Tom Nguyen, and Randy Mayor & Gabe Eltaeb.

Mongul's coup within the Sinestro Corps; their invasion of Daxam; the self-sacrificing destruction of Sodam Yat; the secret search for Anti-Monitor's corpse; and other little details have been the complimentary storylines to the building Blackest Night sub-plot. It seems a travesty that we haven't been able to focus on more of it, but in those occasions where it might have been preferable, it has sometimes just been too vast in scope to be represented by our format.

I don't doubt that Blackest Night-proper will take a major role in our reviews as we move through the middle of the year. We already know Black Lantern versions of Martian Manhunter and Earth-2 Superman are set to send a shockwave through the DCU, but this is almost certainly only the tip of the iceberg. This is an event I'm actually concerned about, particularly with the DCU taking so many unlikely turns in recent years. I hope this is not to be the end of our generation of this universe, comparable to the Crisis on Infinite Earths maxi-series that allowed DC Comics to rearrange it's properties and effectively start over.

Our Infinite Wars: Blackest Night speculation post has undergone some updates, but as noted on the page, I think we've quickly realised that Blackest Night is to have an effect far grander than initially thought. This isn't a mere confrontation between forces, ala; Sinestro Corps War, but rather, a catastrophic cosmic event!

The Fight: 3 The Issue: 5.5
Winner: Scar

Green Lantern Corps is currently available monthly from DC comics, but you can pre-order the collected edition of "Emerald Eclipse" -- including all the action describe in this review -- via Amazon.com! By using purchase links provided on the site, you help sponsor future entries of the Infinite Wars. You can find more items in our Gift Shoppe, where collections of almost all issues reviewed in the Secret Archives are available. You'll find stories like Green Lantern: Rebirth and Sinestro Corps War!

SHIPPING LIST: JUNE 17, 2009
Mountain Dew® is proud to introduce Game Fuel:
Two limited-time-only flavors inspired by the
hit video game World of Warcraft.Choose Your Side with Alliance Blue, or Horde Red. Only from Mountain Dew® Game Fuel™, get a free 14-day-trial of World of Warcraft, or an in-game battlebot pet.You can probably find complete shipping list updates on most major comics sites. Consider this an opportunity to either do all your info-shopping in the one place, or get a speculative perspective on what might be worth checking out. These are untested reads. Secret Wars on Infinite Earths can offer no guarantee or endorsement of quality. These are simply titles that may be of potential interest. Some items may ship late.

The Infinite Wars now has a gift shop!
Now you'll find Amazon purchase links to hardcovers, trade paperbacks, and other collections, not only on regular entries -- but also new releases at the bottom of the Shipping List, and now a whole catalogue of potential purchases via the Infinite Wars: Amazonian Gift Shop. [Men are also welcome!] By shopping with Amazon via our purchase links, you not only find yourself a great deal, but also sponsor future entries on the Infinite Wars.

Advertise here! Contact for more!
The Independents...
MAR092443 AMBER ATOMS #4 $3.50
APR090358 BODY BAGS TP VOL 01 FATHERS DAY (MR) $14.99
APR090767 BOYS HEROGASM #2 (OF 6) (MR) $2.99
NOV084315 DRAGON BALL Z VIZBIG ED GN VOL 04 $17.99
APR090671 EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT IRIS #1 BENITEZ CVR $2.99
APR090384 INVINCIBLE #63 $2.99
MAR092455 MADMAN ATOMIC COMICS #16 (RES) $3.50
APR090388 OLYMPUS #2 (IMAGE ED) (NOTE PRICE) $3.50
DEC082265 PHONOGRAM 2 #3 (OF 7) SINGLES CLUB $3.50
APR090760 PROJECT SUPERPOWERS CHAPTER TWO #0 $1.00
APR090945 TALES OF TMNT #59 $3.25

The Corporates...
APR090264 AIR #10 (MR) $2.99
APR090534 CABLE #15 XMW $2.99
APR090495 CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI 13 #14 $2.99
APR090466 DARK REIGN MISTER NEGATIVE #1 (OF 3) DKR $3.99
APR090145 FINAL CRISIS AFTERMATH DANCE #2 (OF 6) $2.99
APR090181 GREEN ARROW BLACK CANARY #21 $2.99
APR090510 MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS #37 $2.99
APR090459 MIGHTY AVENGERS #26 DKR $2.99
APR090192 POWER GIRL #2 $2.99
APR090532 X-MEN LEGACY #225 $2.99
APR090547 X-MEN ORIGINS GAMBIT #1 $3.99

The Spotlight...
- APR090156 BATMAN STREETS OF GOTHAM #1 $3.99
The Batman: Reborn reordering of the Bat-family titles continues with the launch of a second book written by Paul Dini. This one looks set to deliver a mixed perspective of street-level viewpoints on the new Batman. Don't be fooled -- this is not the second coming of Gotham Central, but should be a very fun read reminiscent of the work of Judd Winick during his 2005 Batman run. The title really says it all, doesn't it? "Streets of Gotham" -- villains, heroes, cops.

- APR090492 CAPTAIN AMERICA #600 $4.99
I'd love to have something nice to say about the book, but I already know the milestone issue -- released Monday -- was a massive slap in the face to any readers picking it up on the back of mainstream press coverage. You'll have to wait for Captain America: Reborn to get the REAL story of the return of Steve Rogers, this is just going to be overpriced set-up and filler. Fine if the GFC and high comics prices aren't an issue for you, but a disappointment if you don't know what you're getting in to. Wait until the mini-series, I say.

NOTE: In fact, an article inspired by the disappointing release spent an impressive five/six days as the 1up.com Featured Blog Article! Check it out right here!

- APR090483 INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #14 DKR $2.99
World's Most Wanted continues to tour the Marvel Universe as Tony Stark deletes his brain and destroys his many bases around the world. Next stop? Why, Russia of course! This, of course, means an encounter with classic Iron Man villain -- the Crimson Dynamo! Will Stark find friends behind the fallen Iron Curtain, or will relations between the US and Russia allow Norman Osborn to finally catch-up with the fleeing Antiquated Avenger? Should be fun to see the Crimson Dynamo in action, but this really feels like Dark Reign filler before the return of Iron Man in time for a film sequel and classic Avengers reunion.

- APR090500 MARVEL ZOMBIES 4 #3 (OF 4) $3.99
If you'd told me a Marvel Zombies mini would be one of the best books to come out in the first half of 2009, I'd probably have laughed in your face, but lo and behold... Fred Van Lente not only serves up a long overdue version of the Midnight Sons, but also wrangles the Marvel Zombies franchise into something worth reading -- no mean feat for the long running overblown meme! Somehow, MZ4 has completely bypassed marketting, because not only does it contain a great tale, but also unmarked reading fans of Dark Reign might want to get their hands on! It's a book that walks a beautiful balance between connections to the Marvel-wide pseudo-event (via The Hood), but requires little reading of anything else. In fact, it almost awkwardly treads on the toes of Son of Satan's appearance in New Avengers, it seems. Hey, who cares about that?! The interdimensional zombie plague of Earth-2149 has gone airborne -- and Jennifer Kale is being tempted by Dormammu! Egads!

- APR090481 PUNISHER #6 DKR $3.99
Bound to be overshadowed by the undead army of Black Lanterns over in DC's Blackest Night; Punisher is about to tangle with The Hood's fiendish army of resurrected villains dubbed The Dirty Dozen. The kicker is that they're all victims of another murderous vigitlante -- the shared identity of Scourge of the Underworld. This will presumably have some pay-off, if nothing else, the disobedience of some vengeful villains more interested in their killer, than dying again at the hands of Punisher! I wasn't crazy about the relaunch of the series, but it's set itself up as a pretty solid B-list book.

READ THE PREVIEW - VISIT THE SITE - BUY THE COMIC
Know Your Trade...
MAR090175 BATMAN THE BLACK CASEBOOK TP $17.99
APR090358 BODY BAGS TP VOL 01 FATHERS DAY (MR) $14.99
APR090561 CAPTAIN AMERICA MAN WITH NO FACE PREM HC $19.99
NOV084315 DRAGON BALL Z VIZBIG ED GN VOL 04 $17.99
MAR090181 GREEN LANTERN SINESTRO CORPS WAR TP VOL 02 $14.99
MAR090185 HITMAN TP VOL 01 A RAGE IN ARKHAM TP NEW PTG $14.99
APR090585 THE IRREDEEMABLE ANT-MAN TP $34.99
APR090576 MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS TP VOL 09 DIGEST $9.99
APR090598 MS MARVEL TP VOL 06 ASCENSION $14.99
MAR090191 QUESTION THE FIVE BOOKS OF BLOOD TP $14.99
APR090590 SPIDER-MAN NEW WAYS TO DIE TP $19.99
FEB090214 STARMAN OMNIBUS HC VOL 03 $49.99
FEB090210 WILL EISNERS SPIRIT ARCHIVES HC VOL 26 (RES) $59.99

QUICK FIX: SUPERMAN vs FLASH
Rearview Mirrors (DC)
Where: Flash: Rebirth #3 When: August 2009
Why: Geoff Johns How: Ethan Van Sciver

THE TAPE...
Strength: Superman 6 (Invincible)
Intelligence: Flash 5 (Professor)
Speed: Flash 7 (Lightspeed)
Stamina: Flash 6 (Generator)
Agility: Superman 3 (Acrobat)
Fighting: Draw 3 (Street Wise)
Energy: Superman 5 (Lasers)

Math: Superman
Ranking: Superman (#5)

THE FIX...
In 2009, the DC deck has been stacked so totally, they've practically trampled on their own feet week-to-week with a rapidfire succession of pseudo-event release that are defining the various corners of their universe!
Batman: Reborn has already successfully reinvigorated the IP with Dick Grayson's ascension to the titular role; while the Green Lantern books have been an event unto themselves, with the War of Light playing prelude to the company's summer blockbuster event (two years in the making) -- Blackest Night!

With events like those, you'd be forgiven for being a little short sighted, but you would be doing yourself an absolute disservice if you were to allow yourself to forget the first major mini to launch DC's event season -- Flash: Rebirth.

It began with Grant Morrison's universe-spanning epic, Final Crisis, but the return of Barry Allen after a twenty-two year absence has really only taken hold in the pages of Geoff Johns' considered reintroduction of the Silver Age's definitive Scarlet Speedster.

If you're a regular Infinite Wars reader, you know that the series, despite being uncharacteristically restrained, has delivered enough action to allow us -- The Comic Book Fight Club -- the chance to talk about all the first two issues [Flash: Rebirth #1, #2] and even include the first in our mid-year DC recap [Cover to Cover].

This is exceptional because the series really hasn't been about the mindless fisticuffs superheroes are prone to finding themselves in. Rather, the series provides a deeply introspective look at a character who once rivalled Batman and Superman for significances, but an entire generation of readers will have only a passing knowledge of.

I've been somewhat puzzled by how inoffensive the return of the legendarily self-sacrificing character has been. Though the overlap between our lives was brief; a childhood of back issues ensured Barry Allen stood firm as 'my' Flash, even if I was whole heartedly accepting of the then-contemporary Wally West character.

On the page, Barry Allen famously sacrificed himself to save the multiverse from the machinations of the Anti-Monitor in DC's company revamping maxi-series, Crisis on Infinite Earths. Since then, the hero's sacrifice has been canonized as one of the most significant milestones in the DC Universe. It gave the hero a truly mythic aspect, which has been shared by degrees of separation with each subsequent generation of the Flash mantle. In many ways, it has been one of the most prominent examples of DC's penchant for the 'legacy' model of transition.

So, you can see, how it might be disappointing to have this significant moment lessened by a revamp that takes away from the character's defining story. Yet, under the subdued direction of current DC architect, [Geoff] Johns, it has been as if accepting a matter-of-fact to welcome back the "original" Flash, even at the displacement of a beleaguered Wally West.

Death has taken on a hollow meaning in the world of superhero comics.
Where once the cliffhanger question of a hero's survival was bread and butter to writers looking to wrap-up a story with a hint of mystery, the increasingly visceral (and hyper-realistic) nature of the medium has seen an awkward compromise between the conventions of the genre and demands of modern audiences.

In recent years DC has slaughtered some of it's most beloved characters, all in the name of telling a story, or in lesser examples, driving sales. Few examples, even of the most significant characters' deaths, have come remotely close to holding the power of Barry Allen's conceptually epic, if vague, 1986 demise.

In many cases, hereoes have found their way back to the land of the living through a convoluted series of circumstances, usually contrived for the simple duty of undoing what should never have been done.

I'm a firm believer in accepting the decisions made within any given canon, and expect careful consideration to go into them so as to avoid disrespecting the continuity and versimiltude of a fictional universe out of regret. It's a hard line approach that's been terribly obscured over the years, in part, possibly, due to the regular cycle of comics publishing creating confusion through volume (that novelists do not suffer), but also possibly due to a new generation imposing vocal stupidity and laziness on a medium struggling to stay alive, and keen to pander to the ignorant.

That said -- I'm not so stubborn that I can't be persuaded to make exceptions, which brings me back to the unsettling calm Barry Allen's return has inspired.

Perhaps it's the fact that we've had a long time to get used to the idea of the return, from announcement, to 2008 appearances in Final Crisis, to Rebirth. Or, alternatively, maybe it's the plausibility afforded by the pseudo-science of the Speed Force and the role it played in allowing Allen to outrun death. Either way, it's a move that seems very easy to accept as we move forward in the DCU.

The third issue finds our hero where we left him last, suffering a transformation into the dreaded Black Flash -- grim reaper to speedsters. It's a fact that feels as if it's all part of a tour through the Flash mythology, connecting new readers with a volley of references to the Speed Force, while no doubt also elaborating further on the circumstances of Barry Allen's "return" from death.

After the disintergration of Lady Flash in the last issue, the heroes of the DCU have flocked to help contain Allen's increasingly erratic (and deadly) energies. It's a chance to connect with the character's alienated perspective as he notes those he recognises, those who've changed, and those he has no knowledge of.

The Hal Jordan relationship is obviously going to be a major one as Johns juggles his work on both, but the (Black) Flash's containment serves up much anticipated interaction between he and Wally West, Bart Allen [Kid Flash], and Iris Allen.
A throughline of flashbacks lends credence to the humanity of the character, and specifically his relationship with his wife, by retelling some of Allen's pre-hero history. By interrupting the flow of action in the present, these scenes do have a way of feeling plodding, but such explicit humanity will do well to induct those confused readers who've absorbed the absurd theory that DC characters are "less human" than their marketted Marvel counterparts.

Red lightning and extending black talons signal the Flash's growing instability and demand Green Lantern get him away from those most vulnerable to his lethal touch. The Justice League's most senior members (Superman, Wonder Woman) escort the duo, but Flash opts for a familiar sacrifice of himself to save others.

Allen vibrates out of Green Lantern's containment construct and goes on the run, fully intending to return to the Speed Force for a final time. He finds himself, however, pursued by Superman, whose phenomenal inherent speed allows him to represent those devoted to keeping Allen among the living (without fear of speed force consumption by the Black Flash).

The Man of Steel stubbornly takes chase, debating the importance of the Silver Age Flash while the speedster outruns his dark powers. Allen continues a tone of negativity in perceiving his return. It's difficult to know if it's out-of-character, or just a reasonable response to coming back from the dead.

The race between the pair -- something that feels like another reference to key Flash mythology -- ends with the utterance of a simple revelation that refers to those famous tales of competition between the pair of heroes: "I've raced you before, Barry. I even won some of those races." "Those were for charity, Clark."

Strictly speaking, you might have noticed that this isn't exactly a fight, per se.
It's the second time we've made a concession for a Superman/Flash race [the first being Flash #209, another Geoff Johns book]. I would argue the combative undertone of both instances justifies their inclusion, even if resolutions were sought through non-violent means. Hopefully you Infinite Wars enthusiasts will just accept that it's really cool to have the two race -- especially when the Flash wins. I mean, come on. Being fast is his thing! Superman can't win!

Not that Superman's made to look like a chump...!

Like so much of Geoff Johns' work, there's a nostalgic cool and reverence for the characters that seems ironically contradictory, given that this is a series about bringing Barry Allen back from a significant death. I'm sure introducing new readers, and reminding old ones, of the list of things that make the Flash great was given some consideration in the creation of the book, but I doubt that it's as literal a list as it might potentially be speculated.

The book treads a wonderful line between playing to the strengths of reverence and the referencial nature of bringing the character back from a past, while also being very contemporary in it's presentation and structure. As slow as the script feels, the artwork of Ethan Van Sciver (and Brian Miller, colorist) bursts off the page with kinetic energy!

Flash's return to the Speed Force is a particular treat, reminding me of scenes from one of my emotional favourites, the 1988 Secret Origins Annual, which ultimately told the tale of Barry Allen's origin and death as a cyclical revolution.

The return of Eobard Thawne [aka; Reverse-Flash, aka; Professor Zoom] is an unsurprising conclusion to the issue, but I don't think solid consistency is something to fault the series for. That said, with the villain's arrival so early in the piece, I'm very interested to see what the latter half of the extended six-issue series is really about. I suspect we're in store for something that dances the line between a finite tale, and a preview for the relaunched Flash series.

I suspect we'll get a chance to share the answers together with subsequent issues of the mini. To the landscape of Season 2009 of Infinite Wars competition, Barry Allen really has been the stand-out character. It might be nice to add a bit of history by revisiting the Secret Origins Annual I mentioned, as well.

The Fight: 3.5 The Issue: 5
Winner: Flash

Flash: Rebirth is a six issue mini-series currently being released monthly by DC Comics! Multiple printings of issues should be available at local comics stores, but you can pre-order the entire tale in a collected format for convenience! By using Amazon.com purchase links provided, you help sponsor future entries on the Infinite Wars. You can find many more releases in our Online Gift Shoppe, collecting almost all the issues reviewed in our Secret Archive! Among the stories you'll find, Green Lantern: Rebirth and Final Crisis, so be sure to browse to see what you can find!

Hero of the Week #3: Flash

FLASH (DC)
Real Name: Barry Allen
First Appearance: Showcase #4 (October, 1956)
Group Affiliation: Justice League, Flash Family
Gaming Credentials: The Flash (1991); The Flash (1993); Mortal Kombat versus DC Universe (2008); DC Universe Online (TBA)
Infinite Wars Cumulative Ranking: #21


In the pantheon of DC superheroes there are a select few characters vying for the degree of signifance and popularity granted to the easily recounted trinity of Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman. On the cusp of this headlining echelon has traditionally been the key secondary cast that round out the Justice League of America; Green Lantern, Aquaman, Martian Manhunter, and of course, the Flash.

As one of the defining characters from the transitional period of the Silver Age of comic books; the Barry Allen incarnation of the Flash has become one of the most storied legends in and out of the fiction, standing as a definitive example of the generational legacy DC have been able to craft. For most gamers reading the site, Wally West will be the more familiar Flash, having succeeded his uncle [Barry] after his famous moment of self-sacrifice in DC's now classic multiverse epic, Crisis on Infinite Earths.

More than twenty years after the character's death, Barry Allen officially came racing back into the land of the living in the pages of 2008's Final Crisis #2 .
His timely return would play a key role in defeating the series villain - Darkseid - whose spread of the Anti-Life Equation enslaved humanity indescriminately and reduced the world to only small pockets of resistance.
Together with his counterparts; Jay Garrick and Wally West; the resurrected Flash led death itself to Darkseid's door. It is the cost of this act, and the mysterious circumstances of his return, that have spun-off into his affectionate return to the DCU, Flash: Rebirth.

Hot off the heels of Allen's transformation into the dreaded Black Flash (death to speedsters) and his reassimilation into the Speed Force [in last week's third issue]; it's the on-going adventures of Rebirth that are the reason Barry Allen is this week's H.O.T.W!

Considering his heyday came to an end in the mid-eighties, it's perhaps somewhat surprising that the Barry Allen Flash made his way into as many video games as he has. The 1991 Game Boy issue, and bizarre and enjoyable 1993 Sega Master System release, were both spawned by the ill-fated 1990 television series, starring TV's John Wesley Shipp (Dawson's Creek).

The unlikely crossover between the bloodlusting martial artists of Mortal Kombat, and the heroes of the DC Universe, brought with it the first modern appearance of Barry Allen in a game. Surprising, given that the official release of the game came mere months after the "shock" return of the character in Final Crisis. Here, the Flash earned infamy for his easily spammed attacks, and bastardized manifestation of one of comics' most revered costumes. (Seriously, did we really need more lightning bolts?...)

Gamers, similar to fans of the cartoons, are likely more familiar with the Wally West version of the character. The comics savvy among you, however, will know just how vital the legacy of Barry Allen has always been to the contemporary Flash and the winding mythos of the character. His return has been part of an initiative by DC to allegedly reinstate the most iconic incarnations of their heroes, and in that respect, you can almost certainly count on running across Allen in the upcoming MMO extravaganza, DC Universe Online.

Secret Wars on Infinite Earths: The Comic Book Fight Club is updated with varying consistency, promising a feature fight for every Friday on the calendar (even if sometimes they're late). The site acts as an information resource, discussion site, review blog, and general good time. Be sure to check it out!

<< Hero of the Week 06/22: Captain America       [Home]       Hero of the Week 06/08: Batman >>

Originally posted: http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=8994847

COVER 2 COVER: DC 2009 MID-YEAR RECAP!
Take a tour around comics fandom in 2009 and I think you'll find what we've known for the best part of the decade -- DC comics are on top!

For one reason or another, sales haven't always been kind to DC, but over the past few years they've established themselves as industry leaders in the expanses of creativity. This praise shouldn't be restricted to the superhero comics we review, but also the various genres tackled under imprint banners, and also their efforts in cross-media promotion. DC continue to up their stock in cinema with the well received adaptation of Watchmen, while the soon-to-be-released Batman: Arkham Asylum is set to blaze a trail for the historically maligned company, in video games. Animation continues to be DC's domain.

In the superhero comics, bold creative decisions and an investment in talent like Geoff Johns and Grant Morrison has paid dividends. The work of these men, and many others, has seen DC to a creative reneissance that began at the beginning of the decade, and has continued in force. I would find it difficult to imagine any mid-year report card leaning away from DC's triumphs, which have been in too great a number to be adequately reflected in our reviews here on the Infinite Wars.

In 2009, it seems as if DC have more "events" than they can manage, starting the season with the return of Barry Allen in Flash: Rebirth, which has struggled to lead the pack before the revamp of Batman: Reborn, and the long running Green Lantern spin-off with it's own prelude, the hotly anticipated Summer blockbuster -- Blackest Night.

With each major storyline DC have shown great initiative in pushing the boundaries of expectation, whilst embracing their characters in ways that have become characteristic of the long running company. Event books are only part of an impressive movement that's spread through a good many of their titles, including the upcoming experimental newsprint weekly series, Wednesday Comics! It's a creative imagination and intelligent organization that's simply been unrivalled by their major competition at the House of Ideas.

The following five issues are just a small sample of cover-dated 2009 issues that have been featured in the Infinite Wars this year. You can find more titles by navigating through tag links, or by scowering the famous Secret Archives. We've got plenty more big action coming in our posts dated 2009, including issues from the eagerly anticipated events discussed!

Detective Comics #850 (January 2009)
"The Demon in the Mirror" Dini/Nguyen
Thomas Elliot was once the childhood friend of Bruce Wayne, but as they grew apart into adulthood, a parent's constant references to the budding young billionaire fostered a deep resentment in Elliot. Tethered to an ailing mother who survived the severed brakes that killed his father; Elliot's dark urges only grew deeper as she held him to ransom with an inheretence and her ill condition, never passing an opportunity to belitte or berate.

After smothering his mother in a fit of rage, Elliot finally attained the level of freedom he had envied Bruce Wayne for. With his family fortune, Elliot travelled the world, studying various disciplines, before finally fulfilling his dream of practising medicine. A revered surgeon, it was an easy manipulation to return to Bruce Wayne's life when he orchestrated a mortal fall for the Batman, who had unwittingly been subjected to months of hypnotic suggestion.

Dedicated to his vendetta, Thomas Elliot faked his death to remain in Gotham, forever transformed as the villainous underworld figure, Hush. Enduring through battles with other prominent rogues, such as Joker and Poison Ivy, Hush remains a lurking threat present in the shadows of Gotham City and the darkness of Batman's subconscious. At least, he was, until returning to strike at his nemesis once more, this time with the intent to seize Batman's fortune. Once again relying upon a grand orchestration to strike at the Dark Knight from all sides, Hush removes Selina Kyle's heart, forcing Batman to recruit Mr. Terrific and Dr. Mid-Nite in a race to save her life, while Elliot himself enters the sanctum of Wayne Manor under the guise of Bruce Wayne himself. His gambit brings him to the threshold of victory, but the Batman is not so easily manipulated...

Wonder Woman #29 (April 2009)
"A Changed World" Simone/Lopresti
With the machinations of the evil New Gods thwarted, the deities of Mount Olympus return from capture to find their ethereal home tarnished by dark ruin. Recognising their increasing obsolescence, Zeus uses his remaining powers to create radical change in the world. After retiring the Amazons, he creates a new army of legends to champion peace in the world of man, the Gargareans.

Wonder Woman is far from ready to concede her position, however. While Zeus rallys against WW's newest godly sponsor; Kane Milohai; the warrior princess herself battles against a horrific new villain created by the evil masterminds of a newly reformed Society. Genocide is a creature created by the brilliant madmen of a newly reformed Society who, upon gathering the soil of locales marred by humanity's darkest moments, gave birth to Wonder Woman's ultimate evil counterpart -- a mythic monster lusting for destruction.

Capable of utilizing the golden lasso of truth as part of a destructive psychic weapon, Genocide lays waste to the heroine and her allies at the Department of Metahuman Affairs. Green Lantern (John Stewart), Donna Troy, and others, are able to help minimize the destruction of the attack, but when Wonder Woman redirects her focus from a disturbed Troia, to a rescue effort, she finds lurking beneath the rubble the mastermind behind her troubles -- Cheetah!

Green Lantern Corps #34 (May 2009)
"Emerald Eclipse" Tomasi/Gleason
With the resurrection of the fallen Green Lantern, Hal Jordan, a new era began for the intergalactic Corps. Absolved of his crimes by the reveal of a fear mongering entity called Parallax, Jordan resumed his role as champion of willpower, once again wielding the green ring.

Alongside the Corps' return came the arrival of Sinestro from obscurity. As vengeful as ever, the fallen Lantern once again sought to bedevil his nemesis with the yellow ring he obtained during his exile in the anti-matter universe of Qward. However, his latest defeat would lead Sinestro to recruit others to his cause, resulting in the creation of a yellow fear-wielding Corps that was the Green's opposite -- the Sinestro Corps!

Programmed to seek fitting candidates who inspire fear in each sector, the yellow rings spread across the galaxy just as the green had. The character of those who would deserve position amongst the Sinestro Corps is very different, however. The vile and sinister congregate to Sinestro's cause, but the one called Mongul seeks only personal gain from the ring and it's limitless power. With a Qwardian ring obtained from a dying Sinestro Corpsman, he marches against the Sinestro Corps, demanding all follow him, or surrender their lives and rings. One patron refuses his rule, however, and so it is that on the planet Daxam, Arkillo fights!

Flash: Rebirth #1 (June 2009)
"Lightning Strikes Twice" Johns/Van Sciver
Once, he made the supreme sacrifice to save the multiverse from annihilation at the hands of the Anti-Monitor. Barry Allen, the second hero to call himself The Flash, was the fastest man alive. So fast that he actually managed to outrun death itself, to return when the Earth needed him the most during a moment of final crisis!

When the evil New Gods walked the Earth reborn as men, it was the powers of those in tune with the speed force that could undermine the endless reach of Libra's Society and Darkseid, evading their plague of the Anti-Life Equation. Running alongside his predecessor and junior, Jay Garrick and Wally West, the returned Flash was able to hatch a plot to direct death toward Darkseid during a fated confrontation!

With the world restored from the horrors of that day that evil won; Barry Allen finds himself effectively resurrected in a world he had long since left behind. Reunited with his loved ones and friends, Allen takes on a cursed sense of forboding as elements of his past, present, and future reach out to haunt him. With forces conspiring behind the scenes, the Flash must run again to make use of the borrowed time he feels he's living on, even at the cost of alienating his friends.

This man out of time may have escaped death, but when the sinister speed cultist called Savitar uses Barry Allen to piggyback his way out of his prison in the Speed Force, the Flash may yet discover that death is closer than he thinks.

Batman: Battle for the Cowl #2 (June 2009)
"Army of One" Tony Daniel
Once upon a time, evil won. Humanity was enslaved by the god of evil, Darkseid, who was reincarnated to walk as man on Earth, a harbinger of the Fifth World. Few could stand against the spread of his Anti-Life Equation, and those that did were gradually whittled away as their own companions became weapons against them. With all hope seemingly lost, one man stood between us and them. Though he conemned himself to a fate worse than death, the Batman pointed a cosmic pistol at Darkseid, and he saved us.

For the people Batman left behind, a smouldering corpse leaves them little option but to believe him dead. For a time they mourn him, but inevitably the absence of a Batman in Gotham City leads only to chaos. Though reluctant to step into a father's mantle, Dick Grayson and Tim Drake are forced to confront the need for a symbol, and their unique suitability for the role.

Complacency allows a third contender for the Batman cowl to emerge on the streets of Gotham. This dark avenger utilizes methods similar to the Batman, but far more brutal than anything even he ever condoned. Armed with twin firearms and an armored cowl, all signs point to the fallen son, Jason Todd, but is there more than meets the eye to this so-called Batman, and who can find out?...