BETA RAY BILL versus SILVER SURFER
Godhunter: Part Two (Marvel)
Where: Beta Ray Bill: Godhunter #2 When: September 2009 Why: Kieron Gillen How: Kano

The Story So Far...
After escaping an infernal parallel dimension to be briefly imprisoned by a Skrull invasion fleet; Beta Ray Bill renews his efforts as a Norse empowered hero with greater fervor than ever before. Driven to avenge the eradication of the last survivors of his Korbinite brethren, Bill accepts the burden of hunting Galactus -- the omnipotent cosmic being whose insatiable appetite claimed his people's second home planet during his absence.

Against the advice of allies such as the mighty Thor himself, Bill uses his Norse given powers, and those of his own people's sciences, to take to the stars. He has faced Galactus before, however, and is not nearly naive enough to believe himself capable of destroying the ancient devourer. Thus, Bill takes upon himself the burden of what is necessary to destroy Galactus...

Threatened with the prospect of having every world destroyed from beneath his hungry gaze by Beta Ray Bill, Galactus deploys his most legendary herald to succeed where his other, Stardust, had failed. Thus, the Silver Surfer emerges to face his former ally, with the purpose of ending his violent scheme.

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Draw 6 (Invincible)
Intelligence: Silver Surfer 5 (Professor)
Speed: Silver Surfer 7 (Lightspeed)
Stamina: Draw 6 (Generator)
Agility: Silver Surfer 3 (Acrobat)
Fighting: Beta Ray Bill 6 (Warrior)
Energy: Silver Surfer 7 (Cosmic)


- Once an inhabitant of the paradise world Zenn-La; Norrin Radd was forced to enter into a faustian pact for his soul in order to protect his planet and beloved, Shalla-Bal, from the endless hunger of omnipotent world devourer, Galactus.
Pledged to serve as herald to the devourer and seek out planets to satisfy his sustainance, Radd was bathed in the Power Cosmic, transforming him into the chrome-coated space rider and harbinger of death, the Silver Surfer.

When first leading Galactus toward Earth, the Silver Surfer was engaged by the Fantastic Four, who were aided by The Watcher. During battle with Thing, the Surfer was knocked into the studio appartment of a blind artist, Alicia Masters. The kind touch and concern of the sculptress was key to reawakening the spirit of Norrin Radd, who then chose to use his powers against his master. Galactus spared Earth, but exiled his herald to the confines of the Milky Way Galaxy. As a result, he briefly held membership with The Defenders, along with adventuring many more times alongside the Fantastic Four.

The Power Cosmic grants Silver Surfer a near limitless array of abilities, many of which are rarely explored. At the outer limits of his skill, the Surfer has been shown to adapt telepathy, convert matter into alternate substances, and even time travel. More typically, he possesses greatly enhanced strength, stamina, and endurance sufficient enough to withstand even the harshest of environments unphased. He channels cosmic energy into projectile bolts as a means of combat, and can also control all aspects of his board, upon which he travels. The board is an extension of his being, but does not have any inherent baring on his power.

- Emerging from the destruction of their home in the Burning Galaxy; survivors of the Korbinite race travelled through space to escape their demonic destroyers. Championed by the scientifically enhanced warrior, Beta Ray Bill, they travelled in suspended animation in a fleet of warships led by sentient vessel Skuttlebutt, designed to aid Bill in his battle against the demons that pursued them to the Milky Way Galaxy. There, Bill was met by Thor, who he hastily bested in combat and accidentally replaced when clutching the mythic hammer, Mjolnir.

Mystic enchantments prevent any but those whose spirit is truly worthy to wield the hammer of Thor. Beta Ray Bill was quickly able to prove his nobility to Odin, ruler of Asgard, and earn the same blessings as Thor when granted a mythic hammer of his own, dubbed Stormbreaker.

The weapon enhanced his already impressive strength and durability, granting him much the same powers of flight, strength, and weather manipulation as Thor. Beta Ray Bill was able to wield these powers against the mutual enemy of both the Norse Gods and Korbinites -- the fire demon, Surtur. He remains a champion and ally to those in Asgard, Earth, and countless other worlds.

Math: Silver Surfer Ranking: Silver Surfer (#35)

What Went Down...
Running in pursuit, Silver Surfer attempts to quell his former ally's firey attitude with a verbal request. The Surfer's pleas are met with a bolt fired by the hammer forged for Beta Ray Bill by order of Odin himself: a shot that does not strike it's chromed target, but creates diversion enough to allow the sentient ship, Skuttlebutt, to continue toward the target planet which Galactus intends to devour -- I'Than Prime!

Driven by a zealous determination, Beta Ray Bill again defies the Silver Surfer's attempts to rekindle their alliance of previous trusts. Without a hint of forgiveness he rises Stormbreaker above his head and strikes down at the herald of Galactus, callously judging him for his compliance, "... You serve Galactus. Thus your hands are bloody red."

The hammer leaves a crackling trail of electric energy as it knocks the Surfer clean off his board! The blow proves powerful enough to send the herald smashing into the beseiged Skuttlebutt -- he emerges with a blast of the power cosmic, requesting an opportunity to explain his renewed affiliation with Galactus. Stormbreaker absorbs the energy blast as effortlessly as Bill does the Silver Surfer's attempts to resolve the conflict peacefully.

In his staunch opposition, Beta Ray Bill does not notice the Silver Surfer's board circling around behind him. Controlling remotely as an extention of the Silver Surfer himself, it delivers a crushing blow to the base of Bill's skull!

The Silver Surfer follows his ambush attack with a rare strike from his fist.
It is a demonstration of the power his otherwise unassuming form contains, the gift the impossible power cosmic! Repeat blows spatter Beta Ray Bill's blood into space, left to drift until an opposing force slows it down.

Burning with cosmic energy, the Silver Surfer commands a battered Beta Ray Bill to remain defeated. He asks why he would defy the inevitable, to which the hammer-wielding hero retorts with the tale of the extinction of the Korbinite people. The tale of loss is one Norrin Radd -- the man the Surfer once was -- can understand all too well, as is the plight now faced by the I'Than race. The Surfer, though clearly troubled, is rendered inert by the conflict his renewed pledge to Galactus inspires. It is a moment easily capitalized upon...

Skuttlebutt fires upon the unsuspecting Surfer, unleashing a volley of blasts that send him drifting limply. The distance allows Beta Ray Bill to be reunited with his ship with the purpose of reaching the nearby planet before his opponent.

Skuttlebutt is forced to negotiate a dense field of floating space mines, sure to be easily maneuvered through by the lithe Silver Surfer, who quickly recovers and resumes his pursuit. Skuttlebutt endures the mine's explosions, but I'than attack drones prompt the Silver Surfer to flee the airspace. It is a distanced conclusion to their battle.

The Hammer...
Ladies and gentlemen; I "ummed" and I "ahhed," but in the end, I felt I had no choice but to declare this cosmic kerfuffle a draw. A less than impressive debut for Beta Ray Bill in the Infinite Wars rankings, but none the less, accurate.

Since starting The Comic Book Fight Club way back at the end of 2005, I've been hatching different schemes to get Bill in on the action. What can I say? If you're a long time reader, you know I have a soft spot for some of the so-called "unimportant" secondary characters that popular the Marvel and DC universes. I think it's fair to say that, in the grand scheme of the pseudo league this site maintains, that these characters are also what makes ranking comic book fights a lot of fun. Afterall, we all know Superman, Batman, Spider-man and the like will dominate the upper rankings. (Or so we assume).

At the time of this writing, we're well into mid-March, so I've had about half a year to get my hands on the first issue of Beta Ray Bill: Godhunter that I initially overlooked. I'm glad I did. Like so many comics these days, it was easy to read on without the set-up provided by the first issue, but it added a little bit of texture to what led to a big ol' cosmic brawl between two classic Marvel heroes.

I have to admit to being skeptical about the depth the three-issue mini-series would demonstrate under writer, Kieron Gillen. Best known for his independent Brit-pop fantasy series Phonogram, Gillen is clearly a talented writer, but in a few interviews I'd read [namely for X-Men Origins: Sabretooth], he'd given the distinct impression that he was largely unfamiliar with the superhero universes.

I'm a firm believer that a good writer can transcend his familiarity with material by being a master of his craft, and doing a little bit of research. Assuming Gillen was indeed ignorant to the characters that appear in this series, then he's a shining example of the successful side of that philosophy.

Part of Gillen's success lies in the fact that Godhunter isn't a complicated story.
The tale is a universal one, dealing chiefly with the consequences and morality of being a hero. By borrowing from some of the simple and best known mythology from the Marvel universe -- the enchantment of Thor and Bill's hammers, as well as Galactus' status as a devourer of worlds -- the story gains an additional level of resonance and poginant context that other versions couldn't have. It's a type of storytelling that confirms other philosophies I personally hold, such as the notion that corporate comics like those at DC and Marvel are rendered inherently unique by the tapestry of context their years of publication has created.

It's nice to see the Silver Surfer back in action.
Where once the Kirby/Lee creation stood equal with many of Marvel's greatest icons, in recent years he's well and truly lost his lustre. It disappoints me that the character has fallen into such obscurity, many younger fans would find it difficult to imagine the character supporting his own series. Something he did do, with mixed results, for a couple of decades.

It doesn't seem starring as titular pseudo-villain in a commercially successful film has helped much either, probably because comic fans regard the Fantastic Four films [re; Rise of the Silver Surfer] with such relative disdain. Maybe Super Hero Squad will do some him good, particularly as the series recently ended with the big unveiling of Galactus and some of the key backstory of the character. I can't say I'm a huge fan of the renewed association of herald/master over here in the comics, but I did recently read that part of the thinking behind that decision is to leave the character idle until a strong solo direction can be conceived.

Part the Surfer's downfall comes inadvertently from the general loss of interest in comics and by extention, more complex comics, throughout the nineties. The cosmic corners of the Marvel Universe have been gradually expanding, however, since their exciting resurrection in Drax and then the cosmic mini-event, Annihilation. Marvel's cosmic connections have been maintained ever since, through rebooted titles like Nova and Guardians of the Galaxy, as well as subsequent mini-events, like Annihilation Conquest and War of Kings.

It was a lot of fun jumping back in with Beta Ray Bill and I hope we get a chance to see more from the character in the future (without any lasting damage)!

Each issue reprints a chapter of Walt Simonson's original three-part introduction of the character, which only serves to remind how well the classics did it. I must admit to being somewhat cynical about Marvel's 2010 announcement for a "Heroic Age" of Marvel Comics, regarding it as something of a response to DC's five-year strength with classical renditions of their catalogue of characters -- but if nothing else, it will be nice if some of the energy and indulgence of these Simonson issues of Thor can be recaptured!

Kano -- artist on Godhunter -- certainly lacks Simonsons's bombastic cartoon energy, but shouldn't go without a mention before I wrap this up. He exhibits a good sense of drama, getting particularly good emotion out of the horse-faced Bill on the last page shock of this issue, which reveals the Stormbreak enchantment has rendered him unable to lift his hammer -- unworthy of it's power for his decision to fight Galactus by denying him sustainance (by destroy each world he targets).

At times, Kano's space scapes feel a little sparse, and I do question some of the direction of scenes. At times, his panels appear awkwardly close or distant from the action, which seems to work counter-intuitively to the spacial nature of a fight like the one between Bill and Silver Surfer.


The last time Kano appeared in the Infinite Wars action, he was contributing some sort of embellishment to David Lafuente's beautiful pencils [Spider-man Family #2]. His rise as penciller of Ultimate Spider-man Comics probably says it all, but the benefit of Lafuente's direction in that issue becomes all the more apparent in the first-credited Kano's work.

The Issue: 4.5 The Fight: 4

Beta Ray Bill: Godhunter is a three-part mini-series published by Marvel Comics. It is also currently available in collected format and can be purchased using the Amazon links provided. You'll find plenty more collected editions based upon the issues reviewed in the Secret Archives, by checking out the Online Store. Using links provided by the site helps sponsor future entries! The Infinite Wars are running on low power in 2010, but be sure to vote in the 2009 Annual DC vs Marvel Fantasy Fight polls at the top of the right menu.

Hero of the Week #8: Hawkman

HAWKMAN (DC)
Real Name: Carter Hall
First Appearance: Flash Comics #1 (January, 1940)
Group Affiliation: Black Lantern Corps, Justice Society, Justice League
Gaming Credentials: DC Universe Online (TBA)
Infinite Wars Cumulative Ranking: TBA


Not to start things off on a wild tangent, but a string of bad techno-karma has seen my electro-house of cards come tumbling down around me. A couple of weeks ago it was my scanner, then it was the proverbial shatting of my ancient PC (now resurrected), and most recently, the death of the nucleus of my blogging, my now powerless laptop. Gotta love technology, eh?

Why do birds suddenly appear?...

It would seem the subject of death (and resurrection) is actually thematically fitting, as this belated acknowledgment of our Hero of the Week is one defined by these very subjects! Hawkman was not too long ago the subject of some of those awful, awful decisions you hear about in comics. Fortunately, after DC effectively blacklisted the character [leading then-JLA writer, Grant Morrison, to create Zauriel in his place], he reemerged in the 2000s as a new man -- kinda literally!

For a character who'd been over complicated by his many reinventions since the forties, superstar writer Geoff Johns had a simple solution. With some careful selections and his trademark flair for digging into and indulging a character's history, Mr. Johns refined the model to one that redefined Hawkman as a hero trapped in an endless cycle of resurrection. For the most recent incarnation of the character, the many lives of his past have been unlocked, giving him the grim knowledge that in every previous existence, he has been the victim of a grizzly death whensoever the woman he loves finally reciprocates. Who's the lucky lady, I hear you ask? Why, that's the similarly cursed and bird-helmeted Hawkgirl, of course!

Fortunately for ol' Katar Hol, (Carter, to you and me), love has been pretty hard to come by in this life. Pine for Hawkgirl's love, though he might, she's been content to run-off with the JLA and play flirty-bird with Red Arrow, at least, until last week's Blackest Night #1.

If you've been following along at home (at the Infinite Wars, via HOTW, or at IGN); you probably already know that Blackest Night is the major summer event that's been building since 2007! Emerging from a war of emotive energies (commanded by a rainbow of Corps like the Green Lanterns), Blackest Night is about a new unfeeling threat from beyond the grave. Yes! That's right! Not a dream! Not a hoax! Not an imaginary story! Heroes, villains, loved ones, and other are rising from the grave with the powers of a Black Lantern!

It's probably a good thing technical difficulties have kept this post late, because it's given you time to arm yourself with information in lieu of being spoiled. Of course, because, when Hawkgirl finally admitted her love for Hawkman in Blackest Night #1, a Black Lantern tandem of Elongated Man and Sue Dibny were there to SMASH HAWKMAN AND HAWKGIRL'S HEADS IN WITH THEIR OWN MEDIEVAL WEAPONRY!!!

As the old saying goes: all's fair in love, war, and receiving a spiked mace to the head.

Love birds: They'll be together again, smashing heads with spiked maces, in no time!

Fortunately for Hawkfans, Hawkman and Hawkgirl won't stay out-of-action long...
I've long been a believer in the value of mathetmatics when utilizing the zombie formula, and for the intelligent and super-powered Black Lanterns, that power of numeracy will have a major role to play as every victim they claim joins their ranks. It would seem this assimilation will prevent the pair from reentering their immortal cycle of resurrection, but with so many cash cows wrapped up in the undead ranks [ie; Martian Manhunter, Aquaman, Vibe], you'd be forgiven for expecting some sort of magic bullet (or white lantern?) will come along and bring them all back, good as new.

Those who'd rather experience Hawkman in a living state will have to wait until he makes his video game debut in the eagerly anticipated comics MMO, DC Universe Online. More information about the game is available at the Sony DC Universe Online homepage. You can get the low down on Blackest Night from various sites, including the official DC Comics site, and IGN's mini-site! Hawkman also featured recently on this very blog, with nine other characters that sadly probably won't make it to DLC for MKvsDC.

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 a Kryptonian good time.

<< Hero of the Week 07/27: Iron Man       [Home]       Hero of the Week 07/13: Superman >>

Originally posted: http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=8998941

ELONGATED MAN & SUE DIBNY versus
HAWKMAN & HAWKGIRL
Blackest Night (DC)
Where: Blackest Night #1 When: September 2009
Why: Geoff Johns How: Ivan Reis

The Story So Far...
As he had in life, the Anti-Monitor was to threaten the lives of all who know existence in death. Broken and defeated by Superboy-Prime in the Sinestro Corps War -- the cosmic villain was sent hurtling helplessly through space, to be claimed by cosmic conspiracy at his final resting place in the far lands of Space Sector 666. So was set into motion the forgotten Oan prophecy of the War of Light!

From the black battery that did rise from the Anti-Monitor's corpse, and through the Oan Guardian he had burned and corrupted, a dark force reaches out through space to grip it's death-obssessed avatar, the villain known as Black Hand. His is the sacrifice that gives birth to the first of a Corps of Black Lanterns who will rise from the grave, seeking to extinguish the light of life.

Summoned by black powerrings contrary to those that sprung forth from the fundamental energies of the emotional energy spectrum -- the dead will rise!

With their memories and abilities in the service of this wave of inescapable cosmic retribution, the Black Lantern will strike at the very hearts of their former friends and protectors of life. Ever hungered, they will be satisfied only by spreading their plague of death. The Blackest Night has begun!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Hawkman 4 (Enhanced)
Intelligence: Elongated Man 4 (Tactician)
Speed: Hawkgirl 3 (Athlete)
Stamina: Hawkman 4 (Marathon)
Agility: Elongated Man 6 (Rubber)
Fighting: Hawkman 6 (Warrior)
Energy: Hawkman 2 (Projectiles)


- Inspired by the famed contortionists he'd admired in his youth, Ralph Dibny set about investigating the chemistry behind a drink shared by the unusually agile performers, called Gingold. From the rare Mexican fruit used in the drink, Dibny was able to derive a highly concentrated formula which, upon being ingested, granted him a fantastic rubber-like elasticity!

As Elongated Man, Dibny uses his powers to fight crime, with a particular flair for solving mysterys with the aid of his sleuthing wife, Sue. Together the pair's crime-fighting skills even earned membership with the Justice League of America!

Additional: Sue Dibny was accidentally killed by the Atom's estranged wife, Jean Loring, during her attempts to reconcile their relationship in Identity Crisis.
Loring, having suffered a mental breakdown, attempted to provoke a reunion by staging threats to various other Justice League members' loved ones. She used her ex-husband's shrinking technology to enter [Sue] Dibny's brain, accidentally killing her in the process of causing a stroke.

After severall attempts to resurrect his wife in the pages of 52, Ralph Dibny became embroiled in a mystic plot hatched by the sorcerer, Felix Faust.
He was able to imprison Faust within the tower of Dr. Fate, but in doing so, garnered the ire of the bargaining demon, Neron. Neron killed Dibny, only to temporarily entrap himself within the enchanted walls as well, without Dibny to reverse the spell. In the afterlife, Ralph and Sue were reunited, gaining the ability to possess the bodies of the living via Rama Kushna -- the deity responsible for Boston Brand's similar spirit powers.

- There is much more than occupational curiosity that ties archaeologist, Carter Hall, to the ancient civilizations of Earth. In truth, the man who is also known as the gliding hero, Hawkman, has lived many heroic lives through the ages, dating back to the reign of Ramesses II in ancient Egypt.
It was then that alien "Nth metal" from the planet Thanagar bound his soul, as Prince Khufu, to an everlasting pact with the woman he loves, Chay-Ara -- forging a destiny to forever be reunited through reincarnation, and torn apart at the moment they find love. Just as they had been by the evil priest, Hath-Set.

In the modern age, the soul of Prince Khufu was forcefully reincarnated by the Thanagarians, granting Carter Hall the unique distinction of being aware of his constant resurrections. As Hawkman, he is reunited with the Justice Society of America, and Kendra Saunders, aka; Hawkgirl and the reincarnated Chay-Ara.

Both Hawkman and Hawkgirl possess enhanced abilities as a result of their exposure to Nth metal. Winged harnesses allow them the nimble flight of their namesake, which they use in tandem with a variety of medieval weaponry, most notably a fixed mace, but also spears, axes, and nets. Each possesses enhanced strength and durability beyond that of a human, and can heal non-lethal wounds with direct exposure to their Nth metal.

Math: Hawkman/Hawkgirl Ranking: Hawkman (#28)

What Went Down...
It is written on the pages of history that each time the betrothed souls of Prince Khufu and Chay-Ara admit their love for each other, they are to die before their time. Reborn in this modern age as Hawkman and Hawkgirl, the two heroes have remained distanced, the now aware soul of Khufu maddened by his beloved's refusal to explore their feelings. Though Hawkgirl had resisted for so long to preserve their time, she cannot fight fate. And so it would seem, fate is not without a sense of humor...

Finally Hawkgirl reveals her true love for Hawkman, only to suffer the killing blow promised hundreds of years prior by the curse that brought them together. It is impossible to seperate the truth of their endless cycle from the events begun in far-off space. Was it the ring of the Black Lantern that drove a spear through Hawkgirl's heart, the former friend who wears it, Sue Dibny, or their twisted fate?

It is undeniable that, with one of their own spears, Hawkgirl was impaled, and with his own fixed mace, Hawkman was smacked across the face. Even while the culprit stood far across the room with but an elongated limb.

Sadly, the forces behind the Blackest Night have chosen similarly kinred spirits in former JLA colleagues, Elongated Man and Sue Dibny, to execute the first in a checklist of heroes who are marked for death. As the first strike against the living heroes, it is an unchallenged ambush!

With a voice similar to a fallen friend's, the Black Lantern Elongated Man taunts an already bloodied Hawkman as it's twisted limbs snatch his helmet, and knock him through the air with the fixed mace, again.

Hawkman tries to strike at the Black Lantern's gut with his spiked gauntlet, but finds the same malleable resistance Ralph Dibny had in life, his stretchy body abosbing the blow with ease, only to reverse the fortunes of the close quarters exchange.

The Black Lantern denies Hawkgirl's aborted attempt to confess her love, even as he sees the violet energy of love emenating from her body. With rubber arms he charges the fixed mace with a whip of his extended arm, beating Hawkman's face to a bloody pulp. Despite this face, he does not give up on the woman he loves.

With her final words Hawkgirl ensures he knows she loved him. It is surely a hollow consolation for two star-crossed lovers so regularly torn apart.
Hawkman boils with rage, vowing to kill the creatures he cannot believe are his former allies. The Black Lanterns no doubt believe every word as they see the red of rage fill his very being.

The reincarnated hero can do little to fullfil his threats, but it is a warrior's death as the Black Lantern reaches into his chest and pulls his heart out. Black Lantern Sue does the same to Hawkgirl, registering the rising power level of 0.02%.

Black Hand is there to witness the handy work of his fellow Black Lanterns.
"You won't escape death this time." Perhaps it wasn't the curse, afterall.

The Hammer...
For the time being, we shall assume that this counts as a victory for Elongated Man and Sue Dibny. There is, of course, the possibility that there's more to these Black Lantern manifestations than simply the reanimation of corpses. I'm sure, regardless of the mysterys to be revealed, there will be an argument for culpability, but for the purposes of the Infinite Wars, we shall assume the abilities and presence of a character is enough to warrant their stat.

Which is to say, this is The Comic Book Fight Club, where we review and discuss superhero comics through the famous battles waged within. Each battle counts toward a greater tally as we gradually accumulate win/loss data, challenge the rank of the greatest fighting superheroes, and charge up our powerrings!

Proceedings have been sufficiently derailed throughout 2009, but still we remain steadfast in the review of issues collected and noted throughout the year. This is (ironically) the first year the Infinite Wars have actually made any conceited effort to reflect the releases of the week, so it's an overdue inevitability that we're finally here talking about one of the most eagerly anticipated events in comics history! A fact largely due to the teaser noted at the end of 2007's Green Lantern blockbuster event -- the Sinestro Corps War!

I suspect there will have been those that were outraged by the events of this first issue, particularly where the violent deaths of Hawkman and Hawkgirl are concerned. It's a trait some attribute as a trademark of writer Geoff Johns, who has made a habit of including the occasional brutality in his event comics.

The subject of brutality has been discussed in various facets previously on the site, as you might imagine. As noted during the review of Superman/Batman #15, I'm a great believer in accepting that there's some truth to acts such as these, and that while they might not be a requisite of the fiction, they should not be cause for disdain. The world of superheroes is bound to be a violent and unpleasant place, which is what seperates the titans of the DC and Marvel universes from average folk like you, or I. If there's a time to express that, I'm probably inclined to think "events" are a fair place to start.

It's also very hard to consider a high-concept event like Blackest Night without the expectation that death and resurrections will quickly follow. It is, afterall, an inherent property of the high concept of zombies -- which are essentially defined by being a mathematical principle of life and death. For every one we lose, they gain one, etc. Some will fall, but as comics have taught us, some will rise.
There's also still the distinct possibility that, come the end of Blackest Night, everybody gets to come back in a counter-balancing brightest day.

The Hawks apparently narrowly escaped death in the pages of Final Crisis, but have quickly followed up the fake-out with the real deal. They were apparently fair game, such is life (and death). Far be it from me to spend the entirety of this section offering concept-driven justifications for the writer and editorial staff.

Johns serves up his usual brand of traditional favourites and a general awareness of the many moving parts of the DC Universe, in this first issue. There'll be seven of them all up, so you can probably forgive the emphasis on set-up. For the most part, we already know what to expect of the Black Lantern heroes, and I suspect that will play out more thoroughly in other issues, like the forecasted BL Martian Manhunter return in GL #44, which is introduced in Blackest Night #1.

The recently resurrected Barry Allen looks to be a bigger part of things than might have been anticipated, which is bound to be double the case for anyone expecting a "Green Lantern" event. Blackest Night is definitely going DCU-wide and we get some great foreshadowing glimpses of that through memorial services for fallen heroes in the JSA and so on. That's not to say the GL's don't get a good amount of screen time. Fans receptive to quick recaps will absorb a lot of useful information for the coming months through recaps of the Green Lantern legacy of Women in Refridgerators, along with a glimpse of some of the War of Light occurring in conjunction with the Blackest Night. Scar finally makes her move, also, literally taking a bite out of her fellow Guardians.

Also acknowledged are the promos that teased Aquaman, which were quickly serviced with a glimpse of Mera and Tempest -- a couple of characters I certainly haven't seen in a while! Here's hoping that can lead to something, after Final Crisis provided another fake-out, this time alluding to a return of the deep sea JLAer. Light dressing for anyone eagerly awaiting the BL Firestorm, whose grave was visited by Professor Stein and current matrix wielder, Jason Rusch.

Long story short: plenty of excitement building, but we'll see how things shape-up as the series works it's way through. Plenty of Blackest Night issues on the way! I wouldn't be surprised to see a certain issue of Green Lantern mentioned earlier in this post, at some point in the future.

The Fight: 5 The Issue: 5

Blackest Night is an event maxi-series currently available monthly from DC comics. You can pre-order various collections featuring the spanning epic via Amazon. Be warned! The story is so large you may need to check the contents of each trade before ordering, to ensure you receive what you intend. You can find more collected editions based on the reviews in our Secret Archives, via the Amazon Online Store! By using purchase links provided around the site, you help sponsor future entries, as sporradic as they may be. All will be well!

SHIPPING LIST: JULY 15, 2009
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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.

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The Independents...
MAY090658 BETTY & VERONICA SPECTACULAR #90 $2.50
MAY090051 CREEPY COMICS #1 $4.99
APR090725 DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP #1 (OF 24) $3.99
MAY090914 DOCTOR WHO ONGOING #1 $3.99
FEB094466 LOST GIRLS HC (MR) $45.00
APR090999 LOUDEST WHISPER UWASA NO FUTARI GN VOL 01 (OF 2) (A) $12.99
MAY090353 OLYMPUS #3 $3.50
MAR094372 PHANTOM GENERATIONS #3 $3.99
MAY090730 UNTHINKABLE #3 (OF 4) $3.99
MAY090359 WALKING DEAD #63 (MR) $2.99

The Corporates...
MAY090422 ALL SELECT COMICS #1 70TH ANNIV SPECIAL $3.99
MAY090201 BATMAN #608 SPECIAL EDITION $1.00
MAY090152 BRAVE AND THE BOLD #25 $2.99
MAY090492 CAPTAIN AMERICA #601 $3.99
MAY090447 DARK AVENGERS #7 DAX $3.99
MAY090463 DARK REIGN MISTER NEGATIVE #2 (OF 3) DKR $3.99
MAY090127 FINAL CRISIS AFTERMATH ESCAPE #3 (OF 6) $2.99
MAY090158 JSA VS KOBRA #2 (OF 6) $2.99
MAY090519 PUNISHER #7 $2.99

The Spotlight...
- MAY090133 BATMAN STREETS OF GOTHAM #2 $3.99
Dick Grayson takes a back seat as the streets of Gotham City cobble themselves together after the Batman's apparent disappearance. With the shadow of the Dark Knight detective returned, chaos has a reason to retreat, but for Commissioner Jim Gordon and the cops on the street, there's a still a fight to be had! Firefly steps into the spotlight, while Thomas Elliot maneuvers in the background, Black Mask schemes after his supposed return from the death, and the future landscape of Gotham begins to settle beneath him. This is the world of Gotham from the perspective of the streets, putting Batman on the back burner, all the while rekindling the street-bound magic of Judd Winick's run on Batman in '05.

- MAY090491 BETA RAY BILL GODHUNTER #2 (OF 3) $3.99
I've been quietly trying to find a reason to get Beta Ray Bill online and registered in the Infinite Wars, but no matter how hard I conspire, I just can't seem to make it happen. Godhunter is part of writer Kieron Gillen's (Phonograms) tenure with Marvel comics, following his work on Cable. Better still, the series pits BRB against one of the biggest cosmic threats in the Marvel Universe -- Galactus -- which means a showdown between he and another absentee from the Infinite Wars -- the Silver Surfer! If somehow the prospect of that cosmic showdown, and the on-going trials of BRB's attempt to save the universe from the world eater doesn't delight, there's also reprints of the hero's first appearances in Walt Simonson's Thor! Making this a rare occasion where Marvel have justified that $3.99 price tag!

- MAY090106 BLACKEST NIGHT #1 (OF 8) $3.99
It's been a year and a half in the making and after the killer spotlight on Black Hand's induction into the Black Lantern Corps, DC finally give us the opening chapter of the story we've all been waiting for -- Blackest Night! The dead will rise, but if you think this is just another Green Lantern saga, strap yourself in, because the Black Lanterns are about to invade the entire DCU! Thrills! Spills! Undead gills! Martian Manhunter, Earth-2 Superman, Aquaman, and Firestorm are all lined up for a return, who'll be next? Yay!

- MAY090116 BLACKEST NIGHT TALES OF THE CORPS #1 (OF 3) $3.99
The return of Tales of the Corps means the arrival of Blackest Night needn't stop the development of a brand new wave of coloured ring-wielding Corps. $3.99 strikes me as a bit steep for a peripheral book, but with any luck, we'll get a greater insight into what's going on away from Earth (and other hot spots) during the rise of the Black Lanterns, and get to learn just a little bit more about the masters of Blue Hope, Red Rage, Violet Love, Yellow Fear, Orange Avarice, and maybe even the mysterious Indigo Tribe (of Compassion). Like Final Crisis before it, all signs point toward a very well managed event from DC, which has been a trademark of their editorially driven success over the past few years. Let's just hope starting the tie-ins this early won't lead to spreading the concept too thin!

- MAY090123 WEDNESDAY COMICS #2 (OF 12) $3.99
DC's newsprint experiment continues as the icons, fan-favourites, and faded classics of the DC Universe receive new life from a line-up of all-star creators that include Kyle Baker, Mike Allred, Brian Azzarello, and many more! After the first issue, one has to question the price, but it's just about worth paying for the sake of a little bit of imagination and daring. With a line-up that includes highlights from Hawkman, Flash, Catwoman, The Demon, and Adam Strange, you can't fault their sense of diversity!

READ THE PREVIEW - VISIT THE SITE - BUY THE COMIC
Know Your Trade...
MAY090608 ANNIHILATION CLASSIC TP $24.99
NOV082438 CAPTAIN BRITAIN MOORE DAVIS OMNIBUS HC $99.99
MAY090593 DOCTOR DOOM TP MASTERS OF EVIL GN $14.99
MAY090611 ESSENTIAL MARVEL TWO IN ONE TP VOL 03 $19.99
FEB092607 INCREDIBLE HERCULES HC SMASH TITANS $29.99
FEB094466 LOST GIRLS HC $45.00
APR090999 LOUDEST WHISPER UWASA NO FUTARI GN VOL 01 (OF 2) (A) $12.99
APR090268 MADAME XANADU TP VOL 01 DISENCHANTED (MR) $12.99
FEB090260 PREACHER HC BOOK 01 $39.99
FEB092618 SPIDER-MAN PREM HC TORMENT $19.99
APR090217 SUPERMAN AND THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES TP $14.99
MAY090578 THUNDERBOLTS PREM HC BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE $19.99

BATROC versus DEADPOOL
Justice, Order & Luck or...
Skinless Drooler's Day Off! (Marvel)
Where: Deadpool #20 When: September 1998
Why: James Felder & Joe Kelly How: Pete Woods

The Story So Far...
Back before everyone jumped on the bandwagon and the comics started sucking lame from cash cow's teat, there lived a merc' with a mouth named Wade Wilson! Known as Deadpool to his friends and victims alike; Wade lived a simple life of cash for killings and torture for fun - that is, until the intergalactic holding company Landau, Luckman, and Lake told him he was destined for greater!

A reluctant sort of hero (read; homicidal maniac); Deadpool was convinced of his destiny only by the realisation of several personal precognitions shared by LL&L's resident seer, Montgomery. Finally beginning to believe that beneath his crispy disfigured exterior and lethal lunacy there might lurk the trappings of a hero; Deadpool dedicates himself to walking the straight and narrow as best he can -- but not before taking "Monty" on a balls-out (literally) field trip to Monte Carlo, to thank him for the precognitive vote of confidence!

The life of the hero can be a hard one, however, and whilst enjoying the fruits of Monty's predictions in the casino, Deadpool runs afoul a fiend most foul indeed! Georges Batroc, aka; Batroc the Leaper, has the gift of fortune both in pocket and hand, but when the pompous villain dares call Monty a cripple, his financial fate is sealed. Burned by the loss of his money and suite, Batroc takes his disguised adversary up on an offer of a hotel room showdown, knowing not that the man who bares suspicious resemblance to Ricardo Montalban is in fact the merc' with a mouth and destined saviour of all -- Deadpool!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Deadpool 3 (Athlete)
Intelligence: Deadpool 3 (Straight A)
Speed: Batroc 4 (Olympian)
Stamina: Deadpool 5 (Marathon Man)
Agility: Draw 4 (Gymnast)
Fighting: Batroc 5 (Martial Arts)
Energy: Deadpool 4 (Arsenal)


- Georges Batroc is a French-born former soldier of the French Foreign Legion whose skills and physical prowess were turned to the self-serving occupation of international mercenary. Hiring himself out as an assassin, thief, and smuggler, Batroc has come into the service of THEM and HYDRA, Baron Zemo's Masters of Evil, Klaw's Wakandan coup, and was even forcefully drafted into the United States' government funded super-group, the Thunderbolts. These agencies have brought him into conflict with the likes of Captain America, Hawkeye, Spider-man, the Avengers, and Captain America's replacement, Bucky Barnes.

Possessing a rare mastery of the martial art savate and physical conditioning to rival any Olympian; Batroc's powerless talents have been sufficient enough to induct him into the super-villain fraternity. His savate kicking offensive and impressive leg strength earned him the monikker known the world over, Batroc the Leaper. Despite his legitimate skill, Batroc's humiliations and defeats have greatly reduced his standing, regarded by many as a joke.

- 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.

Deemed a failure after several missions, Wilson was discarded by Weapon X to the care of The Workshop -- a facility for rejected subjects who could be tested upon until their death. Wilson's healing factor, however, kept him alive, allowing him to eventually escape and resume his career as a mercenary, adopting the ironic codename of Deadpool. Wilson's fantastic healing abilities, expertise with conventional weaponry and munitions, and hand-to-hand fighting skills help him earn a reputation as a gun-for-hire despite being mentally unstable.

Math: Deadpool Ranking: Deadpool (#56)

What Went Down...
Once upon an evening dreary, while Monty pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quart and volume of liquor he'd forgotten to pour,
When Wade nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As if room service gently rapping, rapping at his chamber door.
"We're running out of pillow mints," he muttered, reaching for his chamber door.

The culprit was not room service, but rather the notorious French mercenary, Batroc the Leaper, whom Deadpool and Monty had fleesed for millions at the baccarat table, earlier in the night. His polite invasion of Deadpool's suite inspires only amusement in the merc' with a mouth -- which is quickly stuffed with an orange boot belonging to the deceptively skilled savate master!

The challenge is made, and Deadpool responds the only way a mercenary can -- by losing the bottom third of a few bottles of vino and going Shang-Chi with that mofo! A fair approach, but one that doesn't quite mesh with the savate style...

Recognising a need for adaptation, Deadpool shifts gears toward his strengths, opting to go toe-to-automatic with the martial arts monsieur. A light shower of ammunition is swiftly avoided by the fleet-of-foot Frenchman, however, who takes great offense to the corruption of fairness in their fight.

Seeking righteous balance (and the removal of "ugly things" in his flat), Batroc stoops to a level he feels fitting of the merc' with a mouth, by turning his attentions toward Deadpool's helpless, hapless, and skinless pal, Monty!

With a strong thrust of savate-styled legs, Batroc sends sage Monty plummeting toward his doom in the hotel foyer below. Deadpool interrupts the exchange of blows long enough to race to Monty's rescue, but he finds not the shattered body of a sickly psychic, instead, a man liberated by defying the odds. Monty is alive and well, despite the overwhelming statistical likelihood that his trip down the fifteen-storey road of plummetsville, via a plate glass window, and final destination in a water feature below, should have left him more soup than man!

Secure in the knowledge that his pal will live to see another second-place prize in a Calista Flockhart look-alike contest -- Deadpool returns to finish the fight with the self-proclaimed Leaper. This time around he opts for a more tactically suited lamp-based assault, using it to take the Frenchman out mid-leap!

Using the lamp chord as a makeshift rope, Deadpool binds Batroc tighter than Mick Jagger's pants, and fashions him into a human wrecking ball!

Having forced the Frenchie to suffer the brunt of an entire room's ruin, Deadpool decides to cut Batroc a break, if not the lamp chord. In exchange for liberating Monty of his introverted fear of the world, our hero spares Batroc the career-destroying effects of decapitation, to instead have him test his nickname.

Thus; bound helplessly and dangling above the same fifteen-storey drop already traversed by Montgomery -- Batroc is forced to leap! Although, not to disagree with Deadpool's judgment of the situation, or anything, but technically it was really more of a fall than a leap. I mean, usually you propel yourself when you leap. All Batroc did was plummet 150" and break both his legs...

The Hammer...
The winner of this bout via ironic conclusion, Deadpool!
[Ironic because Monty only helped Deadpool win baccarat with his psychic powers because Batroc callously called him a cripple; and then Batroc himself wound up in a wheelchair. See the symmetry? Yeah, I know, that's some sweet justice.]

We are running so unbelievably, atrociously behind schedule right now, you wouldn't even begin to believe it. Those future generations stumbling across this instalment of the Infinite Wars will assume, as per record, that this was the July 14 entry. In truth, however, I'm writing this paragraph on December 20, which gives you some indication of just how far things have gone to the shit. Pardon the French. Pardon my language, also. (Comedy!)

July 14, 2009 was -- much like every other year -- Bastille Day!
I ask you: what self-respecting/loathing comics blog could let such an occasion pass without putting together an obligatory Batroc-themed post? To be honest, the fact that it was a slow week for comic fights didn't hurt things, either, but I have had this issue on the top of my to-do stack for quite some time. There were other options, but considering Deadpool sort of made his cinematic debut in 2009, this seemed like the back issue to go with.

Deadpool's a bit of a staple when it comes to online silliness these days, but unfortunately, much of that humor has come from later years in the Merc' with a Mouth's career. Ask anyone who was around for the 1997 launch of the very first Deadpool on-going series, and I'm sure they'll tell you the work of Joe Kelly is a top contender for best writing in a Deadpool comic or musical. I cerainly will!

By the time Ryan Reynolds was saddled with role that ruined the character's legit opportunity to star in a feature film -- Deadpool had already seen a significant decline in the balance between comedy and character. I personally subscribe to the theory that comedy on the whole was shot nine times in the chest right around the end of Seinfeld. At least one of the bullets might have come from the 'good samaritan' season ender, but I think you can look moreso to your Family Guy's, your Futurama's, and your Vince Vaughan's for the real lethal injection.

The early Joe Kelly issues contain high quality comedy throughout. Kelly's sense of balance is one of the most obviously missing components in the current series, which fails to mimick his equal parts formula for laughs and action.

Batroc might be a walking-talking French joke, but when you read between the lines of an issue like this, there's still plenty of effort made to fully realise the legitimate threat he was in inception.
Likewise -- Deadpool, for all the quips and gags, also maintains a capacity to be taken seriously as a character and pseudo-superhero.

The referencial comedy is a good deal smarter under Kelly, also.

His work errs more on the side of classic Simpsons episodes, implying humorous references via the context of a scene, rather than contemporary meme/Family Guy-style writing that plonks a tongue-in-cheek reference to something that isn't quite cool, and waits for Gen Y numbskulls to giggle out of ignorance. Cast in point: Bea Arthur, contrary to popular belief, is not an all-powerful comedic reference unto herself. The mere presence of Bea Arthur on stage, or television, did not immediately cause all present to burst into hysterics. The same can be said of her name printed in a comic book.

As shameful as it is for neophytes to believe the character began life in Cable & Deadpool; fans of the now classic and definitive Joe Kelly run can at least rest assured that the legacy is secure. Increased popularity brought about by DP's less than impressive cinematic debut (X-Men Origins: Wolverine), and a guest-role in the Hulk Versus animated project, have made the character's history a more prevelant issue. Marvel have begun trickling out a "Classic" trade collection scheme, which gives new readers an accessible opportunity to seek out the early glory days of T-Ray, Siryn, and the Great Lakes Avengers, and offsets the tripe being shovelled out in Wolverine-scaled guest spots across the Marvel Universe.

Kelly returns to the character he helped set into motion when the Merc' with a Mouth guest stars in Amazing Spider-man, later in the year. You'll have to wait quite a while before that turns up, but while you wait, there are three DP Classic trades ready and waiting to be snatched up. They also include the pre-Kelly years, which differ slightly from the now definitive take.

The Fight: 4.5 The Issue: 5.5

The Deadpool Classic collections haven't yet reached #20, but you'll find plenty of other Joe Kelly written issues, including the first handful drawn by Ed McGuinness, in volumes 2 and 3 of the collections. You'll find books like these, and other collected editions containing issues reviewed in the Secret Archives, in the Infinite Wars Online Gift Shoppe. By using purchase links provided there, or on any review page, you help sponsor future entries on the site.

Hero of the Week #7: Superman

SUPERMAN (DC)
Real Name: Commander Kal-El
First Appearance: Action Comics #1 (June, 1938)
Group Affiliation: New Krypton Military Guild, Justice League
Gaming Credentials: Superman (1978); Superman: The Game (1985); Superman (1987); Superman: Man of Steel (1988); Superman: Man of Steel (1992); The Death and Return of Superman (1994); Justice League Task Force (1995); Superman 64 (1999); Justice League: Injustice for All (2002); Superman: The Man of Steel (2002); Superman: Shadow of Apokolips (2002); Justice League: Chronicles (2003); Justice League Heroes (2006); Superman Returns (2006); Mortal Kombat versus DC Universe (2008); DC Universe Online (TBA)
Infinite Wars Cumulative Ranking: #5

It is my intention not to double-up on any of these HOTW features, so despite the reasonably surprising news that Ryan Reynolds has been cast as the Green Lantern, we shant return to that particular character. Assuming, of course, that he is to be the star of the film, already revealed to be the tale of Hal Jordan's recruitment into the Green Lantern Corps. On the surface, Reynolds seems better suited to later Lanterns, such as the impetuous Guy Gardner, or perhaps the youthful Kyle Rayner, but for now we are to assume - with mixed feelings - that he will headline in this, his third comic book role (following Marvel's, Deadpool and Hannibal King).

Superman might seem like an unusual choice, but after having the honor of the "Featured Blog" spot for the past few days (with discussion about the fundamentals of reading comics), it seemed fitting to go with a classic hero. Besides -- is there every really a bad time to talk about Superman? As one of DC's iconic holy trinity of heroes Superman is one of the most recognised pop culture icons in the world. You can clearly see from the titles listed above, he's both one of the best and worst examples of the lengthy relationship between comic book superheroes, and video games. Best; because his 1978 Atari debut backs up just how far back the relationship between mediums goes, and worst; because it reminds us just how long we've been waiting for a really good Superman game.

Superman Returns finally put the player in a city worthy of the name Metropolis.

It's arguably only now that we're really seeing technology be developed and applied in ways that could fully realise the Superman experience. The proliferation of open-world gaming has been tailor made for superheroes who traditionally spent their waking hours loitering around the rooftops and alleys of densely populated cities, hoping to bump into friends or foes alike. That said; for the most part, I think fanboy-gamers would've been satisfied if they could at least lay claim to a decent Superman platformer, or adventure game! Afterall, as I can attest with some experience, part of the fun will always be in the collision of superhero mega powers!

To be fair, they weren't all exercises in neon pointlessness (like Superman 64).
While restrictions of a mechanical or arbitrary nature might have held back their potential, titles like the 16-bit efforts of platformer,  Superman: Man of Steel, and the scrolling beat 'em up, The Death and Return of Superman, both captured the fisticuffs and powers of Superman (and friends) to varying degrees of acceptable success. Within the narrow focus of 2D one-on-one combat -- even Mortal Kombat versus DC Universe deserves some shred of credit for giving Superman perhaps more attention than was balanced (you don't see that arctic breath much, these days!).

Superman no doubt inspired exaggerated mini-modes added to traditional Kombat in MKvsDC.

In some sort of twisted irony, it now appears likely that the game to deliver the most complete Superman experience will not actually even allow players to take control of the hero. DC Universe Online hopes to live up to the dreams of readers worldwide by transferring the events and serialized storytelling of comics into a live online gaming platform.

Boastin free-flowing action unlike traditional MMO systems; DC Universe Online plays with a fluidity and control traditionally associated with finite console games. Whilst realising a catalogue of superhuman abilities, players will be able to interact with iconic locations and characters sourced directly from DC comics. The army of heroes and villains range everywhere from A-list icons like Superman and Wonder Woman, to more obscure fare, like Ambush Bug and Tattooed Man. And while a tenative release date places it vaguely around late 2009/early 2010, the game needn't worry about interference from rival publisher, Marvel Comics, who pulled out of their plans to launch a similar MMO game with Cryptic Studios and Microsoft earlier in the year.

The question now remains -- will DCU Online finally be the game to realise the Superman experience to it's fullest capacity? With competent gameplay and an entire iconic universe at it's disposal, as well as DC comics talents like Jim Lee and Geoff Johns at their disposal, one could argue that it's place in superhero gaming is already assured. Particularly as it avoids even tackling the incredibly popular misconception that Superman's many strengths are an inherent flaw in the conversion of the character to a video game -- instead utilizing Superman as but one of the many iconic NPCs that populate the universe.

at1UP's own Mike Cruz digging Wednesday Comics!

Back in the land of comics, one of the key reasons for choosing Superman as this week's HOTW is the release of the twelve-part newspaper-style follow-up to DC's least successful weekly comic series, Trinity. The titular trio of Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman are all involved in the new Wenesday Comics anthology, but this time share the stage with a host of lesser known characters, treated by some of the most prolific writers and artists in comics, many of whom aren't often affiliated with the mainstream superhero style of fiction.

Borrowing from the tradition of newspaper strips; Wednesday Comics comes printed on retro-inspired pulp paper at an appropriate scale of 14" x 20" -- much larger than a standard American comic book. Among the talents contributing are John Arcudi (The Mask, BPRD) and Lee Bermejo (Joker, Lex Luthor: Man of Steel), whose Superman story has gained particular attention for the first part being run in the pages of USA Today, with subsequent instalments to feature on the USA Today website.
This keeps the Man of Steel in the hands of the public, while it's likely more invested readers will follow Superman out of his home titles, and into the year long maxi-series, Superman: World of New Krypton, where he has taken reluctant resistance on a newly created Kryptonian settlement. The story puts the character in uncomfortable territories where his powers are no longer entirely unique, and his voice no longer awe inspiring.

More information is available at DCcomics.com, and for the MMO, the Sony DC Universe Online homepage.

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 a Kryptonian good time.

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Originally posted: http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=8998249