QUICK FIX DOUBLE FEATURE: Appelaxians Attack!
FLASH versus THE FIRE GIANT
All Together Now (DC)
Where: Secret Origins #32 When: November 1988
Why: Keith Giffen & Peter David How: Eric Shanower

Quick Fix...
Well, while DC's weekly series Countdown simmers toward the boil of Final Crisis, we've got our own convergence of plotlines! Over the past couple of weeks we've been talking superhero teams, and after closing on the League, it seemed like a perfect segue to go back to the Secret Origin of the Justice League! We'll talk more about the League in the second half, but if you want to get yourself up to date, why not check out the back issues! [A League of their Own!, An Appelaxian A Day..., JLA: Classified #3]

Blink and you'll miss the subject of this half of the Quick Fix!
If you're new to the site, you might like to know that we review and tally superhero fights whilst talking about the medium and the materials in question. Amongst the many feats of multi-tasking is our cumulative Super Stock rankings, now entering their third full year of record. Anyone keeping tabs will know the Flash, in his many incarnations, isn't looking too shabby against the competition, but that isn't quite enough for me...

Regardless of your preference, the Flash is undeniably one of the greatest superheroes of all time. It's the unashamed colour of the character - bright red with a yellow lightning bolt - and the simple distillation of superhuman feat: the ability to run faster than anything in the world.

As the science of speed thrust itself on the modern readership in the Silver Age of comics, the character gained new complication through contrivances for abilities new and old, but for the most part, it's left the basic mechanics of the character uninterrupted for nearly seventy years. The Flash runs fast!

So, who is the Flash?...

When I think of a character that embodies the viability of succession in mainstream superheroes - it's the Flash! From the original 1940 Jay Garrick, the Flash was among the successful crop of Silver Age DC revamps that also included distanced revisions of Green Lantern and The Atom.

In 1956 DC debuted it's new union suited scarlet speedster, who was struck by a bolt of lightning that embued him with the powers of the superhuman speed force! A police scientist by day, Barry Allen straddled the line of magic and fantasy carried by his predecessors, while also incorporating pseudo-science in ways that would define the Silver Age and the following Marvel Age of the 1960s.

Allen's reign as Flash introduced many classic elements into the comic book zeitgeist, among them the lightning bolt origin, and the hidden costume compressed in an inconspicuous ring. The character continues to be revered to a degree that has kept him officially dead since the 1986 Crisis on Infinite Earths, where his heroic sacrifice prevented the destruction of everything at the hands of the Anti-Monitor's anti-matter canon. A rare feat in comics!

Allen was succeeded by the Flash most modern readers will be intimately familiar with; Wally West. West was anything but a new character when he graduated into the role, having spent several decades in a yellow version of the suit as the original Kid Flash. Though there remain to this day dedicated fans to the former, West's transition has to be one of the most impressive in modern comics, with his widespread acceptance leading to an ironic pickle.

Twenty years after West's successful transition into the title role, it seemed DC comics were to attempt to do it all again with then-Kid Flash, Bart Allen. The move proved unpopular, and by design or response, the new Flash was killed months after accepting the role, coinciding with the official return of Wally West, who remains the Flash to this point.

The Flash, (similar to the Green Lantern), has become a tent-pole amongst fans for their fandom and era of readership. Most can describe their version of the character, and for me, particularly through a childhood of back issues, I've come to regard Barry Allen as my Flash. Of course, Wally West has been a present and enjoyed influence, but in thinking about it, I realise I prefer Allen.

Definitely one of the big hitters of his time, the Barry Allen Flash is consistently numbered amongst the founding membership of the Justice League, despite it's many revisions. In the version we're looking at from 1988, Flash finds himself accepting acknowledgment from the Queen of England, when word of wildfires takes the speedster across country for an investigation.

The Flash arrives to discover a giant flaming man stalking the streets of Croydon. Quick thinking leads Allen to generate a mighty wind to attempt to blow the creature out, but alas, the Appelaxian is only ignited further by the gust.

As with the other Appelaxian invaders, the Fire Giant attempts to use his abilities to transform the Flash into a creature of flame. Fortunately for our hero, control over his molecular structure is key to the manipulation of his speed, meaning he easily vibrates to a frequency of normalcy.

Freed of the afflication, the Flash heads for a nearby lake, using his speeds to tread water and create a contained typhoon. He manages to direct the swirling funnel of water toward the flaming giant, but the heat of the creature's flame reduces the water to steam before it hits. Looking for an alternative, the Flash tries the same trick, this time with sand, but the Fire Giant uses his heat to turn the sand to glass!

Recognising his failures in fire fighting, Barry Allen's smarts kick in, and it finally occurs to him to remove an element to extinguish the flame!
Moving at super-speeds the Flash creates a vaccuum in which the creature cannot sustain it's flames -- revealing beneath the grey form of a humanoid shell. In it's native tongue the Appelaxian howls cries of objection as his mind is wrenched from the vessel in which he was to compete.

As with the other heroes who encountered the Appelaxian gladiators, Flash learns of the presence of another in the Everglades. At mach speeds the Flash makes a beeline across the ocean, in the direction of the United States!

In keeping with our recent discussions, I do confess my preference for the Barry Allen Flash, but not at the cost of progress. I appreciate the reverence with which the character is regarded, and enjoy the influence Allen continues to have on the mantle of the Flash, but also happily accept the succession of the role.

Time constraints have hindred the fluidity with which I wanted to talk all things Flash, but there's still time to wrap up on a key issue that convinced me to tackle this issue now. Despite an A-list resurgance for the character under writers like Mark Waid and Geoff Johns, the Wally West Flash is in the worst shape of his printed life.

After the bungled mess of Bart Allen's brief stint as the character, and the shafted disappearance of West post-Infinite Crisis, attention cast on the character has been mostly negative. Mark Waid failed to endear to audiences in his suspended stay on the book, leading to fairly despondent remarks from the writer, who was somewhat baffled by negativity for the domestic themes of the series, and the introduction of superpowered kids fastracked to adolesence.

Ordinarily this might be where we'd devise some sort of simple solution, but y'know what? If DC want a writer they can hire me! Hmph! That, and we are running long on time and I have other things I need to do.

The Flash is a very sure thing in comics terms.
Bringing the character back from a scenario as dire as this is hardly the toughest gig in comics, but one does wonder if this might be another negative underside to the editorial strangle at DC comics. As other characters are more intrinsicly attached to developing stories, has the Flash perhaps been left to languish in a world without purpose, or his famous rogue's gallery?

With the Rogues wrapped up in Salvation Run, it certainly seems like the mutant-kids have become the unwelcome distraction in a title forced to internally generate problems in an event-driven franchise. Whether or not this is an excuse, or an explanation, I leave to you, but it's certainly a disappointing turnaround from the glory experienced just a few years ago.

The Fight: 4.5 The Issue: 5.5
Winner: Flash

This version of the Justice League origin is no longer in print, but that doesn't mean you can't find other great stories collected in the Infinite Wars Amazonian Gift Shoppe! Who knows, you might even find a solution to Flash's creative problems. Seriously! Amazon is that good! And remember, by using purchase links provided, you help sponsor the Infinite Wars of Future Past!

---

SUPERMAN versus THE CRYSTAL CREATURE
All Together Now (DC)
Where: Secret Origins #32 When: November 1988
Why: Keith Giffen & Peter David How: Eric Shanower

Quick Fix...
After five individual tales of triumph, this is where I'm supposed to tell you what happens when the would-be Leaguers descend on the Florida Everglades.

Thing is, that one's a little long for the Quick Fix, and while this version of the League condenses the membership to skim over the world famous trinity, it does still have an Appelaxian to account for: The eerie Crystal Creature!

Before we get to the very brief events of this encounter, it might be worth elaborating a little on previous versions of the story.
The Justice League is effectively borne out of the necessity of their combined efforts in the Florida Everglades. That said, if you're keeping count at home, and remember that Wonder Woman, Batman and Superman feature in the original version of this tale, then there's one Appelaxian too few.

1962's tale, told in Justice League of America #9, described the meteor vessels for the Appelaxians as containing Kryptonite. Thus; when the final alien lands in Greenland, it's requires the attention of the 'World's Finest' pairing; Superman and Batman; who respond in a two-pronged attack that sees Batman towing the meteor with his Batplane, leaving Superman to turn the Crystal Creature to coal.

1982 recalled the story thirty-years later!
Justice League of America #200 revealed the heroes hid the meteors across the planet, resulting in a story that pits a mind-controlled 'big seven' against their contemporary counterparts. One of these days we might get around to reviewing the battles of each heroic pairing, but for now, this is digression to the Nth-degree!

In this 1988 revision of the story, (which has since been reset to the original), the Trinity are removed to be senior members of the superhero community.
The previous five are rallied in much the same way, albeit with Black Canary switched out for the lower key version, and when a lone Superman finally arrives to the story, the others are left in awe.

In fact, so distanced is Superman from the other heroes, that his battle with the Crystal Creature is gleamed over to a degree that we're introduced only to a track of footprints in the snow, an a dark smear that was once the alien.

That's right! You don't even get to see what this Appelaxian looked like!
So, as I struggle to find ways to fill space without stealing time from the next inevitable discussion, which will be about the Everglades team-up, we see the flipside of what this version means for the Justice League, and perhaps one of the reasons I prefer this version.

There's a delicate balance, I find, in the theory of the big seven heroes of the Justice League, and how that translates to modern comics. Even though we saw a very viable example in Grant Morrison's take on the team [JLA: Classified #3], noone could honestly describe Aquaman as a feature character in today's lineup.
As much as we theoretically like to think of this version of the league as the penultimate representation, ultimately each character is far too involved in their own divergences to logically be a part of the League's global watch.

Batman alone epitomizes the disbelief, given his staunch dedication to Gotham. One city in a country, or world, the League supposedly polices. So, as much as it's nice to think of this great seven teaming up for the establishing years of the Justice League [of America], there's so much more to be considered.

Top 25 Leaguers#1 Batman
#2 Superman
#3 Steel
#4 Green Lantern
#5 Green Arrow
#6 Flash
#7 Hawkman
#8 Flash
#9 Martian Manhunter
#10 Aquaman
#11 Wonder Woman
#12 Zatanna
#13 The Demon
#14 Hawkgirl
#15 Green Lantern
#16 Green Lantern
#17 Black Canary
#18 Atom
#19 Guy Gardner
#20 Powergirl
#21 Phantom Stranger
#22 Dr. Fate
#23 Zauriel
#24 Captain Atom
#25 Dr. Fate
For me, I like the compromise of this origin.
By focusing on second-tier characters, I admit, it strips some of the majesty of the League, but it makes up for this in plausibility. While Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman observe their own territories, as well as the global concerns that creep into their perspective; this version of the League plausibly dedicates their time to team adventures.

Sure, there's still a suspension of disbelief for crossover.
Aquaman has Atlantis, Flash has Keystone City, and Green Lantern has an entire Sector 2814 to oversee; but, the nature of the team as a response to larger problems, and the expected suspension of disbelief, is so much more managable with characters not supporting major features and multiple titles.

Or at least, that's what I'm saying now.
This might be one for a rethink. My brain's on whitenoise and I don't think I've given this the thought it really deserves. Still, hopefully I've at least given you something to think about. Lord knows I haven't done the thinking... I need a drink!... Get off my lawn!

The Fight: 1 The Issue: 5.5
Winner: Superman

While Mike "recharges his batteries," why not fund his dirty habit by heading over to the Infinite Wars Amazonian Gift Shoppe! Wonder Woman might have been erased from the 1988 version of the JLA origin, but that doesn't mean you can't still get a bargain from Amazon online! By using purchase links provided on the site, you help sponsor future entries in the Infinite Wars. Entries better than this.

IN STORES: April 09, 2008
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.


Thin and Crispy...
FEB080193 BOOSTER GOLD #8 $2.99
FEB080105 BPRD 1946 #4 (OF 5) $2.99
FEB082222 FANTASTIC FOUR #556 $2.99
FEB080191 GREEN ARROW BLACK CANARY #7 $2.99
FEB080122 GOON #23 $2.99
JAN080186 JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #14 $2.99
FEB082250 NOVA #12 $2.99
FEB082164 SCUD THE DISPOSABLE ASSASSIN #23 $3.50
FEB083837 SPEED RACER CHRONICLES O/T RACER #4 $3.99
OCT072023 SUBURBAN GLAMOUR #4 (OF 4) $3.50

The Deep Dish...
- FEB080205 BATMAN DEATH MASK #1 (OF 4) $2.99
With the upcoming anime project Gotham Knight bringing together some of America's finest writers, and Japan's finest animators, this seems like a pretty expected opportunity to capitalize on any potential hype. I'll be very interested to see how this one sells given it's prestige format, and the general aversion many American readers have to manga. Not that I expect it to be particularly mangaesque.

- FEB080178 COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS 3 $2.99
If we're to take the next couple of issues at face value, then we've got a battle between Superman and Darkseid to look forward to, followed by a showdown between Darkseid and crazy-powers Jimmy Olsen. That sounds pretty decent, continuing the theme of promising solicitations that seem to be met with nothing but ire from most vocal fans. Still not reading, so I'm still totally mystified about the specifics of the hows and whys... Given that most of the New Gods have already karked it, it'll be interesting to see what comes of Darkseid's interference on Earth, and how it leads into Final Crisis...

- FEB080224 GREEN LANTERN CORPS #23 $2.99
The cover for this issue is absolutely brilliant, but it feels like it's been coming for half a year. Apparently there have been delays on this one, which I was completely unaware of. Still loving the concept behind Mongul and his many powerrings, although, I do grow increasingly sceptical about the viability of keeping the buzz that Sinestro Corps War garnered. Although, for the sake of longevity, a lull might be for the better in the long run...

Site-wise I'm really enjoying the belated presence of the Green Lanterns, which is still strong after the late inclusion of the aforemntioned crossover event, at the end of the year. A bit like Countdown, and I suppose a lot of what's coming from DC, I'm interested to see how current GL events, and the promised Blackest Night are going to tie into Final Crisis.

- FEB082254 LAST DEFENDERS #2 (OF 6) $2.99
Credit where credit's due: Marvel's solicitation describes the series as, "Not to mention guest-stars galore in the must-have superhero mini-series of 2008!"
This comes only two days after we spent time criticizing the promotional strength of trademark characters, in specific reference to The Defenders, no less! To my credit; I did acknowledge it's far from a dire situation, but still, it's nice to see what is otherwise an obscure mini, getting some acknowledgment. I don't know if marketting has pushed the series accordingly, but hey, a lot of people are still puzzling over whether or not Blazing Skull has something to do with Ghost Rider, so clearly they've done a better job than they did with New Invaders.... *grumble*....

-FEB082233 MARVEL ADVENTURES HULK #10 $2.99
Bruce Banner may be out of the action in the lead-up to June's movie release, but the all-ages title continues to pick up the slack. We've had various requests and searches for some really burly brawls. When it comes to a real monster showdown the Hulk seems to be the quintessential character, and in this issue, he goes up against one of his great foes, the Juggernaut! I still haven't touched this book, but damn. If it's half as good as I've been imagining over the past few weeks, you're all a bunch of suckers for not buying it! It's sure to beat our current crop of Juggernaut fights, ala versus Frank Castle...

-FEB082277 PUNISHER #56 (MR) $2.99
For many Garth Ennis has become the defining factor on Punisher, but alas, all good things must come to an end. I don't know how this will effect the MAX title's future, but it's a departure that's sure to send a shockwave through the readership, and downgrade Punisher's stock just a little. In fact, with War Journal pittering out after initial hype, and radio silence on the movie-front, you have to wonder if the wind hasn't been taken out of the character's sails (or sales).
It feels like there's a period of transition coming as a lot of folks shift around. It'll be interesting to see if Marvel can have some foresight promoting the character, or if they'll wait until the last minute.

- FEB080186 TITANS #1 $3.50
I was going to bring up the current storyarc on Wolverine and talk about how sceptical I am about the actual quality of content, despite a sound concept. In the end I decided to go with Titans, a book I'm equally sceptical about, but for far less founded reasons.
Former #1 Judd Winick may still be a site-favourite writer, but I have to admit to my own prejudices. I guess a lot of the moving parts inherent to the project don't play to my interests, but really, I just don't see what more Teen Titans is going to do for anybody. Least of all Wally West, who's been swirling around the bowl since Infinite Crisis where he got royally shafted by indecision and a hideous attempt to get lightning to strike twice (referring both to the nature of the Flash's origins, and the failed push for Bart Allen to grow up).

Know Your Trade...
DEC070243 BATMAN LOVERS AND MADMEN HC $24.99
FEB082299 FALLEN SON TP DEATH OF CAPTAIN AMERICA $13.99
JAN080217 JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED TIES THAT BIND TP $12.99
FEB082296 MARVEL ADVENTURES HULK TP DEFENDERS VOL 02 DIGEST $7.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE versus ULTRAMARINE CORPS
Seconds To Go (DC)
Where: JLA: Classified #3 When: March 2005
Why: Grant Morrison How: Ed McGuinness

The Story So Far...
With the Justice League trapped on a mission to the infant universe of Qwewq; it's up to the International Ultramarine Corps to respond to disaster in Africa!
Gorilla Grodd, having allied himself with the mysterious cosmic being, Neh-Buh-Loh, has begun a path of destruction intended for the entire Earth!

The Ultramarine Corps quickly find themselves overwhelmed by Grodd and his ape-army, leaving the Knight's sidekick, Squire, to make a call to her mentor's American counterpart - The Batman! The Dark Knight summons his secret arsenal of bizarre and alien technologies, as well as the resources of the League itself, in an effort to rally against Grodd and the Nebula Man.

He leaves Squire to make contact with Qwewq, leading an inhuman proxy-League to distract from the true team's absence. His automatons prove insufficient in battle with the Corps; now under the manipulation of Grodd. With Batman defeated, the Justice League are needed more than ever, but will their escaped from the infant universe come too late?...

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Nebula Man 7 (Omnipotent)
Intelligence: Gorilla Grodd 5 (Professor)
Speed: Flash 7 (Lightspeed)
Stamina: Goraiko 7 (Unstoppable)
Agility: Glob 7 (Unlimited)
Fighting Ability: Wonder Woman 6 (Warrior)
Energy Power: The Master 7 (Cosmic Power)


- The Justice League of America are: Batman, Superman, Green Lantern, Flash, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and Martian Manhunter.

Born of necessity; the Justice League represent a coordinated effort by the world's finest heroes to protect and serve in the many iterations of their regional representation, and on a global scale. Boasting some of the planet's most powerful humans and extra-terrestrials, the League is equipped to combat any threat that should overwhelm the individual efforts of their member, or conventional defenses of the world's nations.

The League is classically defined by the core membership of it's founding members, affectionately referred to as the big seven. Overseen by stalwarts, Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman, they are; Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman and Martian Manhunter. Several of these members would come to be succeeded by others baring their name, Wally West and Kyle Rayner, while many other heroes would come to be prominently listed with the group; Hawkman, Atom, Green Arrow, Black Canary, Zatanna, Elongated Man, Firestorm, Captain Marvel, Red Tornado, Blue Beetle, Booster Gold, Fire, Ice, and others.

- The Ultramarine Corps are: The Knight, The Master, Goraiko, Vixen, Fleur-de-Lis, Olympian, Jack O'Lantern, Glob, Kid Impala and Tasmanian Devil; all acting under the influence of Gorilla Grodd and Neh-Buh-Loh.

Originally conceived as a government funded alternative to the Justice League of America; the original team of Warmaker One, Flow, 4-D, and Pulse 8 came to realise, during battle with the JLA, that General Wade Eiling, their superior officer, was insane. Consequently the team rebelled against the the United States. Repulsed and distrusting of government influence, the team construct a man-made city hovering over Uruguay called Superbia, where they invite similarly despondent heroes from around the world to join their cause.

The Math: JLA (Avg) Ultramarine Corps (Ttl) Ranking: Batman (#2)

What Went Down...
The Justice League return to their home Earth in the nick of time, as Gorilla Grodd sets the mind-controlled Ultramarine Corps on a world now unprotected!

Goraiko is first to make it's presence known as the Japanese giant descends on a city braced for chaos. The monster's leaping rampage demolishes massive chunks of the city, making John Stewart's return the perfect solution to architectural catastrophe!

Using the energy of his Green Lantern ring, and a little professional know-how, Stewart sets about scaffolding and repairing the structures now threatening lives in Goraiko's wake.

Below; the Flash uses his manipulation and transference of the Speed Force to protect endangered citizens at street level. "Spinning their molecules like plates," the Flash is soon forced to deviate to rescued his own teammate, who suffers a reality-warping attack from The Master, whose Quantum Keyboard allows him to momentarily reinstitute the yellow 'parallax' flaw of his power ring.
Rescued by Flash, GL promptly returns with a flying uppercut for the Master!

Wonder Woman leaves Aquaman use of her invisible jet, descending to tackle the physical onslaught of former-Leaguer, Vixen, and Fleur-de-Lis. Aquaman's objective is a more specific one: to seek-out and pacify a little Japanese girl in a sensory deprivation tank, from whom Goraiko psychically manifests.

Meanwhile; Batman remains at the mercy of Gorilla Grodd, who takes great pleasure in taunting him with the promise of a world left in ashes by he and his ape world order. With Batman literally on a spit, Grodd roasts the dark knight, while recounting his prophecized fall and disgrace in ape culture. Grodd turns his back for just a moment, but it proves all the time Batman needs to free himself.

The dark knight turns the tables on his captors, knocking several of Grodd's soldiers out, before throwing a kick to Grodd's mid-section that both man and monkey can appreciate equally. "There goes the dynasty."

Above the Earth the Martian Manhunter uses telepathy to scan for Goraiko, but soon finds he is not alone. From atop an orbitting satellite Olympian tosses a discus with superhuman strength, knocking the Manhunter from Mars into a descent toward Earth. The reentry process plays upon his fears and weaknesses, heating his body to burning temperatures!

Olympian follows the fallen Manhunter to Earth, where he lays the finishing blows in the very crater of his landing place. There, he leaves the Martian to die alone, a fact he gloats when coming face-to-face with Aquaman, who takes leave of Wonder Woman's jet to deal with the water-monster, Glob.

Amidst a downpour, Wonder Woman finds combat of her own.
The Amazon's speed and strength gives her the edge as she fights back the Corps' mounting forces. A well timed jump leaves the super-speeding Kid Impala to spear tackle Vixen, while the Amazon's brute strength takes care of the sword wielding French heroine, Fleur-de-Lis, with a knock-out blow!

Wonder Woman puts her golden lasso of truth to good work, using it against the animalistic brute, Tasmanian Devil. It's magic ability to force the truth from anyone ensnared reveals the Devil's true nobility, seeing an end to Vixen and Impala with a deft blow from his fist.

Aquaman continues the confrontation with Olympian, meeting his spear with a weapon of his own! His trident fails to pierce the flesh of the godly powered Corpsman, but provides sufficient lead-in for an uppercut that leaves the Greek out cold! "You hurt J'onn? That was stupid."

Elsewhere; having captured Grodd, Batman reveals the assistance given to him by the disembodied spirit of the previously destroyed Warmaker One. The energy-based human is able to warn the detective of incoming intereference from his British counterpart, the Knight, and the Irish, Jack O'Lantern.

The Batman proves a match for the two man assault, but the arrival of Knight's sidekick Squire proves the turning point in their struggle. The youngster, piloting a Bat-spacecraft, lifts the veil of manipulation from Knight's mind, giving him will enough to wrench the controlling Sheeda imp from his neck, and squash it!

Meanwhile, the Man of Steel does battle with Neh-Buh-Loh, who reveals himself to be the adult incarnation of the sentient universe of Qwewq! Though his powers are incomaprable, the Nebula Man suffers Superman's powerful blows.
Claiming his alliance with Grodd as a successful test of the League's powers, Nebula Man makes an exit, with an ominous prophecy of chaos to come.

Across the Earth, having recovered from Olympian's attack, the Martian Manhunter reconstitutes and descends on Goraiko, who continues to march through populated cities. J'onn arrives in time to bare witness to the fruits of Aquaman's efforts, which make good use of the worldly monarch's linguistic skills!

With Grodd's army rounded up, and all threats to the Earth brought to an end, the League are able to liberate the remaining members of the Ultramarine Corps.
All in a day's work!

The Hammer...
Damn you to hades, Ed McGuinness! More on that later, but first, there you have it folks! The Justice League triumphant!
Hopefully that helps balance an otherwise minimized presence of the JLA in the Wars.

So, if you've been with us the past couple of weeks, there have been two seemingly contradictory lines of discussion converging on the Infinite Wars. With our focus on super-teams now at an end, I feel the challenge has been set to somehow reconcile these points regarding modern stories and traditional values. Fortunately, I have Grant Morrison to help me do exactly that!

Amongst many readers, typically Americans with fairly singular reference points, Morrison has a reputation for being a confusing shamanic nutjob. I tend to attribute that mostly to the ignorance of a readership I can feel very negatively toward, but at the same time, maybe it's unfair to expect Morrison's subversity to be readily recognised in an industry that does still seem to be debating the either, or the or.

I tend to write these discussions as they come, so it was quite by accident that I found myself at this juncture. Through the past few entries [New Invaders #1, JSA #64, Defenders #43] I've talked about the traditionalist positives of investment in characters and their history, and to that end, I think I've been very consistent. At the same time, I've also made disparaging remarks about the modern state of comics, and glamorized modern interpretations.

It's in the context of the either and the or that these seem to be polar opposities. Exposing myself recently to the Phantom fanbase, I got a very stark reminder of how exclusively fans can interpret qualities and elements from historic storytelling, and completely disengage them from modern filters.
The irony, perhaps, is that like a lot of the less admirable fans, I too feel the Phantom should change very little, although, the divergence comes from the interpretation of exactly what that means.

Morrison is not dissimilar to Geoff Johns in his ability to dust-off vintage comics and spin them in a contemporary context. In isolation, this is the simple point that's being made here, but unlike Johns, Morrison tends to be more apt at marrying the traditionalist tendencies of American superhero comics with more vibrant and contemporary influences.

This issue goes so far as to almost describe Morrison's desire for balance.
In chastizing the shamed characters of the story, Morrison directs what is almost certainly his own philosophy, through the voice of Superman. He describes the irrelevance of day-to-day procedure in fantastical fiction, reflecting the often single-minded thought processes of modern comics readers, who all too often observe their stories with the trendy contextually naive hi-brow of CSI-style procedural interpretation. I mean the silly TV show, too. Not the real-life organizations it's often confused with.

"These "no-nonsense" solutions of yours just don't hold water in a complex world of jet-powered apes and time travel," says Superman.

Again, I don't want to appear to be contradicting myself with a similarly single-minded notion that all fiction should be elastic.
Morrison himself, despite bucking against the trends of a post-80's stoicism, writes a short-spoken Batman who's deliciously gritty and internalized, to a degree that puts All-Star Batman & Robin's Miller to shame! Then again, to better describe the point, he does so fully acknowledging the absurdity of the character whose cabinet includes a Dr. Who Dalek, the Lost in Space robot's claw, and an Apokalips designed boom tube gauntlet.

"I'm opening the sci-fi closet, Alfred. Don't tell my friends in the G.C.P.D. about this. Robin and the others can watch Gotham for me tonight. I have a feeling things are about to get strange." - Batman prepares.

With McGuinness on pencils, Morrison's League are mostly distilled to what you'd expect of them, albeit, in a very sexy and modern package. They are exactly as they should be, yet, Morrison, who feels so much like a genuine fan of the fiction and characters, milks more out of them than you often see.
Amidst discussions about Aquaman [like; A League of their Own!] I get a little thrill out of Aquaman speaking Japanese; or Wonder Woman using her lasso to circumvent mind-control. These themselves do well to explain the way Morrison brings the traditional and contemporary schools of thought together, but it's even more poignantly described in the League's relationship with the Corps; a group of heroes who number quantum manipulating reality sculpter, and the haiku/algebra spouting psycho-manifestation of a child in a sensory deprivation chamber.

Morrison brings the old and the new together beautifully, and that's really where the Infinite Wars lies. History has it's place and it's firm importance on the way in which we interpret our stories today, but those rules of the fiction don't necessarily have to be as binding as they're so often interpreted.

Also, to bring it back to the beginning, damn Ed McGuinness for his part in the matter. The superstar artist crossed back to Marvel not too long ago, to sign an exclusive contract that will no doubt keep him at the House of Ideas for a couple of years. Which means there's almost certainly no chance of seeing his bold, but simple pencils gracing any of Morrison's scripts any time soon.

In a way I think McGuinness also does well to punctuate the notion of the old and the new together. Though his art evokes similarly Japanese underpinnings to elements in Morrison's writing, there's an undeniable presence of traditional American comics, and the strength of simplicity in the form.
The guy might have been born to draw the Hulk, but damned if I'm not going to miss the prospect of more in his catalogue of significant DC work. Especially with Morrison rising to the helm to police creative direction with Final Crisis.

Speaking of DC events, it's worth noting, for you avid Googlers out there, that this issue of JLA: Classified ties quite directly into Morrison's last major event; Seven Soldiers of Victory. That series details not only the continued menace of Neh-Buh-Loh (Nebula Man), but also the incursion of the Sheeda, and the results of the Ultramarine Corps inhabitance of the infant universe, Qwewq, that grows up to be Neh-Buh-Loh. (Here's a hint; their role as the hero-less universe's new protectors doesn't go so well...)

The Fight: 6 The Issue: 6.5

This is comics! Morrison is at his absolute finest with this Justice League, and you can get the full story, as well as the collected JLA/Wildcats, all in the one JLtrade from Amazon! Amazon not only feature some insane pricing, but by using purchase links provided on the site, you help fund future entries into the infant universe of Infinite Wars!

EGGHEAD versus THE DEFENDERS
This World Is Mine! (Marvel)
Where: Defenders #43 When: January 1977
Why: Gerry Conway How: Keith Giffen & Klaus Janson

The Story So Far...
In an effort to capture a powerful mystic gem, known as the Star of Capistan, the villainous genius Egghead forms the self-proclaimed Emissaries of Evil. With Rhino, Solarr, and the insane Cobalt Man, Egghead draws his plans against the protector of the gem, Omar Karindu.

The Defenders become involved when Karindu arrives in New York to summon the aid of his old friend, Dr. Strange. Alas; unbeknownst to Karindu, the gem has already been able to exert it's will over the Sorceror Supreme; transforming him into the super powered, Red Rajah! A fact that also escapes Egghead's attentions, as he sends Solarr and Rhino into battle against a force they can't hope to defeat.

Meanwhile; the Defenders a potential disaster when they prevent the Cobalt Man from detonating a nuclear explosion in downtown Manhattan! Cobalt Man's failure prompts Egghead to finally resort to his own means, and so, the evil genius gathers his inventions of science for an assault on the Sanctum Sanctorum!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Hulk 6 (Invincible)
Intelligence: Egghead 6 (Genius)
Speed: Valkyrie 3 (Athlete)
Stamina: Hulk 6 (Generator)
Agility: Nighthawk 3 (Acrobat)
Fighting Ability: Valkyrie 6 (Warrior)
Energy Power: Cobalt Man 6 (Mass Destruction)


- Starr's genius for technological and mechanical design made him the perfect recruit for underworld figures seeking new influences in their battle with the growing number of superheroes. Though he would rise to prominance in the villainous community as an opponent of Ant-Man; Elihas Starr first earned the attentions of the criminal underworld, and the nickname Egghead, when tabloids learned of his scheme to steal government secrets whilst working as a scientist.

Egghead's hatred for Henry Pym would eventually lead to his downfall. After surviving a nearly fatal encounter with the Cobalt Man, Elihas Starr was finally killed when an attempt to shoot Pym resulted in a misfire caused by one of the Avenger Hawkeye's arrows.

- The Defenders are: Nighthawk, Valkyrie, Hulk, Red Guardian, Clea, and Power Man.

Interdimensional interlopers would prompt Dr. Strange to manipulate the unruly powers of Prince Namor and the incredible Hulk.
Together they would successfully curb the threat of the Undying Ones, prompting Strange to call upon their services, as well as those of the Silver Surfer, in future collectings of the so-called 'non-team.'

Strange would continue to summon the aid of various heroes in times of need, expanding the membership to include a vast array of brief allies and honorary members. Among the more lasting roster; Valkyrie, Nighthawk, Hellcat, Angel, Beast, Ice Man, Moondragon, Gargoyle, and Power Man.

Nighthawk would assume leadership over the team and bring a new sense of order whilst funding their operations, and providing a base of headquarters. In the wake of the superhero Civil War, Nighthawk heads up a new version of the team as part of the Fifty-States Initiative. His membership prominently features; Blazing Skull, Colossus, She-Hulk, Atlas, and Paladin.

The Math: The Defenders Ranking: Hulk (#4)

What Went Down...
Despite the Doctor's absence, the Defenders bring Cobalt Man with them to Dr. Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum. In an effort to cure the armored villain of his insanity Red Guardian submits her expertise as a neurosurgeon, while Strange's apprentice, Clea, provides a telepathic link by mystic means!

With the team sufficiently distracted, Egghead is able to make his teleported entrance into the Sanctum undetected. A lumbering Hulk is the only Defender present during his arrival, but is quickly nullified by a sneak attack from the wile arsenal of of Egghead's eggs! A weird blanket springs from the contraption, quickly engulfing the Hulk in a prison immune to his angered fists!

Moving further into the Sanctum, Egghead next encounters the Asgardian powered warrior woman, Valkyrie! Though she is able to startle the stalking Egghead, she too quickly falls before the might of his egg-shaped inventions.
Before she can mount an attack, an electical current aimed expertly at Valkyrie's conductive metal sword, Dragonfang, renders the powerhouse unconscious!

Egghead is remorseless as he leaves Valkyrie a quivering mess to seek out the remaining members of the Defenders. Hearing voices from above, the emissary of evil makes his way up Dr. Strange's staircase, where he discovers Power Man and Nighthawk locked in debate over the Hero for Hire's place on the team.

The discussion is cut short when Nighthawk is neutralized by another of Egghead's restrictive devices! This time a contraption of binding cables is used, but when Egghead attempts the same tactic against Luke Cage, he learns a nasty fact about the Power Man's invulnerable skin!

Having under estimated Cage's might, Egghead's toss proves off.
The tiny egg-like contraption harmlessly ricochet's off the hero's chest, dispersing it's contents with inconsequential result. Ever a champion for good, Cage descends on the villain who previously experimented and attempted to kill his niece by planting a bomb in her car.

Cage gets a little payback, effortlessly avoiding Egghead's wristmounted blaster, to square up for an explosion of his own -- with his fist!

Just as Cage continues to unload a beating on Egghead, the mystic operation to cure the Cobalt Man of his madness comes to an end! Egghead crashes through the door of the operating room, prompting the first thought in the unknown quantity of Cobalt Man's new mind: "It's HIM -- EGGHEAD!"

Freed of the fog of insanity, Cobalt Man's first thoughts are of revenge!
Once so confident, Egghead now scrambles across the floor, overwhelmed and terrified. Cobalt Man has no trouble manhandling his manipulator and to the shock of all present this desperate man, Ralph Roberts, ignites himself in a suicidal nuclear implosion. The move sees an end to both men, but leaves the startled Defenders unharmed, and ponderous of the sacrifice made.

The Hammer...
Now, if you've been following our spotlight on superhero teams, you might have been anticipating an Avengers feature. More on that momentarily, but first, a bit of house keeping, because this marks the first points winner in the Infinite Wars Fantasy League!

I feel I have no choice but to lay defeats on Hulk, Valkyrie, and Nighthawk, as well as Egghead, who rendered each ineffective but ultimately fell to Power Man and Cobalt Man! The assist goes to Clea and Red Guardian also, for their vital role in setting up the climactic conclusion!

While I don't intend to make a note of it regularly, this is a special circumstance, because we have our first Fantasy League draftee in action: Luke Cage! You'll have to wait until next month's punch-up to get a full recap, but it's nice to finally alleviate the expectations built-up by these pre-selected reviews. Fun!

Keeping with the self-referencial tone, we return to the opening remarks.
If you've been anticipating the modern counterparts to our previous team spotlights [The Invaders, Justice Society of America] you might have been expecting some Avengers. I wanted to use this opportunity to reflect back on the contemporary relevance of these teams not just as continuing presences [as per the previous reviews], but as influences on the evolution of the super-team.


Top 25 Defenders#1 Spider-man
#2 Hulk
#3 Wolverine
#4 Captain America
#5 Mr. Fantastic
#6 Daredevil
#7 Thing
#8 Sub-Mariner
#9 Beast
#10 Iron Fist
#11 Silver Surfer
#12 Luke Cage
#13 Deadpool
#14 Wasp
#15 Ghost Rider
#16 Hellcat
#17 Angel
#18 Yellowjacket
#19 Dr. Strange
#20 USAgent
#21 War Machine
#22 Iceman
#23 Blazing Skull
#24 Ronin
#25 Nova

The Defenders have had a
pretty relaxed admission
policy during their years as
the famous non-team.
Thought you knew them all?
Surprised? Drop a comment
and discuss the Defenders!The Avengers are an entirely valid reflection of the model arguably introduced by DC's earliest compilation of their headlining properties. That said, the Avengers were very quick to establish their own characters and peculiarities in a way the Defenders never did.
Granted, he was a member of the Avengers, but the frictioned admission of the Sub-Mariner in the Invaders and Defenders, even when not expressed, draws far more parallels between the nature of both teams.

Heck, it's also a nice opportunity to reflect back on a team that's just been revived as a belated inclusion in the Fifty-States Initiative. The Last Defenders hit shelves last month with Joe Casey (writer), and Jim Muniz (penciller), at the helm of what we can only hope is anything but the last Defenders adventure. Working against the pair will be some of the qualities that have made modern comics such a strong landscape.

Whilst revising for this review I was drawn not only to the many erratic appearances of characters but also the promotion footnotes at the bottom of pages.
The technique, common to seventies Marvel, (and recalled in the flashback presentation of Mighty Avengers #10), pitches the appearance of heroes (and villains!) as major features of upcoming issues. It's a sense of grandeur somewhat lost on an age of creator celebrity, and concern for an audience encouraged to confuse the role history has to play.

Today's stories boast better coordination than ever.
We just finished talking about the strength of DC's editorial overlords [Member of Society], who've purveyed a sense of reality unrivalled, and yet, there's something to be said of this time without consequence. A time when it was recognised that the constant - the characters - were something to behold and marvel. With so many characters transcending their writers and creators to be immortalized on the big screen, one wonders why there isn't still that sense of passion in modern marketing.

Though characterized by the rise of individual industry share holders, like; Frank Miller, Alan Moore, Todd McFarlane, Erik Larsen, and Jim Lee; I think we might have seen the peak of compromise in the eighties and nineties. Which seems like a very peculiar statement to make, but for the most part, feels very accurate on the broadest of terms. Terms that aren't meant to suggest all writers and pencillers should immediately retreat into anonymity. I actually think the recognition of the artists responsible for these projects is worthy, if often a source of distraction for fans. I just think we need to reconsider the balance and power of the characters, and as always, reflect on the history of said fiction with warm regards. This is comics!

Oh, and speaking of comics, I'd be remiss if I didn't raise one last thing before I sign off. It's something that occurred to me when writing up the bio for Egghead (in the tape). A bio that echoed something unfamilar I felt I'd written fairly recently: Factoids about Ant-man's rogues gallery!

With Hank Pym relegated to wife-beating bastard status, ever since Jim Shooter's domestic dispute of a run on Avengers, it's easy to forget Pym was once an adventurer in his own right, capable of far more than shrinking from site whenever trouble did come. My feelings of deja vu came from a similar account of a villains' bitter hatred of Pym, written for the bio on Whirlwind!
So, this begs the question: Character attributed to the birth of some great C-list villains; or just an insufferable prick from the get-go? Makes you think!

The Fight: 4.5 The Issue: 4.5

Of course, no sooner than I stress the importance of characters, am I compelled to highlight the work of Keith Giffen (and Klaus Janson)! Best known for his later work with the Justice League, Giffen shows an immature style in the pages of Defenders, seemingly emulating elements of industry legends Jack Kirby and Sal Buscema! Hey, if you're gonna start somewhere, it's not a bad place to start! If you want to continue the chain and ape Giffen's early work, you'll find it collected in Essentials format! You can find it, and collections of most other issues reviewed on the Infinite Wars, in the Amazonian Gift Shop! Contained within are a whole range of great prices, and by using purchase links provided, you help sponsor the site! Egg-cellent!

COVER TO COVER: AMAZING FANTASY! (ROUND 1)
During the week, we introduced you to the first registrants in the Infinite Wars Fantasy League! If you have not yet signed up then you should do so immediately! The Fantasy League provides a simple platform of interaction with the Infinite Wars by using the results catalogued in our many reviews! By following submission guidelines you're on your way to adopting a team!

The Fantasy League offers us a great opportunity to acknowledge sponsor websites from across the web. Chronicle Chamber is just such a site, featuring the makings of a great hub for the scattered masses of Phantom fans across the internet. Chronicle Chamber promotes all major Phantom-related publications, most prominently from Australia, Scandanavia, and America.

Today we take a look at some of the back catalogue featuring members of The Ghost Walkers! Remember, you too can become a part of the fun by enlisting in the Infinite Wars Fantasy League! Blogger membership is not required, and readers new and old are encouraged to join in and promote their corner of the internet. Thus far no one has scored any points, but in the next installment in our team spotlight, the first points shall be awarded!

Strange Tales #111 (August 1963)
"Face-to-Face With the Magic of Baron Mordo" Lee/Ditko
Just about everyone at one point has pondered -- why isn't Dr. Strange starring in a solo series? Despite the moderate success of Brian Vaughan's recent mini-series, the character continues to be one of those rare gems that is much beloved, but fails to sustain a readership sufficient to sponsor a regular on-going series.

Co-created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko; Strange is generally the overlooked collaboration between the two legends, overshadowed by the enduring success of the amazing Spider-man. Not surprisingly the characters have had a long association and today regularly appear at the centre of the Marvel Universe in New Avengers. Strange is set to be one of the seventies superstars thrust into the spotlight of the Skrull Secret Invasion, but before you read that, why not travel back to the swinging sixties, where the Doctor lodges his first consultation with his villainous counterpart: Baron Mordo!

The Phantom #972 (February 1991)
"Masked Marvel" Falk/McCoy
As far as forgotten heroes in the American mainstream, few are more prominent in the world than The Phantom! Though Lee Falk's work is dwarfed by the accomplishments of his contemporaries; men like Will Eisner and Stan Lee; his character's exploits endure in countries like Australia, Sweden, Norway, and India!

Pre-dating other early costumed heroes, (like Superman), the Phantom remains a vital part of comics history. Baring heavy influence on Bob Kane's Batman; the Phantom defines many of the transitioning establishments from pulp heroes, to the superhero genre. Wearing a colourful costume, trademarked insignias, and a history that dates back to the 1500's; the ghost who walks is a true superhero legend. Check out this Falk/McCoy classic from 1948!

Marvel Knights: Spider-man #1 (June 2004)
"Down Among the Dead Men" Millar/Dodson
Depending on who you talk to, you might be led to believe the past fifteen years have been the worst in Spider-man's illustrious history. I certainly believe the time erasing exploits of 2008's Brand New Day has been the lowest period the character has ever experienced, but that's not to say I agree with the grim assessment of the past.

In 2004; Mark Millar teamed with superstar artists, Terry Dodson and Frank Cho, for a curvacious spin on the web-slinger that delivered everything BND failed to. In his trademark one-year whirlwind-tour style, Millar removes the character from the heavy mystic trials of J. Michael Straczynski's core title, to tell a classic tale with a modern sheen. The best of Spidey's villains come together in a clash that remembers everything great about the character(s), without the droning repetition and malaise of Brand New Day.

Marvel Zombies #5 (June 2006)
"Marvel Zombies" Kirkman/Philips
Of course, though comics like Brand New Day reflect pretty poorly on Marvel's modern editorial, that's not to say they don't have their virtues. As late as the 1990's there was always the chance Galactus might come sniffing around for crumbs in a fly by incursion of Earth.

While some folks claim event fatigue; I personally value greatly the modern intelligence to recognise the scope of certain characters and their placement in the arcing saga of the Marvel Universe. Galactus is just such a character, whose presence now warrants something of the scope of Annihilation, Ultimate Secret, Heroes Reborn, or... Marvel Zombies? Yes; the series that brought us an endless catalogue of gimmickery and variant covers actually revolved around the poignant question -- what if Galactus met someone hungrier than he!?

Civil War #3 (September 2006)
"Civil War" Millar/McNiven
Though the Infinite Wars strive to offer a wide range of subjects and informations, it's still a very subjective website. Drawing upon interests reflected by my humble collection, there are certain sections of the readership totally under represented, even as I do my best to represent the zeitgeist of today.

Ms. Marvel highlights one of the seventies legacies to be back in the fore, sponsored heavily by a seventies-loving Brian Bendis. Along with characters like Luke Cage and Spider-woman; Carol Danvers has been thrust into the A-list as a result of Civil War division in the superhero community. A prominent figure in the pro-registration team, Danvers became one of the Mighty Avengers to join Tony Stark in official operations. Though the character is yet to feature in prominent fashion, why not check out the event that propelled her into the spotlight, and the rankings of the Infinite Wars!