QUICK FIX: FLASH vs SAVITAR
Lightning Strikes Twice (DC)
Where: Flash: Rebirth #1 When: June 2009
Why: Geoff Johns How: Ethan Van Sciver

THE TAPE...
Strength: Draw 3 (Athlete)
Intelligence: Flash 5 (Professor)
Speed: Flash 7 (Lightspeed)
Stamina: Flash 6 (Generator)
Agility: Draw 2 (Average)
Fighting: Flash 3 (Street Wise)
Energy: Draw 1 (None)

Math: Flash
Ranking: Flash (#29)

THE FIX...
Since we're trying to get out of a month's backlog of updates, I've been trying to avoid any unnecessary deviations. In the case of the return of Barry Allen, this was just too big an event to ignore during a period of week-to-week reviews!

The re-teaming of Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Sciver on a Rebirth title was always going to draw comparisons to their 2005 project of the same name.
It would be clumsy to claim the return of Barry Allen after a twenty-plus year absence isn't a big deal, but for a hero whose death was accepted as such a concrete moment in the canon, there were far fewer questions demanding answers than when the duo resurrected fallen Green Lantern, Hal Jordan.

As icons of the changing guard from Golden to Silver Age; Flash and Green Lantern have come to share a similar meaning to the comics zeitgeist.

When Barry Allen and Hal Jordan redefined superhero identities originally held by Jay Garrick and Alan Scott, they began a tradition that embodied a differentiating philosophy between DC Comics and the House Across the Street. History would observe the 1950's revamps as permission to accept plausible change to a world where characters were free to defy the laws of time. Most recently, you know this as; Kyle Rayner, Conner Kent, Rex Tyler, Courtney Whitmore, or Jaime Reyes.

However creatively profitable the notion of legacy in superheroes has been, we can now see those ideals of succession are about to evolve.

I believe there is a distinct pattern of logic behind this new mentality steering comics, but, before we get to that, it might help to understand a few more details about the larger pieces of puzzle.

Through rumor and supposition, certain "facts" have crystallized within the comics readership.

Ever since Brad Meltzer forced the heroes of the DCU to deal with a harsh case of hyper-realism in his mini-series, Identity Crisis; discussions regarding a lightening of subject matter have come semi-regularly from both sides of the fandom. As DC wheeled out subsequent events [Infinite Crisis, Final Crisis], popular theory supposed conclusions that each story's mysteries would allow various facets of DC's past to be resurrected (such as; a segregated multiverse isolating different characters to their own universes). Considering these lingering, recycled theories have been floating around for the best part of this decade, it puts into perspective how long it's taken to really establish a sense of what any reductions in "darkness" have meant from a DCUniverse perspective.

Barry Allen's return in the pages of Final Crisis [#2], alongside other ideas and characters lost over time, finally gave theorists something tangible to hang their long running theories on. Despite the major return of Hal Jordan, Sinestro, and the Green Lanterns in 2005, it was '08's Final Crisis that provided some of the most overt connections to the already mentioned Silver Age of comics.

The "Silver Age" of comics is chiefly attributed to the post-Comics Code Authority resurgence of superheroes in the 1950s. Chiefly positioned as starting points are popular introductions like the Barry Allen Flash, and the Hal Jordan GL, whose sanitized adventures against evil helped define the period as a singular dimension culminating in the likes of, The Super Friends. Theorists presume the end of this era came with the 1970s revolution of darker, more mature elements of stories, which were channeled through characters like Conan, Morbius, Swamp Thing, and others, eventually ushering in logical conclusions of the shift, popularly defined by The Dark Knight Returns, and Watchmen.

Just as he had been a beacon for it's beginning, Barry Allen took significance at the demolition of Silver Age, famously dying in 1985's rearrangement of the DCU for a modern age, in, Crisis on Infinite Earths.

Is the Silver Age here again? Yes, and no.

Longtime readers of the Infinite Wars will have read enough entries like this to recognise a weaving net of references that tie works from various eras, to various periods before them. Now, in this modern age of carefully constructed and written comics, we have a great awareness of the history that defined our medium.

It would be utterly naive to say the comics of today, particularly stories like Final Crisis, or Barry Allen's return, aren't informed by the Silver Age of comics. It would be equally naive, however, to say they've turned their back on the modern conventions that have established the very comics that supposedly defy the Silver Age. Every word is as well spoken, every image as well crafted, and every plot as enfused with the intelligence of the modern era as any other.

It's not as if this recognition of the past is the death touch to "now."

After expanding the mantle of some heroes into third (and fourth) generations, the corporate requirement of maintenance has forced a rethink. While the future belongs to isolated tales and alternate realities, intelligent and informed comics have gone back to readdress and reassess decision of the past.

Similar investments are still being made in the iconography of these characters, but instead, now each iteration has proven deserving of distinction, allowing a more total sense of value to be spread amongst them. Geoff Johns is a chief proponent of this tempered approach, and certainly doesn't take any shortcuts in his introductory issue to the Rebirth of the famous Silver Age Flash.

Lapsed time takes on significant meaning for the scarlet speedster who embarks on a mission to acquaint himself with the years he lost during his supposed death. It's still unclear, even to Allen himself, how his sacrifice to save the multiverse from the treacherous Anti-Monitor has remained intact, despite his apparent survival which brought him hurtling into a world on the verge of being dominated by Darkseid and the Anti-Life Equation (in Final Crisis).

Without the burgeoning controversy of a final decline like Hal Jordan's, the Flash return simply doesn't have the loaded premise of his counterpart. It's hardly surprising, then, that the first issue of Flash: Rebirth lacks the same bombastic action of the Green Lantern mini. In place of stoked anticipation, Johns takes a brief tour through references and set-up for the series, framing the reactions of various characters, good and evil, whilst inserting some revisionist history to form context for the following issues.

Barry Allen's return quite clearly is a major element of the story.
Those unfamiliar with the character should remember to understand the plot even if they aren't immediately connecting with the lead protagonist. Circumstances behind the return are unknown to the character himself, which weighs heavily on the speedster who, despite his advanced perception, comes away with a need to squeeze every last moment of it's potential usefulness.

The plot thickens before issue's end when Savitar -- a mid-nineties Wally West villain of questionable fashion sense, and Flash-like speed -- emerges from imprisonment within the Speed Force directly infront of a blazing Barry Allen!

Aware of his nephew's clash with Savitar and his speed cult thanks to a quick dash through the Flash museum, Barry takes immediate chase!

Unconcerned with how the villain escaped, Flash pursues to Savitar's dismay. Crackling with energy Flash reaches out to the shirtless speedster, only to somehow reduce him to a withered corpse that soon fades to ashes.
With his dying breath Savitar delivers a cryptic message, "You... You were the beginning, Allen... and you're the end." Simultaneous to the villain's death is a wild disturbance that resonates throughout the speed force, quivering those touched by it's energies.

If I didn't know better, I almost would've guessed that by escaping death and it's form of the "Black Racer," Barry Allen had somehow inherited the role himself.
Clearly there is a larger plot at work. We know a mysterious figure with long grey hair (who begins the issue recreating the accident that created Flash) is responsible for Allen's return [Prof. Zoom?], and we know a skeletal Black Flash crash landed and turned to dust in field of corn in Iowa. The result of Final Crisis, a larger plot affecting the Speed Force, or perhaps a combination of both?

Apparently I'm not the person to speculate, but damned if I'm not going to enjoy the ride! As incredibly reluctant as I am about the undoing of one of comics' most significant deaths, I find the quality of story, and craft of DC's overall editorial approach, very difficult to criticise. As meaningless as death has become in pop superheroes, DC have made great use of their corporate obstinacy, finding strong plot-driven reasons to utilize it as a positive, be it through the meta-recognition of resurrections [Final Crisis: Requiem], or dramatic resurrection [Blackest Night].

As to apparent inconsistencies in the character's history -- are these the makings of harsh retcons akin to those used by Geoff Johns in revamps of lesser heroes and villains, or are there in-fiction forces at work? Other characters were given a second chance at life through the universal reboot of Crisis on Infinite Earths. Is it possible in our universe Barry Allen has lived another life? Could time travel have altered his past? I think answering these questions will be a lot of fun.

The Fight: 4 The Issue: 4
Winner: Flash

Flash: Rebirth is a five issue mini-series from DC Comics. While soft and hardcover collections will no doubt be announced soon, the series still has a long way to go. Keep your eye on shipping list updates for more information on issues, and be sure to find the single issues on shelves as they come. If you're hungry for some trade reading, you'll find Green Lantern: Rebirth, Flash editions, and other issues reviewed in the Secret Archives via our online Amazon Store. Using purchase links provided helps sponsor future entries, so may the Speed Force be with you!

SUB-MARINER versus IRON MAN
World's Most Wanted Part 5: The High-End
Technology of Ultramodern Destruction (Marvel)
Where: Invincible Iron Man #12 When: June 2009
Why: Matt Fraction How: Salvador Larroca

The Story So Far...
When the superhero community was split by a controversial act to force them into official government registration, it was Tony Stark who championed the bill. His dogged pursuit of illegal unsanctioned superheroics allowed him to maneuver into more encompassing roles, including his appointment as Director of SHIELD after Nick Fury's disappearance into the underground.

Just as the fickle nature of emotional politics had allowed Stark's rise, so too did it fascilitate his fall. When a secretive plot hatched by super-powered Skrulls was revealed to be a full scale invasion, both registered and unregistered Avengers were forced to pool their efforts to thwart the alien incursion. With suspicions and fears renewed within the public, Norman Osborn was there to capitalize.

Disgraced as an impotent coward who was unable to anticipate and prevent mass corruption within his agency, Tony Stark becomes that which he had hunted. With SHIELD disbanded in favour of Osborn's own HAMMER intelligence agency, Stark finds himself alone in the world, forced to seek out obselete technologies to use against the overwhelming forces that now oppose him. In an effort to protect the secret informations he gathered, Stark embarks on a one-man mission to erase all of his accumulated data, but in doing so, provokes Osborn's most potent forces. Now, deep beneath the ocean, a former ally hunts the Iron Man...

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Sub-Mariner 6 (Invincible)
Intelligence: Iron Man 5 (Professor)
Speed: Sub-Mariner 4 (Olympian)
Stamina: Iron Man 6 (Generator)
Agility: Sub-Mariner 3 (Acrobat)
Fighting: Sub-Mariner 6 (Warrior)
Energy Power: Iron Man 5 (Lasers)


- The union of an American sea captain and Atlantean Emperor's daughter brought into the world one of the most potent mutants it would ever see. Prince Namor was an oddity in the kingdom of Atlantis, not just for his pale skin, but for his uncanny strength, durability, and ability to breath and fly above the oceans, that made him a worthy heir to the throne.

During the Second World War, Namor's surface adventures led him to prominence as the powerful Sub-Mariner, whose unique talents were lent to the war effort of the Allied Nations. Joining Captain America and Human Torch, he and the heroes of the Invaders and All-Winners Squad supressed the tyrannical efforts of the Nazi Party and their many superhuman agents. Despite this association, Namor's relationship with the surface world remains one of uncertainty, and when common enemies of WWII disappear, so too does the traditional anti-hero.

When a modern age of heroes emerge, the Sub-Mariner returns to induct them, discovered living on the surface as an amnesiac vagrant by Johnny Storm. With the fate of Atlantis more uncertain than ever, Namor resumes his adventures, forming early rivalries with the Fantastic Four, Hulk, and Brotherhood.
Despite baring an antagonistic relationship with the polluting modern world, Namor once again rises as one of the world's greatest champions, forming new associations with the Defenders, Avengers, Illuminati, and several other groups, including less savory elements, such as Dr. Doom and the counter-active Cabal formed by Norman Osborn. As stubborn as he is mighty, Namor always serves a noble end, seeking only a greater good for he and the people of Atlantis.

- While on a field tour to observe the effects of weaponry designed by his corporation for the United States military; billionaire industrialist, Tony Stark, soon finds himself face-to-face with the bold consequences of his actions.Caught in a rebel booby trap, Stark suffers a near fatal wound that lodges a piece of shrapnel inches from his heart. The rebels take Stark hostage to demand he apply his genius to the design and construction of weapons built from their limited resources. In doing so, they provide Stark the means to construct a suit of armor that preserves his heart, and turns him into an invincible Iron Man!

Stark's mastery over technology allows him to bring his designs home, where the availability of rapidly upgrading technologies allow him to continue to refine the build to become increasingly mobile and efficient. Stark soon dons the Iron Man armor on a regular basis, not only as insurance against his life threatening injuries, but as an opportunity to atone for the wanton destruction delt by his weapons of death. Stark protects his secrets through the duality of a secret identity, projecting to the world the image of Iron Man as a hi-tech bodyguard.

Advancements in Stark's arsenal have advanced to a point where he has now undergone cybernetic synthesis on a genetic level. The armor now not only provides him with superhuman strength and an array of offensive weapons, but also gives Stark full wireless control over the armor and other peripheral devices, as well as access to information databases, including SHIELD resources under his control as Director of SHIELD. Iron Man remains a staple of the Avengers roster.

Math: Iron Man Ranking: Iron Man (#3)

What Went Down...
Deep beneath the Red Sea, Tony Stark works feverishly within one of his many laboratory stations to upgrade an old suit of armor. Knowing full well that the forces of HAMMER are closing in, Stark scrambles to don the upgraded suit. The lab hull gives way to the pounding might of the Sub-Mariner who tears through the structure with his bare hands.

Stark ignores his former ally's call for a surrender, firing repulsor rays at the deepsea monarch and his Atlantean warriors. The blasts distract as Iron Man makes an attempt to flee, flying just above the flooding waters. The Sub-Mariner borrows one of his warrior's spear weapons and tosses it with superhuman strength, enough so to interrupt Iron Man's flight and open another channel for the ocean depths to invade the once airtight facility.

Namor's guards pursue their target, only to suffer a barrage of micromunitions fired from the suit's rear. Adding insult to injury, Stark blasts away a portion of the floor to leave the unconscious bodies tumbling to the lower depths, a diversionary tactic for the fleeing strategist.

Namor fails to bite the bait, suffering the full onslaught of Iron Man's offensive energy projectiles. The ultra-powerful Sub-Mariner, perhaps fuelled further by his recent dip in the deep, marches through the oncoming blasts to deliver an energy attack of his own -- a single superhuman knock-out blow that sends IM hurtling!

The blow delivers a concussion to the man inside the invincible armor, and creates another breach of integrity for the laboratory exterior. Unafraid by the crushing depths of the sea, Namor gloats over his foe's pending defeat. It is the insult to the injury as the monarch's fists do his talking for him, once more.

With every blow, the Sub-Mariner comes closer to breaking open the metallic shell that seperates Tony Stark from his lethal force. In a desperation move Iron Man raises his gauntlets and releases high impact repulsor rays. Rays effortlessly deflected by the Sub-Mariner's heaving chest. Rays that further threaten the ensured destruction of the external glass his suit had cracked.

Recognising his physical inferiority, Iron Man seeks a strategic solution to his predicament. Noting facility waste pipes, he evades one of Namor's blows, and blasts the sewage. The gunk flows into the surrounding waters which grow ever higher with Namor's stray punch penetrating the glass behind.

Playing upon Prince Namor's aversion to aquatic pollution, Iron Man takes full advantage of the distraction with a mighty leap!

He buries Namor's head beneath the murky waters, forces him to inhale the sickening much through open gills. With the water rising around him, Iron Man holds steady until finally the Atlantean passes out.

Satisfied with a strategic victory, Stark makes use of the fleeting airspace, retrieving the aquatic armor he'd been upgrading, before initiation a self-destruct sequence in the lab. The destruction buys him valuable time for an escape.

The Hammer...
Y'know, there are a few things to consider when you look at the method of victory Mr. Tony Stark employed here. This was a science laboratory. There were a few pipes on hand. Maybe some of them were suitable pollutants, maybe they weren't. Regardless, Iron Man's blasts punctured the sewage of a facility that had been quite probably abandoned for some time. Disturbing, or highly improbable? That's for you to decide, true believers.

Well, it took some time, but finally we've overlapped with some of the pseudo-seventieth anniversary celebrations for Marvel Comics. That, and the omni-present marketting stamped "status quo" shift that is Dark Reign.
Both seem to have fully resurrected the relevance of Marvel's Golden Age icons, namely Sub-Mariner. The surly undersea mutant seems to have found a new zest for anti-hero guest appearances, sponsored largely by his tenure with "The Cabal" (aka; Dark Illuminati), who have dominated the Marvel Universe as the new ruling class via Norman Osborn. Not that Marvel's first mutant has ever truly faded to obscurity since his 1962 return in Fantastic Four #4. Consider it a resurrection of a career in the same way The Wrestler revived Mickey Rourke.

If for some reason the Sub-Mariner has alluded your reading career, you might like to familiarize yourself with the character through the Infinite Wars, and various other information sources. Why? Because in a strange way Sub-Mariner is the father of not only Marvel Comics superheroes, but also the tradition of "continuity" as it came to be known via examples like Thor's many overhead flights (and various famous guest appearances).

Marvel Top 25 Playlist
(With Year of Debut)
#1 Spider-man (1962)
#2 Iron Man (1963)
#3 Hulk (1962)
#4 Wolverine (1974)
#5 Capt. America (1941)
#6 Mr. Fantastic (1961)
#7 Daredevil (1964)
#8 Thing (1961)
#9 Invisible Woman (1961)
#10 Human Torch (1961)
#11 Luke Cage (1972)
#12 Sub-Mariner (1939)
#13 Venom (1984)
#14 Thor (1962)
#15 Silver Surfer (1966)
#16 Storm (1975)
#17 Beast (1963)
#18 Iron Fist (1974)
#19 Rogue (1981)
#20 Deadpool (1991)
#21 Tara (2004)
#22 Capt. America (1941)
#23 Union Jack (1980)
#24 Spitfire (1976)
#25 Wonder Man (1964)Before the beginning of the Marvel Age, Marvel Comics was a series first published in 1939 by Timely.
The inaugral issue featured the first appearances of Human Torch, the Angel, and Sub-Mariner, who featured in an expanded reprint of an unpublished story. The trio of heroes have all since returned, most notably the former and latter heroes, while Angel joined many other four colour heroes to fade to obscurity come the 60's reboot.

The emergence of Stan Lee as a creative force saw the introduction of a new line of costumed heroes in the early sixties, which resulted in Marvel Comics. The success of lasting icons like; Fantastic Four, Spider-man, Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, and Dr. Strange; the prospect of a universe quickly emerged by a simple logic of business sense.

Despite boasting these unique new creations, Lee's sense of history as a reader, and fan, wasn't lost. In an Editorial role, he influenced the name of the company in homage to the classic superhero series, and also revived Golden Age concepts as part of his new emerging universe.

The Sub-Mariner's stature as an exciting anti-hero from the WWII era was well represented through a succession of appearances in; Fantastic Four, X-Men [#6], Avengers, Daredevil, and in a regular feature, Tales to Astonish.

With his role as an atagonist well established during the early years of the Marvel Age, it's little wonder that today Sub-Mariner has formed an alliance with the sinister powers of The Cabal. The secretive organization and it's precursive counterpart - the short lived Illuminati, to which Namor also held membership - sort of encapsulate this erratic relationship Namor has held with the rest of the Marvel Universe. In fact, the series reunites Sub-Mariner with his Supervillain Team-Up co-star, Dr. Doom, to whom he has been nemesis, and ally.

The reprisal of a slightly modified version of Namor's 70s outfit in Salvador Larroca's pencils presents a subtle adaptation of the character. Traditional superheroics and politicized intrigue collide in Invincible Iron Man; the secondary series starring the title character's run from the current administration, who deposed Stark, and recast him in the public eye as a coward and traitor.

The demotion appears to be part of a process to make amends for the character's antagonistic role in Civil War, which proved unpopular with many fans. One wonders if the abrupt shift isn't borne of a conscious concern for any crossmedia exposure the character might benefit from, namely the immensely popular film franchise initiated by director, Jon Favreau, and star, Robert Downey Jr.
Downey will reprise the role in May of 2010, giving a pretty good picture of when we might expect Tony Stark's nobility to finally have him in good stead with the heroes he alienated during the registration battle. (Just in time for the launch of a brand new Avengers film!)

Iron Man's deviation into fisticuffs is well balanced this issue with B-plots involving an armored Pepper Potts, and former Agent of SHIELD, Maria Hill, struggling with a brand new menace posed by a Matrix-lite revamp for The Controller who now possesses a zombie-like horde of jakked minions.

Larocca's pencils, colored by Frank D'Armata, dance a curious line between Adi Granov's heavily rendered humanoids, and CP Smith's distinctive characters. Consistency is lacking in the details of his work, but the action works, and like Granov's sometimes cold pages, the armor stands out well.

Revisiting previous suits in a time when Norman Osborn is wearing the most recent generation, (as Iron Patriot), is a fun prospect, but a kitschy piece of a puzzle that isn't quite cut to fit. The title, "The High-End Technology of Ultramodern Destruction," which is shockingly actually spoken in dialogue, telegraphs the slightly ambitious wankery that Fraction attempts to undertake.

It's a weird clash between classic superhero deviations (ie; a fist fight), sci-fi high concept, and modernist dramatic indulgence, that clash with average results. It feels like the type of formula a Grant Morrison could implement, but the balance of this particular issue just lacks the enthusiastic finesse of the Scot.
Likewise, characters and dialogue are fairly underwhelming, too unremarkable to offend standard accepted characterizations, but not distinct enough to inspire.

The rapid rise of inductees into Marvel's boysclub might inspire some degree of suspicion when it comes to the uniformity of approach. As names like Fraction or Aaron are thrown at prominent titles through association with Brubakers and Bendis', there's a feeling that the product ultimately defies the role.
Is this a fair criticism of an issue? Ultimately, the material speaks for itself, and while this issue doesn't sparkle in isolation, it's non-commital trivialities through the fight probably aren't as disappointing when viewed in the context of the arc.

Also worthy of praise is the logic of the fight.
Despite the nature of our reviews, so often we fail to elaborate any further than the cumbersome text summaries you read in the What Went Down section. Here, Fraction commands the fight in a way we always appreciate - with an awareness for circumstances and settings. Though obviously contrived, the use of the locale as a factor in the battle is a nice effort to utilize the tools presented by the tale. If the story is going to stay close to a checklist of objectives, this is a good effort to make some justifiable use of it.

As one of the many anniversary appearances of Namor, the issue also deserves credit for a well motivated appearance.
Like many of the stories featured previously on the Infinite Wars, it's an immensly interesting instalment to be included in the more significant canon of a character. The kind of story that the Infinite Wars are founded upon, regardless of any larger critiques. Part of a winding seventy year history!

The Fight: 4.5 The Issue: 4
Winner: Iron Man

If you want to get ahead of the curve on World's Most Wanted and find out the context of the issue, you can preorder the trade from Amazon! By using links provided on the site, you benefit from Amazon's service and price, while also helping sponsor future entries in the Infinite Wars! Other stories from the Secret Archives, including those featuring the invincible Iron Man, are also available in the Gift Shoppe.

SHIPPING LIST: APRIL 01, 2009
You can probably find complete shipping list updates on most major comics sites. Consider this an opportunity to either do all your info-shopping in the one place, or get a speculative perspective on what might be worth checking out. These are untested reads. Secret Wars on Infinite Earths can offer no guarantee or endorsement of quality. These are simply titles that may be of potential interest. Some items may ship late.

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

Advertise here! Contact for more!
The Independents...
JAN094403 2000 AD #1625 $4.50
JAN094404 2000 AD #1626 $4.50
JAN092390 ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN #14 $2.99
JAN092414 BOMB QUEEN TP VOL 05 BOMBASTIC $16.99
FEB094199 BOYS #29 (MR) $2.99
NOV084206 BUCKAROO BANZAI ORIGINS #1 $3.99
FEB092422 JERSEY GODS #3 $3.50
FEB092403 OVERMAN TP $16.99
JAN092402 SAVAGE DRAGON #146 $3.50
FEB094040 SUPER HUMAN RESOURCES #3 (OF 4) $3.50
NOV084059 SUPERMEN FIRST WAVE OF HEROES (1939-41) GN $24.99

The Corporates...
FEB092485 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #590 $2.99
JAN092497 AVENGERS INVADERS #9 (OF 12) $2.99
FEB090253 BANG TANGO #3 (OF 6) (MR) $2.99
FEB090157 BATMAN BATTLE FOR THE COWL MAN BAT #1 $2.99
FEB092585 CABLE #13 XMW $2.99
FEB092460 CAPTAIN AMERICA COMICS 70TH ANNIV SPECIAL #1 $3.99
FEB090238 MIRRORS EDGE #6 (OF 6) $3.99
FEB092556 OFFICIAL INDEX TO MARVEL UNIVERSE #4 $3.99
JAN098012 PREACHER # 1 SPECIAL EDITION $1.00
JAN090195 SUPERMAN BATMAN #57 $2.99
JAN090218 TEEN TITANS #69 $2.99
FEB090189 TEEN TITANS ANNUAL 2009 #1 $4.99
FEB092565 WAR OF KINGS #2 (OF 6) $3.99

The Spotlight...
- DEC080169 BILLY BATSON AND THE MAGIC OF SHAZAM #4 (RES) $2.50
Possessing an innocence and charm suitable to the "Shazam" brand, but unfortunately rare, it's a shame this hasn't been a more stable title. DC currently have no future summaries on their website, leading me to wonder if this might not be the end for the big red cheese and his bendy cartoon adventures. If it is the end, hey, at least they're going out with a bang! The Captain clashes with arch-rival, Black Adam, in what will surely be an exciting battle!

[Update: Executive Editor, Dan Didio, recently revealed that the series will go on brief hiatus in order to give writer/artist, Mike Kunkel, a chance to get back up to speed. So fret not! The Magic of Shazam is far from faded!]

- FEB092593 DESTROYER #1 (OF 5) (MR) $3.99
Y'know, if this were a more accessible title, I might've thought Robert Kirkman was fluffing his mainstream profile to further his world domination plans as an appointed Image Founder. Instead, the team that brought you Invincible, (Kirkman & Cory Walker), deliver an energetic revamp of a Golden Age classic perfectly timed to coincide with a contrived 70th anniversary. Unfortunately this is not the same Destroyer who appeared in New Invaders, but considering his predicament that promises imminent death for the aging WWII hero, that might be a good thing. This one's the kind of tale that takes a traditional superhero and spins it a little off centre, making good use of the MAX imprint to indulge in a bloody quest for the dying hero to erase any enemies who might bedevil his family when he's gone. Actually, the gnarly action isn't dissimilar to what you'll find in Invincible, so in that respect, consider it an advertisement. Otherwise, this is a very fun deviation from the norm from a publisher that's sometimes a little too cautious.

- FEB090172 FLASH REBIRTH #1 (OF 5) $3.99
I think we've seen enough over the past decade to know that the return of Barry Allen isn't about to sully the legend of that particular character. Geoff Johns proved the Rebirth formula in 2004 with Hal Jordan; a character who is arguably now hero #4 behind the franchise trinity. As we've often noted, the project can surely only benefit the languishing brand of Wally West, but I just can't help but feel deflated. Call be stubborn, but reversing death at the best of times leaves me miffed, but to alter such a significant point in DC history? I can start to empathise with those who feel it's all an exercise in futility.

- FEB092516 INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #12 DKR $2.99
Since defecting to the "Dark Illuminati" it seems the Sub-Mariner has been showing up all over the place. It probably doesn't hurt that Marvel's "original" mutant is turning seventy and is right at the centre of their (pretend) seventieth anniversary celebration! This time around he's on the hunt for former-ally, Iron Man! With any luck it should be an exciting sequel to the grudge match seen in the New Avengers: Illuminati special from a couple of years ago! This one has all the makings of a classic battle, but as a fugitive on the run, does Tony Stark really stand a chance?!

- JAN090206 JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #25 $2.99
Geoff Johns wraps up his epic run on the Justice Society of America with one last liason with a character he's nurtured over the best part of the decade. Yes, Black Adam is on the scene once more, but while his attempts to grab power might be of particular interest, it's the continuation of Mary Marvel's plight in Final Crisis (and Countdown) that really makes this a fantastic sleeper hit. The burning embers of the controversial apocalyptic mega-event might have died down somewhat, but the significance of the story makes this disappointingly quiet follow-up all the more intriguing!

- FEB092553 MARVEL ASSISTANT SIZE SPECTACULAR #1 (OF 2) $3.99
By now, you've probably already had a small army of people regale you with stories of the good old days when Assistant Editor's month meant wacky hijinx aplenty. In the ultra-serious world of modern superhero comics, I actually think this is a great idea. Unfortunately, I'm not sure if I'm really expecting an investment in anything of consequence or genius. As I chip away at the frivilous weekly comics fund, you're going to hear me complain more often about the price. At $3.99, I'm not sure this one's going to be worth the price. Probably fun, but bare that in mind.

READ THE PREVIEW - VISIT THE SITE - BUY THE COMIC
Know Your Trade...
DEC080152 BATMAN THE HEART OF HUSH HC $19.99
JAN092414 BOMB QUEEN TP VOL 05 BOMBASTIC $16.99
FEB092641 DEADPOOL CLASSIC TP VOL 02 $29.99
JAN090231 JSA TP VOL 02 THY KINGDOM COME PART 01 $14.99
FEB092403 OVERMAN TP $16.99
JAN090266 RESIDENT EVIL FIRE AND ICE TP (MR) $24.99
NOV084059 SUPERMEN FIRST WAVE OF HEROES (1939-41) GN $24.99
FEB092648 WHAT IF TP SECRET WARS $19.99
DEC082419 WOLVERINE OMNIBUS HC VOL 01 MILLER CVR $99.99

MONTHLY PUNCH-UP #40 (April 2009)
Hussah! Another month completed!

Over the past month you might have noticed the Infinite Wars stripped back to the bare essentials. It also can't have escaped your notice that the dates of our posts are quite a bit behind the times we're making them. Such is the bizarre anomoloy that sees us fighting against time itself -- all in an effort to bring the battles of superheroes back to the present! The sacred tradition of Friday Fight Night (the original) remains intact to ensure competition is consistent, while we strip back everything else [bar the archival shipping lists] to skip time like a school girl splashing puddles on a rainy day. Pigtails, and all.

A big shout out, as always, goes to the loyal readers whose insatiable bloodlust will not be sastified even by the removal of burly aliens' tongues! You are a credit to us all, and your loyalty goes much appreciated. As does the wise spending of those of you taking advantage of the convenience and savings offered by various Amazon links on the website. That's just good business!

Being that we're a bit less than a month behind right this moment, I can tell you with great certainty that we've got an exciting card of superhero smackdown for you in April! Continuing the tradition of the year, we're wheeling out some of the best fights of each week, delivering blows from Marvel and DC's latest hits!

We also eagerly anticipate the opportunity to get back stuck into some new articles, like a list that was compiled last month of the thirty most significant characters in the American superhero industry. I'm sure the list will shock and revile, but until we're back on track, that'll just have to wait! LEARN A VIRTUE!

While a conceited effort has been made to keep this Punch-Up modest, we've got a range of interesting subjects ahead. As always, Rankings updates will provide sports-like statistical entertainment, while we also have a little bit of speculation based on the coming releases, and some discussion about sales. If there's something missing, as always, you should be encouraged to drop a comment.

During those long lonesome nights where the tapping of the keyboard is the only sound to keep me company, it would be nice to have something to keep me warm at night. Be sure to sign-up to the RSS feed, follow via Blogger, add the site to your favourites, link and discuss entries on your own blog or message board, and just generally spread the word. Then make sure all of those people you send this way buy things, because papa really needs a new bag. Whatever that means.

Other than that, just generally stay tuned.
Cheers!

---

Wall Street War Journal: Market Analysis...
"Amazing" Sales Fig.
November 2007:
#545 124481 (-1.2%)
December 2008:
#581 64961 (-47.81%)
January 2009:
#582 59932 (-7.74%)
#583 352953 (+588.92%)
#584 63754 (-81.954%)
February 2009:
[#583 148805 #1/300]
#585 60286 (-5.44%)
#586 59521 (-1.27%)
#587 60118 (+1.00%)
Month End: (-5.70%)Spidey's adventures this month continue to slide into sales decline, but it's interesting to make several observations straight of the bat. Most notably is the fact that Amazing finished February at #1 in the sales figures, riding the President Obama gravy train home with a massive second-print of issue #583, featuring an Obama cover.

It's a pretty spectacular achievement, but it might reiterate a fickle nature to the comics readership as it exists today. Presumably sales stem from a surge of interest from irregular readers, as well as, perhaps, a collectors market that's stemmed not just from comics, but other avenues.

Also of note from February is the fact that, while decline continued to the month-end, the series actually finished the month above the year's beginning figure. What does that mean? Well, not much, really. You can crunch the numbers to prove anything, but for a title featuring one of the most successful characters in history, it's not a terribly impressive number. Although, in the current direct market climate, it's still good enough to finish the month controlling ranks sixteen through eighteen.

The month in Spider-man finally had opportunity to overlap with the Infinite Wars with issue #585. Brand New Day contribution, Menace, had the captive attentions of Amazing readers as her secret origins were finally revealed over the course of several issues. Sales boosts on #587 accompanied the shock arrest of Spidey and his subsequent incarceration -- a plotline quickly resolved through an unsurprising guest appearance by Matt Murdock, but still an interesting hook.

As you might have seen in the shipping list, or recent reviews, I've been happy to put the "Spider-Boycott" behind us as Amazing finds a vastly improved balance of components, new and old. Menace, despite being extremely derivative of the oft retreaded [Green] Goblin character, is a welcome addition to the Spidey lethal foes, while the return of classic elements, such as the Spot, reinvests in an audience that has failed to grow with the mainstream success of the films. I can't say I'm particularly interested in the well conceived prospect of Harry Osborn as the "American Son", (bouncing off of Norman's ascension as Iron Patriot in the Dark Reign shuffle) but Dr. Octopus lies on the horizon to make up for that. Ultimately, that's just personal tastes, and I actually expect the storyline to be part of a positive flowing perspective in the series.

... MK Tournament: Winner Gets Franchise?
The saga of Midway Entertainment and the Mortal Kombat franchise continues to twist and wind as elaborately as any beat 'em up plot line. The promise of two more MK games entering production for the bankrupt company was quickly followed by strong rumors suggesting the MK development team might look to disconnect from the financially troubled publisher. This thought, not surprisingly, led to speculation about where the franchise might end up in relation to it's creative team, should Midway agree to sell their cash cow.

Now, [in April], DC Universe parent company, Warner Brothers, has entered the arena as a prominent prospect for purchasing the brand away from Midway. This would add an extra layer to the cross promotional blitz of Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe, which suffered, presumably due to Midway's declining position.

As someone who is as big a fan of the intellectual property, as I am the games, I can't help but salivate at the prospect of WB making better use of the characters and trademarks in other fields. Sure, games are conceivably an important part of the tradition of the games, but a comic series tie-in was sorely absent from the release of the DC Justice League-feuelled crossover game. Intriguing!

... The Phantom: Sci-Fi Hooded Justice?
As the "SyFy" channel pushes forward on it's Phantom project, the picture becomes increasingly grim. Cynical expectations were met when the channel released concept art for their character, the twenty-second Phantom to King Features better known twenty-first.

Forthcoming in their intentions to take the hero out of his jungle home, to reposition him as an urban New York vigilante; SyFy have reaffirmed their modernist approach, revealing artwork of a hi-tech bodyarmored hero with a hood, rather than the well known cowl that helped define the superhero genre as we know it. In a twist of irony, this modern Phantom appears to share much in common with the conceits of Batman introduced through Batman Begins, flipping the chain of reference that saw the Lee Falk creation contribute to inspiring Bob Kane's original 1939 Dark Knight.

While the Phantom franchise has arguably been long overdue an induction of promised succession through generations, this heavy deviation from the established facts of the character can only inspire cynical contempt in fans. This typical Hollywood revamp reminds international fans of the positives that have come from America's relative ignorance to one of their oldest comic book characters, the hero who predates Superman and the famous mystery men of the Golden Age.

---

Season 2009: Top Five Update...
Here on the Infinite Wars we like to play a little game of rank and review.
At the heart of the site is a series of reviews that recap the battles that embody the superhero universes as we know them. By tallying these results, we shuffle stats in the pursuit of the knowledge of who truly is the greatest hero of all.

Breaking up the cumulative grind are our yearly rankings, which give us the opportunity to observe the success of characters each year. Season 2009 is now well under way, and unlike previous years, has shown particular reflection on the grind of weekly releases. Feature fights have been diverse and intriguing!

#1 Alpha Lantern Kraken (-) (2) (DC)
Battles: [3] Last Opponent: [Batman]
Win Percentage: [100%] Cumulative: [#49]
2006: [DNR] 2007: [DNR] 2008: [#121]

Hangover from our belated Final Crisis spotlight -- Kraken enjoys a second month at the top after turning on her fellow Lanterns during the event, under the influenced of Granny Goodness. Despite being proven less than incorruptable, it seems the Alpha Lanterns remain active in the build-up to Blackest Night. Kraken has thus far been absent from the War of Light, but if I'm not mistaken, her current status remains uncertain.

It seems a given that Season 2009 will no end with Kraken in the top spot, but as we draw ever closer to the official July launch of Blackest Night, the relevance of the Green Lantern Corps continues to forecast dominance for the group. If not Kraken, it could very well be the Corpsman she framed, Hal Jordan, who ascends to the top of the Infinite Wars rankings.

#2 Batman (-) (37) (DC)
Battles: [43] Last Opponent: [Kraken]
Win Percentage: [72.1%] Cumulative: [#1]
2006: [#1] 2007: [#2] 2008: [#1]

Batman holds second spot, despite being uncharacteristically grounded from competition in the Infinite Wars.
While the character remains in constant print thanks to titles such as Superman/Batman, Trinity, and Batman Confidential, he remains in canonical limbo after succumbing to the "Omega Sanction" at the conclusion of Final Crisis.

Not since primary school has Saturday morning been as significant to me as it is now with the airing of Batman: The Brave and the Bold. The delightful cartoon contributes another point of consistent relevance for the timeless character, despite his apparent disappearance to the characters of the DC Universe. Also representing the character in the crossmedia arena is Batman: Arkham Asylum, the much-hyped video game coming soon with a story by Paul Dini, and voices supplied by various members of the cast of the 1990's animated series.

To the sport of the Infinite Wars, we know that Batman simply won't have the dominance he's had in previous years. That said, as we chip further into 2009, we're also seeing a trend that has left the competition wide open to any character who should rise to prominence. Battle for the Cowl promises the ascension of another character, perhaps Dick Grayson, into the mantle, but if any kind of confrontation between student and mentor should occur, Batman might yet swoop in at the end of the year to seize dominance. At the same time, Silver Age icons like Hal Jordan and Barry Allen seem like the names to beat.

#3 Flash (-) (3) (DC)
Battles: [4] Last Opponent: [Wood King]
Win Percentage: [100%] Cumulative: [#29]
2006: [DNR] 2007: [#38] 2008: [#63]

Speaking of the heroes to beat -- Barry Allen's surprise return in the pages of Final Crisis finally gets a follow-up! Flash: Rebirth officially gets under way this month, setting the classic hero up for a position at the very top of the ranks come the end of 2009.

What's in store for the speedster upon his return remains to be seen, but he is running headlong into a Blackest Night that will see the resonating return of several other deceased heroes who are much less fortunate than he. Along with Green Lantern, he has to be the money favourite to take 2009, but that might rest on the Infinite Wars' ability to remain financially focused on now.

#4 Sonny Sumo (-) (2) (DC)
Battles: [1] Last Opponent: [Megayakuza]
Win Percentage: [100%] Cumulative: [#145]
2006: [DNR] 2007: [DNR] 2008: [DNR]

More leftovers from the excitement of Final Crisis, I can only ask a question in reference to our #4 -- where in time is Sonny Sumo?!

Arguably the most exciting find of 2008, the obscure Forever People character inspired the imaginations of thousands of readers counting down the Final Crisis. Unfortunately, some of the controversy of the story's winding narrative and layout experiments came to envelope any and all attention. In the debate, Sonny Sumo seems to have slipped through the cracks, just like he did to arrive in our time.

The Final Crisis Aftermath comes down in May with the release of four six-issue mini-series. Escape, Dance, Ink, and Run!, all follow the exploits of some of the lesser known characters that were featured in Final Crisis, including Grant Morrison's pop-enfused Japanese Forever People-inspired youth heroes, the Super Young Team (who star in Dance). With any luck, Sonny Sumo will find his way into that particular series, because it would simply be a travesty for the character to return to the obscurity from whence he came. Given that the title will be written by Morrison pal and receptive conceptualist, Joe Casey, here's hoping!

#5 Kung Lao (-) (3) (Midway)
Features: [1] Last Opponent: [Shang Tsung]
Win Percentage: [100%] Cumulative: [#245]
2006: [DNR] 2007: [DNR] 2008: [DNR]

With a growing list of contenders forming an orderly line behind the little known historic predecessor to his MKII counterpart, it seems this might be the "Great" Kung Lao's last hurrah.

Mortal Kombat featured prominently on the Infinite Wars in 2008, including interviews with creative staff involved in the production of Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe. That literal comics crossover provided a strong path, but as any reader will have seen, I myself am a dedicated fan of the franchise. Maligned for it's deep rooting in unadmirable trends from the 1990's; MK possesses far more moxy than it's given credit for.

The success of characters that finished the year in our Top Ten ranks might look like a black mark against Season 2008, and Kung Lao's persistence in our 2009 ranks reiterates that. I hope, however, that rather than looking like fish out of water, this can be a testament to the canon and characters of the franchise.
I would be terribly disappointed if Mortal Kombat were to end with the whimper that MKvsDC wound up being. These characters really would be at home in a comic book series. As the writer/publisher behind Nite Lite Theatre, I've often dreamed of the opportunity to realise a sequential version of the MK canon, and while it's very unlikely that I will be in a position to achieve that, I'd take some solace in the thought that MK might get such a treatment through DC.

As tumultuous a ride as it's been for the franchise, I really think fans deserve another game. A game that lives up to the expectations that are so often left unfulfiled. It seems achievements are restricted to specific areas unique to a release, and often that's been attributed to a rushed production. MKvsDC itself suffered from a drastically undersized cast, disappointing story, and underwhelming presentation. If MK does find a home elsewhere, it would be nice to see someone foster the opportunity for a rebirth akin to 2002's Deadly Alliance, albeit with a production time less abbreviated.

---

POINTS
[277/2402]
[036/0857]
[019/0188]
[005/0511]
[005/0437]
[003/1476]
[002/1484]
[000/1745]
[000/1740]
[000/1740]
[000/1740]
[000/1533]
[000/1530]
[000/1378]
[000/1176]
[000/1094]
[000/0882]
[000/0205]
[-02/1575]
[-02/1540]
[-03/1885]
[-03/1166]
[-03/0846]
[-04/1988]
[-05/1961]
[-07/1413]
[-07/1086]
[-08/1386]
[-09/1865]TEAMS
#1 (+18) Sinestro Corps
#2 (--) Justice League
#3 (+2) Secret Avengers
#4 (+12) Justice Society
#5 (-1) Green Lantern Corps
#6 (+21) Shadaloo
#7 (-6) Dark Illuminati
#8 (-1) Birds of Prey
#9 (-1) Shadow Cabinet
#10 (-1) Thunderbolts
#11 (-1) Super Young Team
#12 (--) Shadowpact
#13 (-2) Guardians of the Galaxy
#14 (-13) Interpol
#15 (-9) MI:13
#16 (-2) Outsiders
#17 (new) The Titans
#18 (-3) Fantastic Four
#19 (new) Teen Titans
#20 (+6) Uncanny X-Men
#21 (-18) Legion of Superheroes
#22 (-2) Dark Avengers
#23 (-6) Astonishing X-Men
#24 (-3) X-Force
#25 (-7) Secret Six
#26 (-1) Special Forces
#27 (-4) Earthrealm Defenders
#28 (-6) Mighty Avengers
#29 (-5) Lady Liberators2009 Fantasy League...
For those who came in late: last year various readers drafted characters into a fanatsy league team which accumulated points based on features on the site, and spotlights in the weekly shipping list.

This year, rather than subject actual human beings to the soul crushing inconsistency of our statistics, we're using teams inspired by the comics themselves! The company's print groups battle it out for our amusement month to month in this highly pointless game.

Month three hands victory to overall Fantasy League leader - the Sinestro Corps! The Yellow fear Lanterns are front and centre in the War of Light that pits Green Lantern stalwarts against several armies of newly emerging Corps, each representing different emotive responses on the colour spectrum. Internal struggle in the Yellow group saw Mongul dominate his counterpart to secure victory for the overall team. This clash no doubt will be a part of the events yet to unfold, as well as point-grabbing squabbles that will inevitably be sponsored by Sinestro's arrival on the planet Daxam, ready to oppose Mongul in his conquest of the Sinestro Corps and collection of rings.

The Justice League and Secret Avengers reaffirm themselves as power players as they charge up the rankings, building atop heavy costs incurred by high ranking players. Last week's representative JLA trades give them an overall score boost to go along with a solid second-ranking response mined from a quiet month.

Moderate losses were the dominant reaction to March's modest card of 2009 battles. As the Infinite Wars dip one month behind, the trimmings have been cut in an effort to bring the site back up to date. This has meant a simple schedule of Friday fights that offer sparse shifts in the cumulative rankings.

This month we only see cause for a single trade, based upon the revelation that Fatality has defected to the love wielding violet light of the Star Sapphires, relinquishing her yellow Sinetro ring. March inductee, Arkillo, replaces her.
In coming months we can expect a reshuffle of the Justice League (based on a new line-up in a spin-off mini-series), and the induction of the Black Lanterns. That particular group already counts Superman, Martian Manhunter, Aquaman, and possibly Superboy, among their number, but will need five figures to round a team. Presumably those reveals will come closer to the July Blackest Night series.

Substitutions & Additions:
Sinestro Corps: Fatality (out) Arkillo (in) [Ttl: 2422]

This year, the basic set-up is a little different.
Teams start with an allowance of 3515 points; five times value of the top ranked character. Five characters suitable to the team are drafted at a cost derived from their cumulative ranking at the end of Season 2008. 720 characters, means #1 is worth 720pts, working downward to #715, valued at 1pt. This new rule not only offers an immediate reflection of value, but handicaps league leaders.
This year, unranked characters will cost 355pts, a fraction over mid-range.

Subsequent points are awarded based on results throughout the month.
25pts for a win, 7pts for an assist, 5pts for a loss, and 10pts for a draw.
Additional bonuses of 5pts are awarded for spotlights in the shipping list, and other articles sporradically featured throughout the site. As with last year; the final contributor to monthly scores is the cumulative super stock, which will provide literal additions and substractions to reflect the movement in ranking.

Due to the ever changing landscape of superheroics, and characters who hold membership with multiple groups, we will attempt to maintain a delicate balance between accuracy and suitability. Again encouraging some sense of interactivity, it is strongly encouraged for readers to use the comments section to suggest appropriate trades, and/or the inclusion of new teams.

To make the Fantasy League more managable, there may be a culling process in the future months, that eliminates some teams. Once again, be encouraged to make your thoughts on the subject known in the comments section.

---

Super Stock: Cumulative Rankings...
For those coming in late: the Infinite Wars was founded on a concept of reviewing superhero comics through the battles displayed within.
Results are tallied to form both annual rankings, and a cumulative tally.
These rankings bare no concrete value, but provide fun with lists and statistics on the site. The following reflects the months changes in the cumulative ranks.

MONGUL
Year One: [1995]
Season 2009: [#14]
Last Opponent: [Arkillo]
The Sinestro Corps War was one of the highlights of 2007. Now, Blackest Night promises to reinspire the invigorated franchise in ways reminiscent of it's Rebirth revival. Mongul plays an intriguing role by struggling for control of the Sinestro Corps, which saw him recently dominate rival Corpsman, Arkillo! Shooting up the ranks, Mongul is a villain to watch in 2009!

WONDER WOMAN
Year One: [1941]
Season 2009: [#13]
Last Opponent: [Cheetah]
Wonder Woman proves her power with an impressive win over arch-nemesis and Infinite Wars favourite villain, Cheetah, reiterating her value to DC's powerful franchise Trinity. WW continues to face overwhelming odds as the gods themselves war over the Amazon's fates!

GREEN LANTERN
Year One: [1959]
Season 2009: [#28]
Last Opponent: [Wood King]
Hal Jordan is one to watch in 2009 as the Green Lantern franchise continues to build toward the exciting July event of the Blackest Night. It's Prelude is already contructing a War of Light between the various coloured factions, while Hal Jordan struggles with a persona that is attracting the attentions of each emotive Corps on the spectrum. Will he be saviour, or when the Black Lanterns rise, is his fate sealed?

NIGHTWING
Year One: [1940]
Season 2009: [#20]
Last Opponent: [Hush]
The former Boy Wonder is the favourite to walk away as a new Batman after Battle for the Cowl. Nightwing has had a rough time of it in the three-issue mini, but that struggle seems likely to be the acid test for a hero who destined to succeed his mentor. Bruce Wayne sits coiled for a return sometime in the future, but with several titles launching in place of the traditional Batman, 2009 might be Nightwing's time to strike!

SUB-MARINER
Year One: [1939]
Season 2009: [NR]
Last Opponent: [Nazi Party]
Marvel's 70th anniversary celebrations have unleashed the Prince of the Deep on a Marvel Universe in the grip of a Dark Reign. Sub-Mariner defected from the Illuminati to recall his Supervillain Team-Up days by joining up with "the Cabal" -- a group loyal to Norman Osborn, and containing fellow monarch, Dr. Doom. Despite this dark acquaintance, Namor remains an active hero, appearing in a multitude of titles, including upcoming stories featuring a "Dark X-Men." The classic Golden Age anti-hero is more present than ever, and could be the dark horse of '09!1. Batman (-) (DC)
2. Spider-man (-) (M)
3. Iron Man (-) (M)
4. Superman (-) (DC)
5. Hulk (-) (M)
6. Wolverine (-) (M)
7. Captain America (-) (M)
8. Mr. Fantastic (-) (M)
9. Daredevil (-) (M)
10. Thing (-) (M)
13. Wonder Woman (+2) (DC)
14. Luke Cage (-1) (M)
16. Sub-Mariner (-) (M)
17. Ryu (-) (C)
19. Flash (-) (DC)
21. Shang Tsung (-) (Mid)
27. Green Lantern (-) (DC)
28. Nightwing (-) (DC)
29. Flash (-) (DC)
30. Phantom (-) (KFS)
32. Martian Manhunter (-) (DC)
33. Green Lantern (-) (DC)
40. Robin (-) (DC)
41. Black Canary (-) (DC)
45. Captain America (-) (M)
50. Ken Masters (-) (C)
53. Aquaman (-) (DC)
55. Red Hood (-) (DC)
59. Dr. Doom (-) (M)
68. Green Lantern (-) (DC)
73. Powergirl (-) (DC)
84. Green Lantern (-) (DC)
93. Dr. Strange (-) (M)
100. Bullseye (-) (M)
107. Flash (-) (DC)
127. Black Mask (-) (DC)
136. Ganthet (-) (DC)
137. Sayd (-) (DC)
150. Tally Man (-) (DC)
157. General Zod (-) (DC)
177. Superman (-) (DC)
179. The Hood (-) (M)
186. Jin Kazama (-) (N)
200. Apocalypse (-) (M)
208. Green Lantern (-) (DC)
217. Green Lantern (-) (DC)
227. Green Lantern (-) (DC)
249. Rorschach (new) (DC)
250. Colossus (-1) (M)
264. Sinestro (-1) (DC)
266. Superboy (-1) (DC)
294. Mongul (+252) (DC)
298. Spider-man (-2) (M)
300. Scarecrow (-2) (DC)
310. Solomon Grundy (-2) (DC)
319. Cheetah (-3) (DC)
341. Spot (new) (M)
350. Granny Goodness (-3) (DC)
400. Squire (-3) (DC)
423. Lady Bullseye (new) (M)
430. Vulture (-4) (M)
450. Hyena (-4) (DC)
500. Shrinking Violet (-3) (DC)
510. Harry Osborn (-3) (M)
550. Hammer (-2) (DC)
564. Black Hand (-2) (DC)
600. Nighthawk (-2) (M)
650. Li Mei (-2) (Mid)
678. Rulk (-2) (M)
682. Moloch (new) (DC)
683. Arkillo (new) (DC)
684. Sabretooth (-4) (M)
690. Bane (-4) (DC)
700. Jocasta (-4) (M)
709. Kingpin (-248) (M)
713. Iron Patriot (-5) (M)
716. Zangief (-5) (C)
717. Quicksilver (-5) (M)
718. Magneto (-5) (M)
719. Dan Hibiki (-5) (C)
720. Lizard (-5) (M)

---

- Mike Haseloff; War Monger-in-Chief
You're a true warrior, Alex!

February Hit Count: [12328/210883]* (-2.77%)
* Hitcount reflects some content dated February.