Friday, January 06, 2006

Vengeance Implications

It's been repeated several times that the mastermind of Infinite Crisis is responsible for all the events of the Countdown minis. The OMAC Project, Villains United, and Rann-Thanagar War are all pretty straightforward. But what about Day of Vengeance? It seems to be the odd one out. What use is there in crippling magic and removing powerful sorcerors from play? I think I've figured it out, and it makes the consequences of Day of Vengeance far more terrifying than anything the others might indicate.

First, the necessary background information. As most everyone knows, Superman has two weaknesses: Kryptonite and magic. This has been a given throughout most of the Post-Crisis era. However, Infinite Crisis #3 goes out of its way to show us that Kryptonite from the existing Earth has no effect on Earth-2 Superman. From this, we can logically assume that Kryptonite has no effect on any alternate Supermen. So what would someone do if faced with a dangerous, unhinged Kryptonian? Their only recourse would be magic. And as Day of Vengeance shows, that's no longer a viable option.

Thanks to the Spectre, there is nothing in the universe that can really harm Earth-2 Superman. But that's not where I'm going with this. The more important repercussion is that there is nothing in existence that can harm Superboy-Prime.

It would be bad enough if we merely had a powerful, villainous Superman running around. But it's far worse than that. Superboy-Prime is not a normal Superman. Take note of what Dan DiDio teased in the most recent edition of Crisis Counseling:
Q: Is the E-2 Superman still as strong as he used to be, that is, he can move planets?

DD: Not E-2 Superman, but...
The implications of this are pretty clear. This idea is further supported by several scenes in Infinite Crisis #3. We have Superboy-Prime ominously soaking up the rays of the yellow sun. Then we see him destroy an Apokoliptian battlesuit specifically designed to fight Superman. And he destroys it with ease. Then there's the clincher -- Superboy-Prime's own words:
"Let me go find him. Let me get out of here. You know what I can do when I'm in that yellow sun.
So let's review: evil Superboy-Prime. No weaknesses. The power to move planets with his bare hands.

If you're not scared, you should be.

6 Comments:

At 3:59 AM, Blogger kalinara said...

:-) Knew this would make a good post. It all makes sense now!

 
At 9:21 AM, Blogger CalvinPitt said...

I'd buy that. The guys at the store were saying that to beat him you'd need Superman, Superboy, Supergirl, and Wonder Woman, and the guys would have to look the other way at some point, because necks are getting broken.

Here's what I can't figure. How is Zatanna ok? You can't tell me she isn't more powerful than some of the people the Spectre has been wasting. And she seems like the perfect example of how "magic is bad".

 
At 1:45 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I always figured Magic was one of the main components that stopped the first Crisis. You know all the magicians teaming up helping the spectre to stop the anti-monitor.

If you read the novel Barry Allen saved them to ^-^

 
At 6:44 PM, Blogger Ragnell said...

I'm not sure who the main mastermind is, but from those revelations, plus the things Superboy Prime has been saying, it looks like Conner Kent's going to get beat to a bloody pulp.

Man, I've been waiting for something like this since Reign of Superman when the little brat first showed his sleering face. It's gonna be sweet. :)

 
At 9:49 PM, Blogger kalinara said...

There is a loophole though. Power Girl is sometimes not affected by this universe's Kryptonite and sometimes she is. I'm hoping that will actually mean something...

Maybe when they get close to succeeding in their making the universe closer to Earth-2, the kryptonite *will* start affecting them again. So by almost winning, they'll lose.

 
At 11:27 AM, Blogger Keith P. Stieneke said...

the Day of Vengeance Infinite Crisis Special has many implications not which the least is the changing role of magic in the DCU. Major changes are now underway for Dr. Fate, the Spectre, and Captain Marvel.

The driving hand behind the Spectres rampage is obviously Alexander Luthor whom we previously thought was one of the good guys. Anyway he and his gang now have Nightshade.

For a review of the special one shot of Day of Vengeance - Infinite Crisis Special go to Day of Vengeance - Infinite Crisis Special Review.

 

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