Trial of the Monarch

More happened this past week than the Sinestro Corps Special. In fact, I think that something with huge ramifications occured this week in Countdown. There were a lot of characters with a lot of stories, but the one that stands out is the tale of Forerunner... And her meeting of the Monarch.

For those of you out there who lack my nearly encyclopedic knowledge of the Post-Crisis DC Universe, I'll do a quick rundown of who the Monarch is (he is many) and why he is important.

Monarch's story begins in the early 90's with DC's Armageddon 2001 event. Running through DC's annuals in 1991, the core of the story was simple: by the year 2001 one of the heroes of the DCU will turned against the other heroes and made himself undisputed ruler of the world. He would become the Monarch.

The gimmick of the event was one of the most famous parts of Armageddon 2001. Throughout the story there were various clues left that were meant to help the reader guess for themselves which hero would become the Monarch. But when the identity of Monarch was leaked -- it was supposed to be Captain Atom -- DC presumably went into a panic.

Rather than simply continue the story as planned, DC decided to try and pull a fast one. Rather than have Captain Atom turn out to be the villainous Monarch, DC instead changed the ending so that it was Hank Hall -- Hawk of Hawk and Dove -- who would become the Monarch.

It could charitably be said that this was not a good idea. Largely because it made very little sense. For example, during the Hawk and Dove annual that was a part of the Armageddon 2001 crossover, Hawk and Dove were shown fighting the Monarch in the future. Additionally, one of the key clues to the Monarch's identity was the color of his eyes. Monarch's eyes were blue, like Captain Atom. Hawk's eyes were brown.

Nonetheless, Hawk became Monarch, killed dove, tried to take over the world, and then eventually became the time traveling Extant. As Extant, he played a role in another DC crossover, Zero Hour. He was later killed during a story arc in JSA. He's been safely dead ever since.

But the Monarch would not die. A version of Monarch claiming to be the real Nathanial Adam (Captain Atom's secret identity) made an appearance in Extreme Justice in 1995. This was likely a nod to the Armageddon 2001 controversy. But like everything else connected with Extreme Justice, that version of Monarch hasn't been seen or heard from since.

It would be a decade before the next appearance of the Monarch. The events leading up to his appearance begin with the curiously named Captain Atom: Armageddon miniseries. In that series, Captain Atom is transported to the Wildstorm Universe (now known to some as Earth-50). After a series of adventures, he is flung back into the DC Universe in the ruins of Bludhaven.

The unconscious Captain Atom -- whose containment suit has been ruptured and is leaking radiation -- is held captive by SHADE. He is then rescued by the Atomic Knights, who supply him with a suit of very familiar armor to contain his leaking radiation. No dressed in the Monarch armor, Captain Atom escapes from the Atomic Knights' facility, seemingly kills Major Force, and obliterates the city of Bludhaven.

Captain Atom -- as the Monarch -- is next seen in Ion. After doing battle with the Tangent Universe characters, Kyle Rayner is thrown into the Bleed, a space between dimensions. There he is rescued from ferocious monsters by a super-powered being in the Monarch armor. This Monarch reveals himself to be Captain Atom, and explains that he has been "traveling" (presumably the Multiverse) and avoiding the gaze of the Monitors.

Which brings us full circle to this week's Countdown, the first appearance of the Monarch since Ion. Monarch recruits Forerunner to his cause -- whatever it may be -- and ominously tells her that he will show her a war "the likes of which no god or man has ever seen." And then, with Forerunner at his side, the Monarch disappears into the darkness.

The mystery of this Monarch has just begun, but it it is clear that his goals -- whatever they are -- will play a big part of Countdown and whatever it leads to. All that we know is that Monarch (presumably Captain Atom, though not explicitly stated) is gathering an army. Forerunner's backups in the upcoming Countdown to Adventure feature her traveling the Multiverse recruiting beings for something. It is very likely she is doing this at the behest of the Monarch.

Monarch has made it clear that he is no friend of the Monitors. And it seems that he is now taking steps to strike out at them. His travels through the Multiverse seem to have made him aware of the nature of whatever is coming. And he wants to be prepared. The only question really remaining is this: is this Monarch virtuous like Captain Atom? Or is he a villain, like the original Monarch?

Time will tell...