JSA Annual

Now, I know I said I wasn't going to read this. But I was far too intrigued to not pick the book up and give it a try. And woo boy if I haven't turned out to be real pleased.

I just want to thank Geoff Johns for -- once again -- taking one of the things I hate about DC Comics (though there aren't many) and doing something cool with it. Geoff Johns takes that multiverse I can't stand sometimes and tells a story that starts out exactly as you think it's going to.

But then he turns the damn thing on its head. Gives us a violent twist that's positively "mwahaha" worthy. I know I felt a bit of a maniacal laugh rising up in me.

"Escape From Earth-2"? That's exactly the sort of story I want to read. I know I'd never want to be stuck there...

Countown to BOOM

You know, I'm not completely certain that this whole "multiverse" thing isn't a complete fakeout. In fact, I'm starting to believe that that's exactly what it is.

When they brought the stupid thing back they talked a lot about the infinite possibilities inherent in the concept. That may be so. But what have we really seen happen with the multiverse?

Well, we've got Monarch scouring worlds and slaying dopplegangers left and right. He's conscripting all the rest into his wacky army. And on the other side of things you got Superboy -- excuse me, Superman Prime -- destroying Earths wholesale.

So here's the question I've got... How exactly can you have a multiverse if everybody who lives there has been killed or drafted into a conquering army? How can you have a multiverse if the fifty-two Earths are being destroyed by a maniac one at a time?

No, my friends. I fear that this multiverse we have been granted is merely a stopgap. It is a temporary measure. When the last page turns on Final Crisis there will be one Earth again.

Multiversing

So, DC has seen fit to release a a list of worlds in the new multiverse. I seem to recall DC specifically saying that they would not release this information. But hey, I guess they can do whatever they want.

I should say that -- despite Countdown not living up to my expectations -- I think I'm starting to be won over (slightly) by the multiverse concept. Though that could have more to do with the prospect of a ginormous war between Monarch, his multiversal thugs, and the Monitors.

I'd pay to see that.

Oh, wait. I am going to pay to see that.

Multversal

It's not secret that I like to write. At the moment I've got half a dozen comic scripts and a like number of novels in the works. I've got so many ideas (though they may not be good ideas) flowing through my head that I don't know what to do with them all.

But interestingly enough, I find that there aren't many characters at DC that I'd really like a chance to write (needless to say, I have no interest in any Marvel characters). I love characters like Batman, Superman, and Aquaman, but I don't really want to write about them. I want to read about them.

Most of the characters DC has that I'd like to write are forgotten characters. Characters that have been sitting around in limbo for years and years. Even characters that have been forgotten by continuity. I once thought up a way of bringing them all back into a series for amazing adventures through the Multiverse.

Yeah, I said Multiverse. I know I've made it very clear that I'm not a fan of the Multiverse as it existed in the pre-Crisis days. But I always felt that it never really went away. There were still alternate worlds and things, they were just really hard to get to and rarely bore much resemblance to the main DCU. And that's the way I liked it.

So I've always wanted to write a story about a team of Elseworlds and retconned out misfits that travel the Multiverse righting wrongs and in some cases, trying to find a place to belong. These travelers are led by a powerful character searching for a lost loved one. Said powerful character is later revealed to be a major DCU character who once headlined his/her own series. What can I say? I love to play with continuity.

So that's my dream project at DC. Unfortunately, the return of the Multiverse as it is in some ways wipes it out. Though I still think I could pull it off. Maybe some day I'll get a shot...

(And before you say anything, yes, I have been told that this may in some way resemble Marvel's Exiles series. But when I conceived my idea I'd never heard of Exiles. And obviously I've never read it. So there.)

I Shall Not Be Denied

DiDio! You refused my generous offers to appear in your epic year-long weekly series 52! I will brook no demurement regarding your epic year-long follow-up Countdown! I will appear, or all mankind will suffer!

A central plot point seems to be the new and improved "multi-verse." I hereby give you permission to feature not only my multiversal strongholds of Earths-32 through -35, but also their overlord and master: Doctor Polaris. That is, me.I am willing to be featured in a flashback or a throwaway "bubble" image conveniently displaying a different Earth and labeling it by its designated number.

Alternately, my appearance my be more central to the story. It is known that they-of-varied-facial-hair seek out "world-jumpers" and -- more importantly "death-cheaters." Seeing as -- despite all odds -- Polaris lives, It would make sense for the Monitors to come after me.

Perhaps a scene where I ruthlessly crushed a Monitor with sphere of metal? Or I could employ old-fashioned fisticuffs. I am partial to that manner of combat as well. But know that whatever form it takes, my tussle with the Monitor must be featured on the cover. Preferably illustrated by J. G. Jones (or failing that, a Kubert).

Know this, DiDio: I have been snubbed far too many times by your organization. With the so-called "infinite possibilities" of your "multi-verse," surely there must be room for a Master of Magnetism, or possible a Man Who Mastered Magnetism. Or maybe even a Magnetic Maestro. I am all of those and more.

And I shall not be denied. At least not this time...

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

And so it begins.

The Countdown has started, and things are just going to get crazier in the DCU from hereon out. So far, I'm loving it.

One of my biggest problems with the old Multiverse was how ridiculously porous it was. Anyone could hop to another Earth without any difficulty for a barbeque or just to hang out. It was, quite frankly, ridiculous.

And when 52 revealed the new Multiverse, I was was worried. DC has been on quite the nostalgia trip lately. And an old school Multiverse would just make scream in rage. Because I quite honestly couldn't stand the way it worked.

But the end of 52 was soothing. Establishing a certain number of universes -- the fifty-two -- sets limits. Though there are still infinite possibilities as Geoff Johns said, they will still be structured. So new Earths won't be popping out of the ether randomly. For example, there won't be any of this stuff: "Great Krypton! Wonder Woman is blonde! That means this is Earth-8,542!" So that's one problem licked.

But more than that was what I mentioned before: the Multiverse was full of holes. It was easy to get from one place to another. Luckily, it looks like that won't be a problem any more. Because we've got the Monitors watching out for things.

The Monitors are DC's new continuity cops. Nobody is going to just randomly reestablish themselves on another Earth. Nobody is going to be hopping around willy nilly. Because inter-dimensional has consequences. The Monitors -- who clearly have power in spades -- aren't going to sit idly by while people screw with the Multiverse.

You go where you don't belong, you get capped. Or worse. And I for one am very pleased with that turn of events. Because these Monitors do more than simply monitor. They are border guards. They are the watchmen of the multiverse.

But that doesn't mean someone isn't watching them...

Let's Move Along

I intended to write a post emphasizing my reactions to Countdown tonight. But seeing as I want to hold off on a spoiler heavy post (to give those haven't read it a chance to do so) I'd instead like to take tonight to send a message out to guys like this: stop being so damned smug!

I get it. You've been reading comics longer than I've been alive. So what? That doesn't mean you're better than me. That doesn't mean you're a better comic fan than I am.

My problem with articles like that aren't that they're celebrating the return of the multiverse. I expect that (though I still don't enjoy them). What annoys me to no end is how some people get so smug over it. It's the superiority thing that bothers me. The sense some have that "my opinion is correct and since yours is different from mine you have to be an idiot."

It's the "you think the multiverse is confusing? Must be because you're too stupid to figure it out. I never had a problem with it." and the "Of course DC is listening to me. I'm right." Though you may note that these are a variation on a theme.

Most people I talk to who are happy the multiverse is back are pleasant. Even if they know I don't like it, they don't rub it in my face. But there are those who aren't content with being happy that it's back -- they have to belittle those of us who do not like it. Because whatever reason we may have is "stupid."

I grew up with the post-Crisis DCU. I'm young, and I'll make no apologies for that thank-you-very-much. But just because I wasn't around in the "good old days" doesn't mean that my opinions are worthless. Or stupid. Or necessarily wrong. Just like the opinions of older fans aren't necessarily worthless, stupid, or wrong.

But I get the sense that these same people aren't going to be happy about this new multiverse once they find out it's not exactly like the old one. I'm willing to give this a try precisely because it's not a leap backwards. It's a leap forward to something new. The old multiverse hasn't been brought back -- a new one has been created. And as Countdown shows, the old rules do not apply.

So while I sit and watch, some fans will no doubt start to rant and scream anew that they've haven't gotten back exactly what they had thirty years ago. And to them, I say this:

Get over it.

Get Me Out of Here

Where do I belong?

I don't mean that question in an angsty, existential way. I mean it very literally: which Earth do I belong on? There are fifty-two of the darn things now, and one of them has to have a place for me. Should I move to Earth-2 and try and fit in with a Huntress that is a tad less intimidating (I hope) than the one I'm used to? Or should I try to find this "Earth-8" that everyone has been talking about?

I would very much be willing to help Uncle Sam fight Nazis on Earth-10. If he'll have me. It would give me something to do. Because I'm certainly not getting anything done on this world.

I can't hold down a job. I've been replaced as the Blessed Saint Dumas' brutal avengers. An every attempt to get a girlfriend has ended awkwardly. Or worse. I mean, Crimson Avenger shot me on our date. Not once, not twice, but three times.

So I could charitably be called a "failure" on Earth-52. I need a fresh start somewhere. Someplace where nobody knows about my sordid past or the confusing hundred issues of my not-so-acclaimed solo series.

Should I roll a die and give Rip Hunter a call? Or should I just start stalking Booster Gold until an opportunity arises? I really don't know...

Earth-32 is Mine!

Slow moving fools! You miss an opportunity when it presents itself! With the advent of this new and improved "multi-verse" I, Doctor Polaris, am staking my claim! Since no one else has yet claimed it as their own, I do so at this moment: Earth-32 belongs to Polaris!

I honestly do not care what is on it. Whether it be a Kirby-world filled with talking animals and square jaws or some insipid world of Golden Age throwbacks matters not. For I shall remake Earth-32 into my own image! It shall be a world not unlike Luthor's beloved "Lexor." But with a snappier name. And my face on everything!

Yes, this "multi-verse" has indeed opened up new worlds. New worlds to conquer. And it is only fitting that I be at the forefront of that movement. I've always been something of a pioneer. After all, I was mixing magnetism and medicine long before it was cool.

So I suggest any would be tyrants out there move before this rush goes bust. Because there are only so many worlds. And I may just decide to add a couple more to my collection. Sequentially, of course.

Multiversing

I never liked the old Multiverse. That should come as no surprise to anyone who's read my sparse posting on the subject. But I should be clear that I didn't dislike it because I found it "confusing" or "difficult to understand."

What I hate about the old Multiverse is how incredibly easy and simplistic it was to get from one Earth to another. Interdimensional dinner parties seemed like par for the course. Just hop on a treadmill and you're in another dimension. To me, that cheapens the entire concept. It weakens it.

The other problem with the old Multiverse was that everyone seemed to know about it. There was no mystery or secrecy to the fact that there were other universes. There was no drama or surprise. It was as obvious as the fact that Canada borders America to the north.

But I remain cautiously (very cautiously) optimistic about the new Multiverse. Because it seems that there are already safeguards in place to prevent the abuses (as I see them) of the concept in the past.

As much as some might like the idea of people crossing over from Earth to Earth for friendly barbeques, It's probably not going to happen. Because according to Ion, these different realities are separated by the Bleed. And the Bleed is full of horrible, ravenous monsters. But I don't hold out much hope they'll keep it that way...

As for everyone knowing about the Multiverse, well... I'm not so sure about that either. Rip Hunter made it clear to Booster that he wanted to keep it a secret. But the Countdown preview has already made it clear that a few others know. And that'll probably spiral out of control quickly.

Wow, I started this post out cautiously optimistic, but I've made myself pessimistic in the process. Mostly because in this era of nostalgia, I can't help but feel that the people at DC Comics are going to repeat the mistakes (as I see them) of the past regarding the Multiverse.

I hope I'm wrong. And I hope I like it. I really do.

Tangents

I was perusing the DC solicits earlier today (as I do every month). Pretty standard stuff. But there was something that caught my eye. Specificially, the solicitation for a trade paperback titled TANGENT COMICS VOL. 1.

Most of you know that Tangent Comics -- as conceived by Dan Jurgens -- was a DC "fifth week" event that first ran in 1997 (and returned again in 1998). Tangent Comics took familiar DC names (The Flash, Green Lantern, etc.) and radically reimagined the characters. In almost every case the reimagined character bore no resemblance to the original apart from the name.

The characters of the Tangent Universe showed up briefly in Infinite Crisis, where we learned that they were just another universe within the greater Multiverse. More importantly, a few of the Tangent characters made an appearance in Ion. There, the Tangent Green Lantern tried to resurrect her fallen comrades -- under red skies.

So the Tangent characters have been popping up in a few places. But are those few appearances enough to warrant a Tangent Comics collection? Or does the solicitation of that particular trade paperback portent something more? I think you know what I'm going to say.

In an interview with Ron Marz after the release of Ion #10, Mr. Marz talks about the inclusion of the Tangent characters. He is very cryptic, but what is clear is that their appearance -- as well as the appearances of the Bleed and Captain Atom (in Monarch guise, natch) -- are part of the bigger event that DC has brewing.

So when July rolls around, keep your eyes open. Because I think we'll be seeing more of the Tangent characters. And I know they won't be alone...

Earths

I tend to have a lot of free time when I'm not inflicting righteous justice on the wicked. And in my free time I tend to think about things. Lately I've been pondering this whole "multiverse" thing. And the prospect of a bunch of numbered worlds spiraling out of the ether makes me wonder.

Remember how Kyle Rayner and that new Firestorm turned out to be their versions on some "Earth-8"? At first I thought that was silly. But then I began to think about what they all have in common. And well, I wondered: might I be the Batman of Earth-8?

Just think about it for a second! Consider all those late 90's early 00's replacement heroes. Most of them were young and many of them were eventually sidelined again to make way for the originals. It describes me perfectly!

If this is indeed the way things work, then maybe with the return of this "multiverse" I'll get to come back as well! A Gotham City all to me own! Without you-know-who complaining about what a crappy job I'm doing and always comparing me unfavorable to Nightwing...