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m00nslippers · 5 years

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Everyone Crushing On Jason AU

AKA Jason is absolutely oblivious to his own hotness AU, AKA the Batfam is being tortured by Jason’s admirers AU, AKA half the Justice League is in love with Jason AU.

God this thing got huge, lol, here’s the whole thing from the beginning.

*This post will be updated as more is added*

It started with this older post from a while ago: “All batkids, confused by their teammates crushes on Jason”

But then it got revived in a post by @whumpbby: “Damian just found out Jon has a crush on Jason”

This is where it jumped from just the batfam to the superfam: “So almost everyone has a crush on Jason, right?”

“Bashful Jason is the Best Jason”

Then @wrongblacksun really fleshed it out with me and now it’s the whole dang JL: “Does Bruce know about the Crushes?”

“I can see Talia being smug about Jason's popularity.”

Jason admits to being bisexual, Dick doesn’t take it well: What if someone asks Jason what's is his sexuality?”

Kyle can’t catch a break: “What if Jason came back from a mission with the outlaws and he was meeting with Bruce at the watchtower”

Jason is a cat confirmed: “What if some of the heroes and the JL would talk to kori and Roy and ask how is sex with Jason“

Batfam shenanigans, Bruce is done: “Man i really want to know how catwoman asking Jason out went down“

Everyone crushing on Jay: “Can you imagine Jason being a total badass doing badass kicks and flips”

Roy shows his possessiveness: “What if Jason gets hurt badly on a mission?“

Hal Jordan takes things too far: “What does everyone think about Jason’s Tazer Titties?”

Ivy Puts her foot down “Poison Ivy protecting Jason’s virtue is literally everything.”

Jay is a nerd “Is everyone aware of what a big fucking nerd Jason is?”

Jason is the life of the JL party: “Can u imagine Jason giggling in the everyone has a crush on Jason au”

Jason reaches peak obliviousness: “So, Jason thinks that Hal and Guy are dating?“

Roy has a meltdown: “Oh so when he was just a hot mess with guns and a leather jacket you guys weren't interested...”

Jason misses out on a mission: “What if there's an undercover mission that Bruce sends Jason on?”

Kara fantasizes: “Ok but imagine Jason's admirers seeing his non-badass qualities”

Guy pulls a Hal: “Can u imagine someone chest bumping Jason and the they go flying across the room”

Roman has a bad day: Jason wraps his thighs around a thug to choke him and knock him out and now the thug won't stop bragging about it.

Kyle in denial: “I'm pretty sure in crushing au Jason thinks that Kyle still hate him “

Harper resists: “ Jason running at a thief, jumps at them right at their face wraps his thighs around their neck flipping them to the ground“

Roy is trying, you guys: “Tbh it's cute thinking about Roy going all Overprotective Mama Hen over Jason“

Clark weighs in: “What does superman think about the gossip in the watchtower about how hot Jason is?”

Tim hatches a plan: “Jason in booty shorts for the Jason’s thighs attract pretty much everyone AU?“

Kyle has outdone himself (Art): “Jason in booty shorts but! With a crop top on but still wearing his jacket “

Jason and magic: “What does every one think about Jason all blades swords?”

Jessica's fanfic 1: “Ok i must be going off the tangent now but hear me out, if Jaydick happened in your everyone has a crush on Jason Au“

Tim’s plan comes together: “Tim: hey Jason, you should patrol while dressed as Lara Croft“

Jason’s fluffy hair (Art): “Jason has the most fluffiness hair in all universe especially in the everyone has a crush on Jason au”

Jason and glasses (Art): “ Jason with glasses that makes his eyes so FREAKING beautiful in every one has a crush on Jason au”

Kon gets on Jason’s last nerve: “Bruce ask Jason to pick a hero to help him with his mission so he picks Duke and kon”

You don’t wanna fight Jason (Art): “Okay but like Jason wearing sweatpants while training is absolutely everything“

Jason is a bottom, revealed: “how do you think everyone would react once they found out jason’s a bottom“

Alfred is not having it: “Okay but like what does Alfred think about every one crushing on Jason?”

Jay's sexy bod (Art): "Jason Thunder thighs Todd u can look but can't touch or grope"

To Yeet or Not to Yeet: “I bet kon just goes bragging about the red hood just effortlessly yeeting him across the room.“

How to get a hook-up with Jason: “ What if Jason's obliviousness was too much that some people outright asked him out to get the message through “

The Mystery of the White Streak 1: “Does anybody like Jason's white floof in everyone has a crush on Jason au? Or nah”

Roman makes preparations, Li is done: “ Li: Don't you think you're getting a little too obsessed? Black Mask: I am NOT obsessed”

Jessica’s fanfic 2: “They find him under some stair and he's panting heavily with half closed eyes, a blush on his face and is very flustered“

The Mystery of the White Streak 2: “ Um the question? Why don't you just ask Jason about his white hair?”

Roy and Bizarro join forces: “Okay, listen, Roy is definitely mommy's cool boyfriend for Bizarro. He will adore him and try to spoil him whenever he can.”

The Mystery of the White Streak Revealed: “I think Jason with white hair is valid like he is just a sexy beautiful superb angel”

The Curse of the Watchtower Library: “how times did some one found Jason in the watchtower library asleep with books all around him?“

Rose makes Slade an offer: “Slade is in the mix of people who find Jason attractive and Rose is ABSOLUTELY HORRIFIED“

The Jason Todd Appreciation Society: Alright. Let's stop beating around the bush here. Who has actually managed to seal the deal in this au?

Tickle Attack: “ Is Jason ticklish in crushing au?“

Guy considers his options: “ What kind of courting gifts do you think Jason gets in ECoJ au?”

Scars (Art): “In crushing au does Jason have freckles or any scars visible on his face or body?”

Tickle Attack 2: “In the crushing au how would they react to Cass tickling Jason in front of them?”

Ma Gunn don’t play: “Since Ma gunn is Jasons biological grandmother, how does she react to everyone wanting to woo Jason in the ECoJ au?”

Guy’s date is ruined: “ I actually found out that before the reboot, Guy Gardner owned and ran a bar on Oa. And we all know what happens when Jason goes to bars... "

Jason and singing: “ how many did the members of JL and the batfamily caught Jason singing? Or does he sing or no”

Kara makes fashion suggestions: ”His helmet is cracked and u can see half of his face and a black eye forming and his jacket and some of his body armor is ripped off “

Bi-Pride Jason (Art): “Can u pls draw Jason holding up the bisexual flag on top a building as he watches a pride parade”

Jason gets unwanted attention: “ In crushing au Did any one in the universe saw how hot and adorable Jason is and try to steal him? “

Batfam and Bananas: “So wait both Dick and Jason eat bananas by deepthroating them?”

Unfortunate costume swap 1: “What if in ECoJ au Jason and Artemis switch uniforms because he lost a bet xD”

Unfortunate costume swap 2: “Now imagine that Jason has to go on his day still having to wear Artemis clothes“

#Everyone Crushing on Jason AU #headcanon #imagine #Jason Todd #Red hood #This is pure crack #frequently updated #masterpost

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superman86to99 · 5 years

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Superman #82 (October 1993)

REIGN OF THE SUPERMEN! The climax of this 19-part storyline, the entire "Death and Return of Superman" saga, and seven years of long-ass plotlines. And it only took this blog a mere six years and six months to get here! PREVIOUSLY: After Superman’s death, five different Supermen popped up to reclaim the mantle, some more convincingly than others. The front-runner, the Cyborg Superman, kinda ruled himself out of the competition when he nuked out a whole city and replaced it with a giant engine. Now the other would-be Supermen converge in that place...

The Last Son of Krypton/Eradicator finally arrives on Engine City, having set off from the Fortress of Solitude two weeks ago. We noted back then that he suddenly looked like an old man, but he's back to Superman's age now. If this storyline had gone on any longer, he would ended up Benjamin Buttoning himself into a grumpy, ultra-violent baby.

Superboy also flies in from Metropolis. It's the fourth time he makes the Metropolis-Coast City trip in a few days (not counting the time he got a ride on a missile), so he's gotta be pretty bored of it by now.

Steel, last seen getting crushed by some giant cogs, emerges from the bowels of Engine City with his armor in tatters but his body intact. Dude’s a tough nut to crack.

Supergirl and the powerless Man in Black continue making their way through Engine City. Supergirl's like "Wanna step out and let those of us with powers handle this one, chief?" but the Man in Black ain't having it. Wow, that's pretty heroic. Maybe... maybe he's actually the real Superman?! Nah, that's crazy.

And Green Lantern Hal Jordan is also there, because this whole issue takes place on top of the ashes of his old city and childhood memories and all. We see the end of his fight with Mongul from Green Lantern #46.

The Cyborg watches as the Super-People invade his fortress from his control room, but he's a glass half full kind of guy, so he's choosing to focus on the fact that he (apparently) gets to kill Superman again.

After the Eradicator joins the party and the Cyborg reveals his true identity, the Man in Black finds himself in the awkward position of having to team up with one of Superman’s worst villains (the one who wanted to turn Earth into Krypton) to fight a good guy driven crazy by space travel (and who once looked like Johnny-5). It's only after the Eradicator goes on a two-page exposition dump about how he brought Superman back to life that the Man in Black goes "alright, guess you're cool".

The Man in Black and the Eradicator follow the Cyborg to the center of Engine City, where a giant chunk of kryptonite powers the entire fortress. The combined powers of the Eradicator's Eradicator-ness and the Man in Black's punching (OK, mostly the first thing) seem to be winning -- but then, in a desperate move, the Cyborg shoots a blast of concentrated kryptonite at the Man in Black. The Eradicator, however, heroically jumps in front of the blast...

...which has the unexpected side effect of restoring the Man in Black's Superman powers, allowing him to dispatch the Cyborg with a swift "broosh". What's a "broosh"? You know, a "broosh":

After Supergirl uses her convenient clothes-shifting powers on the Man in Black's costume, it only takes one second of him in the classic red and blue tights to convince everyone that HOLY CRAP HE'S THE REAL SUPERMAN AND HE'S BACK FROM THE DEAD! (Side note: I like how Green Lantern goes "We'll mop up here! Not like I have anything better to do, what with all my friends being dead and stuff. Haha. I-I’m okay, seriously.")

It's him! It really is him. I knew it all along. Never doubted it.

Character-Watch:

The Eradicator is this issue's real MVP. His whole arc has been about slowly turning him from an emotionless robot into a sentient being through his interactions with people (Lois, Steel, even Loose Cannon and Guy Gardner), and it pays off when he jumps in front of that kryptonite blast yelling "I WON'T LET YOU DIE [AGAIN]!".

Also, when he tells Superman "We have always been linked, you and I", that's true. While their psychic connection influenced Superman negatively for a while (the Day of the Krypton Man saga), it looks like it also worked in the other direction and some of Superman's goodness rubbed off on him. By the way, it might be a stretch but the climactic shot of the kryptonite blast always reminded me of the Day of the Krypton Man's climactic shot, with Superman finally overcoming the Eradicator’s influence with Pa Kent's help.

Anyway, sorry, Superboy and Steel. The Eradicator had the best sacrifice scene in this storyline, hands down. Of course, they eventually brought him back again and turned him into a lapdog for the Cyborg and then Zod, but let's enjoy his dignified retirement while it lasts.

Plotline-Watch:

I'm not kidding when I say that this issue represents the convergence of seven freaking years of storylines. Let's recap (strap on, this is gonna be long):

John Byrne's Man of Steel #1 (1986) introduced Superman's birth matrix, the flying artificial womb that took him from Krypton to Earth. When young Clark sees the matrix for the first time he feels weak, because there's some kryptonite lodged into it. In Superman #1, a few months later, we find out that a crazy scientist stole the matrix and used it to build Metallo, so Superman decides to leave it suspended in orbit to prevent it from being used against him again. Three years later, the distraught mind of a disembodied astronaut called Hank Henshaw jumped into the matrix, and he made himself a tiny little spaceship from its technology, then sped off into deep space. Eventually, he went mad, hooked up with Mongul, and used the DNA information he got from the birth matrix to make himself a half-Kryptonian body. Hence: the Cyborg Superman. (As for that kryptonite rock, it ended up in Lex Luthor's hands... soon to be "hand".)

Also during Byrne's run, Superman briefly visited a "pocket" universe inhabited by a Silver Age-type Superboy, who died by the end of that storyline. Months later, the pocket Earth had turned into a hellhole thanks to three Kryptonian criminals. They too died by the end of that storyline... by Superman's hand. Feeling guilty over killing those killers, Superman exiled himself in space, was captured by Mongul's Warworld, and found an ancient egg-shaped relic created by his ancestors: the Eradicator. Superman brought the Eradicator back to Earth and it built him a nice Fortress of Solitude, but it also took over his mind and turned him into the emotionless Krypton Man -- who became an entity of its own after Superman overcame it. After Superman's death, the Fortress' robots rebooted the Eradicator so he could follow his “preserve Kryptonian life” directive and restore Superman back to life, but he got a little confused and thought HE was Superman. Hence: the Last Son of Krypton.

Another concept introduced by Byrne was the idea that Kryptonian DNA is too complex to be duplicated by Earth scientists, which led to the creation of Bizarro. Byrne's World of Krypton miniseries also established that Kryptonians used clones as spare parts to extend their lifetimes, and the conflict over clone rights literally tore the planet apart. So when Superman learned of a cloning facility near Metropolis called Project Cadmus, he immediately felt uneasy about it. After his death, Cadmus got hold of his body so they could create a replacement, but, again, you can't clone a Kryptonian... so they simply created an approximation of Superman's powers and features using human DNA. Hence: Superboy.

As for Steel, he's just Steel. Hence: Steel. Incidentally, if you’re wondering why his armor has been reduced to just some metal shorts by the end of the issue, here’s the answer. Pretty self-explanatory.

The only major plotline left dangling after this issue (aside from Dr. Stratos, of course) is Lex's own death/return/cloning misadventure, but the Super-Squad will deal with that in a big way pretty soon. Oh, and then there's the mess they left for Green Lantern, but that's another creative team's problem. (SHAMELESS PLUG: Follow my new Green Lantern '94 to '04 blog to see how that mess turned out.)

Believe it or not, there's even MORE stuff to talk about in this issue, so don’t miss the great Don Sparrow's section after the jump:

Art-Watch (by @donsparrow):

In the first place I have to say that this issue is an all-time favourite of mine, probably in my top three of this era of comics we’ve been so dutifully covering. The excitement at my local comic shop for this issue was incredible, and already being the Superman fan that I was, I felt like I was on the ground floor. [Max: I also remember the excitement when I first saw this issue in my cousin’s hands after he showed it to me the day he bought it... then didn’t let me touch it, so I read it years later.]

We start with the cover, and I got the deluxe edition, with the chromium cover. Back when this issue came out, I had a love/hate relationship with Image comics. I wasn’t interested in the dark & gritty characters like Spawn and the like, and generally thought the Image books favoured flash over substance and storytelling. BUT, man, did the colouring and paper they used at Image ever look cool! So I was a bit torn about DC using a “gimmicky” feature like this—it looked amazing, but I also felt it was leaning a little far in the direction of sizzle over steak. But I didn’t mind that much, since this had been such a great story to this point. Aside from the metallic 3D look of the cover, the drawing is great, too. It was the first look at the returned Superman in the full suit, and also with the long hair present. DC must have thought that the long hair was a gamble on some level (even though we’d seen it for months in the actual issues) because they hid it from the covers for so long. [Max: This was also the cover they used in both the Spanish and Mexican editions I have, so that’s what I went with for the top of this post. The “normal” cover looks like a historic oddity to me.]

Inside the issue, we jump in with another splash page—there are a lot of these, and it really calls back Superman #75, as most of the pages have one main image, with a few small panels laid overtop. This one features another interpretation of the Eradicator, with short, non-spiky hair—it’s interesting to see these characters reinterpreted week to week. This opening page also commits the unpardonable sin of demanding that we stop reading the issue until AFTER we read Green Lantern #46. Being a naïve 13 year old when I read this issue, I of course complied with the demands of DC editorial, and read Green Lantern first, not realizing it has a near identical plot (albeit from a different point of view), right down to the “broosh” at the end, very much spoiling what is about to come in Superman #82. I remember being pretty steamed that my first glimpse of a returned Superman didn’t come in a Superman book. While I appreciate the coordination, I do find the caption misleading.

Also similar to Superman #75—it’s very hard for me not to talk about every panel or page, because this whole book is just gorgeous. The badassery from the last issue continues into this one, as Superman with his tough-guy attitude and giant gun is pretty cool. One quibble I have with this team is that when they bury Superman’s eye’s in shadow, it can have a sinister or tired look, which I don’t think is the intention. Some panels it’s more prominent than others, but in one panel on page 6 where it makes Superman look pretty rough, and a lot less handsome. We get more big gun Superman later when he starts taking it to Engine City in general, knowing it is connected to the Cyborg.

The Cyborg taking different shapes is done pretty effectively here, particularly when he forms himself out of what must be a lead-like metal to accuse Superman of a bunch of nutty stuff. The reveal of the Kryptonite heart of engine city is very well done, in part because of Eradicator’s bulging red eyes. It is a bit weird to imagine a lipless robot saying “mmm, hmm” though.

We get another great full-page splash as the Eradicator goes all-out in his effort to defeat the Cyborg. The captions here always confused me though, where it says “(The Eradicator) was built to kill…the other (the rocket that brought Superman to Earth, which the Cyborg used to create his new body) to bear new life. The victor would be obvious.” But to me, it’s not obvious. I would think that in a Superman comic, a vessel of LIFE would be the big winner over ancient weaponry, but I think the caption intends the inverse. I guess it’s saying a gun would beat a baby crib? It’s one of those passages that sounds cool, until you think about it. Or think about it excessively, as I clearly have. [Max: To be fair, a gun WOULD beat a baby crib. It would kick that baby crib’s ass.]

Superman’s haymaker knocking off the Cyborg’s jaw is an incredible visual, and there’s a subtle set-up for the great cape visual call-back that comes later.

The entire sequence of the Eradicator taking the blast of Kryptonite is well done, in particular the panel when we see Superman through the vanishing Eradicator. I’m a bit confused as to just how the Kryptonite suction thing works here—the Kryptonite meteor is shrinking and shrinking, but nothing is attached to it except for that one hose.

Jurgens and Breeding do a great job of showing the physical cost of Green Lantern going toe to toe with Mongul. It also sets up for my all-time favourite Superboy quote, one I think might be seen on this site from time to time in meme form, “Check it out! The Lantern looks so totaled it makes me want to hurl!”. This entire saga has been worth it, to get to that line. Just magnificent. [Max: I think Hal went evil because of that one comment.]

The glimpse of the burnt-out husk of the Eradicator is also incredibly well drawn—and painful looking—but even by the end of this story he seems a lot more recovered.

The scene of the returned-to-full-power Superman decking the Cyborg is a stand-up-and-cheer moment, and I love the detail that Superman is holding the cape for this whole scene. It’s interesting that as the Cyborg starts to get damaged in the fight, we see how little organic material there is. Metal seems to poke through the skin on his face, as if only a thin sheet were laid over the metal. and when Superman punches right through him, there’s really no blood or anything, just a dry, cracked crater. I had thought, up until this issue that the cybernetic parts were beside real skin and bones (as if to replace the damaged parts of Superman’s body from his fight with Doomsday), but this issue seems to posit that he’s all robot, with only a veneer of Kryptonian flesh overtop.

The normally merciful Superman is pretty blood-thirsty here, vibrating his arm fully in the knowledge it might kill Henshaw (who helpfully reminds us, he’s survived before). [Max: That moment kind of rubbed me the wrong way, and I think Jurgens himself felt uneasy with it too. One of the highlights of his recent “Rebirth” run was that Superman deliberately decides to jail Hank instead of killing him to at least give him a chance to be rehabilitated, which would be cool to see happen one day.] I love the little glimpse we get of the restored, and re-costumed Superman before the full reveal, and as a character moment, I love that he would think to show gratitude for the heroes who filled in when Superman was dead.

The next few pages are pure joy, as it’s such a treat to see our Superman soaring around in the sunshine, even with the new Tarzan haircut. It’s such a show of restraint that they didn’t pack a reunion with Lois into this issue, instead allowing a different superteam to tell that story, which very much deserves its own issue. Overall, though, I just remember feeling such a sense of joy, and relief that Superman was back, and back to full power. [Max: SPOILERS: And then some...]

STRAY OBSERVATIONS:

I do love this era of comics before swearing (or even censored swearing) was a thing, because they have the weirdest phrases. John Byrne would always have characters saying “blast” instead of “damn” to an absolutely ridiculous degree. In this issue, I don’t know for sure if “crud” is a stand-in for another word, but it does strike me as downright odd for Green Lantern to use it as a noun against Mongul. The concept of “a crud” just amuses me, though I suppose it could be meant in the same vein as “scum” or something.

Is it me, or does Jeb look like Ricardo Montalbon here? [Max: Oh crud, I forgot Jeb was in this issue! Jeb was in this issue, everyone.]

I love they don’t even give the Cyborg a moment to be cool. Just as he’s about to reveal his true identity in a villainous speech he gets clocked by Superboy, in one of my favourite moments with the character (but not my very favourite, as we’ve seen.) I also like the low-level burn that Henshaw assumes that Superman must already know who he is, but Superman’s like, nope.

I do like that this issue goes to great lengths to explain that Superman can’t just keep returning from the dead, even going so far as to say it would never work again. My pet theory is that the Eradicator’s Resurrection Matrix only worked because Pa Kent’s spiritual journey in Adventures of Superman #500 really did happen. [Max: I might be misremembering, but I think the upcoming issue of Action pretty much confirms that.]

I’m glad to see him recovered, but I kinda think Eradicator spoiled the moment a little with his observation about Green Lantern.

[Max: Blast it, Sparrow! You’ve done it again!]

#superman #dan jurgens #brett breeding #eradicator #superboy #coast city #green lantern #hal jordan #mongul #steel #supergirl #hank henshaw #jeb friedman #metal shorts #dc give me baby eradicator you cowards #reign of the supermen

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thecomicsnexus · 5 years

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SUPERMAN #423, ACTION COMICS #583 SEPTEMBER 11986 BY ALAN MOORE, CURT SWAN, GEORGE PEREZ, KURT SCHAFFENBERGER AND GENE D’ANGELO

This is an imaginary story (which may never happen, but then again may) about a perfect man who came from the sky and did only good. It tells of his twilight, when the great battles were over and the great miracles long since performed; of how his enemies conspired against him and of that final war in the snow-blind wastes beneath the Northern Lights; of the two women he loved and of the choice he made between them; of how he broke his most sacred oath; and how finally all the things he had were taken from him save one. It ends with a wink. It begins in a quiet midwestern town, one summer afternoon in the quiet midwestern future. Away in the big city, people still sometimes glance up hopefully from the sidewalks, glimpsing a distant speck in the sky... but no: it's only a bird, only a plane. Superman died ten years ago. This is an imaginary story... Aren't they all?

SYNOPSIS (FROM SUPERMAN HOMEPAGE)

Summer has come to the Midwest, and the only thing that breaks the warm peacefulness of this little village this afternoon is the ring of a doorbell. The door opens framing a beautiful woman. "Ms Lane?" a young man asks. "It's Mrs. Lois Elliot, now," corrects the woman, opening the door for him to enter. "You must be Tim Crane, from the Planet," she says, and the young reporter the Daily Planet had sent to interview Lois for the Superman Memorial Edition makes himself at home on the couch.

To break the ice, Tim Crane tests his tape recorder then begins by asking about the two year period leading up to Superman's disappearance. "Were those happy times?" he asks. "Happy?" puzzles Lois. "I don't know... at least they were quiet," she begins. As if in a trance, Lois starts to tell her story. "Luthor had been quiet," she began, and "Brainiac had been pounded into scrap metal, save for the head that had never been recovered." Mostly, Superman worked in space doing research for the government, until one day he returned and found complete city blocks horribly destroyed. Jimmy rushed up to tell him that Bizarro had gone berserk, smashing buildings and injuring innocent people.

Walking into the shell that had once been a department store, Superman saw the destruction Bizarro has caused, and called to his imperfect replicate. "This am part of genius Bizarro self-improvement plan," laughed the grotesque creature, telling Superman that he had already destroyed Bizarro world, as Krypton had been destroyed. Then, realizing that to be the perfect imperfect double he must do everything opposite of Superman. If Superman cannot kill, Bizarro must kill millions, and if Superman is alive, then Bizarro must die. Holding a large piece of blue Kryptonite before himself, Bizarro collapsed to the floor, smiling. "Everything...him go dark," whispered Bizarro. "Hello, Superman. Hello." It didn't make sense even by Bizarro standards; genocide, homicide then suicide.

Several days later, at the WGBS television studios, two packages arrived just before Clark Kent made his daily newscast. Opening the smaller box, Lana Lang saw a group of Superman action figures and told Clark that they worked when the legs were squeezed together. Lifting one from the box, Lana demonstrated on one, and suddenly heat rays shot from its eyes. Suddenly, all of the figures became animated, and flew out of the box focusing their beams on Clark. "They're slicing him up," screamed Lana racing toward Clark, but Jimmy grabbed her. "It's too late. We can't save him," he yelled. But as the smoke cleared, Clark stands before them, his suit torn and burned revealing the familiar blue and red costume of Superman. Lana stared at him in amazement. "Clark, it was you. All of these years...it was you all of the time."

Their amazement is challenged when the voice of the Toyman and the Prankster crackled over small speakers in the figures. "He just combed his hair and stuck on a pair of glasses!" they laugh. "What a great gag!" "How did you know that I was Clark Kent?" screamed Superman. "Why don't you look in the big box," they replied, laughing wildly. The box was lead lined, but when Superman ripped it open the body of Pete Ross, who had known Superman's true identity since they were boys in Smallville, fell into view. The Prankster and Toyman continued to laugh hysterically at their apparent victory. "Do you know what radio waves look like..." Superman yelled, taking off faster than the eye can follow. Seconds later he smashed through the walls of their hideout. "...Because I do!" The next day, the world is shocked to read the headlines of the Planet that no one would have ever thought true: "Clark Kent Exposed as Superman." Later, at Pete Ross' funeral, Superman mused, "They were all just nuisances. What turned them into killers? If the nuisances from my past are coming back as killers, what will happen when the killers come back?"

Using a sophisticated detector, Lex Luthor searched the arctic circle, and finally located Brainiac's head. At first Luthor is ecstatic, but then he noticed the mask amazingly disassemble, then moved rapidly up Luthor's body to his head. With a disgusting "sludge", probes attached themselves to Luthor's skull, and took control of his motor and vocal pathways. The new Brainiac-Luthor team had been born. Turning slowly, Luthor began walking, stiffly, inexorably toward civilization one step, and another, and another, and another, and another, and another...

Several days passed before another event, almost as an omen, took place. In front of the Daily Planet building, an army of Metallos, hundreds of them, began climbing up the sides of the building, crashing through the glass breaking into the newsroom. Each of the Metallos attacked a member of the staff, a friend of Superman. But one sought Lois Lane, grabbed her, and threw her out of the broken window. "You alien loving tramp," he screamed at her. The reds and blues flowed together as Superman sped down and saved Lois as he has done countless times before, then turned upward to the roof. Using super-speed, he magnetized the giant planet on the top of the building and used it to gather up all of the Metallos.

But the danger was obvious. Superman decided that he must take all of his closest friends to the Fortress for safety. One by one, Superman transported Perry and Alice White, Lois and Lana, then Jimmy Olson. Almost on cue, Krypto returned from space, and stared at a life-size photo of Supergirl, almost tearing that she was killed in Crisis. The tension was so thick that focused heat vision could not cut through. Perry and Alice, at ropes end in their marriage, headed off to separate rooms. Lois and Lana, for so long rivals, consoled one another and themselves in their own fears.

Suddenly, the air crackled and the time bubble of the Legion of Super-Heroes appeared. Stepping from the bubble were all of the Legionnaires, including a young Kara... Supergirl. Brainiac V moved forward. "We thought you might appreciate the sight of a few friendly faces," he said. Then Kara greeted her cousin with a hug. "Is it cheating if you tell me if I grow up to be pretty," she asks. "You... grew up beautiful, Kara," choked back Superman. As the Legionnaires looked around the Fortress, Brainiac V took Superman aside and presented him with a gold statue of him holding a Phantom Zone projector. "We came here to meet with you again, and salute you," said Brainiac V solemnly. Superman looked at him sadly. "And pay your last respects, is that it?" Supergirl interrupted the tense moment. "I just thought of something," said Kara. "I thought I couldn't materialize in an era where you already existed?" "You're right," says Superman. "Right now, Supergirl is in the past."

Tearfully, the Legionnaires boarded their time bubble and slowly disappeared in an electric crackle. Left alone, Superman and Krypto sat quietly among their many trophies, the tributes to their heroic deeds... and their thoughts. "He never told me exactly what had happened the night before the siege began," says Lois. "But as soon as I saw him the next morning I knew something had upset him. He looked funny. He looked as if he had been crying."

Lois and Tim Crane take a break to have a cup of coffee. The wonderful aroma attracts Jordan Elliot, Lois' husband into the room. Sitting at the table, Crane looks at Elliot and asks whether he minds that his wife is being interviewed about her life with Superman. "Nah, I can live with it," dismissed Elliott. "He weren't nothin' special. Us workin' slobs, we're the real heroes." Turning, he left them to resume to their interview and Lois continued. "We stood on the balcony and watched as he destroyed the golden key. I think that's when we first realized that he was preparing for a siege... Superman's last stand."

Inside, the people were tense. Perry and Alice bickered. Lois and Lana waited. Outside, the villains gathered. Brainiac-Luthor and the Kryptonite Man emerged from Brainiac's rebuilt ship and to their amazement, Saturn Woman, Cosmic King and Lightning Lord, members of the Legion of Super Villains, arrived from the future hoping to share in the victory. "Why should I share," asks Brainiac-Luthor. "Because, in the future, we know things," said Saturn Woman. "According to legend...Superman met his greatest foe in battle and was no more," said Lightning Lord. "It is said that during Superman's last days, all of earth's champions flocked to help him," added Cosmic King. Brainiac-Luthor returned to his ship. "I shall erect an impenetrable force-screen immediately," the voice drones and a huge bubble, two miles across appeared enclosing the fortress.

Around noon, they began firing on the fortress with weapons from Brainiac's ship. Superman was able to destroy most of the weapons with his heat vision, but the force generator was too well protected, and a frontal assault by him and Krypto was turned back by Kryptonite Man. Soon, other heroes arrived. Friends, rivals, lovers; none of them could get through the barrier. And when night finally fell, everyone assumed that they had until morning.

As quiet came, Superman sought out Perry white. The two men spoke of fear, and dying in hushed voices. "I think I'm going to die," said Superman sadly, "and I have so much to get straight, like me and Lois, and me and Lana. They've wasted their love on me while I couldn't love either of them the way they deserved. I wish I had explained. I wish I hadn't been such a coward." His voice tailed off. The noble are always the ones most troubled by conscience.

Suddenly, a flickering flashlight captured a figure moving in the darkness. "Lana, what are you doing here?" asked Jimmy. They looked at each other realizing that each had come to help. Locating the serum that had once transformed him into Elastic Lad, Jimmy lifted the flask with a wry smile then drank. Before them is a pool of water that had once given Lana temporary super-powers. Telling Jimmy to turn his back, Lana immersed herself in the water, and one-by-one her senses expanded: x-ray vision, microscopic vision, and super-hearing... then overhearing a voice... of Superman. "When I was Superboy, Lana was the only girl I loved, but since I've grown to become a man, there's only ever been one woman for me. Lois. I love her Perry, but I can't tell her without hurting Lana. I'd never hurt Lana, so I'll just walk around with this secret, the weight in my heart. I'll carry it in my heart, and neither of them will ever know."

Standing, Lana lifted herself from the pool and dressed in the costume hung in the trophy case behind her. "Are you ready yet," asked Jimmy. "We'll show 'em," Lana says. "Nobody loved him better than us. Nobody!" and they sped from the fortress.

Brainiac had assumed that Kryptonite Man would keep Superman and Krypto at bay, so what happened took them totally by surprise. First Lana pummeled Kryptonite Man while Jimmy ran to disable the force projector. Then Lana turned on Brainiac-Luthor. The Brainiac portion spoke in bravado, but the part that was still Luthor pleaded with Lana. "Kill meee... Lana... Please... Kill me... Do it now," said Luthor, his voice feeble and weak. Lana landed a thundering blow which snapped Luthor's neck, collapsing him into the snow.

But then the Legion of Super Villains took command. Cosmic King used his elemental transmutation powers to turn the radioactive particles of the pool into normal body salts stealing Lana's powers from her. Lightning Lord approached Lana, offering a hand, but electrocuted her. Elastic Lad had watched this, and leapt at the villains from the future. "You murdering scum," he screamed. "The force screens wrecked and you're finished," but no sooner have the words left his lips when a blast from a ray pistol struck a fatal blow, and Jimmy lay dead in the snow.

The Villains wondered where the blast had come from, and then saw Brainiac stand clumsily, stiffly. "I.. am Brainiac...reducer of Kandor...and his greatest foe. My victory...is preordained. Do you think... that I would let... the death of this body... stand in my way?" The villains look at the scene in amazement. Kryptonite Man then noticed that even though Jimmy had destroyed the force generator the screen had not collapsed. "Some other force must be maintaining the screen," wheezed Brainiac who then ordered that they prepare for their final strike and launched a nuclear missile.

The nuclear blast had little effect on the fortress other than to open a gaping hole in one side. Inside, Perry rushed from his room and saw a wall begin to crumble on Alice. Quickly, he knocked her aside, saving her life. Safe for the moment, the two look at each other and realize that, even now, they still had love one another. The thing they did not have was time.

The first villain to approach the fortress was Kryptonite Man. Passing through the hole in the fortress wall, he called out defiantly, "Where are you Kryptonian?" The response came from a different Kryptonian than he expected, when Krypto blasted through the wall. Kryptonite Man radiated the dog, but Krypto kept coming, biting a slashing at the villain. "I'm killing you, you stupid animal. Don't you understand?" Krypto did understand and was unrelenting. In a pool of green blood, Kryptonite Man died, and with his final breaths, Krypto emitted a mournful howl then joined the green man in death.

With Lois in his arms, Superman flew through the fortress witnessing the destruction. Using his x-ray vision he located Perry and Alice, but told Lois that Jimmy and Lana were nowhere to be seen. "Perhaps they're dead," laughed Lightning Lord. "Want to buy yourself some time, Kryptonian? Why not throw me the woman to fry the way I fried your other girlfriend." "You hurt Lana?" Superman screamed. His eyes glow red, with the heat of many suns, and slash out slicing Lightning Lord's shoulder. Saturn Woman is completely taken aback. "He's prepared to kill," she says and the trio, knowing that Superman is to be defeated this day, rushes hurriedly to their Time Bubble and escape to the future.

Together, Superman and Lois fly off to face Brainiac. As they approach, Superman can see that rigor mortis has developed and Brainiac can no longer control muscular function. Luthor's body betrayed Brainiac in death, collapsing in the snow. Disengaging himself from Luthor's skull, Brainiac walks, crablike toward Superman. "I am coming for you Kryptonian. My victory in inevitable.' But Brainiac could only move a few inches, powered only by pure malice. In a blink, it, too, expired.

It's over. But no! There are too many loose ends. The force field is still intact. No one can enter or leave. As they return to the fortress, the truth suddenly dawned on Superman. "Mxyxptlk!" he screamed, and the 5th Dimensional imp appeared, changed somehow, darker. "What do you do when you're immortal," he asks, "other than fill time." Part of the time he was good, part of the time funny now he is evil. "Did you honestly believe that a 5th Dimensional sorcerer would resemble a funny little man in a derby hat? This is how I really look," he screams and again changes into a distorted, grotesque apparition with height, length, breadth and a couple of other things.

Suddenly, Brainiac V's meaning dawned on Superman. The statue he was given... facing his greatest foe... he was holding a Phantom Zone projector. Racing through the fortress, Superman sped to the chamber where the projector was hidden, with Mxyxptlk right behind him. "Time to die!" screamed Mxyxptlk. "That's right, Mxyxptlk," says Superman. "Time to die."

It takes a moment for Mxyxptlk to recognize what Superman had in his hands, and in that moment, he realized that there is no escape for him, save one. As the Phantom Zone projector beam hits Mxyxptlk, he yelled out his name backwards. A numbing scream rends the air. As he attempted to return to the 5th Dimension, he was also sent to the Phantom Zone; torn in half between dimension.

And now it is over. But was it. In the fortress Superman appeared distraught. "I broke my oath," he sighed. "I killed him. Nobody has the right to kill. Not Mxyxptlk... not you... not Superman. Especially not Superman." "Superman turned and walked down a hallway," continues Lois to Tim Crane. "I ran after him, calling his name. He didn't reply. Opening a chamber labeled "Gold Kryptonite" he entered and walked into the gold light. He turned and looked over his shoulder. He smiled at me... I never saw Superman again."

The force field crackled and disappeared and the heroes of earth approached the fortress. "Carnage and destruction was everywhere," adds Lois sadly. "Bodies of his enemies, and his most loyal friends were strewn on the ground. They found me outside of the Gold Kryptonite chamber, but Superman was gone. They found a passageway leading out of the fortress and it is believed that he walked out, powerless. They never found his body. As far as I am concerned, Superman died in the arctic. I was there."

As Tim Crane gathers his notes and prepares to leave, Jordan Elliot walked into the living room with his son, Jonathan. Once alone, the couple settled in for the evening. "I guess the media won't be bothering us for at least another 10 years now," says Lois. "Let's hope so," added Jordan. Sitting Jonathan down beside the fireplace, the couple hugged lovingly. "Work was great," began Jordan. A friend brought in a photo of his grandchildren and they had worked on a '48 Buick. "You really love it, don't you? Going to work everyday, taking out the garbage, changing Jonathan's diapers... all the normal stuff," says Lois knowingly. "Yep. Can't beat it," laughed Jordan who casually glanced at his son, now black from coal soot.

"You were pretty hard on Superman earlier," admonished Lois. "Superman was over-rated," laughed Jordan. "Too wrapped up in himself. 'Thought the world couldn't get along without him." At his feet, young Jonathan playfully squeezed the coal in his hand. Opening it he stared gleefully at a large, glimmering diamond.

"What's for dinner," asked Jordan. "Pizza, then bed, a bottle of wine," winked Lois, "then we can live happily ever after. Sound good to you? Grinning widely, Jordan walked to the door, and stared out at us. He nodded, then winked, then closed the door.

CONTEXT

REVIEW

Yes, the dog dies.

There aren’t many sad Superman stories (at least not that many that do not end with some kind of hope). To me this story gets sadder with the Legion sequence. Everything about those pages is sad, including the last splash page. That is the moment Superman confirms he is about to die.

Some fun facts: Jordan Elliot is a homage to Jor-El. Lois’s son is named Jonathan for the reasons you already know. (Jonathan Kent).

On the cover of Action Comics #583, you can see DC people, Murphy Anderson, Curt Swan, Jenette Khan and and Julius Schwartz.

There are some things I consider “off” in this story that I forgive for the emotional factor. Time travel logic in particular seems fishy. There are a couple of rules mentioned, but the intervention of the Legion of Super-Villains kind of breaks history (unless of course, that they were there all along in some kind of loop). The same way with the golden statue, was that there all along?

It’s unclear to me if the force shield covered everything under earth as well, as Superman could have easily made an underground tunnel and put all his loved ones in another safe place.

Then what about the crazy room full of Golden Kryptonite? Is that safe to have around?

One thing is cool about the “suicide” ending. We saw Bizarro take his life earlier with Blue Kryptonite, and he does the opposite, so I take that as a clue that he is not dying.

I also like the small character moments. Lana and Lois in particular as they weren’t treated with respect all along (one of the reasons Byrne did away with the love triangles). But also Perry and Alice have a beautiful moment.

Lana, Jimmy and Krypto sacrifice themselves. As Jimmy said, “it’s time to pay the price for being Superman’s pal”. Lana died a hero and Lois pretty much helped Superman figured out how to end the menace.

Moore did good use of Superman’s supporting cast, something that most writers usually ignore (as they are usually used to fill pages or help with quick expositions).

I always forget George Perez inked the first chapter. It is clearly Perez without losing Swan’s style (but you can find Perez’s style in the backgrounds).

This is the end of the Bronze Age for Superman. To be honest, I do not know if this is a Bronze Age or a Modern Age story. I think both would be correct, but because it feels more in harmony with Modern Age stories, I decided to put it in that category.

I give this story a score of 10.

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dascarecrow · 2 years

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So one of my lowkey obsessions for the last few years has been trying to figure out all of the characters in the intro that DC uses it for it’s projects currently. Its been a problem because I can never find a clear enough image of the pan out. But I think I’ve finally figured it out.

You see there was a banner shown at SDCC 2017 that had all of the characters that appear in the DC intro and after thorough research I do believe I have determined the identities of each character. Now the placement of the roster is different between the banner and the intro but the character models are the same. Let’s go.

Riddler

Gorilla Grodd

An unknown blue figure that is the only one I haven’t quite got down but I am fairly certain that it is the Blue Devil given the seeming claws they have and the possible horn you can just barely make out in the bottom picture

Saint Walker of the Blue Lantern Corps

Etrigan the Demon

Booster Gold

Lois Lane

Starfire

A figure who I’ve seen identified as Desaad and I can see that

Adam Strange

Nekron

Mister Miracle

Brainiac

Mister Freeze

Doctor Fate

Plastic Man

Bane

Larfleeze of the Orange Lantern Corp

Black Lightning

Robin

Black Canary

Scarecrow

The Anti-Monitor

Huntress

Captain Boomerang

Metron

Katana

The Atom

Zatanna

The Spectre

Either Enchantress or Poison Ivy (I personally think the latter because it looks like she has red hair but its hard to tell)

Indigo-1 of the Indigo Tribe

John Constantine

Hawkgirl

Reverse-Flash

Doomsday

Supergirl

Batgirl

Black Adam

Green Arrow

Guy Gardner

Shazam

Midnighter

Darkseid

Deathstroke

Catwoman

Sinestro

Amanda Waller

John Stewart

Atrocitus of the Red Lantern Corp

Swamp Thing

Nightwing

Cyborg

The Flash

Wonder Woman

Superman

Batman

Green Lantern Hal Jordan

Aquaman

Martian Manhunter

Harley Quinn

Green Lantern Jessica Cruz

The Joker

Lex Luthor

Mera

Deadshot

Kilowog

Black Manta

Hawkman

Lobo

Green Lantern Simon Baz

Solomon Grundy

Captain Cold

Star Sapphire

Blue Beetle

Bizarro

Cheetah

Steppenwolf

Ares

Deadman

Two-Face

Orion

Ocean Master

Firestorm

Raven

Beast Boy

The Penguin

#DC #A Whole Lot of Characters

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ficsaboutanexjester · 7 years

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Disneyland is for kids?

@robohypermonkey

((Hope I did them justice, I try to capture the balance for the relationship. It’s a bit more than a ‘date’ though since to get all the kids is a..lot of work.))

It took Hal forever to convince Bruce to take a vacation with his kids. The man was always so worried about them, thinking someone could snatch them up at a moments notice. Hal could relate, but also Bruce’s kids were more then capable of handling themselves on a simple vacation out of Gotham right? So Bruce finally caved after a month of prodding not so subtly at dinners, on dates, at League meetings, and whenever he could catch the man on the phone.

The problem he was not expecting, was rallying the kids. Damian looked as if Hal threatened to kill Bruce when he was told about the trip, and started packing things camp then Disneyland and yelling how he was taking Duke with them. Dick took it positive, mentioning he would have to tell Star he was gonna leave for a family trip but would meet them there. He had to actually find Bizarro to even talk to Jason, who outright laughed in his face at the thought of a ‘family trip’. To say it took many a bribe of chocolates from a candy store in the boys old neighborhood is an understatement, though he doubted Bruce would mind the minor withdrawal. Apparently afterwards Dick said he was going to pick up the rouge batmember and to not worry. Steph was the most enthusiastic, surprising Bruce with a hug and a excitedly babble about what they had to and thereby becoming the ‘planner’ of the thing. Cas gave Hal a once over at the information before silently going to follow Steph, casually nudging her in correct directions when the hyper girl was sidetracked. And Tim..thought he was gonna stay to look over everything, and Hal wouldn’t say anything when he saw how the young man went shock still in surprise when he found out he was coming too. To have fun. To be a family. But after a multitude of group calls, and schedules being realigned, they all gave in

Bruce all the while had been doing checks upon check around the city, and Hal had to tug him away once or twice with a kiss or two to get his boyfriend to sleep. That it would be fine, and Hal couldn’t wait to put B on a roller coaster and colorful teacups. The millionaire always just rewarded the efforts with a exhausted grin and a pull closer, all while muttering he would delete any evidence Hal might gather on him that didn’t scare new recruits. He was the Dark Knight Hal, he couldn’t have brightly lit pictures of him smiling around the tower surely. Hal tucked himself closer, brushing away the lines of sleep as his boyfriend fell asleep, and couldn’t stop the small smile that would spread across his face. This trip was gonna be perfect.

When the day came, it was hectic to say the least. Damian was repacking with a scold that he had more weapons then clothes. Steph was rattling off timetables that suspiciously looked too organized for the blonde herself, but Cas just stealing from the snack box before the drive. Bruce almost seemed floored when Duke came to the manor, ruffling Damians hair with a grin and a bag of his own, but after a moment went back to helping load everyone up. Hal helped of course, with the assistance of a certain color glow it was a bit less insane.

The drive was hilarious, all of them crammed in a car as the kids tried to get a music station to work, Hal kept looking over to Bruce, cracking jokes about each station as it went on.

“Oh didn’t you know? Bruce was actually in a hair metal band. I think you called yourself Stardust?”

“Man B always plays Paramore at the Tower, what is with you bats and dark music?”

“Bruce! Bruce! It’s your favorite, One direction! Sing with us!!!”

He could tell that the man was trying not to chuckle, sending eye rolls and hidden smiles to them every chanc he could. Hal was proud of the fact not one blade was pulled out during the entire ride to the park itself, that every kid was actually not on the verge of tearing out each others throats when they got there and the only other car parked out was a familiar motorcycle. Along with the two bits of family they were missing.

While all the kids unloaded, and Dick and Jason walked over starting to chat; Hal grabbed Bruces hand with a small grin. His boyfriend looked a bit overwhelmed for a second at seeing all of them here. That it was a bright, sunny afternoon and all of his family was there and fine. The moment of peace stopped when all the kids, grown up or otherwise, screamed and made a mad dash to the park. Hal is glad he could fly, because he didn’t know some of the kids brought skates in their packs.

The day progressed like any other.Jason hanging by Tim and making sure he actually goes on rides, Steph acting like they were looking for treasure with how percise her schedule was, Dick putting Damian on his shoulders to everyones amusement, and Hal getting to stay by Bruce side as they watched the kids on the rides every time.

“They seem happy.” Bruce said softly in his ear, tucking Hal closer as the bat kids ate ice cream by the water.

“Told you they would, see I make great plans.”He grinned back teasingly, pressing a kiss to B’s cheek with a small chuckle. Even if Bruce snorted at the gesture.

“Steph and Cas planned this, you just gave them an idea.”

And it was like that for most of the day, like the outside world and superheros didn’t exist and Hal felt apart of the large family B had created. Like everytime Tim and Duke got into a squabble over detective techniques and Bruce just cut them off by splashing them into the water, it was natural. That when Hal actually helped Cas get her candy out of her hair from a ‘sweets war’, even if she said that she had a knife to cut it out, that he could get used to being surrounded by the flock.

As the sun started setting, and they made their way to the top of Disney castle through...not approved by staff means, Hal was exhausted. Bruce was actually laughing, and smiling, coffee in hand and arm wrapped around Hal’s waist with a certainty they hadn’t done often in front of B’s entire set of kids. But he couldn’t find it in himself to care, laying lazy kisses and content hums every so often as the fireworks started to go off above them. Though his concentration was stolen when Bruces whispered words hit his ears.

“Would you want to stay?”

“..Are you actually proposing Bruce?”

“Is that a yes if it is Jordan?”

It only took him a heartbeat to say yes.

#BatLantern #Batfam #Cas is a candy ninja you will not sway me

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ramonahblog · 2 years

Photo

A meme to explain everything.

#superman and lois cw #memepost #superman and lois season 2 #I'm spreading out the memes about Bizarro!Jordan's hair #but memedumping about season 2 in general #compromise

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chicagoindiecritics · 5 years

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New from Jeff York on The Establishing Shot: “SUPERMAN: RED SON” CONTINUES A RED HOT STREAK FOR WB ANIMATION

I’m hopeful for Robert Pattinson’s take on the role of Batman. And I enjoyed Margot Robbie’s spearheading of BIRDS OF PREY this past winter. However, when it comes to DC Comics adaptations, I get most excited about what the animators at Warner Bros are up to, year in and year out. Since the launch of BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES in 1992, the brilliant animation department creatives have delivered one excellent cartoon take on the DC roster after another. The latest is SUPERMAN: RED SON and it’s another winner, continuing a shrewd push towards darker material aimed beyond the kiddie mainstay for such cartoon adventures.

Interestingly, of the last dozen or so animated movies done by WB for VOD, most of them have skewed audiences well beyond junior high. The edgy and violent BATMAN: UNDER THE RED HOOD, THE DEATH OF SUPERMAN, and even JUSTICE LEAGUE: THE NEW FRONTIER with its retro 30s look, were hardly kid-stuff. BATMAN: GOTHAM BY GASLIGHT, a ‘what if’ reimagining of Batman chasing after London’s Jack the Ripper in the late 19th century even earned an R rating. It was bloody alright, but bloody fantastic too.

The same is true with SUPERMAN: RED SON. Based on the bestselling 2003 three-issue miniseries written by Mark Millar, and drawn by Dave Johnson and Kilian Plunkett, it’s smart, clever, and decidedly adult in every way. The story imagines Superman’s rocket ship from Planet Krypton landing, not in a wheatfield in Kansas, but one in Ukraine. Instead of fighting for “truth, justice, and the American way,” this Superman grows up in the 30s and 40s to become a dyed-in-the-wool Communist. Thus, he’s a champion of the common worker, fighting for socialism, Stalinism, and the expansion of the Warsaw Pact.

Whew! Pretty heady stuff. You might want to check Wikipedia’s “Cold War” page before watching. To truly appreciate that material, and the quite faithful adaptation of it that dropped on VOD this month, it helps to have a grasp of WWII and the 40 years of events that followed it. The animated film is clever and confident enough to include references to FDR, JFK, Sputnik, and the Berlin Wall without giving much exposition. The filmmakers assume you know what’s at stake in the story.

Still, even if you’re not a history major, you should get quite a kick out of this deftly done, 84-minute animated film as it’s incredibly appealing even if some of the historical moments don’t wholly register. The film not only does a clever riff on all that history but most vividly, it vamps the Superman legend itself in so many erudite ways. It often plays like a high-minded version of Bizarro Superman, the alter ego of Kal-El who was one of his best nemesis’ during the 50s. In fact, a version of Bizarro even makes a significant appearance here, battling him under the guise of “Superior Man.” This take is nothing if not meta.

Superman is all-Russian, all the time here, and it’s almost shocking to watch. He believes that the utopian society preached by Lenin is achievable and will do whatever it takes to see that vision become a reality. If that means that America becomes the great devil, so be it. As entertainment, it makes for a cheeky satire in its way, especially when archvillain Lex Luthor stands as the USA’s greatest cheerleader here, opposing Supes at every turn in the five decades the timeline covers.

Other twists on vaulted DC lore include Lois Lane, still an American here, becoming Lex’s bride and confidante. Brainiac is employed as an advisor to the Russian cause during the Cold War. Even Batman shows up to get in Superman’s hair as a Soviet rebel fighting its suppressive government headed by you-know-who. A lot of other DC stalwarts show up for variations on a theme too, including Wonder Woman, The Green Lantern’s Hal Jordan, and even Jimmy Olson. Here, he’s a crony of Luthor’s, with more than a passing resemblance to Mehcad Brooks’ strapping take on the character in the current SUPERGIRL television series on CW. These animated DC efforts are chock full of Easter eggs like that.

Still, this sort of effort flies on how well it tells the story, not on the bits in the margins, and its ability to use the powers of the animation genre in that telling. SUPERMAN: RED SON excels exceptionally in both arenas. Its script, adapted by J.M. DeMatteis, captures all the complexity of Millar’s prose. The direction by Sam Liu equals the superb work he did on BATMAN: GOTHAM BY GASLIGHT. He ensures that the animation here once again delivers on the breathless action, as well as showcasing three-dimensional characterizations.

Voice casting director Wes Gleason does a superb job with the cast he’s assembled here too. Jason Isaacs plays Superman with an older and more authoritative brusqueness and it’s brazenly perfect. Paul Williams may sound monotone as the AI Brainiac, but he’s coy perfection, pausing on certain words to underline their effectiveness. And veteran comic actor Diedrich Bader gives us a delightfully egotistical and surprisingly amusing Luthor. His is the best performance in the batch, and that is high praise considering that Clancy Brown did some of animation’s best voice work ever when he rendered the supervillain on multiple occasions over the past decades.

Vanessa Marshall plays a tough yet tender Wonder Woman and Amy Acker makes Lois Lane both intelligent and moral. That’s a slightly different take on Lois than we usually get, but it works with this “up is down, left is right” kind of material. Lois still has her zingers, mostly aimed at her lover Luthor. You know it’s an adult DC adaptation when Lois boasts about his prowess in bed. Take that, Clark Kent!

It could have been even edgier, and longer, but it doesn’t pull punches on its violence, like when Superman coldly assassinates the corrupt Stalin with a laser-eyed jolt. The movie also doesn’t pull punches on Wonder Woman’s sexual leanings. When Superman makes a pass at her, she reminds him of where she comes from, a land with only women. And like any period piece, SUPERMAN: RED SON comments on the politics of today, indicting a number of authoritarians on both sides of the Atlantic.

DC adaptations may be hit or miss on the big screen, but on TV and VOD, they consistently deliver the goods. WB’s animation department is one of the best in the business, equal to Pixar for its savvy and game-changing work. Their adult fare continues to do so here with projects like SUPERMAN: RED SON. Such material genuinely soars, up, up, and away.

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#IFTTT #WordPress #CIFCC #film critics #movies #film #Chicago

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ecotone99 · 5 years

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[RF] Grandpa

** This is a long submission. It is incomplete and a work in progress. I suspect it will end up being about 7000 words when complete. This is by far the most complex short story I have attempted, and includes a number of sub plots and the most characters I have tried to use at once. Some of it is very much based in my real world experiences, with characters based on real people and family members. This story is therapeutic to write and deeply personal. Having said that, I REALLY want feedback on it.

As it is a long story, I will be forever grateful to anybody willing to read it in its (current) entirety and offer me feedback and their thoughts. There are bits I am super happy with, and bits I don't like at all. In case anybody has read any of my stories before (I have deleted the ones I have posted in the past I think), the third part of this story has already made an appearance on here before. After writing it, I decided to turn it into a much larger story, particularly utilising feedback from another member. Super thankful to this community for being such a constructive group!

I will of course return the feedback favour. Thank you. **

“It’s okay, Lis,” Jordan said, keeping his eyes planted firmly on his wife. “We’ll figure it out.” What he couldn’t tell her was that he didn’t believe it himself. His stomach churned at the thought of burdening her with such pain. So, he lied with his eyes; begging her to heed his words.

“I know,” Lisa said.

“Just think good thoughts. We’ll get there.” Jordan reached out and took his wife’s hand, squeezing. They were cold; lonely. Her thumb nails were chewed and uneven, the result of an old, nervous tick rearing its head. All he wanted was to reassure her; make her believe it would all work out. He never intended to be the source of her pain, in fact, it was supposed to be his role to comfort her; to protect her. He was supposed to bring her joy, but lately that seemed to be the one thing he couldn’t do.

“I’m just scared that when I get the test, it’ll be bad news.” Lisa looked at Jordan. The creases around the edges of her eyes were deeper than usual and her nose was red. This had become a regular occurrence, but Jordan wasn’t desensitized. If anything, the more he saw her cry, the more it broke his heart.

“What if they say never?” she asked. “What will we do then?”

Jordan’s insides screamed. It took everything he had not to throw a dining room chair across the room and into the mirror. He wanted to watch it shatter into millions of pieces and scatter across the room so that he could walk on the broken glass. It seemed like the only thing painful enough to distract him from reality. Staring into Lisa’s eyes, he felt his mouth hanging open, unable to speak. Words seemed suddenly unattainable, blurry and just out of reach. Then, the phone rang.

Jordan looked down to see his mobile vibrating on the table. The caller ID read: Dad. He saw his chance to escape the conversation and gave Lisa an apologetic smile. She nodded, giving him the okay to answer and squeezed his hand before leaving the table and disappearing into the kitchen. Jordan collected the phone, swiped the green button to the left and lifted it to his ear. “Hey, Martin,” he said, hoping his dad would take the bait.

“Don’t call me that.” His dad’s voice was uneven; rough. There was no banter, no jokes. It wasn’t right.

“Sorry, Dad. What’s up?”

“Matey, it’s Grandpa.”

Jordan furrowed his brow and inhaled before responding. “What about him?”

“He’s not okay. Cancer.” For the second time in two minutes, Jordan found himself lost for words. It didn’t make any sense, he thought. His dad always used to say his grandpa was fit as a fiddle made of steel. The man ate germ meal and steamed broccoli for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It didn’t make sense.

“He’s having an operation to remove a large tumour from his brain,” his dad continued. “We should visit him before he goes in.”

“Yeah, of course.” Jordan stuttered through his response. “When?”

“Tomorrow. I’ll see you and your brother at four o’clock outside the Wesley.”

“Do you need me to call Kurt?”

“No. It’s done.”

“Right. See you tomorrow.”

“Bye, matey.”

The phone disconnected and Jordan stood in stunned silence. The world felt quieter; less chaotic. But, much darker. His grandpa was lively and charismatic in his old age; the life of the party. That image immediately began to fade, only to be replaced with hollow stillness.

“What was that?” Lisa called from the kitchen.

“That was Dad.” Jordan tried to swallow the lump in his throat, but it only seemed to get larger. “Grandpa’s sick. You’ll have to get the test on your own tomorrow.”

Lisa reappeared from the kitchen. “Is it serious?”

Jordan turned to look at her and nodded slowly.

***

Outside the Wesley Hospital, Jordan watched his brother take a long draw from his cigarette. Clamping it between his fore and middle fingers, he pinched his eyebrows together in what looked like intense concentration, before blowing out the smoke and gazing into the distance. It was funny, Jordan thought, how all smokers seemed to suck on their cigarette in exactly the same way.

“So, cancer,” Kurt said, “that’s shit.”

Jordan frowned and let out a small chuckle. His brother always had a knack for thoughtless thoughtfulness. It was charming in a way. Reminded Jordan of the beauty to be found in simplicity.

“Yeah. It’s shit,” he agreed.

Jordan had always found it difficult to talk with his brother. An ocean of difference separated them, often too expansive to swim and too murky navigate. Kurt had always been into heavy metal and horror movies, while Jordan was more interested in sport and politics. They were brothers, but they’d never really been friends. Of course, it hadn’t helped that, growing up, they fought like brothers.

Jordan had always been good at poking the bear, like the time he found one of Kurt’s cigarette filters on the floor of the living room and, even though he knew exactly what it was, decided it best to pretend otherwise and show it to their mum. Jordan marvelled at his own genius that night, taking great pleasure in his brother’s admonishment and indefinite grounding. The look in his mum’s eyes had always stuck with him, though, as he was sure it had with Kurt. Looking into them was like being pulled into a black hole, lost forever within an expansive and ever painful nothing. He’d thought it best to make sure those eyes were never directed at him.

But, like any self-respecting older brother, Kurt would reciprocate to Jordan’s provocation. One time, after Jordan had stolen his Play Station controller, Kurt chased him under the house and guarded the only exit with an enormous stick. Too scared to get close and too stupid to apologise, Jordan had cowered in the corner of the room until their mother had gotten home. Thinking he was finally saved; Jordan screamed for his mother at the top of his lungs. Ironically, it was then that he faced that which he’d feared so much.

They were both grounded.

A stiff breeze forced Jordan’s hands into his jean pockets. Looking at Kurt, he was both jealous and impressed by his brother’s ability to ignore the cold. There they were, standing in ten-degree weather, and Kurt was wearing a black tank top and cargo shorts, tapping his foot to an imaginary beat as he smoked his Winny Blue. His nonchalance was awe-inspiring.

“So, how’s up north?” Jordan asked, hoping to break the uncomfortable silence.

“It’s fine,” Kurt said, taking another draw from his cigarette. “Hot. Sticky. My air-con’s shit.”

“That sucks.”

“Oath. Mining work’s tough too – two weeks on, two off. I can never quite get settled.”

“Sorry to hear, man. I’d hate that.” Jordan scrambled for another discussion point. “How’d you get down so quick? Dad only called me yesterday afternoon.”

“He got onto me about ten in the morn’ yesterday. I flew down early today. Had lunch in the city.” Kurt took one final draw from his cigarette before dropping it to the cracked pavement and stomping it out. Then, without pause, he pulled the pack from his back pocket and lit another. “How about you?” he asked, “How’s Lisa?”

Jordan gave his brother a quick smile, doing his best to mask his apprehension toward the topic. “Yeah, she’s good. We’re good.” Kurt looked at him as if to say, that was convincing.

“Good to hear, mate. Did you know about Grandpa?”

Jordan was glad his brother had moved on. “Nah. Didn’t even know he was sick. You reckon Dad’s known for long?”

Kurt took his last draw from his cigarette, dropped it to the pavement next to his first, and stamped it out.

“We can ask him ourselves. Here he is.” He motioned behind Jordan.

Their father walked towards them. His posture was slouched, and he had dark circles under his eyes. He looked like he hadn’t slept in days. His hollow smile was worn thin and a five o’clock shadow painted his jaw in grey. It looked wrong; incorrect. Martin Alexander was a man of rigid, unwavering routine. Every morning he got up at six, brushed, shaved and showered in that order. He ate the same breakfast every day; one whole orange, sliced in half, one cup of coffee and two slices of wholemeal bread with vegemite. Whenever he left the house, he had to check that all the windows were closed, all the power points turned off and every door was locked. Twice. The man was like a machine. Programmed to perform the same tasks in the same ways every day. Seeing just one of these routines broken made Jordan feel uneasy. Martin Alexander with facial hair didn’t look like Martin Alexander; rather he looked like Bizarro Martin. Dark Martin. Martin from another world. Another reality. A reality Jordan didn’t want to know about because it was obviously darker than this one.

“Hello, boys,” Martin said as he approached. The brothers glanced at one another before hugging him.

“He’ll be right, you know,” Martin said.

Jordan and Kurt looked at each other and grimaced. “Yeah, Dad. We know,” Jordan said, placing his hand on his father’s shoulder, and giving it a light squeeze.

“He’s got a lot of life left in him,” Martin continued.

“That he does,” Kurt said.

“He’ll have the surgery and be-” Martin paused and looked past his children’s heads, avoiding eye contact, but refusing to cry. He continued, “He’ll-”

Jordan interjected, “Dad. We-”

“He’ll be up and at ‘em again soon. I’ll make sure of it.”

Jordan watched as his dad tried desperately to control the uncontrollable. He’d always been like that – determined to keep everything in order. Like a marching band. Organised and predictable. Most of the time he was successful, but Jordan sensed that today would slip through his fingers.

“Dad,” Jordan said. Martin turned to look at his son in the eyes. “We know. Let’s go in.”

***

The room was white; oppressive; sterile. Jordan hated it. The walls were pristine; not because they'd been prepared for visitors, but because they'd been meticulously cleaned with bleach - or some other nauseating chemical - time and again. He could smell it in the air. Their sheen was a sombre reminder of what happened there week-in and week-out. People went there to die.

The sun spilled through the small window and into the dark room, trying desperately to remind everybody the world outside was still bright. Dust danced through the light and, presumably, settled across the room, decorating it in filth. Jordan chuckled to himself. It was ironic, he thought. A place kept so diligently clean was still unable to escape dust.

Martin was standing next to him with his head down and his eyes closed. His arms were a straitjacket across his chest, folded so tightly, it looked as though he was struggling to breathe. Kurt was by the window, reading some medical poster that was hung on the wall. It outlined the circulatory system or the lymphatic system or some system. He was still tapping his foot to an imaginary beat.

A cough from behind them disturbed the solemn silence, and they all turned in unison to stare at the bathroom door.

"You okay in there?" Martin called; arms still locked. There was no reply. "Dad?" He tried again. "You okay?" He looked at his sons, frowned, and exhaled.

"Be right out, mate," Grandpa called. His voice was hollow. Sick. but still full of unrestrained enthusiasm. "Just dealin' with the toot!"

Jordan put his hand to his mouth to stifle a laugh and turned to look at his dad. A smile was haphazardly scrawled across Martin’s face and he was slowly shaking his head back and forth. "That's Dad," he said and shrugged.

“He used to call me Kurtle.” Jordan look at his brother, his eyebrows raised, imploring him to continue. “You know, like a turtle.”

“You loved them as a kid,” Martin said, shifting his weight on the spot.

“Yeah. Still do. None up north, though.”

“Not even in the desert sand?” Jordan asked, his tone sarcastic and his smile exaggerated.

“Nah, too dry,: Kurt said, straight faced, before turning back to his poster.

Without warning, the bathroom door flew open and a frail eighty-two-year-old walked out in a blue hospital gown. His grey cheeks and thinning hair were juxtaposed against his wild smile and starry eyes.

“Check it out fellas, they’ve got me in a bloody nappy!” Grandpa shrieked.

With no other warning, he yanked up his gown to reveal a large, white adult nappy.

Jordan’s eyes widened and, unable to contain his laughter, he turned away from his grandpa to look at his dad.

Equally amused, but twice as embarrassed, Martin protested, "Jesus, Dad! Put your gown down." His arms unlocked and he waved them in front of him, as if to say we don't need to see that!

Jordan looked back at his grandpa. Martin Senior couldn't have given two shits, wiggling his hips from side to side in some kind of dance. His eyes were wide and mischievous and the wrinkles on his face creased as he smiled. Even in the face of death, their grandpa was full of life. It pained Jordan to think that he couldn't remember if he'd always been this way; if he'd always been such a kid. He hung his head, unable to recall when he’d last spent meaningful time with his grandpa.

He cast his mind back as far as he could reach, but all he was able to pluck from the ocean of memories, were a few sporadic moments in which he’d ignored the man who only wanted to know him, in favour of video games, alcohol, and anything else.

Jordan made his way to a chair in the corner of the hospital room and sat down. On the periphery of his vision, his dad struggled with his grandpa, fighting to get his gown down, with Kurt watching from the sidelines offering unhelpful commentary and egging his grandpa on.

Jordan exhaled, pushing what remaining life was left in him out into nothingness. He could feel his muscles growing weak and his eyes becoming increasingly heavy as tears welled. The world wrapped its icy tendrils around him, pulling him in for the kill. His head pounded as it played over every moment he'd missed to actually get to know the man standing just a few feet away.

“Alright, Dad. Now just sit there, will you?”

Jordan looked up. His dad had managed to convince his grandpa to sit down. Studying the bed, Jordan noticed a small jug attached to its side about half-filled with yellow liquid; urine. A plastic tube hung loose; disconnected. The catheter was yet another visual reminder that, even though the nappy was funny, and it was good to see him laugh, his grandpa was in a world of pain.

“Will you stop fussing over me?” his grandpa said. “I get enough of that shit here as it is.”

Martin looked unimpressed. “Dad, this is serious. You need to be careful and look after yourself before the surgery.” Jordan watched his grandpa shoo his dad’s concerns away like they were nothing. This, of course, bothered Martin to no end. He did little to hide it.

“Kurt, mate,” Grandpa began, “how’s up north?”

Kurt began to answer him, but Martin interrupted. “Have you thought about accommodation when you come out, Dad?”

“Jen’s set the basement up.”

“What about care?”

“I don’t need it. I’m fine.”

“Dad, look, you need t-”

“Dad,” Jordan interjected. “Calm down. Leave it be.” He looked directly into Martin’s eyes. They were wet and red, ready to burst. You can’t control this, he thought, trying to telepathically communicate the sentiment to his dad. Just leave it.

And for a second, he thought he’d been successful in communicating his message as Martin’s expression appeared to soften. For a second Jordan thought that maybe his father might accept that he was unable to control just one thing. Then his phone rang, breaking their telepathic connection and breaking Martin free from his calm.

Jordan looked at his phone. Lisa was calling. He felt immediately guilty that he’d forgotten where she was. What she was doing. Without him.

Sighing, he said, “I’ve gotta take this.”

As he left the room, Jordan heard his father’s berating continue and he shook his head to himself.

Jordan closed the door. He looked in both directions, making sure nobody else was in the hall. Nothing but still silence. He didn’t really know why he had to be alone to take this, but for some reason, the notion of a stranger hearing potentially life changing news felt like a violation. Looking down at his phone, he took in a deep breath and answered.

“Hey, Lis. What’s the go?”

Nothing.

“Lis?” He could hear muffled sobbing on the other end of the line and his heart dropped. He tried again. “Lisa?”

“I don’t know.” The words spilled out her messily.

Jordan softened, “So, why the crying?”

“I’ve just got a feeling, Jord.” She took a deep breath and phone fell silent once again.

“Lisa, are you there?”

“Yes.”

“What feeling?”

“Jordan-” She took another breath. “-what if we never get pregnant?”

- TO BE CONTINUED -

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