Convergence #3 (June 2015)

Tags

Ivan Reis, Jason Paz, Jeff King, Monarch, Per Degaton, Peter Steigerwald, Shakira, Stephen Segovia, Travis Lanham

“Time Bomb”

• Writer:  Jeff King
• Pencils:  Stephen Segovia
• Inks:  Jason Paz
• Colors:  Peter Steigerwald
• Letters:  Travis Lanham
• Cover Artists:  Stephen Segovia, Peter Steigerwald, Ivan Reis

I’m still not reviewing this ongoing series (although I am reviewing the individual tie-in issues that feature versions of Captain Atom).  I’m not digging it as much as I was at first, but it is still pretty good.  This particular issue seemed a little too “hero-versus-hero” (although the same could be said for the entire series) but had at least one amazing (and kind of sad) moment.  You’ll have to read it (and if you already have, I’m sure you know the moment I’m referring to).  I was surprised by this particular cameo (although, I really shouldn’t have been – DC is dusting off a lot of characters for this one):

Yes, that is Monarch popping up again in the DCU.  But which Monarch is it?  One Monarch is Hank Hall (Hawk), but the most-used Monarch is a version of Nathaniel Adam that I really haven’t tackled much on this blog yet.  Honestly, he gives me a headache.  But he is Nathaniel Adam and is as much a version of Captain Atom as the Legion Lost character “Captain Adym.”  So there you have it.  A quick Monarch cameo in Convergence.  Hank Hall or Nathaniel Adam? Not sure.  But Monarch will forever be a part of Captain Atom.

(All characters and images belong to DC Comics and I am not making any profit off these characters or images.)

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Crisis on Infinite Earths #6 (September 1985)

Tags

Alexander Luthor, Anti-Monitor, Aquagirl, Aqualad, Aquaman, Azrael, Black Canary, Black Condor, Black Manta, Blok, Blue Beetle, Brainiac, Bronze Age Captain Atom, Captain Atom, Captain Marvel, Captain Marvel Jr., Changeling, Dawnstar, Deathbolt, Doctor Light, Doll Man, Dolphin, Green Lantern, Harbinger, Hawkman, Human Bomb, Johnny Quick, Judomaster, Katana, Kole, Lex Luthor, Lori Lemaris, Martian Manhunter, Mary Marvel, Nightshade, Northwind, Ocean Master, Pariah, Peacemaker, Per Degaton, Phantom Lady, Power Girl, Psycho-Pirate, Star Sapphire, Starfire, Steel, Supergirl, Teen Titans, The Atom, The Flash, The Question, The Ray, Thunderbolt, Uncle Sam, Wildcat, Wonder Woman

“3 Earths! 3 Deaths!”

• Writer: Marv Wolfman
• Pencils: George Pérez
• Inks: Jerry Ordway
• Colors: Anthony Tollin
• Letters: John Costanza

Crisis on Infinite Earths was a 12-part maxi-series and crossover event, produced by DC Comics in 1985 to simplify their 50-year-old continuity.  The series was written by Marv Wolfman and illustrated primarily by George Pérez. The series did away with the old “multiverse” in the DC Universe, and featured the deaths of some DC mainstays (like the Barry Allen Flash). It was ambitious, gigantic, and a huge whopping mess that I personally have never been able to fully wrap my head around.

At this point in the story, Azrael, Flash of Earth-2, Blok, Katana, and J’onn J’onzz (Martian Manhunter) materialize on Earth-4 before an anti-matter curtain in the American Midwest.  Captain Atom blasts Azrael, but is not fully in control of himself.

The Blue Beetle and the Question realize that they are being forced to attack the other heroes, but are unable to stop.  Katana, Blok, and J’onn J’onzz end up in a stalemate with the Blue Beetle, Judomaster, and Question.  Harbinger, existing simultaneously in Earths S, X, and 4, suddenly draws their universes away from the anti-matter and pulls them through her focused image.  Back at the lair of the Anti-Monitor, the Psycho Pirate suffers feedback from losing control over the people of those three Earths.  Harbinger manages to link Earths S, X, and 4 with the merging Earths 1 and 2.  Doing so, she ceases to exist as Harbinger, reverting to the identity of Lyla.

Not much to say about this one.  It was epic.  Cap only appeared on one panel of one page.  But I really like the way George Pérez drew him.  He’s the most down-to-Earth “humanistic” looking Captain Atom I’ve seen up to this point.  Because Marv Wolfman’s task was so sweeping and huge, I give an A for story and definitely an A for art.